Sustainable Halloween Shopping on a Budget at Goodwill

Halloween is a time of transformation and imagination; it’s a time when we can become anyone or anything we want, and that transformation doesn’t need to come with a high price tag. Plus, Halloween has quickly become a fast-fashion filled holiday. Every October, millions of single-use costumes—most made of plastic—are worn once and thrown away. Those costumes generate more than 12 million pounds of waste annually in the U.S., and much of it ends up in landfills for centuries.

Creating a memorable Halloween costume is about creativity, not cost. It’s about looking at an item and seeing not just what it is, but what it could be. We recently had the joy of sharing this very idea with WMAR, where Kara Burnett demonstrated how our thrift store can be a treasure chest for anyone looking to build a unique costume on a budget. It was a wonderful opportunity to show our community that with a little creativity, you can craft something truly special while supporting a mission that helps people write their own new beginnings and keeping items out of the landfill.

The Thrifty Vision: Two Costumes, Endless Possibilities

For our segment, Kara Burnett showcased how easy it is to assemble head-to-toe looks using only thrifted items. We focused on two distinct and dramatic characters that anyone could recreate.

The Mysterious Mary from “Sinners”

Her first creation was inspired by the character Mary from the series “Sinners.” The goal was a look that was both elegant and eerie. She started with the centerpiece: a striking, silky red dress. Thrifting dresses is one of the best ways to find high-quality garments for a fraction of their original price. This one had the perfect silhouette, instantly setting a dramatic tone, and it’s cute enough to wear on a date night or dinner out!

Next, we searched for accessories to build the character. We found a white, flapper-esque hat that added a touch of vintage flair and mystery. A simple pair of black heels and some sparkling costume jewelry, both discovered in our accessories section, completed the foundation of the outfit. The final, chilling touch was a bit of bloody gauze from the Halloween section, a simple prop that transformed the entire look from glamorous to ghoulish. This costume showed that you can create a specific, recognizable character look without buying a pre-packaged costume, and at a reasonable cost!

The Haunting Runaway Bride

Kara’s second costume was the “runaway bride,” a classic and evocative Halloween concept. The absolute star of this outfit was a stunning vintage wedding dress. Many people are surprised to learn that you can often find wedding gowns in thrift stores. These dresses are usually worn only once and are often beautiful, intricate pieces. Finding one feels like uncovering hidden treasure- the one she found was only $20!

We paired the dress with a pair of heels and some elegant jewelry to complete the bridal look. The look, however, can really come together from the styling. A smudged makeup look and slightly disheveled hair would tell the tale of a bride on the run. Or, throw on some zombie makeup and blood for a zombie bride look! This costume is a perfect example of how one key item—the dress—can do all the heavy lifting. The rest is just about adding small details that tell a story.

Your Guide to Thrifting the Perfect Costume

Inspired to create your own thrifted Halloween look? It’s a rewarding and fun process. Here are some tips to help you on your treasure hunt.

1. Go in with an Open Mind: You might have a specific idea, but let the racks inspire you. You may find a vintage jacket that sparks the idea for a 70s rockstar or a floral dress perfect for a spooky garden ghost. Be flexible and let the treasures you find guide your creativity.

2. Think in Pieces, Not Packages: Break down your costume idea into individual components. Instead of searching for a “pirate costume,” look for a billowy white shirt, dark pants, a vest, and a scarf. This approach makes it much easier to find what you need.

3. Choose Pieces You’ll Love Again: When picking out items for your costume, try to select things you can see yourself wearing beyond Halloween. A striking red dress or a cozy sweater can become a favorite part of your regular wardrobe, and a beautiful accessory can add sparkle all year round. This not only stretches your dollar further but also helps break the cycle of single-use fashion, making your shopping both practical and planet-friendly.

4. The Beauty is in the Details: Don’t forget the accessories! Belts, scarves, hats, gloves, and jewelry are often the key to making a costume feel complete and authentic. Our stores have sections dedicated to these small wonders, and they can elevate your look from good to great.

5. Repurpose and Reimagine: The item you find doesn’t have to be perfect as-is. A prom dress can be torn and stained for a zombie look. A men’s suit jacket can be altered for a groovy 80s costume. A little DIY magic, like some paint, scissors, or hot glue, can transform an ordinary item into something extraordinary.

A Choice That Makes a Difference

When you choose to thrift your Halloween costume, you’re not just saving money—you’re making a powerful statement about caring for our planet. Every October, millions of single-use costumes—most made of plastic—are worn once and then thrown away. In the U.S. alone, this creates more than 12 million pounds of waste each year, with nearly 85% of those costumes ending up in landfills where they can take up to 200 years to break down. It’s staggering to realize that around 83% of these costumes are made from non-recyclable, oil-based materials, contributing to a much bigger fast-fashion problem. With roughly 40 million trick-or-treaters each year, that’s about 2,000 tons of plastic waste generated in a single night—a number that’s hard to ignore.

Thrifting gives a second life to clothing and helps reduce this overwhelming tide of waste. By choosing previously loved items, you’re helping break the cycle of single-use, disposable fashion that harms our environment for generations to come. Your choice to shop secondhand directly supports sustainability, and it is a step toward a more thoughtful, kinder Halloween tradition for us all.

But the impact doesn’t stop there. Every dollar you spend helps fund programs that provide job training, housing assistance, and essential resources for people in our community facing hardship. The red dress you buy for your costume could help a woman secure the professional attire she needs for a job interview. The wedding dress found for your runaway bride look could contribute to a program that helps a family find stable housing.

This Halloween, we invite you to explore our aisles and see what stories are waiting to be told. Build a costume that’s not just creative and unique, but also kinder to the planet and your community. When you thrift, you become part of something bigger. You help reduce waste, support people taking steps toward new beginnings, and remind us all that transformation is truly possible—one choice at a time.

Tag us in your thrifted costume pics @bmoregoodwill!

Check our WMAR’s segment and story!