Last week I walked into my local store and was greeted by a cackling skeleton. This could only mean one thing: Halloween is coming.
Now, you might roll your eyes and think, so what? Halloween is an American celebration. But who can blame us Aussies for wanting to join in on the spooky shenanigans? Halloween is a lot of fun – especially if you have a killer costume. It gives you the freedom to express yourself and be whatever you want to be. Plus, if you have kids, it’s hard not to get swept up in the fun and excitement of helping your child enjoy the fantasy of being something completely different for a night.
Sure, you could head to your nearest Kmart or Big W and buy a pre-packaged and disposable costume - but they tend to be boring, low quality and unoriginal. Not only that, those costumes are unsustainable and help feed the fast fashion monster – and that’s terrifying in a real way, not a fun Halloween way. I guarantee that in the time it takes you to buy a cheap, run-of-the-mill costume from a budget department store, you can source an incredible costume from your local Good Sammy.
Nearly every Good Sammy has an awesome range of costumes for people of all ages. Willetton, Port Kennedy, Cannington, Belmont and Ellenbrook are some of the many Good Sammy stores known for their range of fancy dress. But op shops are a mixed bag with ever-changing stock, so make sure to get creative! If you look beyond the costume section, you can turn most secondhand clothing items into killer Halloween costumes. Pair that with some clever face paint and you’ve got a look that’s bound to get you noticed and send chills down people’s spines.
Don’t believe me? I’ve done some hunting to show you five spooktacular Halloween costumes you can easily source from any Good Sammy store. Check them out.
Costume idea #1: The evil ventriloquist’s dummy
You will need:
- A white button-down shirt
- A suit jacket and pants. The colours should be dark, but they don’t have to match.
- Black shoes
- A red bowtie. This can be made out of red ribbon or cut out from card
- A face paint palette
- Makeup sponges
- A thin paintbrush
- Black hairspray
- A comb
Google images search for makeup inspiration: Slappy Goosebumps makeup
Costume idea #2: The creepy broken doll
You will need:
- A frilly dress – the frillier and puffier, the better! Look out for tulle and organza and doll-like patterns like florals, polka dots or stripes
- White socks
- Ballet flats or Mary-Janes
- Hair elastics and ribbons
- A face paint palette
- Makeup sponges
- A thin paintbrush
Google images search for makeup inspiration: Broken doll makeup kids
Costume idea #3: Zombies
You will need:
- Either a white or light-coloured dress or button-down shirt. If you’ve opted for a dress, wear a light-coloured long-sleeved top to wear underneath it. For the shirt, pair it with any type of jeans or trousers.
- Scissors for cutting and tearing the dress, shirt or jeans
- Wet dirt and red face paint or fake blood for smearing on the face and ripped clothes
- Green hairspray
- A comb for teasing the hair
- A face paint palette (I mixed white with pale green to create this sickly skin tone)
- Black eyeshadow
- An eyeshadow brush
- Makeup sponges
- Sticks and dried grass for the hair
Google images search for makeup inspiration: Zombie makeup kids
Even the most inexperienced face painter can do Zombie makeup because it doesn’t matter if it’s messy!
Costume idea #4: The creepy clown
You will need:
- A striped or polka-dot T-shirt
- A bowtie
- Oversized trousers
- Long socks
- Oversized shoes
- A colourful wig or coloured hairspray
- A cone-shaped party hat
- A balloon
- A face paint palette
- Make up sponges
- A thin paintbrush
Google images search for makeup inspiration: creepy clown makeup kids
This is another easy make up look. Just do basic clown make up and smear it a little – and don’t forget the thin angry eyebrows!
Costume idea #5: Day of the Dead skeleton
You will need:
- A long dress
- A sarong or shawl
- Fake flowers glued onto a headband
- A face paint palette
- Make up sponges
- A thin paintbrush
Google images search for makeup inspiration: day of the dead makeup kids
And there you have it, Good Sammy has everything you need to make that epic Halloween costume. So, now that you have a shopping list, what are you waiting for? Shop your Halloween costume at your nearest Good Sammy store before it’s too late. You can thank me later when your lolly bucket is overflowing and you’ve won that prize for the most spooktacular costume. Happy trick or treating to all the little monsters!
