Storage Solutions: Halloween Costumes
I have always enjoyed Halloween. It is the one day a year where is is acceptable to wear almost anything you like. There are so many fun things to try including clothing, wigs, masks, props, and a variety of accessories such as jewelry, contact lenses, false fingernails and makeup.
After the holiday is over, you need to make a decision about what to do with your costume materials. If your costume was particularly fantastic, expensive or original, you may be inclined to keep it around. If your costume was cheap or became damaged during your festivities, the trash may be the only spot for it. If you are not sure whether to keep your costume or not, the following questions may help you make the decision:
(In the business environment, you might not be storing Halloween costumes but you might have ceremonial garments, uniforms or other special clothing items to store. The same principles apply.)
- How likely is it that anyone will ever wear the costume again?
- How easy is it to replace the costume if you ever did need it again?
- If you are inclined to keep the costume for sentimental reasons, is there some other way to preserve the memory without the costume?
Factors Supporting Keeping a Costume:
- The costume is expensive or would be expensive/impossible to reproduce.
- The costume was made by a famous/important person.
- The costume is one-of-a-kind or unusual.
- The costume was worn by a famous person or is part of a historical event.
- After considering alternatives to preserve the memory of the event (see below) you decide that the costume is essential.
- You are willing to incur the time and expense of storing the costume properly.
Factors Against Keeping a Costume:
- The costume is an unusual size that will be difficult for anyone else to wear.
- The costume is commonly available and would be easy to repurchase or rent next year inexpensively.
- The costume has parts to it that will be difficult to store and/or parts that may disintegrate over time.
- You don’t have the time, money or space to store the costume properly.
Alternatives to Keeping Your Costume
If there are no factors in favor of keeping your Halloween costume but you are having trouble parting with it, here are some alternatives to consider (inspired by Peter Walsh’s “It’s All Too Much”):
- Have a professional portrait taken of your child in the costume or take your own photos from various angles to document the costume. If you, your child or any future member of your family wants to recreate the costume, the photos could be used by a professional seamstress or costume designer.
- Hire an artist to draw your child in costume. My father did this for my daughter’s first Halloween and her one-year-old flower fairy likeness smiles at me in our family room.
- Frame a portion of the costume (a piece of jewelry, a section of the cloth, a key accessory, etc.)
- Write a story or poem about the costume. Sometimes the story behind the costume (why it was chosen, how it was made, what happened while the wearer was wearing the costume) is the more important memory that we want to remember—not the costume itself.
- If you would take delight in seeing the costume used again and can stand to see the costume damaged, stained, ripped, etc. allow your children to use it as a dress-up costume or donate it to a local school or community theater group.
Storing Your Costume
If you decide to keep the costume, bear in mind the following tips:
- Wash your costume and all accessories to remove dirt and oils. Be careful about using modern detergents if your costume is vintage or delicate.
- Determine the appropriate storage method for your costume (hanging it up, folding and storing it in a box, etc.) For tips and advice on how to properly preserve clothing, see:
*”Care and Conservation of Costumes and Textiles” brochure from Icon, the Institute of Conservation.
*”How to Store a Wig” by eHow - Determine where in your home you will store the costume. Keep in mind that you want an area that is clean, dry and dark. The basement or the garage may not be the best choice.
- Find an appropriate storage container if needed. Some possible choices:
Do you plan to keep your costume this year? If yes, how will you store it? Please feel free to share in the comments. Wishing you a festive Halloween!