As the leaves turn to rust and gold, and the crisp fall air invites a certain quiet hush, the spirit of Halloween arrives. More than just a single night, it’s a season that merges the cozy themes of autumn with a thrilling, spooky edge. This year, step away from the fleeting trends and embrace the allure of a Vintage Halloween, a theme that highlights classic folklore, and a delightfully eerie nostalgia.

The Charm of a Vintage Halloween

A vintage Halloween taps into the aesthetic of the 70s, a time of simple, graphic, and often charmingly spooky decorations. It’s a style that prioritizes mood and handcrafted effort over modern gore or flashy animatronics.

Vintage Decor Deep Dive:

• Color Palette is Key: Think traditional orange and black, with accents of deep purple, burnt red, and the warm, earthy tones of fall. The color scheme should feel rich and similar to an autumn night.
• Classic Icons: Embrace the original spooky crew—witches, bats, black cats with arched backs, grinning jack-o’-lanterns, and old-school ghosts. 
• Handcrafted and DIY: A hallmark of the vintage theme is the look of hand-made simplicity.
  • Honeycomb Pumpkins: These are a vintage touch, easy to find or simple to DIY with paper.
  • Paper Garlands: String together simple cutouts of bats and ghosts, or make classic construction paper chains in orange and black.
  • Old-Fashioned Lighting: Use soft, flickering candlelight (or battery-operated alternatives) in gothic style candlesticks. Hang string lights with simple orange, pumpkin, or Frankenstein-head shapes.

The Best Vintage Costumes for High Schoolers

The vintage theme offers high schoolers a chance to be cool and creative. These costumes are often easy to assemble using thrifted clothes, making them budget-friendly and authentically retro:

• The classic spider: wear a black shirt and pants making your own extra pool noodle arms, throw on some fun face paint and cobwebs and enjoy your new look. 
• The Scooby-Doo Gang: Perfect for a friend group. Simple, recognizable, and thrift-friendly pieces—like an orange sweater and a pleated skirt for Velma, or a purple dress and scarf for Daphne.
• Timeless Ghost: Forget the bedsheet. Use a white lace or gauzy thrifted cloth draped around yourself. Add a touch of drama with heavy, dark makeup for a more fashion-forward, yet classic, take on the phantom.
• The classic witch: No more crazy noses and protruding warts, throw on a cute puffy black skirt and a black long sleeve. Add some fun green makeup and the iconic pointy hat, if you wish to go above and beyond grab an old broom from the closet and ‘fly’ away.

This Halloween, let the modern rush fade. By embracing the vintage aesthetic, you can capture the true, handcrafted magic of the season, both in your decor and your retro attire.