Halloween is all about the new. New costumes, new accessories, new decorations.
Splashing out on a new outfit for the annual spooky soiree can get you a killer ‘Gram, but it’s sadly not the most sustainable option.
How to work around the annual bash without it costing both your bank account and the environment? Simple - look at your existing wardrobe. After all, old is gold.
Our wardrobes are full of hidden gems. That old tank top you were going to throw away? Take a pair of scissors to it and ta-da, you have a boobless top à la Regina George.
The same goes for your black-tie-worthy ball gown that is unearthed for the rare event. Add some long evening gloves and a string of pearls and you have yourself a divine Audrey Hepburn-inspired number.
Men have it even easier. A classic black suit is associated with a string of famous figures, including James Bond, Vincent Vega and Patrick Bateman.
However, if you’re struggling to source something appropriate in your existing sartorial archive, there’s another way. For Halloween and beyond, it’s worth considering a more versatile, long-term investment.
Instead of opting for a plastic-packed, cheap costume that will likely only see the light of day once, we'd recommend purchasing something that doubles up for everyday use and All Hallows’ Eve.
This doesn’t need to cost the earth. Even if you purchase from a high street label for less, you are still taking a step in the right direction if you love the garment for years to come. It does, however, also give one an excuse to shop luxury - all in the name of spooky season.
So without further ado, read on to discover the best re-wearable Halloween costumes that you can style over and over again. From timeless LBDs to winter-ready knits, there are cherishable pieces for Halloween party-goers and pre-loved pioneers alike.
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Women
Princess Diana
Recreate Princess Diana’s iconic ‘revenge dress’ debuted at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994 with Ralph Lauren's Crepe Off-the-Shoulder Cocktail Dress. The famed garment, designed by Christina Stambolian, has gone down in the history books as one of the greatest style moments of all time.
Buy now £229.00, Ralph Lauren
Elle Woods
Step into Elle Woods’ Prada shoes with Self-Portrait’s fuchsia-pink bouclé-tweed mini dress with glittering crystals. Whoever said orange is the new pink is shown otherwise.
Buy now £380.00, Matches
Britney Spears
Oh baby, baby we love this Britney-themed Nineties tee. The form-fitting number reads the words ‘Dump Him,’ inspired by the singer’s very own top worn in 2002.
Buy now £21.32, Etsy
Daphne Blake
Join the Mystery Gang in their latest adventure with this sassy Y2K look. Featuring a cropped, collared lilac jacket and matching trousers, it’s never been easier to dress as Scooby-Doo’s Daphne Blake.
Buy now £45.99, ASOS
Velma Dinkley
Jinkies! We’ve just found the ideal autumn knit. This sumptuous orange pullover is identical to Velma Kelly’s distinctive sweat from Scooby Doo. Perfect for mooching and meddling.
Buy now £45.00, ASOS
Marge Simpson
Add some Maje for Marge. The beloved, blue-haired character from The Simpsons can be conjured up with a pale green dress, some yellow body paint and a cobalt wig.
Buy now £199.50, Maje
Phoebe Buffet
The sartorial spotlight was always on Rachel in Friends, but Phoebe reigned supreme in the costume department in our book. Shop secondhand and reimagine her kooky, Y2K style in this Custo Barcelona piece Princess Consuela Banana Hammock owned many of.
Buy now £115.56, Vestiaire
Cher Horowitz
We may not own her enviable digital wardrobe, but we’ll certainly settle for this plaid Miaou set. The perfect blend of cheeky and kitsch, the It-girl piece features the yellow tartan design the character has become synonymous with. Matching top available for £45.
Buy now £41.00, Miaou
Penny Lane
Escape the real world and join Penny Lane on her road trip across America. This Seventies-inspired Afghan coat, also known as a Penny coat, is just like the whimsical groupie’s from Almost Famous.
Buy now £144.00, Superdry
Wednesday Addams
Wednesday-mania took over when the latest TV rendition of the iconic film hit our screens. Slip into this beautifully gothic dress by Reformation, braid your long dark locks and add some Mary Janes for a spooktastic ensemble.
Buy now £248.00, Reformation
Dorothy Gale
There’s no place like home, but there’s also no place like the party. Whisk yourself away to Oz with a Dorothy-esque blue gingham frock. This luxury version by The Vampire’s Wife can be layered with a white puff sleeve blouse for the full fairytale effect.
Buy now £1295.00, Matches
Men
Ken
You’re never just Ken when wearing a hunky denim jacket. Calvin Klein’s sleeveless edition can be styled over a long-sleeve tee for winter or a vest in summer - a great seasonless staple.
Buy now £55.00, Calvin Klein
Cliff Booth
Indulge in California dreamin’ with a Hawaii shirt beloved by Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’s Cliff Booth. Both a colourful holiday item and a warning sign to murderous cults, the distinctive yellow shirt is one for Tarantino fans.
Buy now £44.95, John Lewis
E.T.
Go hard or E.T. go home with H&M’s oversized red hoodie. Mirroring the zip-up young Elliott wore in Steven Spielberg’s heart-wrenching film, the humble red hoodie has taken on a whole new meaning in Hollywood.
Buy now £19.99, H&M
Neo
One of the most recognisable characters in cinema, Neo is an easy figure to recreate in terms of style. Add a longline black leather jacket or trench to any dark attire and you’ll find yourself trapped in The Matrix.
Buy now £347.00, Diesel
The Dude
Jeff Bridges, aka The Dude, is an avid champion of loungewear in The Big Lebowski. Treat yourself to a snug knit before winter hits and shop a replica of the character’s retro cardigan.
Buy now £355.00, Pendleton
John Lennon
Imagine rocking up at the party in a pair of John Lennon glasses. That’s what Cubitts is offering with the brand’s Barnard shades starring the signature rounded frame.
Buy now £125.00, Cubitts
Freddie Mercury
The easiest Halloween outfit of them all, this white tank top effortlessly transforms an everyday vest into Freddie Mercury’s iconic tank top.
Buy now £9.99, Uniqlo
Ferris Bueller
Life moves pretty fast, but these vests sell out faster. Ferris Bueller captured the hearts of millions when Matthew Broderick bounced onto our screens in the Eighties. The high-schooler’s grandad sweater vest is a style that can be worn by Hackney hipsters and academics alike.
Buy now £28.73, Etsy
Jay Gatsby
Throw it back to the Roaring Twenties with a Gatsby-esque white tux. The undeniably suave piece, popularised by Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Redford, is a debonair alternative to the traditional black suit.
Buy now £449.00, Hawes & Curtis
