4 Of My Favourite Vampy Halloween Outfits from the Charity Shop You’ll Wear Again

I’m much more interested in dressing like someone from a vampire romance than buying a bag containing a cape and a pair of plastic teeth.

If I’m buying something, I want to be able to wear it again.

Give me Bella Swan’s layers, a dark red top, an old silver necklace or a lovely black velvet dress. That is much more my sort of thing.

Working with preloved clothing has made me look at pieces a little differently.

These are four of my favourite characters to borrow from for a romantic, vampy Halloween look. There’s some Twilight, some The Vampire Diaries.

I’m treating them as inspiration rather than trying to find every exact item from the screen. Start with your own wardrobe, then look for whatever is missing in a charity shop or online second-hand.

1. Bella Swan — Autumn Layers and Absolutely No Interest in Heels

Bella is the obvious place to start if you want to be comfortable.

Her familiar mix of button-neck tops, layered camisoles, muted colours and jeans makes a very useful starting point for an autumn outfit. There’s a good breakdown of those wardrobe staples in InStyle’s look at Bella Swan’s style.

For my version, I’d go with a cream vest under a brown or burgundy long-sleeved top, dark jeans and an olive jacket. Slightly worn trainers would finish it.

What to Look for in the Charity Shop

• A fitted cotton top with a few buttons at the neckline, often called a henley.

• A plain vest or camisole to wear underneath.

• Dark straight-leg or gently bootcut jeans.

• An olive utility jacket, brown casual jacket or simple zip-up hoodie.

• Canvas trainers or plain, comfortable boots.

The colours do a lot of the work here. I’d keep everything in brown, cream, faded blue, grey and olive, with perhaps a little burgundy.

If you already own the jeans and shoes, the only thing you might need is the top. Have a look through the ordinary basics as well as anything labelled vintage.

The Finishing Touch

Keep the hair relaxed and the makeup simple. A paperback copy of Twilight makes the reference clearer in a photograph, but the outfit itself is deliberately understated.

This is the one I’d choose for a Halloween film night. You can sit down, eat something and put another layer on when it gets cold. All useful qualities in an outfit.

Wear it afterwards: Exactly as it is. It’s a perfectly good autumn look.

2. Alice Cullen — Pretty Blouses, Layers and a Little Vintage Detail

Alice is my choice for something a bit more dressed up without going straight to black lace.

Her wardrobe offers plenty of vintage details and layered outfit inspiration. For a charity shop version, I’d build around a pale blouse and a fitted grey waistcoat, then add a charcoal skirt and dark tights.

It has enough detail to feel considered, but you can still put a coat over it and get on with your evening.

What to Look for in the Charity Shop

• A cream, pale blue or soft grey blouse.

• A fitted waistcoat or short, neatly shaped cardigan.

• A charcoal A-line skirt, or dark tailored trousers if you prefer.

• Opaque tights and ankle boots or ballet flats.

• A small pendant or a narrow ribbon to wear at the neck.

Look closely at collars and sleeves. A blouse with a little gathering, a soft bow or small buttons can be much more useful for this look than a very plain shirt.

You don’t need all those details at once. If the blouse is quite fussy, I’d keep the waistcoat and skirt simple.

The Finishing Touch

Alice’s short hair is recognisable, but you don’t need to buy a wig. If you have longer hair, pinning it into a loose, tucked-under style can suggest a shorter shape.

A dark ribbon at the neck is an easy finishing touch. It doesn’t have to be a replica of her jewellery to bring the outfit together.

Wear it afterwards: Put the blouse with jeans, or wear the waistcoat over a plain long-sleeved top. Both would earn their space in my wardrobe.

3. Elena Gilbert — Burgundy, Dark Denim and a Little Silver Necklace

For Elena, I’d keep things fitted, simple and slightly softer than Katherine’s look.

My starting point would be a burgundy scoop-neck top, dark jeans, a neat charcoal cardigan and black ankle boots. It’s the sort of outfit you might already be most of the way towards owning.

The small silver necklace is the detail I’d spend time finding. A locket or an oval pendant gives a nod to Elena’s familiar necklace without needing to buy a costume accessory.

What to Look for in the Charity Shop

• A burgundy, plum or dark red jersey top.

• Dark blue jeans in a fit you enjoy wearing.

• A fitted cardigan or simple dark jacket.

• Plain ankle boots.

• A small silver-tone locket or pendant.

  
  

I’d look for a top with a little stretch so it sits comfortably beneath the cardigan. It should be something you can move and sit in, rather than something you spend the evening pulling into place.

You could also use a navy top if that’s what you find. The necklace and the overall combination matter more than matching one exact shade.

The Finishing Touch

A centre parting and smooth hair would be my first choice, with soft brown eye makeup and a natural lip colour.

This is a subtle reference. Friends who know the programme are more likely to pick up on it; everyone else will probably just think you’ve put together a nice outfit. For this sort of Halloween dressing, I’m quite happy with that.

Wear it afterwards: Add an everyday coat and keep the whole outfit in rotation.

4. Katherine Pierce — The Leather Jacket Does Most of the Work

Katherine is where I’d go when I wanted to make a bit more effort.

Her fitted clothes, leather jackets and heeled boots make a stronger contrast with Elena’s softer look. My version would be black jeans, a plum or black lace-trimmed top and a shaped black jacket.

It’s an outfit you could wear out to dinner without anybody knowing Halloween had anything to do with it.

What to Look for in the Charity Shop

• A fitted black leather or faux-leather jacket.

• A plum, black or deep burgundy camisole or evening top.

• Black jeans or slim trousers.

• Heeled ankle boots, or flat pointed boots if you prefer.

• A small bracelet or a couple of rings.

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The jacket is the piece I’d prioritise. Look for one that has some shape at the waist and sits comfortably across your shoulders.

With secondhand faux leather, check the collar, cuffs and underarms for flaking. Open the jacket and look along the inside edges too. If the coating is already peeling, I’d leave it on the rail.

For the top, a lace trim or a slightly draped neckline adds enough detail. There’s no need to turn every part of the outfit into a statement.

The Finishing Touch

Loose curls and a little more definition around the eyes help separate this look from Elena’s. I’d keep the lip colour fairly soft and let the jacket, hair and boots carry it.

You don’t need Katherine’s confidence before getting dressed. Sometimes a jacket helps.

Wear it afterwards: The jacket works over almost anything. I’d also try the top with a long skirt and a cardigan for a quieter evening.

A Little Vampire Romance, and Clothes You’ll Actually Wear

Bella would probably be my choice for comfort. Alice wins for the pretty layers, and Katherine is the one I’d borrow from when I wanted to feel a bit more dressed up.

What I like about these looks is that you can decide how obvious you want the reference to be.

I’d be much happier finding a lovely secondhand jacket I keep reaching for than something that goes straight into a bag on the first of November.

Which would you choose: Bella, Alice, Elena, Katherine? I’d love to know — especially if you’ve already found the perfect piece in a charity shop.