Upcycling Kids Costumes

We often giggle at our house that we are like the drop-off point for all things strange, weird and probably usable in a costume a some point. So, when Halloween comes around, it has been a darn long time since we hit the costume rack at London Drugs. Some years, the get-ups have been crazy complicated. But, the last few, we’ve taken to pawing through boxes, thrift store racks and the occasional itchy wig to create some fun costumes for the kiddo that are all about reusing and not spending a fortune.

Here are some tips for scoring some seriously cool costumes while thinking green:

Costume Swap:

One of our favorite ways to get into the Halloween spirit is to trade costumes with friends. We often get boxes from pals whose kids have outgrown pirates, genies and other cute costumes and it’s a great way to try out some disguises that the kids may not otherwise have thought of.

Getting friends together for a cookie bake or a bit of a costume trade party is also fun and festive.

Consignment:

If you haven’t checked out local consignment stores like Planet Kids, firefly: New Beginnings, Podlings, Polka Dot Pants and others you are definitely missing out on an incredible stash of little kid costumes that are in “He wore it for an hour” sort of shape. Scoring a cute consignment find means cutting your costs way down and you won’t feel guilty when that hour you thought might happen ends up to be 10 minutes and involve something gross in the process.

Look Through Your Drawers:

It is AMAZING the cool getups you can come up with by taking a peek in your drawers. Kids have SO much fun dressing up in their parents clothes, why not make it a special event where you can get out some of that crazy jewelry your Aunt Zelda sent last Christmas, an old prom dress, hats, ties, whatever. I remember going as a gypsy as a kid all decked out in my mom’s scarves and jewelry. I looked nothing like a gypsy and loved every minute of it because mom never otherwise let me dig through her closet.

Thrift Shops:

Lastly, I cannot love thrift shops more when Halloween rolls around. Digging through the racks is one of the most fun and creative ways to come up with the most interesting and unique costumes. It’s also fun if you plan the costume a little ahead and go on the hunt for the goodies. The bonus is that the Comox Valley is PACKED with thrift shops that love Halloween too. I’m thinking Zombie Walk and all of the cool things I can find.

There’s always the reality that your kids may just be bound and determined to get one very specific costume this year. But, having fun with upcycling and seeing what you can come up with in the process is a great way to celebrate the season!

Tags: children, costumes, green, Halloween, Kids, Our Big Earth Media Co., reuse, upcycling

Category: The Green Home, THINK GREEN