Halloween is becoming a serious fashion moment, with style-conscious shoppers swapping disposable costumes for pieces they can wear all year round. While most buyers still chase value, a luxury-minded group is hunting for rare vintage and statement designs to anchor their looks, treating the holiday as a reason to expand their wardrobes.
A $4.4 Billion Seasonal Market
The National Retail Federation says 71% of US consumers plan to buy costumes this year, generating an estimated $4.4 billion. Deloitte’s 2026 survey found 92% of US households will take part, with an average planned spend of $219 across retail categories. About 10% of households expect to spend most at resale, consignment or thrift stores, and The RealReal reports strong searches for Halloween dresses, bags and Moschino pieces.
Gen Z shoppers are mixing high and low, pairing secondhand corsetry and skirts from Depop, Vinted and The RealReal with cheap wigs, devil horns and costume makeup. Pinterest UK searches for chic Halloween costumes are up 165% year on year, and Lyst says the line between costume and outfit is increasingly blurred, with shoppers choosing looks that work first as everyday clothing.
Archive Pieces Take Centre Stage
Vestiaire Collective reports strong interest in 1990s Vivienne Westwood, Galliano-era Dior, Alexander McQueen, Jean Paul Gaultier and Mugler, along with velvet, jacquard and sheer fabrics. Los Angeles vintage boutique owners say clients spend more when a piece, such as a Westwood corset, can stay in regular rotation after October 31.
Mass retailers are competing on speed and licensing, according to EDITED, with Zara’s Halloween edit leaning on Tim Burton film graphics. Luxury, however, has yet to fully capitalise: only a handful of labels, including Dilara Findikoglu, Matières Fécales and Rick Owens, offer spooky designs that can be worn again or resold, leaving room for brands that own the hero piece while value brands supply the cheaper props.