Of all the Halloween costumes I’ve concocted over the years, I’ll never forget parading up and down my street in the fifth grade dressed as a fork. I made the head-to-toe getup from stuff I owned or found around the house, including gray sweat suit, bike helmet, some yarn, cardboard and tinfoil. No one had any idea what I was supposed to be (the Statue of Liberty got the most guesses) but at the end of the night, my candy bag was no emptier for it, and in fifth grade what else really matters?
The point, aside from gratuitous reminiscing, is that I didn’t buy a thing and I still had a great time. So as we take a look at some tips for a greener Halloween costume, remember that DIY-ing it doesn’t mean depriving your kids (or yourself). For most of us, kids and adults alike, the fun is in the making.
On that note, the best way to green your Halloween (and keep some green in your wallet) is simply to make your own costume and forego the mass-manufactured, disposable store-bought kind. It’s not a bad idea to peruse the costume aisle for ideas, but when you think about it, you can probably construct most of the pieces in that sexy pirate costume on your own.
To up the environmental ante, set a plastic-free goal for this year. Forget the uncomfortable masks and the PVC sword and opt for something a little more eco-friendly, like a papier-mâché mask or a cardboard sword.
To make your own costumes at home, the best resource is fabric and clothes. You can get creative on forgotten garments: Hawaiian shirts make a telltale tourist, overalls befit a farmer, and sheets and curtains turn into togas and capes. Or peruse your current wardrobe to see what you have to work with; last year, an apron, an oven mitt, a cocktail glass and some smeared makeup made my depressed 1950s housewife (a la Mad Men) come alive without buying a single thing. If you don’t find what you need at home, try thrift stores, swapping with friends or searching Craigslist for free fabric.
For awesome DIY kids’ costume ideas, check out Family Fun magazine’s archives. Family Fun’s thrifty approach is tailored to parents with their hands full, so nothing is too complicated or expensive, which means a lot of recycling. The costumes are mostly no-sew, but you can always swap in stitching for glue to get a more durable, eco-friendly costume. If you're having trouble making something suitable for your infant, check out Green Halloween’s baby costumes and stay for the other great healthy Halloween advice.
Renting a costume is also a great option if you're not down to DIY. These getups get years of use and are often much higher quality than a disposable or ready-made versions. Check with local theater companies for the inside scoop on where to rent. No Halloween costume is complete without face paint, so pick up an non-petroleum-based brand, like Nova Natural face pencils.
Last but not least, hang onto that costume when you’re done (unless you've rented it...). Keep kids' costumes around to play dress up or organize a swap and trade for something different.
Source: BecauseAction.com
