HAPPY GREEN HALLOWEEN

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HAPPY GREEN HALLOWEEN

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Did you know that Halloween costumes account for 12 million tons of landfill waste, every year? ​
That is why, this year I decided to do the #HallowGreenChallenge. 

Halloween is just one of the many holidays that has been turned into a shopping opportunity, by this disposable society we live in. Luckily, there are many steps you can take towards being more sustainable, without missing out on the fun. You can reuse, rent, or borrow costumes. You can also make your costumes out of clothes you don't use anymore, or anything you find at home, really.

I usually create my costumes using stuff I already have in my closet. When I come up with costume ideas, I start by looking through what I already have, and try to pick a character that doesn't take too much resources​ to pull off.
​If you look at the "Halloween Costume inspo" post I share every year, you will find that most of the costumes are put together from clothes already found in people’s closets (Some are rented, or bought new for the occasion, though).

​This year I didn't have the opportunity to go all in on my Halloween costume, but I still wanted to do the #HallowGreenChallenge. So, I just reused my "I need to dress up for Halloween at work" costume. It's obviously a black cat costume, but after seeing the mini-photoshoot we did, I realise it looks more like a "crazy cat lady" costume. 

​Below, I've listed some of my costumes from previous years that are all at least 90% put together from stuff I already had in my closet. If you just plan ahead a little, it's not that hard to keep halloween green. No pun intended!

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​Wednesday Addams
This black dress was one I usually used at work, and so was the black top underneath.
The shirt collar was made from a stained shirt that was unsalvageable​, so I repurposed it, cut off the top part, and attached it to the dress. The shirt was oversize and too bulky to use underneath the dress, the way it was.
I used regular black, solid pantyhose and some old ballerina shoes to complete this look.
The black earrings were also something I found in my accessories collection.
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The only part of this costume that was bought new for the occasion, was the black hairspray and the black contact lenses. 

​Turanga Leela
The tank top is just one of my regular basic tops.
I used my yoga pants for the black bottoms.
The shoes were my old faithful Dr.Martens boots.
The cardboard computer bracelet, was made out of two envelopes I had lying around that I never got around to using. The details were drawn on with a magic marker.
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The only part of this costume that was bought new for the occasion, was the purple hairspray, the cyclops eye mask I made using anti-slip for table cloth and an elastic band (the details were drawn on with a magic marker). 

Lara Croft
The t-shirt was bought in Hawaii in 2011, and something from my every day wardrobe.
The shorts are a pair I use under dresses when it's hot outside, to prevent my thighs from rubbing together and give me a rash.
The shoes are just my regular every day Dr.Martens boots that I wear with everything.
The top gun holster thing, are just some black suspenders.
The black belt, is also just a regular elastic belt.
The straps for the gun holsters on the legs, were made with some leftover elastic band, from a previous sewing project.

The only partly new thing on this costume, was the home made holsters made out of a patent makeup bag that I bought for the occasion. I've kept those for later use, as they can work with other costumes too. I usually keep some of my outdated clothes and things for the purpose of using it for costumes. I grew up with a big bag of dress-up clothes in the attic, so having costumes lying around for when you might need them, is a very normal thing to me.

​Agent Romanoff
I borrowed the faux leather jacket from a friend. So, If you don’t have everything you need in your closet, why not borrow from a friend? Renting a costume is also a good and eco-friendly idea.
​The tank top underneath is just another one of my basic tank tops.
The faux leather pants are mine, and piece I’ve had in my wardrobe for a good few years. They are my edgy pants for days when I feel extra spicy, and has come in real handy for Halloween a couple of times too.
The gun holsters are the same home made ones, I used for the Lara Croft costume.
The belt is also the same one from the Lara Croft costume.
The knee high boots, are just a pair of my more classy winter boots.
The cut off gloves are also something I've had for years, that I still use.
My hair was already red, so that's why I picked this costume that year. 
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The only part of this costume that was made new for the occasion, was the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D shoulder badge. It was printed on paper and connected with duct tape.

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A Carrot
The hat and carrot suit are all rented. The sunglasses are my own. All rented from Norwegian Film Studio Costume Storage.
This could also be easily done with just all orange clothes. Like an orange dress or orange top and pants, and a green hat. 
Or go all out and make an orange "dress" and sew it in a carrot shape between the legs, leave holes for the legs. Wear black leggings and a green wig for the frizzy top.

On this costume, nothing was new. Either all mine or rented.

Angel
Here's an old one from 2004. It's all home made/DIY and made for our high school fashion show. Here I am wearing it on the runway.
​I made a white top and tutu skirt, using shiny white fabric and tulle. Then I shaped steel wire to create the shape of the wings, covered them with an old pair of pantyhose to have something to connect the feathers to, and sewed on every feather one at a time by hand. It took forever, but it was so worth it because it made the wings looked so realistic. Finally, I added leftover satin ribbon so I could wear the wings as a "backpack". 
This could also be easily done with just all white clothes, and make wings out of leftovers or cardboard. 

On this costume everything was kind of new, but home made and partly made from leftover stuff.

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The Future Warrior
The top is made out of my sports bra and a skirt, the harness is suspenders, also wearing black gloves, and the bottoms are leggings. All just regular every day clothes I've had for long time.
The pink wig is something I also already had, from a previous costume party some years earlier.
I did a futuristic inspired makeup look, the scars were drawn on with an eyeliner, and then I added some dirt that I made with eyeshadow.

My friend was electrocuted, as you can tell. Also all home made. Wear ripped up clothing, add dirt, bring an electrical plug or old wire, make your hair look messy and big. 

On this costume, nothing was new.

​The Cat lady
The top and leggings are just regular every day clothes I've had for long time.
The fluffy socks, I've had for a good while too.
The cat ears and tail, was bought 7 years ago and have been well used.
The whiskers and a snout was drawn on with an eyeliner.
The Halloween pumpkin light holder, is just a part of my Halloween decorations that I pull out every year.
The cat has lived with me for while now. His name is Friday, which is also kind of in the Halloween spirit (Friday the 13th and all). A lot of people think he's named after man Friday from Robinson Crusoe, but I actually named him after Wednesday Addams. Only I changed it to Friday instead, since he was born on a friday and on top of that I got him on a friday too. In case anyone wondered? 

On this costume, nothing was new. Even the nail polish was an old one.

The #HallowGreenChallenge, was started by the brand Mont Pellier, @mpellierfashion. To see more, you can go to their Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/mpellierfashion/

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FOR MORE HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS, CLICK HERE.

HAVE A HAPPY AND SCARY HALLOWEEN,
​ALL HALLOWS EVE and DIA DE LOS MUERTOS.
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#HallowGreenChallenge

(The photos in this post are my own, and taken at the Halloween parties I've been to for the past few years.) ​