While it's always spooky season for horror writers, I have to admit that the consumer in me gets giddy around this time of year. There are so many fun Halloween and horror-themed items, decor, and apparel at every turn. What a perfect time to support small businesses and diverse creators.
Here are just a few shops (that I love), where you can find some unique items in time for October and Halloween (and all year-round).
Glam Goth Beauty
This LA-based indie brand boasts a creative collection of items, or as their about page says, "a dangerous and luxurious aesthetic." Cosmetics, accessories, and clothing with extended sizes all fuel into CEO Marley Bloodrose's message to have the brand be supportive and representative of the LGBTQ+ and alternative communities. Horror fans will appreciate the nods to icons like Lily Munster and Dracula. There's even a glitter-filled eyeshadow named after Candyman.
Spooky Cat Press
An artist-owned shop full of gothic delights. The gift wrap is so fun that I still can't bring myself to throw away the scraps I have from last year. This shop provides a great assortment of greeting cards (check out the gorgeous Halloween Tarot line of cards), shirts, stickers, art prints, some colorful and creepy socks, mugs, a lot of Zodiac-themed items, and more. You're bound to find something here for the horror lover in your life (and yourself!). Join their newsletter to get 10% off your first purchase.
Mz. Jones' Curio
This oddities shop in Greensburg, Pennsylvania is actually local to me, and they have a solid selection online to browse through. I adore this place! Everything is ethically sourced, which is something the owners take seriously. You can find quite a variety of novelties online, including assorted prints, accessories, books, tarot decks, and also mummified specimens, owl pellets, uranium glass, and altar supplies. If you happen to be in the area, they also host interesting events and classes at the store.
Barnacles and Moss
A combination of sweet and spooky, the art pieces I own from this creator are some of my absolute favorites. The style is exquisite with a vintage feel mixed with modern ideas. Some pieces, as shown in the photo of my purchases, are available to buy with a beautiful, golden metal and glass hanging frame. I don't have any other frames like this, so I love having something so different to decorate my walls with. Also in the photo is the art print I purchased of the "Strawberry Sea," featuring ghost jellyfish and strawberry barnacles. Everything came packaged so carefully and thoughtfully. Whether purchasing these prints for yourself or a friend, you can't go wrong with any of the available stunning designs.
Little Ghosts Books
Calling all book lovers! I started subscribing to Little Ghosts Books several months ago, and I have enjoyed every package I've received. So many of the books are ones I intended to purchase at some point, so it's fabulous to have such a great selection come to my door every month. Last month's even came with a little container of slime, and I have to say, it was delightful. I appreciate the thought behind the monthly subscriptions. They typically contain indie horror books, and it's so heartening to see the support for small presses and authors. Additionally, you can find some very adorable merch on their site, as well as gift cards for the horror book lovers in your life.
SpookyDoodleClub
Bugs! Skulls! Plants with teeth! I love everything about this shop. There's a great range of the cute and spooky, from pride ghost beanies, unique keychains, tons of acrylic earrings (pictured on the left are the blood juice box earrings I got), stationary, and even haunted lighters (perfect for lighting some pumpkin-scented candles). If you're feeling particularly daring, there is also a "Spooky Mystery Box" you can purchase with an assortment of surprise items. I admire what this artist has created; it's such a fun shop with a lot of ghostly joy.
Sarah A. Band
I am a fiend for glass. I love the history of it, and watching glassblowers work under unimaginably hot conditions to transform molten glass into works of art is inspiring. Sarah A. Band has launched an incredibly fun assortment of work, which includes a recent Halloween line! A bat pumpkin? Jason's mask as a flower in a pot? Yes, please! In addition to glassware like ornaments and jewelry, there are other cool oddities, stickers, and shirts on her website.
I hope these seven shops give you a starting place on where to browse for some unique horror and cute spooky goods this year! Let's keep supporting small businesses and creators as we give into our capitalist needs to please the Halloween gods.
About the author
Sara Tantlinger is the author of the Bram Stoker Award-winning The Devil’s Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes. Along with being a mentor for the HWA Mentorship Program, she is also a co-organizer for the HWA Pittsburgh Chapter. She embraces all things macabre and can be found lurking in graveyards or on Instagram @inkychaotics.
