UW-Madison Students Cap Halloween Costumes at $100 as Retailers Push $13.5B Total

Halloween weekend on State Street brings costumed crowds out all weekend, and students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are debating how much to spend assembling outfits before the festivities begin.

The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $13.5 billion on Halloween shopping this year, an average of $115.14 per person. Students told The Daily Cardinal they often face a choice between buying a full costume at retail price or assembling one piece by piece through retailers such as Shein.

Senior Hadley Wendorff said the campus social calendar drives spending. "If your friends have a great costume you wanna have a great costume too," she said, adding that the culture encourages wearing several elaborate outfits across a single weekend.

Junior Lily Myhra searches for costumes on Depop and estimated spending "$50 to $100." Junior Matteo Rovera said friend groups determine how many outfits get made: "There's fads for the year," 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."

None of the three students said they intend to exceed $100 on costumes for the weekend. Fast-shipping options from Amazon, Spirit Halloween and Shein remain available at low prices, though fast fashion production accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, pollutes rivers and streams, and sends 85% of textiles to dumps each year.

Students who have worked through the process point to thrift stores, Depop, Vinted, Facebook Marketplace, borrowing or swapping pieces with friends, and searching one's own closet. Others recommend buying clothes that can be worn again after the night ends.