Happy Green Halloween

By Lexi Green
October 18, 2011

When it comes to fun holidays, Halloween is always on the top of our list. What else could a kid (or, ehem, a grownup) want—a crisp autumn night, the opportunity to wreak havoc on the neighborhood with your friends, guilt-free dress-up, and, um, boatloads of candy?

Green Halloween 2011

Vintage Halloween Goodies (via Flickr)

Green Halloween 2011

Vintage Halloween (via Flickr)

These past few years, however, we've gotten to feeling guilty—not just about the four (full-size!) Snickers bars we ate in one night, but about all of the unnecessary waste involved with decorating and dressing up for the night. This year, instead of buying plastic pumpkins, throwaway skeletons, disposable costumes and chemical-laden makeup, we're committed to stocking up on reusable, vintage and other earth-friendly items from eBay.

Vintage Ceramic Jack-O-Lantern Votive

(buy it now price, $3.99)

A spooky way to illuminate the driveway.
Halloween Pumpkin Bag

(buy it now price, $1.99)

An easy-to-store, reusable bag in the shape of a jack-o-lantern. The drawstring means your candy won't fall out.
Vintage Empire Blow Mold Pumpkin

(starting bid, $4.99)

They may be plastic, but they're a genuine collectible, vintage 1969. Leave these out on your lawn to greet trick-or-treaters.
Indiana Jones Treat Bag

(buy it now price, $5.65)

This stylish satchel is supposed to go with an Indiana Jones costume, but we can see wearing it all year long.
Vintage Halloween Skull Picture

(buy it now price, $24)

A spooky skull that's strangely festive. Keep it hung in the library from January through December.
Vintage Darth Vader Mask

(buy it now price, $42)

We'll never tire of "Star Wars" costumes. Plus you can keep this scary (and sculptural) mask on your bookshelf all year long.
Lot of Vintage Cardboard Decorations

(starting bid, $15.95)

You won't find the contents of this box full of 43 vintage Halloween decorations in your modern-day party store. Included are six expandable lanterns made in Japan, 13 skeletons in various sizes, 10 black cats (some are playing instruments) and more.
Baggu Reusable Shopping Bag Tote

(buy it now price, $7.99)

Baggu brand bags hold the contents of two-to-three plastic grocery store bags. That's a lot of candy! You can use this bag for food shopping long after the holiday is over.
Lot of 5 Vintage Plastic Sunglasses

(buy it now price, $5.75)

If you and the group are going as seventies-era style mavens, these vintage sunglasses will finish the look.
Vintage Cast Iron Owl Candle Holder

(buy it now price, $125)

If you're lucky enough to have this black cat cross your path, you can keep him out on display all year long.
Vintage Spider Web Crochey Doily

(buy it now price, $6)

An Eames-era doily that looks like it was handed down by your grandmother—if she had a dark side, that is.
Innisfree Eco Kazal Shadow & Liner

(buy it now price, $14.99)

All you need to create ghoulish dark eyes—complete with an earth-friendly formulation.
Vintage Witch Boots

(starting bid, $59.99)

DIY costumes are so much cooler than the ones you get from a plastic package. These are made for a scary old witch.
Vintage Band Hat Halloween Costume

(starting bid, $9.95)

If you don't want to go all out, a hat is a simple way to show some Halloween spirit. Just don this cap, carry along a toy trombone and you're in the band.
Vintage Fringed Leather Vest

(starting bid, $8.99)

With this fringed vest you can be a hippie this year and a cowgirl the next.
Bullocks Vintage 60's Blazer

(starting bid, $9.99)

An authentic psychedelic jacket has so much potential for costume parties.
Lime Crime Opaque Vegan Lipstick

(buy it now price, $24.50)

All-natural, vegan lipstick in a color you'll only wear this time of year (we hope!).
3 Vintage Groucho Marks Glasses

(starting bid, $9.99)

Answer the door to trick-or-treaters wearing these. The kids might not get the reference, but they'll sure giggle at the getup.
Royal Wedding Dress

(buy it now price, $35)

This year you can be Kate Middleton (or with a few adjustments, Kim Kardashian). Next year they'll surely be another primetime wedding to emulate.