October is here, and with it the school dress-up days, the costume parties and the friend who announces a themed night with four days' notice. You could buy a costume in a plastic bag that splits at the seams before midnight. Or you could do what smart shoppers already do: build the whole look from second-hand pieces you will actually wear again. Here is how to put together a Halloween costume in Lebanon without the waste, the itchy polyester or the panic.
Why a second-hand costume beats a boxed one
Boxed costumes are designed to be worn once. The fabric is thin, the fit is guesswork, and by November the whole thing lives at the back of a drawer. A costume built from real clothes is the opposite. A velvet blazer makes a great vampire, and then it makes a great dinner outfit. A long black skirt turns into a witch, then into a staple for the rest of the winter.
That is the quiet logic of thrift shopping in Lebanon: you buy pieces, not props. Pre-loved fashion Lebanon style means the costume is just one of the jobs a garment does in its life, and usually not the last one.
Start with the outline, not the accessories
Most good costumes come down to a silhouette and one or two signature details. Before you go hunting, decide the shape:
- Long and dark for witches, vampires, wizards and anything gothic: maxi skirts, long coats, capes, dark dresses.
- Sharp and tailored for detectives, gangsters, spies and secret agents: blazers, trench coats, waistcoats, a crisp shirt.
- Bright and loud for decades looks like the 70s and 80s: patterned shirts, flared trousers, oversized jackets, bold prints.
- Soft and simple for animals and characters: a solid-colour sweater or hoodie in the right shade does most of the work.
Once you know the outline, the rails stop being overwhelming. You are looking for one colour and one shape, not a miracle.
Five costumes you can build from a thrift rail
The witch
A long black or deep green dress, a fitted cardigan, a fringed scarf and ankle boots. Add a hat and you are done. Browse our dresses for something long and dark, and keep wearing it all winter with a chunky knit.
The detective
A trench coat or long camel coat, a shirt, a tie or a silk scarf, and tailored trousers. The coat is the hero piece, and it is the one you will thank yourself for in January.
The 70s night
Wide-leg trousers, a printed blouse with a big collar and a waistcoat. Second-hand is the natural home of this look because half of it is genuinely vintage already. Check our tops for prints and collars.
The vampire
A dark blazer, a white shirt with a ruffle or high collar, and something red: a scarf, a pocket square, a lipstick. Smart enough for a party, easy to wear again without anyone noticing it was ever a costume.
The black cat (or any animal)
One solid sweater or turtleneck, matching trousers or leggings, and a headband with ears. The ears are the only real prop, and that is fine. The rest is a perfectly good outfit.
Kids' costumes without the one-night tantrum
Kids grow out of costumes faster than they grow out of shoes, which makes them the best argument for second-hand. School dress-up days in Lebanon tend to come with short notice, so a few tips:
- Build from comfortable everyday clothes so the costume survives a full school day of running and sitting.
- Pick a base layer your child can wear again: a striped top for a pirate, a solid hoodie for a dinosaur, a tutu skirt for a fairy.
- Avoid anything with loose small parts for younger children, and check that hats and capes do not tie tightly at the neck.
Our kids and baby collection is a good starting point for the base pieces. When the costume season ends, the clothes keep going.
A quick shopping plan
- Shop early. New items arrive in collection drops every 15 days, so the first half of October gives you two chances to find the right piece.
- Bring the colour, not the costume. Screenshot your idea and shop by colour and shape. You will spot useful pieces in sections you would never have checked.
- Think after-life first. Ask yourself where the piece goes in November. If the answer is nowhere, skip it.
- Check fit honestly. Costumes get danced in. Sit, raise your arms and move in the fitting room.
- Look at new with tags. Some of our pieces have never been worn at all. Browse new with tags if you want something crisp.
Already have the perfect costume pieces? Consign them
That sequinned jacket you wore once, the cape from three Halloweens ago, the 80s blazer someone gave you: if they are in good condition, someone else is looking for exactly that right now. At our consignment store in Lebanon, the commission is a flat 50/50, every piece is inspected, cleaned, steamed, photographed and honestly described, and prices step down on a clear markdown ladder if a piece needs more time. The details are all on our supplier terms page. October is a good month to bring statement pieces in.
Come and build your look in Dekwaneh
The best second-hand costume is the one you put together with your hands on the fabric. Come to our thrift store near Beirut, second-hand Dekwaneh at its friendliest, and dig through the rails with a plan in mind. We are open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sundays by appointment only. Prefer to browse from the couch? Online orders can be inspected at delivery and refused before you pay. Questions are always welcome at hello@whygoless.com or on Instagram at @whygoless.
