Defy Gravity and Expectations With Thrifted Wicked-Themed DIY Costumes for the Whole Family

By Felicia Czochanski Bisaro

Photo: @Stephanie Renee Tillman

No holiday brings out our creativity quite like Halloween can! Whether you want to channel your inner superhero or let loose like the pop star you pretended to be with a hairbrush microphone as a kid, there’s something fun for everyone to dress up as. Halloween is also a great time to consider group costumes. Whether you’re coordinating with friends or your family, these group themes can sometimes be the most fun and creative of all, especially when you get to tune into a cultural phenomenon — like Wicked! This thrifty family above certainly got the memo and created a family group costume that everyone will be sure to talk about for years to come.

What’s a Good Halloween Costume for the Family?

Wicked is a great idea for a family Halloween costume! There are plenty of characters to pick from, so everyone can find a good option. Check out each family member’s costume in more detail below and think about how you might be able to recreate something similar with Goodwill^® thrifted finds.

Because Goodwill prices are only a fraction of retail prices and the average Halloween costume can cost $100 at retail, consider shopping secondhand at Goodwill for Halloween costumes you can DIY and transform into your exact vision. The best thing about shopping at Goodwill for Halloween costume pieces is that the finds and prices are sure to defy expectations, so that you and your loved ones can defy gravity this spooky season!

Photo: @Stephanie Renee Tillman

Halloween Costume Idea: Fiero and Galinda (or Glinda, iykyk)

This thrifty secondhand-shopping mom took to her local Goodwill and came home with a blazer and pants that fit her son perfectly. She transformed them with gold ribbon and altered the shape of the collar to create the perfect princely costume. For Galinda, she found a great pink secondhand jacket that she cut up and reshaped and then thrifted lots of pink luggage and boxes to complete Galinda’s back-to-school look.

Photo: @Stephanie Renee Tillman

How to Make a Dr. Dillamond or Elphaba Costume For Halloween

She painted the Dr. Dillamond goat mask and used yarn to make the beard and hair. It turned out to be a masterpiece that only Elphaba herself could have pulled off. The Elphaba costume was prep-school-chic thrifted finds with green tights and face paint to complete the look.

Photo: @Stephanie Renee Tillman

How to DIY a Nessarose Halloween Costume

The Nessarose costume was particularly creative, with a DIY dress transformed from a plain white dress with lace and red ribbon, and the wheelchair was created from a completely transformed stroller. To make the wheelchair, she used irrigation tubing to make the wheels, covered them in material, painted and decorated them with craft sticks, and then affixed them to the stroller.

Photo: @Stephanie Renee Tillman

This is a costume the family will remember forever, and it’s incredible to see what is possible with thrifted finds from Goodwill!

Halloween at Goodwill 2026 FAQs

How can I make a last-minute thrifted Halloween costume?

The best way to start is with a trip to Goodwill. Walking around can give you inspiration, and Goodwill team members might be able to help you come up with new ideas too. As you’re planning, start with recognizable clothing colors and shapes, then add one defining accessory. Use the Goodwill costume planner for suggested shirts, pants, shoes and accessories.

Why choose a thrifted Halloween costume?

Thrifted pieces can create affordable, distinctive costumes while extending the useful life of donated clothing and accessories. It’s best to thrift from a nonprofit, like Goodwill, to ensure that your purchase goes to support your local community. At Goodwill, your purchases provide free education and job training programs to help people find jobs in clean tech, IT, healthcare and more.

What are good ideas for family Halloween costumes?

Some good ideas for family Halloween costumes include The Flintstones, Wicked, Super Smash Bros, Hunger Games, Scooby Squad, Ninja Turtles, Survivor or Toy Story. You can find out how to recreate all of these costumes with thrifted finds on the Goodwill Halloween site.

🧙‍♀️ Turn Thrifted Finds into Magical Wicked-Inspired Family Halloween Costumes!

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