Keeping Warm in a Costume for Trick or Treating

Trick or treating is often cold, and a costume that looks great in the hallway can feel thin by the second street. A few small choices make it easier to stay warm without losing the look.

Layer underneath

The easiest way to keep warm is to wear the warmth under the costume, where nobody sees it. Start with a close-fitting base and add from there.

• A long-sleeved top and leggings or tights as a base layer.
• A thin jumper or fleece on top of that, if the costume has room.
• Warm socks, and a second pair if the shoes allow.
• Thermal or plain cotton vests for children who run hot and cold.

Choose layers in a colour close to the costume where you can. A dark top under a dark cloak disappears. A bright white jumper under a peasant dress does not.

Keep the layers thin and flat. Thick, bulky layers make sleeves ride up and hems drag. Two thin layers are usually warmer and easier to move in than one thick one.

Size up for the layers

If you plan to layer, check the size before you buy. A costume that fits over a T-shirt may be tight over a base layer and a jumper.

• Read the size guide and measure the child in the clothes they will wear underneath.
• If they are between sizes, go up one.
• Check that the arms and legs can still bend and that the neck is not tight.
• Look at the length. A costume one size up may need a hem check so nobody trips.

Many costumes are cut for a single thin layer. Trying it on with the real layers, before the night itself, saves a lot of fuss on the doorstep.

Costumes that work over a coat

Some costumes are simply easier to wear over a coat than under one. Loose, wide shapes give the most room.

• Capes, cloaks and robes, which can cover a padded coat completely.
• Wizard and witch robes, which are already full and long.
• Tabards, tunics and smocks that pull on over the top.
• Oversized costumes and tabards for characters such as a knight or a pirate captain.

Fitted dresses and jumpsuits are harder. If the costume is close-fitting, plan for warm layers under it, or put a coat on top and treat the coat as part of the outfit.

A coat in a plain dark colour can pass as part of many characters. Navy, black and brown blend in well. A bright puffer jacket is less easy to hide, so you might leave the costume on top or choose a different look.

Warm accessories that stay in character

Hats, scarves and gloves can all be part of the costume if you choose them with the character in mind.

• A long scarf suits a wizard student, a detective or a woodland traveller.
• Plain gloves or mittens in black, brown or grey suit most characters.
• A knitted hat works for a shepherd, a fisherman or a chimney sweep.
• A hood on a cloak keeps the head warm and adds to the look.
• Fingerless gloves with a thin pair underneath suit a pirate or a highwayman.

Pointed hats and crowns do not keep anyone warm. If the head is going to get cold, a thin beanie can go underneath, or a hood can go over the top.

Face paint looks good, but it is not warm. Do a small skin test first, and keep in mind that cold cheeks under paint can feel worse. A mask on a stick can be an easy alternative that keeps the face free.

Be seen in the dark

Trick or treating happens after dark, often near roads. Dark costumes are hard for drivers to spot, so add light where you can.

• Carry a torch, and let the child hold one too if they are old enough.
• Clip on small lights or wear a light-up band on the wrist.
• Add strips of reflective tape or a reflective armband to a cloak, bag or sleeve.
• Use a bright treat bucket or bag, or add reflective tape to it.
• Stay on pavements and cross roads with a grown-up.

Reflective touches can be quite subtle. A strip along a cloak hem or on the back of a coat is easy to add, and it does not change the look much in daylight.

Check any lights and batteries before you go out, and keep spare batteries in a pocket. Read the label on anything you stick or sew onto clothing.

Footwear

Cold feet make everyone want to go home. Comfortable, warm shoes matter more than perfect ones.

• Choose shoes or boots you know are comfortable for walking, as you will be out for a while.
• Wellies or sturdy boots suit many characters and cope with wet grass and puddles.
• Wear warm socks, and leave a little room for them when you check the fit.
• Dress-up shoes that come with a costume are often thin. Save them for indoors or photos.
• Check that the hem does not catch on the shoes or boots.

Boots can be part of the look for a lot of characters, such as a pirate, a woodcutter or an explorer. Plain black or brown is easiest to match.

Whatever you pick, try the full outfit on a day or two before. Walk around in it, sit down and climb the stairs. It is much easier to change one thing then than on the night.