That’s the idea behind this year’s blog Halloween costumes. It was my first time doing more than one because, well, the wheels in my brain started turning and I couldn’t pick just one.
So where does this costume start? In Long Beach, CA in late July. I went to Midsummer Scream with ALL my content creator friends, and I could not stop staring at Midge Munster in this Vixen skirt on Sunday!
The orange and pink were SO eye-catching. I loved the classic monsters around the bottom. And the whole thing has a lovely vintage feel…so naturally, I had to buy my own.
My intention was never to copy her, though I did joke that this is my Midge cosplay. You can’t deny the pieces look great together!
Fast forward to late September when I realized I was only going to have two weeks at home to put together a costume for That Halloween Bro’s annual party…and I had a list of requirements.
- Something that spoke to the theme in some way: Grave Rave
- Something that would be comfortable all night + travel easily
- Something I wouldn’t have to spend a ton of money on
- Something that I could easily throw on after helping with set-up (originally assuming I’d be getting ready on-site…)
Rather than make a costume like I did last year, I decided to take something from my closet and transform it. So I wondered…what would I wear to a Grave Rave? Despite being a 90s kid, I didn’t get into raves and when I started Googling for ideas…nothing felt like me.
So I took the basic idea of a Grave Rave—essentially a dance party in a cemetery—and applied it to a decade that I DID have something for…and my look was born.
Halloween Sock Hop Costume
I really love when a costume I have in my head comes together exactly how I envisioned it. That’s exactly what happened with this look.
You can see the base of all three costumes: my crop top, belt, and skirt. Then I added to each look to create the costume I was going for.
For my sock hop look, that included cat eye glasses I already owned, a crew neck cardigan, and a cute enamel pin I already owned.
I did a high ponytail for my sock hop costume and added ribbons I already had too. It’s not always about using the perfect thing but using what you have!
One pair of items I didn’t own already was saddle shoes (it’s been decades since I’ve worn them) and some lacy socks, so I grabbed these. I think I spent a total of $50 to put this together. (Total also includes the black sweater because I didn’t own one in the style I wanted.)
I loved this, but I started seeing the look in a few other ways as I was putting it together and decided that for the blog, I would do all three to show you how one outfit already in your closet can be transformed. This could have easily been worn to three different parties over the season without having to buy anything more than my black sweater and saddle shoes.
Here are my other two looks:
Halloween Punk Rock Costume
A few years ago, I wore a poodle skirt my friend Sheila from Red Shoes. Red Wine. made for me to work, then I turned it into a punk rock costume for her party later that day. I decided to borrow from that to create my second look.
To give it that feel, I threw on some fish nets and my boots.
I also added my faux leather jacket, which includes those Halloween pins all year long.
To top it off, I added some skull earrings and a skull print bandana as a headband.
Y’alloween Costume
And finally…you can take the spooky girl outta Texas, but you can’t take the Texas out of the spooky girl.
So, naturally, we’ll call this look the y’alloween costume!
And living in Texas, I have no shortage of access to western wear. The vest and hat were borrowed from my friend Nicole to pull off this look.
And this look centered around these boots, which I bought off an Instagram ad after seeing them in-person at Midsummer Scream.
Turquoise jewelry is a popular accessory during rodeo season (yes, totally a thing in Houston!), so I grabbed a few of my favorite pieces for this look.
A look from the back of the costume.
Howdy, Halloween!
Which styling of this fit is your fave?
I’m really happy with how all three turned out. Each one could definitely be transformed more with makeup, more time for hairstyling, and jewelry. I think the Y’alloween look is my fave.
I hope this inspires you to check out the BEST place to shop—your closet—before heading off to a store for mass-produced costumes to create something original.
