Halloween Costumes You Can Make With Clothes You Already Own

16 costumes you can pull from your closet.

October is here, which means Halloween is near!
If you are stuck at the drawing board for costume ideas (either because you are buried in exam prep or trying to save some cash) you can easily piece together a great outfit using items from your wardrobe or a quick trip to the local op shop.

Daphne, Velma, Shaggy & Fred

This core four is a classic and easy choice for Halloween. They’re all recognisable by the colours and accessories they wear.
Daphne: Pair a purple dress with purple shoes, a green neck scarf and a purple headband.
Velma: Combine an orange long-sleeved shirt, a red skirt, tall orange socks, and red shoes.
Shaggy: Throw on a baggy green shirt with orange or brown pants and black shoes.
Fred: Wear blue pants with a white long-sleeved shirt over a blue undershirt, finished with beige shoes and an orange neck scarf.

Men In Black

The Men In Black are the ultimate low-effort look, but still sleek, universally recognisable, and highly likely already sitting in your wardrobe.
The Suit: A classic black suit jacket with matching tailored trousers.
The Shirt: A crisp, buttoned-up white dress shirt.
The Accessories: The look isn't complete without a pair of black sunglasses,black dress shoes, a black tie and a lanyard. Add a pen or flashlight to act as the Neuralyzer.

Steve Harrington

Steve Harrington is a laid-back, instantly recognisable costume that's easy to pull together using pieces you may already own.
The Base: A fitted striped polo shirt or short-sleeved button-up in retro colours.
The Outerwear: A lightweight denim jacket, bomber jacket or open overshirt.
The Pants: Straight-leg blue jeans or casual chinos with a slightly vintage fit.
The Accessories: White sneakers, a wristwatch, and of course, perfectly styled voluminous hair. For extra authenticity, carry a toy baseball bat or wear a Scoops Ahoy sailor cap.

Clark Kent

Clark Kent is incredibly easy to put together and is comfortable for an evening out and about.
The Base: A classic Superman graphic tee worn underneath your clothes.
The Outerwear: A crisp blue or white dress shirt, left half-unbuttoned from the top to reveal the logo underneath.
The Pants: Standard blue jeans, chinos or grey suit trousers.
The Accessories: A pair of thick, black-rimmed glasses and an optional loose necktie.

Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo

Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo have plenty of concert and music video looks you can recreate which are actually very easy to recreate. Simply choose the look you want to replicate and piece it together with items you have.
The Outfit: Many of Sabrina’s outfits can be created with a glittery mini dress or top and skirt. For Olivia, choose an album and pick an outfit, such as her baby pink dress from ‘The Cure’ music video.
The Shoes: A pair of white or pastel chunky platform heels or go for white or glittery boots.
The Hair & Makeup: Sabrina’s signature look is a voluminous, bouncy blowout, heavy fluttery lashes, and a glossy lip. Olivia usually wears her hair down or with a slight curl. Carry a toy microphone to complete the pop star vibe.

Where’s Wally?

Wally is a fantastic, playful choice for anyone who wants to stay comfortable while being instantly recognised across the room.
The Top: A classic red and white horizontally striped long-sleeved shirt.
The Pants: A simple pair of bright blue jeans or chinos.
The Hat: A matching red and white beanie topped with a prominent red pom-pom.
The Accessories: Finish the look with round, black-rimmed glasses and a wooden walking cane.

Coraline 

This is a massive October favorite because it is instantly recognisable and highly nostalgic.
The Top: A bright yellow raincoat or windbreaker.
The Skirt or Pants:  A bright red skirt paired with red and black tights or classic blue jeans.
The Boots: A pair of bright yellow gumboots.
The Details: Wear a bright blue wig (or temporary hair spray) and clip a small dragonfly hairpin into your hair.

Paddington

Paddington Bear is a wholesome, heartwarming choice that is incredibly easy to pull off. 
The Coat: A classic bright blue duffle coat or trench coat.
The Hat: A floppy bright red bucket hat or beanie.
The Boots: A pair of yellow or dark-coloured gumboots.
The Accessories: Tie a piece of string around a brown cardboard tag that reads, "Please look after this bear. Thank you."
Tip: Carry a small brown briefcase or suitcase, or a jar of marmalade.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is the ultimate choice for anyone who wants a classic, easy look.
The Coat: A long trench coat, overcoat, or pea coat, ideally in brown, grey, or houndstooth pattern.
The Hat: A traditional deerstalker cap (the classic two-brimmed detective hat). If you can't find one, a tweed flat cap or round bowler hat works perfectly too.
The Clothes: Standard smart-casual clothes underneath, like a button-down shirt, a sweater vest, and trousers.
The Accessories: The look isn't complete without a magnifying glass.

Mario & Luigi

Mario & Luigi are the ultimate gaming duo. This look is incredibly vibrant, instantly recognisable, and completely built around everyday wardrobe basics.
The Tops: Mario wears a bright red long-sleeved shirt or t-shirt, while Luigi wears a bright green one.
The Bottoms: Classic blue denim overalls are the gold standard here. If you don't have overalls, you can use blue jeans paired with matching coloured suspenders.
The Hats: Matching baseball caps, red for Mario and green for Luigi. You can easily cut out white felt circles with the letters "M" and "L" and tape or pin them to the front.
The Details: Draw on a thick, cartoonish black moustache with eyeliner, or buy a cheap stick-on one from a party shop.

Captain Jack Sparrow

A Captain Jack Sparrow look thrives on looking a little messy and unpolished. You can easily shred or distress old clothes you don't mind ruining, making it completely budget-friendly.
The Top: A loose, flowing off-white or cream linen shirt with a deep V-neck, layered under a long, dark-coloured button-down vest.
The Bottoms: Loose-fitting brown pants tucked into tall, brown boots.
The Accessories: Tie a brown sash around your waist, layered with a chunky belt. Wear a red bandana across your forehead and lastly, add smudged black eyeliner.

There you have it.

With a little bit of creativity, there are many Halloween costumes you can recreate with little effort. Have a look through your wardrobe, ask your friends what they can lend you and visit your local op shop for any finishing touches. 

If you need any more ideas, check out Pinterest, there’s plenty of inspiration over there too.