Halloween is Saturday 31 October. If you're sorting a costume for a small person who will wear it for one night (and maybe a week of dress-ups after), a second-hand Halloween costume for kids makes a lot of sense. We've just listed a small rack of them, all pre-loved and checked by hand, from $10.
Is it okay to buy second-hand Halloween costumes?
Yes. Kids' costumes get very little wear, usually one party or one night of trick-or-treating, so most are still in good shape when they're outgrown. The things worth checking are the same ones you'd check on any pre-loved clothing: the size, the zips and fastenings, and any marks.
How do I know if it will fit?
Start with the size tag. Character costumes usually list an age range and a height range, and the height range is the more useful of the two. Our Captain Jack Sparrow costumes, for example, list 95 to 120cm for the 3-5 size and 115 to 135cm for the 6-8.
Some costumes have no size tag at all. Our five plush animal onesies are like this: they're a roomy one-size style with a zip front, best for toddlers and preschoolers. If you're unsure, a costume that's a little big is easier to work with than one that's too small. Sleeves roll up; legs don't stretch.
What should I look for in the photos?
Look for close-ups of anything worth knowing. Two of our onesies have small marks (a couple of pale worn patches on the elephant, a few faint yellowish marks on the zebra), and both are photographed and priced to match. If a listing only shows the front, it's fair to ask about the back.
How do I freshen up a pre-loved costume?
Follow the care label. Plush onesies like a gentle cycle and a line dry. Keep foam pieces, like the Sharkboy chest plate, out of the dryer, and give plastic masks a wipe with a damp cloth.
What's in the Halloween drop
- Sharkboy costume, kids size S ($35): the official Sharkboy and Lavagirl costume, with every piece: jumpsuit, padded shark-teeth chest, fin hood, clawed gloves and boot covers.
- Captain Jack Sparrow, size 3-5 ($16) and size 6-8 ($18): the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean costume, with vest-and-shirt top, pants, sash and red headscarf.
- Captain America, size 3-5 ($20): padded muscle chest with the hood mask.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles masks, full team of 4 ($16): Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo. There's also a spare Donatello and Michelangelo pair ($9).
- Plush animal onesies ($10 to $12): giraffe, lion, crocodile, elephant and zebra.
Each costume is one of a kind, so when it's gone, it's gone. Buy 2 costumes, get 15% off: it comes off automatically at checkout until 31 October, which makes it easy to sort siblings or a group costume in one order. Standard shipping is free on orders over $50 too.
Play It Forward
Every costume came to us through Play It Forward, our community toy drive, and profits from Play It Forward toys go to the Trilogy Foundation Canterbury Bankstown.
