Costume trends and how to recreate them at thrift-store prices.
Shrek Family
Step straight out of the swamp and into Far Far Away with an epic Shrek crew! With so many iconic characters to choose from, a Shrek theme is a perfect option for a family of any size. Easily thrift the core pieces — a neon green top and brown pants for Shrek, a dark green velvet dress for Fiona, a gray dress for Donkey, an orange shirt with brown shorts for Puss in Boots and a bold, red dress for Fairy Godmother. Then, top off the look with Goodwill OC’s Halloween new goods using ears, a pirate hat and hook, a magic wand and fairy wings to bring these all-star characters to life.
Survivor Crew
Outwit, outplay and out-treat the neighborhood as the orange tribe. We built this entire squad look around simple, thrifted basics. Just grab orange tank tops with denim or athletic shorts for the big kids and parents, plus a sweet, orange floral dress to keep the baby looking outdoorsy and adorable. Add comfy thrifted tennis shoes and slap on an orange buff for the ultimate competition-ready look. Top it all off with your own DIY or toy torches to light the way on trick-or-treat night.
Bumblebee & Ladybug
This sweet bug duo is equal parts adorable and effortless for sisters or a mother-daughter combo. For the bumblebee, we layered a thrifted yellow sweater with flowy yellow pants and matching shoes, then amped up the bug vibes with a black-and-yellow striped accessory pack from Goodwill OC’s Halloween new goods. For the ladybug, we paired a bright red dress with a sleek black jacket and red flats featuring sparkly bows. Add cute dotted face paint and antenna headbands to complete the look, and this sweet pair is ready to buzz around the neighborhood.
Spider-Verse Family
Web-sling through the neighborhood as a multi-generational Spider-Verse family. We built this look with a relaxed Spider-Man T-shirt for a parent or older sibling and an easy bodysuit for the little hero. To tie the whole team together, we thrifted matching red Converse for that final Spidey detail. Throw on your favorite masks or face paint, and you’re ready for an effortless night of trick-or-treating.
Royal Princesses
Get ready for a truly magical night of trick-or-treating with a vibrant fairytale trio. We thrifted Mom a gorgeous silk dress for total Tiana energy. For Ariel, we scored sea-breeze green scale leggings paired with a bright purple swimsuit top. And for Aurora, we found a gorgeous pink dress that looks straight out of a storybook. Throw on some sparkly tiaras, grab your favorite plush sidekicks, and you’re ready for a magical night.
Super Mario Galaxy Gang
Take your Mushroom Kingdom crew straight into outer space. With all the hype around Nintendo’s latest movie release this year, stepping out as the Super Mario gang is one of the hottest costume ideas of the season. Thrift classic blue overalls with vibrant red-and-green tees for Mario and Luigi to set the stage. For the royal crew, we scored a pink puffed-sleeve dress that screamed Princess Peach, along with a bright teal-blue dress for a cosmic Rosalina. Finish off the transformation with drawn-on mustaches, plus brand-new white gloves and a gold wand from Goodwill OC’s Halloween section. Just like that, your squad is ready to level up past the typical Mario Bros outfit.
Soccer Player
Soccer fever hit an all-time high this summer with the World Cup hosted right here in North America. Channeling that energy into a soccer player costume keeps Halloween effortless, comfy and a total crowd-pleaser for the whole family. Simply thrift activewear, a favorite team jersey, soccer shorts, cleats and tall athletic socks. Complete the look with a thrifted soccer ball or a whistle to referee your family’s trick-or-treating route.
Inside Out Emotions
Bring all the big feelings out with an Inside Out crew! This colorful group concept is effortless to pull off using simple thrifted pieces. We thrifted a bright yellow dress for Joy, a red flame-print shirt for Anger, head-to-toe deep blue for Sadness, a sweet green dress for Envy, and an orange-and-white striped shirt for Anxiety. Simply pair brown pants with both Anger and Anxiety, and toss on black round glasses for Sadness to complete the squad. It’s a super fun, relatable group costume guaranteed to create core memories.
Queen or King of Hearts
Rule Halloween night in royal style with a bold Queen or King of Hearts look. The star of this outfit is a statement thrifted top featuring a four-quadrant pattern — split between solid black, solid red, black-and-white checkerboard, and red-and-white checkerboard. Elevate the dramatic storybook aesthetic with brand-new accessories straight from Goodwill OC, including a flowing red, hooded cape and a decorated red or sleek black masquerade mask. It works brilliantly for a power couple, a parent-child duo or a full royal family ensemble ready to command the neighborhood.
Super Heroes
Suiting up a squad of kids in brand-new Marvel costumes gets expensive quickly, but thrifting makes it surprisingly easy and budget-friendly. We found these vibrant bodysuits of various heroes — all in great shape since kids outgrow them so fast. Just add a few basic accessories to complete the set, pair them with comfy sneakers, and your tiny-hero team is ready to hit the pavement for trick-or-treating.
Victoria Tran is thrifting expert at Goodwill of Orange County.
