Need a last-minute Halloween costume and out of magic potions and spells to whip something up? Fear not! Oakland County’s Office of Sustainability has concocted some tips and tricks to help you easily make this year’s costume using regular household items. Whether you’re looking for costume ideas for adults, teens or kids, there’s something trendy, funny or spooky for everyone. 

From Your Closet 

Carmy from ‘The Bear’: Grab a white T-shirt and blue apron. Apply temporary tattoos or use washable markers to create your own designs. 

Charlie Brown: Find a plain yellow collared shirt or T-shirt. Cut out a zigzag from black construction paper and attach it to the bottom third of the shirt using tape or staples. Wear black pants and brown shoes. Carry a football or a Snoopy toy for added effect.   

Power Puff Girls: This works best as a 3-person costume. Wear a pink, blue, or green dress with white leggings, tights, or knee socks. You can also wear coordinating tops and skirts. Add black shoes, especially Mary Janes or strappy shoes. 

Wednesday Adams: Wear a black dress with a white collar. You can also wear a coordinating shirt and skirt. Apply dark makeup and style your hair in twin braids for an even spookier look. 

For DIYers 

Beanie Babies or Beanie Boos: Grab a fuzzy hooded top and matching bottoms or a hooded onesie/ union suit/ jumpsuit. Create any type of animal ears out of construction paper, craft felt, or pipe cleaners and attach to the top of the hood via staples, tape, or hot glue. Cut out the iconic heart tag, and punch a hole in the top. Draw and color the logo and wear the tag like a necklace. Add a pair of oversized sunglasses to complete the look. 

Carpool Karaoke: Cut the bottom off a large cardboard box. Draw and color a windshield, grill and headlights to create the front of the car. Add doors on the adjoining sides, then make two small holes near the top of both sides. Thread strands of string through the holes and knot them to create suspenders. Add a rear windshield, taillights and a license plate. Bring a microphone. 

Spider, Octopus or Jellyfish: Use an umbrella and attach eight legs or tentacles made from braided yarn, paper streamers or construction paper. Attach eyes to complete the look.  

Halloween Waste Is the Scariest of All: In the U.S., 35 million Halloween costumes are tossed in the trash each year, according to Hummingbird International. Add costume accessories, plastic decorations, and candy wrappers, and that’s tons of trash entering our landfills. By DIYing your own costume, you are helping to reduce waste and lessen Halloween’s environmental impact. 

More Sustainable Halloween Tips 

Now that you have an eco-friendly costume, here are additional ways to be sustainable:

• Compost your pumpkins, use the insides for meals and juices, or crack them open for local wildlife to enjoy. 

• Pass out recyclable cans of pop or sparkling water, festive pens or pencils, temporary tattoos, treats in tiny cardboard boxes, or apples to trick-or-treaters instead of individually wrapped candy. 

• Use pillowcases or reusable tote bags for trick-or-treating.

Oakland County wishes all residents a fun, safe and sustainable Halloween. Visit the Office of Sustainability’s website for more information on environmental sustainability

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