Great style doesn’t happen by accident, especially when it comes to curating a spooky wardrobe.
This content originally appeared in the 2021 issue of Spooky Little Halloween—The Magazine. It contains affiliate links. See my disclaimer for more.
I’m sure you’ve had that moment where you’re scrolling through Instagram or TikTok, someone pops up whose style you really admire and you wonder…
How do they do it?
Well, today I’m going to teach you! These steps to defining your own Halloween style will help you figure it out too.
Be sure to read through to the end for some of my most-shopped small businesses.
6 Ways to Define Your Halloween Style
1. Look for patterns in what you’re drawn to
Are you drawn to any clothing with candy corn? Obsessed with ghosts? Love nods to horror movies?
Take some time to figure out what draws you in by paying attention to patterns in what makes something your favorite. It takes a little time, but once you know what you love and why you love it, it makes finding items you truly love so much easier!
2. Seek out inspiration
Social media platforms like Instagram are full of inspiration—yes, even spooky fashion.
Sometimes Halloween fashion alone can be hard to find, so look for ideas using hashtags or keywords like gothic, witchy, or horror to find new accounts you’ll love.
While most aren’t outright fashion-centric, a few of my faves for all genders are:
3. Build a mood board
Another great way to seek out inspiration is to create a mood board. Pinterest is a great spot to do this.
Get started by pinning anything you like, give it a few days, then scroll through the photos and look for patterns. Maybe that pattern is a specific color or a certain item of clothing, like a T-shirt or skirt.
Once you define the pattern you love, delete everything that doesn’t speak to that, then keep pinning things that do.
The best part? You can start over as many times as you want when you’re ready to change things up.
4. Create a capsule wardrobe
Have a few spooky clothing items already? Pull them out of your closet, then add staple items that complement them—things like pants, skirts, dresses, hoodies, sweaters, and shoes.
Once you have 15-20 items total, mix and match as many times as you can to create outfits that vary—you might pair a fave horror tee with shorts, jeans, and a skirt for three outfits. Add a sweater for a fourth look or change up shoes for casual or dressed-up looks.
Wear all your outfits with those 15-20 items for a season, then create a new capsule wardrobe for the next season.
5. Don’t be afraid to experiment
See something one of your favorite inspiration sources wore and want to try it? You don’t have the exact same items – pull together similar items, and give it a whirl. Even if the look you’re after doesn’t work for you, it might spark another idea or direction once you see the clothing on your body.
Don’t be afraid to experiment or try something new. It might lead to a style idea that becomes a staple in your wardrobe. (Like how I wear my T-shirts tied up with high-waisted skirts these days.)
6. Shop with intention
Once you’ve done several or all the above activities, shop with intention. Seeking inspiration and experimenting with ideas will help you understand what you like (a specific style of hoodie), what you feel most comfortable in (a certain style of dress), and what feels adventurous and exciting (color! At least for this ghoul…).
Then shop for those items!
Where I Shop
Here are a few of my favorite spots for specific types of Halloween clothing you might be looking for:
What’s your best tip for defining a Halloween style?
Share it in the comments, or share your favorite influencers who inspire your own looks.
