How to Make an Old Halloween Costume like New

As Halloween approaches, you may find yourself struggling with the decision to create or buy a costume. On one hand, buying a new costume can be expensive, especially if you have more than one kid. But, it can also be easy to go to the store and get it out of the way. On the other hand, you can recycle or reuse and old costume. However, your kid(s) may not like using last year's costume, particularly if it belonged to someone else.

To prevent the feeling of being shafted that younger siblings feel, there are a few things that you can to make an "old" Halloween costume like new. The first thing is to let them add their own personality to the costume. Everyone has their own style, let them show it off. Or, you can buy a few new items for the ensemble. This will make the costume feel like new on Halloween without costing as much as an all-new costume. Another suggestion, if you are handy with a needle and thread, is to alter the costume in some way.

Add Your Kid's Personality

Every kid has a different personality. Allow your child to personalize the costume by adding accessories to the costume with items that they like. Let them pick out items that you have at home that include their favorite color, jewelry, or accessories. If you cannot find items that match your Halloween costume at home, allow your child to go to the store

Buy a Few New Items

Even if you are trying to save money by recycling a costume, you can still make it feel new by adding some new pieces. If you have a cheerleader, you can add new pom-poms, hair bows, or even glittery accessories. For a vampire, you can add new teeth (which is the most sanitary), nails, and face paint.

Cut, Sew, or Make it Grow

Any costume, no matter what it is, can be altered to make it new. If you have a long, princess gown, cut it to make it a short fairy dress. If you have a plain football uniform, sew on your child's name on the back to personalize it. If your costume is short, you can make it grow from knee length to floor length. This can either keep the look of the costume or it can be create something new.

With a little creativity, you can make any Halloween costume look like new. Often times, you can even make it look better than new! Every Halloween costume in a store looks just like hundreds of others. By picking a costume that was not created this season, you increase your chances of not looking just like everyone else. Encourage your child to take a risk this Halloween and put their personality into a costume without breaking the bank.