Thrifted & Spellbound: Halloween Hacks With A Poshmark Pro

Searches for “Halloween costume” on Poshmark jumped 83% in mid-September—and Vancouver seller Caitlynne (yes, a real-life Disney princess) is here to prove you don’t need a big budget to nail this year’s looks. In our Q&A she shares thrift-savvy tips to DIY K-Pop Demon Hunter and showgirl inspo for under $50, the hottest 2025 costume trends, and clever ways to sell your spooky fits after October 31. —Noa Nichol

You’re a real-life Poshmark pro and retired professional princess — what’s your go-to trick for turning thrifted basics into an insta-ready costume under $50?

My number one tip would be to take any piece you thrift and make it bigger and better.  This could be as simple as adding a layer of iridescent paper to thrifted fairy wings, glitter to headpieces, faux fur trim to hats or the top of your boots. Most importantly, many costume hunters think that once you purchase a wig, the wig is ready to go, but by exploring wig styling tutorials, you can enhance that wig and make it look SO expensive! While you should be wary of using traditional heat styling tools on synthetic wigs, foam rollers and a garment steamer are your secret weapons. This combination can help you style both synthetic and real hair wigs, giving them an expensive, high-quality look. It’s a styling trick used by many professional princesses and drag performers.

Poshmark searches for “Halloween costume” spiked 83% — what trends are you seeing this year that people can actually recreate with secondhand finds?

Personally, I’ve noticed a big hunt for anything related to “Wednesday Addams”, “Taylor Swift” and “Britney Spears”. Honestly, anything nostalgic or Y2K is making a big comeback – even Happy Gilmore has been popular this season! 

K-Pop Demon Hunters and Showgirls are everywhere — walk us through building one of those looks from three thrifted pieces.

K-Pop Demon Hunters is a great example of how a thrifted wig can be styled to perfection! Of course, finding a purple wig and braiding it is always enough but a good back-comb and steam of the roots will give you the volume you need to make that wig look massive! You could even thrift a few purple wigs and sew them together to get the fabulous length the lead character has!  

Showgirls is an easy costume to source from drop shipping websites, but here’s my advice: search those sites for ideas, and then DO THE OPPOSITE! So many costumes end up looking the same so if you really want to stand out, let those sites inspire you to create a thrifted outfit with pieces from platforms like Poshmark to create a look that’s uniquely you. Think big feathers, sequins, poofy skirts, chains, and pearls. Don’t forget to check the lingerie section and even housewares for hidden sparkles and feathers. Let your personality shine through!

Poshmark is a great place to find one-of-a-kind treasures, especially because you don’t need a specific size to shop. Big statement jewelry is also perfect for an extra touch of showgirl sparkle, and remember jewelry can be pinned and sewn to your costume! It doesn’t need to be worn the way it was designed – have fun with it! (Bonus points if you make some friendship bracelets to give out at Halloween parties!) 

Family costumes can get pricey. What are three simple, budget-friendly ideas that look cohesive and re-wearable?

Remember, you don’t need to dress up as anything from modern pop-culture. You can easily “shop your own closet” to pull together re-wearable costumes. We see a ton of people wearing fluffy animal onesies these days to be relevant, but those onesies get donated to thrift right after Halloween. Instead, stick with some Halloween classics! A ghost made of a bed sheet, a pumpkin carved upside down with eye holes (so you can see and breathe!) or a witch, mummy, or zombie. All of these ideas can be done with bedsheets, cut and pinned the right way! Plus, you can reuse the textiles after Halloween – either back on the bed, or cut up to use as rags, dish cloths or towels for your pets on rainy days! Try not to donate used textiles after the spooky season – they often end up in landfills! And if you’re buying a costume for your pet, try to choose one you’ll use more than once! 

What’s your favorite unexpected item to hunt for on Poshmark that always makes a costume pop (sequins? vintage scarves? retro boots?)?

Lingerie!!! This section is so under-hunted, but it’s where I’ve found the most valuable and incredible thrifted pieces! I’m talking steel-boned corsets (new with tags) worth hundreds of dollars, vintage Victoria’s Secret, real silk robes and more! Also, don’t skip the home listings for vintage bedsheets with your favourite nostalgic characters! 

For readers who want to upcycle a piece instead of buying new, what’s one sewing-free DIY hack you swear by?

GIANT DIAPER PINS! They’ll hold anything – the bigger the better! I still have some vintage ones from my days as a competitive dancer from the 90’s that are reliable as ever. And ribbons! Perfect for tying up skirt pieces and making anything look extra cute and girlie! 

After Oct. 31, how can people make back some cash by listing their costumes — what’s the quickest way to photograph, price, and write a listing that sells?

Poshmark has some fabulous features that keep getting better and better every year! My favourite one to use is the Closet Clear Out (CCO) shipping! On select CCO days, if you drop your price by 10%, all likers get a fabulous deal on your pieces and discounted shipping! It’s my favourite day to snag deals for upcoming events or holidays! 

Write a catchy description – you can even use Smart List AI for a little help if that’s your vibe! And don’t forget to include measurements for all your items: pit to pit, waist, hip, and length. The less questions a buyer has to ask, the better your chances of making a sale!

You should also give LIVE selling on Poshmark a try! Why not host a Halloween themed Posh Show? Selling live is what has made me the successful seller that I am, and I encourage everyone to give it a try! Poshmark makes it so easy!

What safety or comfort tips do you tell shoppers when picking thrifted pieces for kids (choking hazards, flame-resistant fabrics, weather-ready layering)?

#1. This is a great question and my answer is always: try to seek vintage! Vintage is always so well-made; the craftsmanship and materials are unparalleled compared to today. They will be investment pieces that will only grow in value with time! With fast fashion on the rise, it’s safe to assume that in a decade or so, vintage won’t exist in the thrift, so anything from 1940-1999 is worth snagging! 

#2. Be gentle when pinning anything to your costumes, purchase pins that have a safety clasp so they won’t pop open and poke you all night! 

#3. Reinforce any small pieces with a light hand sew OR source items from the plush section and exchange the little parts for bigger, plushier embellishments! For example, flowers or bows for buttons, and pom poms for animal ears – it’s a costume, it can be over exaggerated and based in an over exaggerated world!

As a seller, what listing mistakes do you see most often — and how can sellers maximize bids, offers, or interest during Halloween week? 

Don’t stress too much about your prices! Make sure to check other comparable items that are for sale and base your price off what is already out there! If someone has a clown costume for $40.00, pricing yours at $100.00 probably won’t land you that sale.  Use relevant hashtags or key words in your description (clowning, clowncore, circus, holiday, spooky season, Halloween party etc.), include measurements and create some fun content on socials to drive people to your listings! 

Any final three thrift-shopping commandments for Halloween newbies — what should they absolutely do, and absolutely avoid?

#1. With larger thrift chain prices sky rocketing, remember to look for small local charity thrift stores in your area that people tend to frequent less than the big box thrift stores! Not only will you find a less picked over section, but you’re directly supporting a charity at the same time. And don’t limit yourself to the Halloween section! 

#2. Check out your favourite Poshmark sellers and social media creators for inspiration and tips and costume ideas, and remember it’s way more fun to step outside the box than go with popular culture! Make your Halloween costume show off YOU! (@Caitymed and @caitymedscloset 😉 )

#3. Thrift as much as you can, not just on Halloween, but throughout the entire year. There are enough textiles on the planet to clothe the next 6 generations, and every trip to the thrift helps keep clothing in circulation and out of landfills!