Happy HallowKEEN: Fun Costumes for Everyone
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 (though if you ask our kids, the holiday is all about how many full-size chocolate bars you end up with at the end of the night). 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:
For Kids
We love seeing your kiddos celebrating Halloween in their KEEN shoes. Tag us on Instagram at @keen.kids.
The shoe: Howser Wrap
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, and vampires. Martial artists and black cats will appreciate the grippy outsole for all of their stealth moves. The shoe has a burrito-wrap design that hugs their feet, and the hook-and-loop strap makes it easy to get off and back on again during a quick stop at Aunt Mia’s house to count the loot. The chukka version in army green is perfect for soldiers and forest rangers.
The shoe: Newport H2
The costume: They can’t get enough of nature shows, and their dream trip is a safari in Botswana. For your animal-loving kid, look to the savannah (and KEEN website!) for inspiration. Our bestselling adventure sandal is available in zebra- and cheetah-print versions, so kids can stay comfortable as they stay in character. A rubber toe bumper protects their toes from slips and stumbles as they run through wet leaves and up and down porch stairs.
The shoe: Chandler 2 CNX
The costume: The last thing you want when out trick-or-treating is unreliable shoes. Lightweight and rugged sneakers like the Chandler 2 CNX sneaker are ready for any terrain and come in colors that can blend in or stand out depending on the costume. Bright pink shoes add an adorable accent to a crayon. Bright blue looks just right on a baby shark.
The shoe: Knotch Chukka
The costume: What does an ice princess from the Land of Snow and Ice wear on her feet? These cozy boots, of course. KEEN.WARM insulation and a soft fleece lining ensure that no matter how chilly it gets on Halloween night, little toes will stay warm. The shoes are also great for Arctic explorers or abominable snowpeople.
For Adults
The shoe: men’s and women’s Yogui Arts
The costume: Bring back flower power. These lightweight clogs come in a tie-dye print that pairs 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: women’s Howser ankle boot
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 neutral color, 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: men's and women's Shanti sandals
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: men’s and women’s Mosey chukka boot
The costume: We hear residents of the Shire don’t wear shoes, but if sliding through wet leaves barefoot doesn’t appeal, consider this wool-blend chukka as a comfortable alternative. A gum rubber outsole is soft yet grippy to make walking around outside feel like walking across the carpet in your living room. It’s also perfect for dressing up as a mouse, an elephant, or any other dun-colored animal.
The shoe: men’s and women’s Clearwater CNX sandals
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, air-injected cushioning, and built-in arch support 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!
