Now that’s spooky! The best homemade Halloween costumes from back in the day

Walk into any craft store these days and you’ll see there is no shortage of choice when it comes to kids’ Halloween costumes. They can be everything from a realistic version of their dream job to their favourite TV character, with every single detail perfected to a tee.

But choosing the right outfit wasn’t always so easy for kids around the spooky season. Costumes weren’t always that readily available and more often than not, parents were stuck with the responsibility of recreating a dream outfit out of a few, everyday household items.

Many outfits made a few years ago have stood the test of time like the classic cowboy or wicked witch, while others slowly died out as the selection has broadened. The simple sheet over the head with a few eye holes cut out to make a very lacklustre ghost has definitely been long forgotten as kids can literally get their hands on any and every costume they think of!

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Times changed pretty quickly when rubber masks started making their way onto the scene back in the 1960s and ’70s as they finally gave kids the freedom to be whoever they wanted. Although they were quite sweaty, had a distinct chemical rubber smell and definitely restricted breathing, they took a costume from good to great.

Parents on a budget quickly discovered that nothing else worked quite as well for a universal costume than a bin liner with some head and arm holes carefully poked through the top and sides. And if you wanted to add a bit of pizzazz, a colourful tie around the waist was more than necessary. Finally, top it all off with the rubber mask of whoever the child wanted to be that weekend and they were good to go.

Scary goblins and ghouls were all the rage with parents fixing outfits out of ponchos, stockings, scarves and whatever else they could find lying around the house. Witches were also an easy go-to as a makeshift pointed hat could be strung up with everything from cardboard to aluminium foil, and for those going the extra mile, stringy hair could be created from a mop head.

Paper towel rolls came in handy when forming a robot by sliding them onto the upper arms and you couldn’t forget the empty cardboard box to make a body. Meanwhile superheroes were also starting to gain traction – although not in the same way they are today.

The sky is the limit for children today who want to celebrate Halloween dressed as their favourite superhero when all they need to do is buy the cheap, replicated costume from any arts and crafts store. And parents are also off the hook when it comes to these elaborate costumes.

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However, one modern mum impressed the internet recently when she crocheted her child’s own Alien inspired costume with no pattern in sight! The impressive outfit proved that a homemade Halloween costume didn’t have to be as bland as most Boomers would remember.

Although they may have lacked the intricacies they have today, costumes from the past took plenty of thought and care, and half the fun was in creating something exciting out of nothing. Without the box robots and ghosts made from sheets, there would have never been the exciting outfits the grandkids know and love today!