Frightfully Easy DIY Halloween Costumes You Can Make in One Night

Turn your wardrobe into a costume closet with these clever, low-cost, and eco-friendly Halloween ideas that prove creativity is the most sustainable accessory of all.

Happy Halloween in purple text with a spider. Image Credit: Darwin Laganzon on Pixabay

Halloween doesn’t have to mean disposable outfits or plastic accessories that end up in landfill by November. Sustainable costumes are more creative and eco-friendlier, as an estimated 2,000 tonnes of Halloween costumes end up in UK landfills each year. According to the British Retail Consortium, the UK spends over £700 million on Halloween celebrations annually, much of which goes towards single-use costumes and decorations.

The good news? You don’t need a sewing kit, a Pinterest addiction, or a Hollywood budget to create something memorable. With a dash of creativity and a few items from your wardrobe (or local thrift store), you can put together a costume that’s funny, spooky, stylish, or all three, in one evening flat.

Sustainable Halloween fashion is all about reusing, reimagining, and reinventing what you already have. That oversized shirt could become a toga, a pirate tunic, or a mad scientist’s coat. Borrow items from friends or explore charity shops for hidden gems; a black dress, leather jacket, or denim overalls can be transformed into multiple characters.

You can also upcycle household materials:

• Cardboard boxes → robot armour, Minecraft block, or cereal killer costume.

• Old sheets → toga, ghost, mummy, or ancient philosopher.

• Plastic bottles and paint → jetpacks, alien helmets, or armour pieces.

  
  

The goal isn’t perfection; it’s about reusing and reimagining what you already have — proving that creativity is the most sustainable accessory of all.

 

Pop Culture on a Budget

Pop culture costumes are a Halloween staple because they’re instantly recognisable, and you don’t need designer replicas to make them work. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent over $12 billion on Halloween celebrations in 2024, proving just how much people invest in the spooky season. The trick is to capture a character’s vibe using simple, standout details.

Here are some 2025-ready ideas that’ll have people saying, “Wait — that’s actually so good.”

Olivia Rodrigo (“Guts” Era) – Think grunge-meets-glam: plaid skirt, chunky boots, and layered silver jewellery. Add smudged eyeliner and a faux backstage pass to complete the pop-punk look.

Billie Eilish – Oversized hoodie, black-and-blue hair streaks, and layered gold chains. Billie’s aesthetic is all about baggy streetwear confidence; comfort meets cool.

Barbie & Weird Barbie Duo – The Barbie mania hasn’t died down yet. Grab something pink and polished for Classic Barbie, or get chaotic with marker stains, messy hair, and clashing neon for Weird Barbie.

Wednesday Addams – Black dress, white collar (cut from an old shirt), two braids, and a deadpan stare. Bonus points for quoting dry one-liners all night.

Harley Quinn (Casual Chaos Edition) – Fishnet tights, a red-and-black top or an old sports top, and messy pigtails with coloured tips. Add bold red lipstick, smudged eyeliner, and a “goodnight” baseball bat prop to finish the look. Harley’s rebellious energy makes this costume instantly iconic.

Any Reality TV Star – Oversized sunglasses, athleisure, and an iced coffee cup instantly scream influencer energy. Add a name tag like “Love Island 2025” or “The Bachelor Reject” for easy laughs.

My pro tip: focus on one defining prop; a coffee cup, hair colour, or accessory, that at once signals who you’re portraying. People recognise symbols faster than full costumes! Who would Harley be without her split-dyed hair?

Someone dressed as Harley Quinn from DC. Image Credit: Martin Bauschke on Pixabay

Classic Halloween, Reinvented

You can’t go wrong with the classics; witches, vampires, ghosts, and skeletons, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring.

Ghost, but make it fashion - Skip the basic white sheet. Try lace curtains, sheer fabric, or patterned material for a whimsical twist.

Modern Vampire - Dark jeans, a velvet blazer, dramatic eyeshadow, and a dash of fake blood at the corner of your mouth. Think “elegant undead” instead of “costume store cape.”

Witch 2.0 - Mix forest greens, rusty oranges, or earthy tones with layered jewellery. A wide-brim hat or DIY wand finishes the look.

Skeleton Glow-Up - Use white eyeliner or face paint to draw minimalist bones over a black hoodie and leggings. It’s striking, simple, and comfortable for long nights out.

Classic costumes are timeless for a reason; you can always make them modern with better makeup, thrifted accessories, or a clever twist.

An individual dressed in a dark cloak with day of the dead themed faceprint. Image Credit: maximiliano estevez on Pixabay

DIY Group and Couple Costumes

Group costumes make an instant statement, especially when each outfit complements the others and tells a story. Whether you’re going for iconic duos or squad-level coordination, teamwork makes the theme work.

The Breakfast Club - Each friend channels a different high school archetype; the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, and the criminal. A mix of denim, plaid, and vintage jackets makes this easy to recreate.

Scooby-Doo Gang - Colour-coded outfits and one stuffed Scooby toy are all you need for this nostalgic favourite. It’s playful, instantly recognisable, and fun for all ages.

DC Gotham Sirens - Gather your fiercest friends to embody Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman. Red and black, lush greens, and sleek blacks are your colour palette. Add dramatic makeup and statement accessories for a bold, empowered trio that radiates chaotic charm.

Strong Women in Power -Think pop culture icons and real-world heroes, from Wonder Woman and Rosie the Riveter to Beyoncé or Rhea Ripley. Mix statement pieces (like bold boots, red lipstick, or a power blazer) to celebrate confidence and individuality.

Five Nights at Freddy’s Crew - Channel the creepy animatronic energy from the cult-favourite game. Use animal-ear headbands, coloured shirts, face paint, and a touch of eerie makeup to transform into Freddy, Chica, Bonnie, or Foxy. It’s spooky, low-cost, and perfect for horror lovers.

Group ideas shine because they’re collaborative and often built from pieces everyone already owns. The best part? You get to coordinate with friends while showing off each personality through costume creativity.

Three skeletons sat on a sofa with a cat. Image Credit: queendx3 on Pixabay

Finishing Touches: Makeup, Hair & Accessories

Even simple outfits can look professional with the right details:

• Use black eyeliner creatively: cat whiskers, fake cracks, or spiderweb patterns.

• Add texture with fake blood, glitter, or stickers.

• For hair, dry shampoo adds volume for witchy vibes, and temporary colour spray works wonders for instant transformations.

• Lighting props!  glow sticks, LED candles, or fairy lights, can make your costume shine (literally).

And if you’re ever unsure, YouTube and TikTok are packed with 60-second makeup tutorials for any character you can dream up!

An individual dressed in all black with gothic makeup and pigtails for Halloween. Image Credit: Abbat on Pixabay

In Conclusion:

Halloween is the one night a year when imagination trumps expense. You don’t need to spend big to make a big impression, just creativity, confidence, and a willingness to raid your wardrobe. Whether you show up as Olivia Rodrigo, Harley Quinn, a reinvented ghost, or a DIY animatronic, the best costume is one that tells your story.

But beyond the fun and the fright, a sustainable Halloween is a powerful reminder that our celebrations can reflect our values. Every upcycled outfit, thrifted accessory, and repurposed prop helps cut down on waste and supports a culture of conscious creativity. By choosing to reuse and reimagine, you’re proving that sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing style, it means redefining it.

So, grab some scissors, a safety pin, and your best spooky playlist, and design something that’s uniquely you, inventive, affordable, and kind to the planet. Because this Halloween, you’re not just dressing up; you’re setting an example for a greener, more imaginative future.

 

About the Author:

Summer Elsie is a recent Zoology graduate from the University of Exeter, and the Deputy Managing Editor of Wild Magazine UK. She’s passionate about sustainability, creativity, and wildlife conservation and loves showing how eco-friendly choices can be stylish! You can follow her on LinkedIn: Summer Elsie.