Goodwill OC offers tips and tricks for the ultimate Halloween costumes you can create as a family.
Lilo and Stitch
We all know what “ohana” means … it means nobody gets left behind on Halloween fun … right? A Lilo and Stitch group costume is the perfect way for siblings, friends or the whole family to show off their “ohana.”
Creating the perfect costume for your little Lilo is easy and affordable! Find a simple red T-shirt dress and let the DIYing begin. To make the white leaves for Lilo’s iconic red-and-white dress, you can either paint them on or use white duct tape. For a fun Easter egg, you can add a thrifted Elvis vinyl since Lilo’s hero is Elvis and believes he saved people from being monsters. If no one can be a Stitch counterpart, a Stitch plushie would do the trick.
For Stitch, you can skip the specific onesie hunt and get creative. Look for a fluffy blue hoodie or a cozy blue fuzzy top and a pair of leggings. After all, Stitch isn’t a monster — he’s just a one-of-a-kind experiment, just like this costume. There are so many other iconic characters from the movie the whole family can dress alongside as: Cobra Bubbles, Jumba and Pleakley, even Nani and David. Get ready to listen to the “Lilo & Stitch” soundtrack for the next couple of weeks.
Pokemon Trainer
With Pokemon being around for nearly 30 years, this costume has endless possibilities and can be created for all ages and genders — perfect for Pokemon-loving families.
Your child can become any kind of trainer they want with the help of creativity and thrifting. Encourage them to get creative with their look. A good place to start is with the basics: a hat, a backpack or sling bag, and some comfortable sneakers. From there, you can add a vest or jacket to complete their outfit. If your child has a favorite Pokemon “type,” such as Steel-type, Dragon-type or Fairy-type, they can play up their costume to fit that theme.
To finish the look, give them a few Poke Balls and a plush of their favorite Pokemon to carry on their shoulder. For a fun family costume, parents can be the Trainers while the kids dress as their favorite Pokemon, or vice versa. It’s a great way for any Pokemon lover to show off their unique style.
Glinda and Elphaba
There’s no defying the ultimate costume duo like these two iconic witches. Inspired by the hit movie, “Wicked,” costumes for Glinda and Elphaba are set to be the must-have looks this Halloween — perfect for best friends or siblings.
To create a “pop-u-lar” Glinda look, we thrifted a sparkly pink dress. You can also get creative with a pink tutu and a glittery top. Then, just add a simple crown and a star wand.
Elphaba’s outfit can easily be thrifted and “thrillifying.” Thrift a black dress, a cross-body bag and top it all off with her signature pointed witch’s hat. To fully embody the character, don’t forget the green face paint — after all, it’s about embracing her true self. Whether your child wants to be the “Good” witch or the “Wicked” witch, these costumes are a fun and affordable way for them to celebrate Halloween and friendship. Your kids will be “defying gravity” and looking great while doing it.
Laboo-Boo!
Turn your mischievous kiddos into fuzzy, mischievous Labubus for Halloween in just a few simple steps. The easiest method starts with thrifting a comfy foundation — think a fuzzy sweater or soft onesie in a pastel color like pink, blue, lavender. For the face, you have two fun options: Either grab some face paint and create that iconic, sharp-toothed grin or take the simpler route and print out a Labubu face with eye and nose holes to make a quick and easy mask. We wanted to take this costume to the next level and added clothing pieces like overalls or a bucket hat to get that recognizable “farmer Labubu” look.
For a spooky twist, add some glow-in-the-dark paint to transform your Labubu into a “Laboo-Boo!” To top it all off, don’t forget the best detail: Attach a small, matching Labubu plush to your child’s costume or trick-or-treat basket.
KPop Demon Hunters
The “KPop Demon Hunters” movie and music is the summer sensation taking over the world, so your kids might want to slay Halloween costumes and demons this year. Whether they want to channel the girls of HUNTR/X or the boys of the Saja group, get ready to hit the thrift aisles and hunt for those demon-slaying pieces.
You can try to thrift for exact pieces to replicate Rumi, Mira and Zoey, or you can get creative and thrift similar pieces that still give off K-pop star vibes. Focus on bold jackets, unique accessories and colorful hair.
For our Rumi look, we thrifted a mustard yellow long-sleeve jacket, a basic white tee, black shorts and black boots.
For Mira, we found a mustard yellow skirt, a flashy black top and black boots.
For Zoey’s costume, we didn’t have much luck finding an exact top, so we found a more kid-friendly turquoise top that we could add black detailing to. We also thrifted black leather pants and bulky sneakers. To complete this look, we’d just need to add space buns.
Of course, these looks aren’t complete without microphones! Can’t find a mic in a store? Don’t be afraid to substitute it with other items that could play into these K-pop stars’ personalities, like a light-up sword or a cup of instant noodles.
Your kids will be slaying looks more than demons this Halloween!
Halloween Craft: Ghostly Paintings
Transforming thrifted art into spooky Halloween decor is a fantastic craft to do with the whole family. Head to your local Goodwill OC store and look for old, scenic paintings of houses, beaches or cityscapes. These will be the perfect eerie backdrops for your creations. Once you have your canvases, grab some paint and let your imagination run wild. You can add simple, classic white ghosts floating through the scene, a pumpkin patch in the foreground or even a haunted house. It’s a fun, affordable and creative way to add a unique, spooky touch to your Halloween decorations.
Victoria Tran is Goodwill OC’s costume and content expert.
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