Build a Halloween Costume Closet: Everyday Pieces You Can Reuse for Multiple Costumes By Ainsly Griggs

By Ainsly Griggs

I’ve always been someone who loves Halloween and dressing up. But that doesn’t mean I don’t cringe every time I add some unnecessary piece of clothing to my cart that I know I’ll never wear again. Because what happens afterward? I put it away in a bin to collect dust, or I give it to Goodwill?

The system is flawed.

But worry not! There are two solutions to this problem. You could pull the classic “Halloween costumes I can grab from my closet” trick: wear all black and be a vampire or a cat for the third year in a row. Or, you could be smart about it and invest in a few staple costume pieces that might not belong in your everyday wardrobe but are guaranteed to come in handy for Halloween.

I present to you: the must-have Halloween pieces that will keep your costume options alive for years to come.

Chapter One: The Power of a White Button-Up

The difference: Button-up or button-down? Does it matter?

If you’re curious about the difference between the two, here it is: A button-up shirt is any shirt with buttons running down the front placket. For those of you who aren’t familiar with niche garment terminology (e.g., aglet), a placket is a finished opening in a garment that holds the buttons and buttonholes.

A traditional button-down shirt, on the other hand, is a specific type of button-up shirt featuring small buttons that fasten the collar points to the body of the shirt.

All this is to say: It doesn’t really matter. For our purposes, either will do.

The white button-up is the holy grail for movie and TV lovers this Halloween. Regardless of your personal style or profession, a white dress shirt is a good thing to have in your closet. Given how common the garment is in everyday life, it also appears in the wardrobes of countless iconic characters. In fact, there are some costumes where the shirt is practically the entire ensemble. Just look at Tom Cruise in Risky Business.

But you can’t be Tom Cruise every year, so why not try something different?

Here are some of my favorite costume possibilities:

• Tom Cruise in Risky Business: Pair the shirt with underwear, socks, and sunglasses for the iconic look.
• Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction: Add black trousers, a black bob wig, and red lipstick.
• Mrs. Smith from Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Pair the shirt with a fitted outfit and red boots for a fierce action-inspired look.
• Serena van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl: Go for an effortlessly chic, Upper East Side-inspired outfit.
• Britney Spears in “Oops!... I Did It Again”: Re-create the iconic music-video look with red accents and matching accessories.
• McLovin from Superbad: Add a name tag, glasses, and dark trousers for a funny, recognizable costume.
• Patrick Bateman from American Psycho: Pair the shirt with a suit, slicked-back hair, and a prop business card.
• The Narrator from Fight Club: Add a tie and a name tag for a simple, understated costume.
• Clark Kent / Superman: Wear the shirt under a suit and reveal a Superman logo underneath.
• A Man in Black: Pair the shirt with a black suit, tie, and dark sunglasses for a sleek, minimalist look.

The beauty of the white button-up is that it can take you to any movie set, whether it be from Wall Street, a high school hallway, or even the safety of your own home. It’s a costume staple that works just as well outside of October, making it one of the easiest pieces to justify buying.

Chapter Two: Denim Overalls

Maybe you don’t have a nine-to-five. Maybe you like to get your hands dirty. Maybe you already have a pair of ratty old painter’s overalls tucked away in your closet.

If you don’t, you should consider getting some, because overalls are a must-have for Halloween.

I was sitting across from my boyfriend at dinner as we discussed what we wanted to be for Halloween this year. I suggested Daisy and Luigi because, naturally, I wanted to dress as a princess. And I already knew what his response would be.

“This will give me an excuse to buy denim overalls.”

Honestly, fair enough.

I bought a pair of overall shorts when I wanted to dress as Maxine, Mia Goth’s character in X. But I could have just as easily worn traditional denim overalls and reused them for a Pearl costume, too. Both characters work on a farm, so the overalls would have fit right in.

And if you want to lean into the farm aesthetic, you have plenty of other options.

Here are some of my favorite costume possibilities:

• Maxine from X: Pair overall shorts with a simple top for a look inspired by Mia Goth’s character.
• Pearl from Pearl: Use denim overalls as the base of a farm-inspired costume, adding a vintage-style top and the right accessories.
• A Farmer: Add a plaid shirt, boots, and a straw hat.
• A Scarecrow: Pair the overalls with a plaid shirt, a straw hat, and a little face paint.
• A Minion from Despicable Me: Add a yellow shirt, goggles, and black gloves.
• Chucky: Pair the overalls with a colorful striped shirt, red hair, and freckles.
• The Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: Add mouse ears and a cookie prop for a cute, more niche costume.
• Angel Food Cake from Strawberry Shortcake: Use the overalls as a base and add pastel accessories to capture the character’s sweet aesthetic.
• Mario or Luigi from Super Mario: Add a red or green shirt, a matching hat, and a fake mustache.
• Daisy and Luigi: Coordinate with your partner by pairing Luigi’s overalls with a Daisy-inspired princess costume.

There is a reason they are called painter’s overalls, because when it comes to costumes, they’re a blank canvas.

Chapter Three: Angel Wings

I don’t want you to think this entire article is about costume pieces that can easily be worn as everyday clothes. The goal here isn’t to build a capsule wardrobe.

That’s why angel wings are next on our list.

First, a warning: While angel wings can be very cute, I do not recommend wearing them to a packed Halloween party, a rave, or anywhere with tight spaces or a mosh pit. The wings will get wrecked, and, with love, you will become the most annoying person at the function.

However, if you’re planning something more low-key or intend to take the wings off after the pictures, there are plenty of cute costume options.

Let’s say you decide to be an angel one year, but you’re hesitant to buy wings you’ll never wear again. Problem solved. The following year, you put on red and become Cupid. The year after that, pair them with a ballerina outfit for a whimsical white-swan-inspired look. You can even coordinate with your partner and be the angel to their cowboy. Or, if you want to keep the theme of love going, take inspiration from Juliet in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet.

The list goes on.

Here are some ways to reuse your wings:

• An Angel: Pair white wings with a white dress, a halo, and simple makeup for the classic costume.
• Cupid: Wear red or pink, add a bow and arrow, and turn your angel wings into a love-inspired look.
• A White Swan: Pair the wings with a white tutu, a fitted white top, and ballet-inspired makeup.
• An Angel to Your Partner’s Cowboy: Coordinate with your partner for a classic opposites-attract costume.
• Juliet from Romeo + Juliet (1996): Take inspiration from the film’s romantic, ethereal aesthetic with a flowing dress and delicate wings.
• Felix from Saltburn: If your wings are on their last legs or you don’t mind a little spray paint, transform them with gold paint for a golden-winged look inspired by the film.
• A Blue Macaw from Rio: Use blue spray paint on suitable wings and pair them with blue clothing and colorful accessories.
• Another Bird of Your Choice: Depending on the color of your wings, you could create a bird-inspired costume with matching clothing and accessories.

The feathers are your sanctuary. Just remember to use paint suitable for the material, follow the product’s safety instructions, and protect your workspace.

Chapter Four: The Leather Jacket

This is for the people who see Halloween as an opportunity to dress like a badass. That being said, if this piece is solely for Halloween purposes, I highly recommend buying faux leather. We’re just trying to have fun here, so let’s keep it affordable and sustainable.

Here are some of my favorite costume possibilities:

• Danny Zuko / A Greaser: Slick back your hair, add a white T-shirt and jeans, and suddenly you’re ready for a summer lovin’ kind of night.
• A Biker: If you don’t want to commit to a specific character, a leather jacket, jeans, and boots will do the trick.
• The Terminator: Or, if you want to be a future killer robot who happens to ride a bike and be extremely buff, channel the Terminator.
• Buffy Summers: For a badass look with a little femme fatale energy, take inspiration from Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a fitted jacket, boots, and a stake.
• Rosa Diaz: If you’re a Brooklyn Nine-Nine fan, pair your jacket with dark jeans and boots, add a badge, and suddenly you’re Rosa Diaz.
• Lady Gaga in “Telephone”: If you don’t want to dress as a movie or TV character, recreate one of Lady Gaga’s iconic looks from the “Telephone” music video, complete with cigarette-covered glasses and a fierce leather jacket.

Chapter Five: The Black Corset

There is a lot of stigma around the black Amazon corset and how it is basic because everyone has it, but everyone has it for a reason; it rocks. While Amazon isn’t the preferred primary source for costume clothing, these corsets last a long time and can be reused for infinite costumes.

It can be romantic, gothic, theatrical, or downright terrifying, depending on what you pair it with.

Here are some of my favorite costume possibilities:

• Olive Penderghast: Channel Emma Stone’s character from Easy A with a black corset-inspired look and a red letter A.
• The Black Swan: Add a black tutu, dark eye makeup, and feathered details for a dramatic Black Swan costume.
• A Black Cat: Pair the corset with black trousers or a skirt, cat ears, and a tail.
• A Pirate: Add a billowy white shirt, boots, and a bandana.
• A Vampire: Bring out the dark lipstick, pale makeup, and a dramatic cape.
• A Clown: Go for a creepy or theatrical clown look with exaggerated makeup and contrasting accessories.
• Billy the Puppet from Saw: Add a white shirt, dark trousers, and red bow-tie details for a look inspired by the iconic horror character.
• Catwoman: Pair it with black leggings, a mask, and boots for a sleek, feline-inspired costume.
• A Magician: Add a top hat, a cape, and a deck of cards.
• A Dark Angel: Combine the corset with dark wings, dramatic makeup, and boots.
• A Cabaret-Inspired Look: Add fishnets, a bowler hat, and bold stage makeup.
• Pamela Anderson in Pam & Tommy: Take inspiration from her '90s style with a corset-inspired top, voluminous hair, and dramatic makeup.
• A Steampunk Rocker: Add metallic accessories, layered jewelry, and boots for a futuristic Victorian-inspired look.
• Tom Holland Performing “Umbrella”: Re-create his memorable Lip Sync Battle performance with a black corset-inspired top, a short skirt, and a long wig.

You could build an entirely new costume around the same corset each year. The trick is to change the silhouette, accessories, and makeup so that the piece feels like part of a new character rather than a repeat outfit.

Chapter Six: The White Tutu

While many of you may look at a tutu and think, “When will I ever wear that again?” There’s something about a tutu that makes even the simplest costume look intentional. Just because a costume is last-minute doesn’t mean it has to look last-minute.

Whether you want to be a ballerina, a fairy-tale character, or something a little more sinister, a white tutu is surprisingly versatile. And it screams Halloween.

Here are a few ideas:

• Carrie Bradshaw: Re-create the iconic opening credits look from Sex and the City with a white tutu, a fitted tank top, and heels.
• A Ghost: Pair the tutu with a white top, pale makeup, and a ghostly expression for a playful twist on a classic.
• A Clown: Combine it with colorful accessories and exaggerated makeup, or make it creepy with darker details.
• Pennywise: Use the tutu as part of a clown-inspired costume with a ruffled top, red accents, and theatrical makeup.
• A Sugar Plum Fairy: Add a fitted bodice, ballet flats, and a tiara for a classic fairy-tale look.

A white tutu is especially useful if you already own a few basic tops and accessories. It can become the foundation of a costume rather than an item you wear once and forget about.

Chapter Seven: A White Dress

Ladies, I know you have that one white graduation dress sitting in the closet, here’s the time to put it to use.

If the white button-up is the holy grail of costume basics, the white dress is its more glamorous counterpart.

A white dress can be innocent, romantic, vintage, or downright unsettling. It can make you look like a princess or a bride, and, with the right makeup and accessories, it can take a much darker turn.

Here are a few ways to reuse one:

• A Bride: Add a veil, a bouquet, and white heels for a classic bridal look.
• Marilyn Monroe: Choose a white dress inspired by her iconic pleated halter dress, then add blonde curls and red lipstick.
• Mia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries: Take inspiration from one of Mia’s elegant looks with a white dress, a tiara, and a polished hairstyle.
• The Bride from Kill Bill: Pair a white dress with a dark jacket or accessories for a costume inspired by the film’s wedding imagery.
• Princess Leia: Choose a simple white dress, add Leia’s signature side buns, and you have an instantly recognizable character.
• Bride of Chucky: Give the bridal look a darker twist with dramatic makeup, a leather jacket, and chunky boots.
• Wilma Flintstone: Look for a simple, one-shouldered white dress and add a chunky necklace and an orange wig.
• Maria from West Side Story: Go for a simple white dress with a soft, romantic silhouette, add a red bow around the waist, and you’re good to go.
• The White Queen: Add a crown, silver accessories, and dramatic makeup for a regal, icy look.
• A Ghostly Bride: Combine the dress with a veil, pale makeup, and darkened eyes for a spooky variation on the traditional bride costume.

Sometimes, a single recognizable accessory is enough to pull the look together.

Overall takeaway is this: shop smarter, but enjoy yourself.

Halloween is supposed to be fun. It’s an excuse to get creative, dress up as your favorite characters, and spend a night being someone else. But that doesn’t mean you need to buy an entirely new wardrobe every October.

The next time you’re tempted to add a costume-specific piece to your cart, ask yourself a simple question:
Can I use this for something else?

The goal isn’t to stop buying costumes altogether. It’s to build a collection of pieces that make getting dressed up easier, cheaper, and more creative every year.

Because the best Halloween costume closet isn’t necessarily the biggest one. It’s the one that keeps giving you new ideas long after the decorations come down.