Find Halloween inspiration on a trip to one of Raleigh’s vintage shops with these ideas from TrunkShow’s Amy Barnard and Mary Robbins.
by Addie Ladner

How many costumes can you come up with just by shopping your closet? For Amy Barnard and Mary Robbins, the answer might be thousands. “With pieces that can speak to every decade — from 1970s-inspired leather cowboy chaps to funky 1990s-era Elton John glasses — Halloween is our favorite!” says Barnard. Of course, the two have an advantage: they’re the owners of TrunkShow, a basement-level treasure trove of vintage and second-hand clothing, antiques and other oddities from dozens of vendors (1526 Wake Forest Road; trunkshowraleighnc.com).

When we asked them to whip up some fun vintage North Carolina-themed outfits, they were full of ideas. Find four of them below — but of course, we encourage you to visit TrunkShow or another vintage shop downtown to come up with your own creative, sustainable and distinctly Raleigh costumes.

1920s-Era Pinehurst Golfer

Today’s golfers wear fashion-forward athleisure — but vintage golfers dressed for movement, too! For this costume, Mary found a flat cap, v-neck sweater, suede shoes, argyle socks and some roomy cropped pants. The golf club completes the look.

1990s Broughton Queen of Hearts

These days, the teens seem to take the “less is more” approach to QOH attire, but back in (some of our) era, it was all about volume. Amy’s ball gown, white gloves and bouquet make for a perfect throwback formalwear look. 

1980s NC State Sports Fan

A vintage tee, red shorts, tube socks and white high tops… Let’s face it, this ‘fit would look pretty cool at a State game in 2025, too. A worthy investment!

1990s NASCAR Fan

Evoke the glory days of Dale Earnhardt (or, ya know, his talented son) in the state that popularized car racing with a denim skirt, fanny pack, checkered handkerchief, black leather boots and super-fan sweater. Maybe even test it out at the Raleigh Speedway!

This article was originally published on October 17, 2025 on waltermagazine.com