There are so many things to love about Halloween: haunted houses, the spooky sounds and creepy mannequins in our neighbors’ yards every year, and parties featuring brain-shaped gelatine molds. But our favorite thing about Halloween is the chance to dress up and get creative.
What we don’t love, though, is the idea of buying something cheap and disposable every year and then throwing it away. As an alternative to plastic costumes that are bought at the last minute and end up in the landfill the first week of November, consider making your costume this year out of things you already own, or buy things that you’ll continue to wear. At KEEN, we’re big fans of working our shoes into our costumes, which keeps you comfy on the Halloween party and trick-or-treat circuits, too.
Whether you’re making costumes for the kids, dressing up to chaperone the neighborhood posse, or attending a grown-up Halloween party, here are some Halloween costume ideas that start with a pair of KEEN shoes you already love to wear:
Some of our littlest fans on recent Halloweens.
The shoe: Kids' Howser Chukka
The costume: Think creepy-crawlies and things that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Comfy shoes in basic black match the eerie vibe of bats, spiders, black cats, and vampires. While
The shoe: Kids' Newport H2
The costume: Calling all rainbow unicorns! Our rainbow tie-dye print helps them go all-in from head to toe! Our original adventure sandal features a rubber toe bumper, which protects their toes from slips and stumbles as they run through wet leaves, and up and down porch stairs.
The shoe: Kids' KNX Sneaker
The costume: How are you going to get a full pillowcase of candy if you have to go home early with unhappy feet? ;) Light and flexible, KNX sneakers keep feet comfy and come in all sorts of colors and materials. Blend in or stand out depending on the costume. Bright pink knit sneakers add an adorable accent to a crayon. Bright blue leather sneakers look just right on a baby shark.
Some KEENers on recent Halloweens.
The shoe: Yogui
The costume: Bring back flower power. These lightweight clogs come in groovy prints that pair with those prairie skirts, love beads, and wide headbands. After Halloween, they fit in your pack for a campground shoe or sit by the door for weeding sessions in the garden.
The shoe: Howser Fold Down
The costume: Roll your hair into two cinnamon buns over your ears and slip into these ankle boots to transform yourself into a sci-fi princess. The quilted upper and pull-on design would fit right in on a dusty planet with two suns. In our world, a fleece lining and durable rubber outsole make them a go-to for running errands in cold weather.
The shoe: Shanti
The costume: Flit through the party or the neighborhood as a glowing ghost in these comfy slip-on clogs. You’ll feel relaxed while answering the doorbell for the thousandth time thanks to lightweight cushioning and a textured footbed. Any resemblance the upper may have to a scary ghost from a certain movie is completely coincidental.
The shoe: KNX Chukka
The costume: We hear residents of the Shire don’t wear shoes, but if sliding through wet leaves barefoot doesn’t appeal, consider this barefoot-inspired chukka as a comfortable alternative. The brindle color is perfect for dressing up as a capybara or teddy bear, too.
The shoe: Clearwater CNX
The costume: Around here, Halloween means paddleboarding witches. If that sounds like fun, grab a couple of friends, slip into a tall pointy hat and a pair of water-friendly sandals, and head to the nearest river or lake with your SUP. Warlocks and wizards, this means you, too! A quick-drying upper and low-profile design will keep the spells and curses to a minimum. Check out our blog for more fun activities you can do this fall.
We hope these ideas will be a launching pad for your own creativity as you plan for Halloween. Because wearing something you put together yourself that goes easy on the environment makes it all more fun.
We love Halloween at KEEN!
