Spookified Looks to wear this Halloween

 

What’s in the back of your wardrobe? That old costume you wore to 2008 fright night or from that party where you were dressed up as a pumpkin. Well, this year, why not do Halloween with sustainability in mind, wear a clothing you can repeat, without the stigma of being an outfit repeater, be inventive with your clothing and create relatable character outfits like Velma from Scooby do or a dead housewife

A survey from North London Waste Authority and the environmental charity Hubbub, 40 per cent of the 7 million costumes thrown out in 2016 were worn only once - Vogue

Robyn - Dress

 

Therefore, we thought we’d put together sustainable costume ideas you can wear over or tips you can use to utilise the outfits you already have.

Here are a few ways to be sustainable this Halloween: 

Katy - Wrap Dress

Jamie - Dress

 

Use these pieces from our range, that are basics to build on your costume and day to day wear, guilt free circular economy styles 

The Katy spotted dress above would make a great Cruella De Vil, the black and white gingham dress could be a good 60's outfit with platformed heels and a flower headband, yet can also be on trend for 2021 spring summer with its puff sleeves 

Lilly - Pleated Skirt

Or if you are channeling your inner Mean Girl, the Robyn Dress. The Lilly - Skirt in cream could be used to create a corpse bride look and our Anya - Blouse in black can be a used for a variety of outfit ideas, cat, witch zombie.. you name it, endless possibilities

         

Anya - Long sleeve Jersey Top

Or alternatively, why not borrow or swap or rent costumes, rather than buying a new one? Buy your costume thrifted from a second-hand store

Non - Medical Velvet Masks

Why not coordinate your masks with your outfits, don't let the pandemic spoil your fun. 

wherever and however you chose to spend your Halloween, be safe

Sincerely Madia & Matilda 

 

Doing Things A Little Differently This Halloween

We all love a treat and even though this years Halloween shall be a little different, we thought we'd compile a few things to do and make this Halloween. 

We may not be able to go trick or treating, but we can hold a safe socially distanced bonfire night, or cookout with the rule of 6 family members. 

Charlie - Dungaree

Or you could have a picnic with all those cookies, spice pumpkin lattes you made with our favouite recipe here: 

Homemade Halloween sugar cookies, topped with royal icing and perfectly decorated with Halloween sprinkles!

You will need:

16 ingredients

Refrigerated

• 1 Egg, large

Baking & spices

• 2 3/4 cups All-purpose flour
• 2 tsp Almond extract, pure
• 1 tsp Baking powder
• 1 Food coloring
• 1 1/4 cup Granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp Meringue
• 3 cups Powdered sugar
• 1 tsp Sea salt, fine
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract, pure

Dairy

• 1 cup Butter, unsalted
• 3 tbsp Half and half

Desserts

• 1 Candy eye decals, Small
• 1 Nonpareils, Small or jumbo

Liquids

• 3 oz Water

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside until ready to use.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed for 1-2 minutes. Alternatively, use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer. Add the sugar and beat on medium-high speed once again until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix briefly once again. 

Add the egg and mix on medium speed until well-incorporated. Add the half and half, along with both the vanilla and almond extract and mix once more.

Add the flour in 3 separate additions, mixing on low after each addition. Do not over-mix. Divide the dough into two rounds and lay each atop a sheet of plastic wrap. Flatten into a disk shape, wrap and refrigerate until chilled, no less than 1 hour. The dough can be made a day in advance.

Preheat the oven to 350° and have ready cookie sheets lined with either parchment paper

One at a time, lay the disks atop a large floured work surface. Lightly flour each side of the dough round. Begin rolling, from the middle outward in each direction, shifting the dough slightly after each roll to avoid sticking. Do this until the dough is a 1/4” in thickness. Cut out dough into desired shapes.

Transfer the cookies to the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them at least 1 inch apart. Bake until the outer edges are just tinged with golden-brown, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before icing.

For the Royal Icing:

Have ready a piping bag fitted with a round tip.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine powdered sugar, meringue powder, water and extract. Begin mixing on low until powdered sugar has absorbed the liquid ingredients, then increase speed to high. Alternatively, use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer. Mix for 2-3 minutes or until the icing is the consistency similar to toothpaste.

To ensure the icing is the right consistency, test it by allowing icing to drip from the paddle attachment or beaters. It should take about 30 seconds before the fallen icing loses its shape and melds into the rest of the icing.

If colouring the icing, add the food colouring now. 

To apply the icing to the cookie, pipe a line of icing about an eighth of an inch from the edge of the cookie. This is also called outlining. Do not pipe directly on the edge. Then, pipe in a tight and compact zig-zag pattern to fill the inside of the cookie. This is also called flooding.

Decorate with sprinkles and decals while the icing is still wet. Set aside and allow to set for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.

 

Credits: https://www.theanthonykitchen.com/halloween-sugar-cookies-made-to-party/

Tips for using royal icing - select your icing. Make up a batch of royal icing in a bowl and just dip the face of the cookie in it. This is great fun for getting the kids involved.

 If you like sprinkles and candy, it to create add more colour and detail to your cookies

 

Cookie cutters can be so useful, for interesting shapes makes  your cookies look well put together. (for the bake off pro)

If you want to go a step further, you could also buy candy eye decals for that perfect finish or pipe them from a non-plastic tube - for tips on how to use a piping tube, see here https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-use-a-piping-bag-224064

If  cooking is not your thing,why not take a trip to the pumpkin fields and decorate with the kids when you get home 

 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda 

Sustainable Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and true to traditions, we know most will be planning a party or movie night therefore we've prepared some sustainable fancy dress to trick or treating, and everything in-between.






Traditional Halloween decorations and outfits are very wasteful — however, we've compiled a few tricks and treats to a less wasteful event.

Below, we take a look at how you can make your Halloween celebrations more sustainable this year, and for future years to come.

Halloween costumes

Some questions to ask yourself before you buy a brand new costume:
Will it be worn more than once?
Will it fit next year?
Could you make one instead from other items you have at home?
Does the costume from last year still fit?
Could you buy one second-hand instead?
Or if you need a new outfit, can you buy a sustainable item that you can wear over and over

Whether you decide to refashion or rent a costume, there are plenty of options you could try that are less harmful to the planet.


Ergo our idea for a sustainable Halloween - Theme, TV Characters, which one are you?

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

90's super casual, but with a hint of sparkle; Sabrina style is effortless and clearly timeless, much like our style here at M&M. Our favourite would have to be the Emily dress or Amelia with the Jennifer top.

Lilly - Pleated Skirt

Macie - Checked Skirt

Kalinda - Strap Top

Daphne & Velma - Scooby Doo Dress Up

Not your average Velma & Daphne costume, why not change it up a little! No more dowdy Velma; swap a knitted jumper for our upcycled satin dress or a our Chloe top and jeans would make a good crime fighting Daphne.

Maddison - Pleated Top

Rosie - Tunic Dress, Minnie- Linen Panel Skirt, Amara - Sheer Dress





Wednesday & Morticia Addams

The Addams girls are much the same! Have you seen how Christina Ricci broke the internet dresses as Morticia. Below are a few style picks that could do the same. Our Ella dress now comes in black and white trim, which the perfect Wednesday and for a timeless dress our 

Rosemary - Wrap Dress

Una - Asymmetric Dress

Ella - Jersey Dress

Making your own decorations

Many Halloween decorations are made on the other side of the world, mainly with plastics and a lot of them are disposed of after the party. To avoid this, you can easily create your own decorations to reduce your impact of the environment

Carving the Jack O’Lantern

There a satisfaction to creating the perfect pumpkin; a masterpiece to scare trick or treaters. It almost becomes a competition of who can create the most gruesome on the street! 

It all starts with picking the best pumpkin, so why not support your local farmers? There are loads of pumpkin farmers all around the country who grow pumpkins and many of them will sell directly to the customer. If you have kids this is a great day out as, some might even let you go into the fields and pick your pumpkin! 


Remember, buying form the farmer directly, the smaller the carbon footprint. One of the most frightening facts about Halloween is just how much pumpkin waste goes to landfill – an estimated 5 million pumpkins each year in the UK. When there are so many environmentally friendly alternatives, there’s really no reason to throw out your pumpkin. 

For instance you could create a soup, or a cake, or even the classic pumpkin pie, there are so many ways you can enjoy your pumpkin! Take a look at BBC Good Food for ideas of pumpkin recipes.

When pumpkins go into landfill, they take a very long time to breakdown, why not try composting your carved pumpkin in the garden. And if you don’t have a compost bin at home, check your local councils’ website for your closest composting site. (make sure you’ve removed any tea lights or candles) and they will be taken away with your weekly collection. 









Eco-friendly treats

Looking for alternative treats to give (and eat!), whether it is for your family, friends or the neighbour’s kids who knock on your door saying “trick or treat”, here are  a few ideas

Choose candies without animal gelatine or food additives by carefully reading the products’ composition or by buying directly on dedicated websites, for example Approved foods, Planet Organic or Ethical Superstore.

Buy at alternative stores that are proven to lower harm to the planet or buy in, bulk candies in big packaging, instead of individuals to lessen the waste and recycle at dedicated shops that use the packaging to make other products.

Cakes or decorated fruit, instead of sweets or create your own treats; halloween is the perfect time to get creative with food and bake your own Halloween treats. 

 Even your local farmers markets have organic cakes and treats to supply guest or neighbors.


Wicker baskets all the way! Boo to plastic sweet buckets

Use your imagination when it come to replacing plastic sweet buckets, you could try a wicker basket like Mia Mitchell, from Good Trouble or an inventive pillow case, or one of our tote bags or even use handbag. 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda 

How to: Sustainable Halloween Outfits

Sustainable Halloween Outfits

Julia Metallic Sheer Dress

Carrie Chiffon Blouse

For an effortless Halloween look, pair a black mini dress with a simple white collared shirt and plaited hair for the perfect Wednesday Addams outfit. We recommend our Carrie blouse and Julia metallic dress to add more edge to the look. 

Hannah Crop Top & Phoebe Skirt

Forest Jersey Vest

Channel your inner Barbie girl, using our Hannah crop top and Phoebe skirt, paired with your favourite heels for a fun. playful Halloween look. Or pair the Phoebe skirt with our Forest vest, heels and pin straight hair to replicate the infamous Regina George.

Wilma Flare Sleeve Top

Combine with your favourite black jeans or mini skirt, heels and some DIY bat ears, with our Wilma flare sleeve top for a simple yet effective Halloween bat.

Alison Pinafore Dress

Save yourself time and money by pulling items from your wardrobe to create this cute scarecrow costume for Halloween. Our Alison pinafore dress is the perfect foundation for this look just add a plaid shirt, ankle boots and a little face paint to complete.

Lisa May Top

Faith Wide leg Trousers

If you're looking to replicate your favourite 70's/80's pop culture icons look no further than our Faith wide leg trousers to complete your look. Pair with a fitted tank top, like our Lisa May (pictured above) for a sleek silhouette. Add some platform heels, curl your hair and you're ready to party.

Alicia Dress

From the Corpse Bride to the Bride of Frankenstein, it's a classic costume that won't fail this Halloween. Coupled with a pair of stilettos and a veil headband our Alicia dress is the perfect item for this look and is totally reusable for any event all year round. 

Kate V-neck Crop Top

Roxy Trouser

Create a classic cat themed look with our Kate halter crop top and Roxy trousers. These items can be reworn throughout the entire year and transformed into many Halloween costumes time and time again. Give this outfit a sexy silhouette by adding some black strappy heels and cute cat ears.

Rachelle Suedette Dress

This dress ticks all the boxes, an effortless feminine style with short sleeves. Our Rachelle mini dress can be the foundation to many Halloween outfits this season. Matched with a pair of heels or boots, a stethoscope and a DIY nurse hat, and you can take this dress from a day day staple to a sultry nurse this Halloween. Alternatively, you could pair this classic piece with some pom poms, trainers and a high ponytail for a cheerleader style costume.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda