I’m sure everyone would assume the waste would come from decorations and sweet wrappers, but did you know that 2000 tonnes of plastic waste, the equivalent of 83 million plastic bottles* will be generated through throwaway Halloween costumes? Now that’s truly scary.
“So what am I supposed to do this Halloween then?” We hear you ask, and we get it! It can be hard to think up costumes on the spot, especially when most people will head online to buy something new. That’s why we have done the hard work for you and compiled a handy list of ways to have a greener Halloween, AS WELL as giving you ideas for costumes. Don’t worry; you can thank us later.
Find the skeletons in the closet!
Alright, so maybe not actual skeletons, but when trying to create a Halloween costume, your wardrobe is the first place you should look. Not only can you make lots of costumes with very few items, but it will also reduce your plastic and textile waste, as well as saving you time and money! Sounds like a ghoulishly good deal to us. 😉
Give good face.
Do you have a friend who should be the next Nikki Tutorials? Or maybe you are a makeup pro yourself! With Halloween, makeup can make or break your look, so instead of buying a one-off costume, put those skills to good use! The possibilities are endless. Think skeletons, mermaids and pop art characters, just to name a few!
Secondhand isn’t scary!
Okay, so you’ve got the perfect costume in mind, but you are missing that final piece. What do you do? Well, before you jump on amazon, take a second and see what you can find secondhand! Check out your local charity shops, Depop, Vinted and anywhere else you can think of that might have that missing item!
Swap til’ you drop.
Still can’t find what you are looking for? Well, then it might be time to download the Bandi App! Here you can match with other style-minded people who will help you find that perfect costume, as well as maybe your newest fashion fave! You never know what you’ll find.
Now you are armed with our top tricks (and treats) to have an eco-friendly Halloween; we thought that we would give you our favourite costume ideas, most of which you can find hidden away in your wardrobe
Mia Wallace (Pulp Fiction)
This one is perfect for the movie buffs out there. All you need is a white button-up, black trousers, a black bralette or bra and a pair of black pumps to make this look. Throw on some red nail polish and a short black wig (If you can find one!), and you’ll dancefloor-ready.
Stranger Things
Time to throwback to the ’80s. Scrunchies, double denim, ugly shirts and excessively bright colours are the way forward with this one. Grab a red lipstick to create the iconic Eleven nosebleeds, and you’ll be in the upside-down in no time.
Clark Kent (Superman)
Sometimes, you don’t have the time to organise an outfit. For this easy costume, simply don a white shirt with a t-shirt underneath and any smart trousers you own. Then all you have to do is print out (or draw) the superman logo and stick it to the t-shirt! Pin the shirt open so you can see the logo and add glasses for that “Clark Kent-about-to-become-superman” moment.
The Craft
Take inspiration from the 90’s cult classic film, The Craft, for your next group costume. The outfits themselves are super simple; all you need to do is mix n match black mini skirts with *any* white top you have and throw on a whole load of accessories and a red lip to nail this look.
So there you have it, a guide to a bandified Halloween. We can’t wait to see what you come up with this year so make sure you tag us in the results as we are dying (get it) to see your costumes.