UW-Madison students set $100 limit on Halloween costumes

Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are limiting their Halloween spending to a maximum of $100 per person. This self-imposed cap aims to avoid the higher costs associated with buying new outfits from retailers like Shein or Spirit Halloween. The limit is set against a backdrop of rising national expenses, with the National Retail Federation predicting Americans will spend a total of $13.5 billion on holiday shopping this year.

The NRF data indicates an average spend of $115.14 per person. For many students, the choice is between purchasing a complete, expensive costume or assembling one piece by piece. The social dynamics of Madison’s nightlife intensify this pressure. Hadley Wendorff, a senior, noted that peer influence often dictates the level of elaboration required. She stated, "If your friends have a great costume you wanna have a great costume too," explaining how the culture encourages wearing multiple elaborate outfits during the weekend.

This social pressure leads to increased consumption. Matteo Rovera, a junior, explained that yearly trends create fads that drive purchases. He said, "I would probably only ever wear one Halloween costume a year, but because of what my friends are doing, I have three this year." Similarly, junior Lily Myhra reported spending between $50 and $100, primarily by searching for items on the secondhand app Depop.

None of the three students interviewed by The Daily Cardinal expressed a desire to exceed the $100 threshold. Despite this, low-cost, fast-shipping retailers remain popular options due to their convenience. These platforms operate within the fast fashion model, which involves producing clothing quickly from inexpensive materials to keep up with trends. This production style has a measurable environmental impact, as fashion production accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions and pollutes water systems.

The lifecycle of a typical costume contributes to waste. Approximately 85% of textiles end up in dumps each year. A costume worn for a single night and then discarded fits this pattern. Students are adopting strategies to mitigate both financial and environmental costs. Common suggestions include shopping at thrift stores, using platforms like Depop, Vinted, or Facebook Marketplace, and borrowing or swapping old costumes with friends.

Another approach involves searching one's own closet or the wardrobes of parents and friends for usable items. Students also recommend purchasing pieces that can be worn again for daily use or in future costumes. This method applies regardless of the specific character chosen, whether it is a niche internet meme like Punch the monkey or a figure from a television show like Odyssey. The goal is to keep the outfit manageable for both the wallet and the environment.

The shift toward these methods reflects a conscious effort to balance the social expectations of the holiday with practical budgeting. By relying on secondhand markets and existing wardrobe items, students are altering their purchasing habits. This change occurs in a city known for its student nightlife, where costumed crowds fill the streets all weekend long. The $100 cap serves as a practical boundary for many in this environment.