Wendorff leads UW-Madison push to cap Halloween outfits at $100

The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $13.5 billion on Halloween shopping this year. University of Wisconsin-Madison students are pushing back against that trend by setting a personal ceiling of $100 for their costumes. This target is $15.14 below the national per-person average of $115.14. The group aims to avoid the financial and environmental strain of buying new, disposable clothing for a single weekend.

Senior Hadley Wendorff said the campus culture encourages elaborate spending. She noted that peer pressure often drives students to buy multiple outfits. "If your friends have a great costume you wanna have a great costume too," Wendorff said. Many students currently rely on low-priced, fast-shipping retailers like Shein, Amazon, and Spirit Halloween. These stores produce clothing quickly using inexpensive materials to keep up with trends.

The fast fashion model carries a measurable environmental cost. Fashion production accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions. It also pollutes waterways, and 85% of textiles end up in dumps annually. A costume worn for one night fits this cycle of rapid consumption and disposal. Students are seeking alternatives to this standard retail path.

Junior Lily Myhra looks for costumes on the resale platform Depop. She estimates her total spending will fall between $50 and $100. Junior Matteo Rovera described the social pressure as a driver of excess. "There's fads for the year," Rovera said. He planned to wear only one costume but ended up with three due to his friends' choices. None of the three students interviewed intended to exceed the $100 limit.

Students offered specific strategies to stay under budget. These include shopping at thrift stores, using apps like Depop or Vinted, and checking Facebook Marketplace. Others suggested borrowing or swapping pieces with friends. Searching personal closets, or those of parents and friends, for usable items is another common approach. Buying clothing that can be reused for daily wear or future costumes is also recommended.

The advice applies to any character, from zombies and vampires to figures from the show "Off-Campus." The goal is to keep the outfit affordable and sustainable. Students aim to avoid popular fast fashion outlets while still participating in the busy Madison nightlife. The $100 cap serves as a practical boundary for the upcoming holiday.