Who wants to spend tons of money on a Halloween costume? Not us! And we’re guessing you don’t want to either. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get into the spirit of All Hallow’s Eve. Here are 10 of our favorite DIY Halloween costumes for 2017!
1. Wonder Woman
She was one of the most iconic figures of 2017! Not to mention she rocks a killer outfit. You can make a Wonder Woman costume yourself with just a bit of craftiness. Don’t worry about being spot-on with every detail; just keep the top red and the bottom blue! A red tank top, t-shirt, or cami would all work great with blue leggings, bodycon skirt, shorts, or even a tulle skirt. Find some tall boots at a thrift store and spray paint them red. Then add some white electrical tape to complete the look! Purchase some gold fabric and velcro to make wristlets and the W for your red top. You can even find foam “crowns” at most party supply stores, then just glue red stars to the crown and wristlets. If you’d like, glue white stars to your blue bottom, and you’re set! You can cut these out of felt, foam, or any other heavy material. Pro tip: wrap any kind of thick cord (phone cord, HDMI cable, etc.) in your gold fabric to make the Lasso of Truth.
Click the photo for the full tutorial! Photo credit, BeingBelle.blogspot.com.
2. Bob’s Burgers Characters
Who doesn’t love this charismatic cartoon family? Dressing up as a cartoon character is easy because they’re generally very simple. Bob’s Burgers characters are no exception and are instantly recognizable. This DIY Halloween costume idea is even better for groups or a family! For Bob, just toss on a fake black mustache, white apron, and white t-shirt and gray pants. Maybe spray your hair black, too! For Linda, find a pair of red cat-eye glasses at a thrift store or local drug store. You may need to pop out the lenses so you aren’t blind all night long! Then tease your hair, add a red long-sleeved shirt and jeans, and you’re set. Gene doesn’t have any telling characteristics, but you can still pull it off with a bright yellow t-shirt and blue shorts. If you’re feeling extra creative, make his burger outfit! Louise has a plain green dress, and her signature pink bunny ears, which are super easy to make. Or, pay a few bucks and buy them online! Tina may be our favorite character on the show, and just needs some dark-rimmed glasses, a blue barrette, blue t-shirt and skirt, and a short bobbed wig. Oh, and some monotone sassiness.
Photo credit, Tumblr.com.
3. Captain Underpants
This beloved book was brought to the big screen this summer, and we have to say, it makes for a very showstopping costume! Since it’s mostly made up of nude leotards and of course, underpants. You can find everything you need for this costume at your local retail store. Then maybe a quick trip to the fabric store for the cape! Put it all together and you’ve got a Captain Underpants costume.
Photo credit, Pinterest.com.
4. Inspector Gadget
Besides being super creative and easy to make, we love the throwback to a great ’90s cartoon! If your guy is looking for a fun idea, try this Inspector Gadget costume. It’s a little more elaborate than some of the other DIY Halloween costume ideas out there, but the result is worth it. Start with a gray pea coat and fedora, then top it off with some “gadgets.” You can get creative here! Try slinkies, pipes, dowels, or other “robotic arm” materials, and attach stuffed yellow gloves. Add a badge and magnifying glass, then top it off with a siren or a propeller.
Photo credit, Notey.com.
5. Unicorn
From Starbucks to homemade slime to cupcake recipes, you couldn’t look anywhere on social media without seeing a reference to a unicorn! So why not embrace the hype and be a beautiful and elusive creature this Halloween? Start with an all-white outfit, then add some rainbow streaks in your hair. Then break out the glittery face paint and fake lashes! If you’re worried about your skill, try hiring a pro to help with your face paint. Complete your unicorn costume with a headband with ears and a horn.
Photo credit, Pinterest.
6. Trolls
Looking for DIY Halloween costumes for your little ones? We absolutely love the idea of turning your kiddos into Trolls! Of course, this costume works for adults or groups, too. Depending on which character you choose, just track down some bright clothing at a thrift store and add some matching (or complementary) tights. Don’t forget the signature hairdo! Make it yourself with this awesome tutorial.
Click the photo for the full tutorial! Photo credit, TheHowToMom.com.
7. Snapchat Filters
Are you addicted to Snapchat? Love the way those shimmery filters make you look? Turn it into a Halloween costume! Whether you transform yourself into a fairy with a flowery headband, a puppy with big eyes, or a rainbow-tongue-face, you’re sure to get some chuckles with these DIY Halloween costumes. Get the tutorial here!
Click for the full tutorial! Photo credit, RCLBeauty.com.
8. Dancing Girl Emojis
Maybe you don’t care about Snapchat, but you and your texting pals can communicate entire sentences through emojis. Sounds like a duo costume to us! No doubt you’ve used the Dancing Girls emoji when you and your bestie do something awesome. Toss on some black t-shirts, black shorts, black flats, and a black headband with ears. Done! This may win the award for Most Original with Least Amount of Effort in the DIY Halloween Costumes category.
Photo credit, Brit+Co.com.
9. Smarty Pants
We admit it, we’re all about the puns around here. So DIY Halloween costumes plus a good pun are always a winner! Besides being inexpensive, this one also guarantees a laugh or two. Grab a bowtie, a pair of fake glasses, a pair of pants you don’t care about (hello thrift store shopping!) and a bag of Smarties. Stick the smarties on your pants using hot glue. And now you’re a Smarty Pants! Bonus, stash the leftover Smarties to stress eat in case no one laughs at your hilarious costume.
Photo credit, WomansDay.com.
10. Titanic Passenger
This one is a little morbid, but the idea of using that “frozen” face makeup was just too fun to pass up! Also, it’s Halloween, so the macabre is welcome. And yes, making a “Frozen” costume reference here might make more sense, but we think this is way more original! So dress in your finest clothes, pop in some white-out contact lenses, and put on your makeup. For a truly authentic look, a makeup artist can help you apply everything. Top off your costume with a life preserver that you’ve customized with stickers.
Photo credit, Pinterest.com.
Need help with your DIY Halloween costumes? Book a local face painter or makeup artist on GigSalad.
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.