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We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with browsing online Halloween retailers for the perfect store-bought costume, and if we’re being honest, going into one of those brick-and-mortar stores that pop up on the corner every year is highly entertaining — but it just isn’t really Halloween if you don’t make your own costume, right?
Maybe it’s because it adds the extra nostalgic element to the holiday. Breaking out that sewing kit and going to town on a DIY Halloween costume just really makes it feel like the good old days when making your own get-up was practically a requirement. It also guarantees no one is going to show up wearing the exact same, store-bought costume as you.
If you’re on the hunt for easy Halloween costume ideas, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got DIY ideas galore. Whether you want to jump on the unicorn trend or are more into dressing up as your favorite Disney character, we’ve got you covered.
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A version of this article was originally published September 2018.
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Cupcake
Image Credit: Joy Findeisen/SheKnows. Bite into something sweet this Halloween and get creative. You’ll need a pink t-shirt, pink leggings, polyester fiber for the cupcake icing and poster board for the cupcake packaging.
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Rosie the Riveter
Image Credit: Audrey Luzader/SheKnows. Spread some girl power as Rosie the Riveter.
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Bat
Image Credit: Merrick White/SheKnows. If you’ve got a little black dress, you’re halfway there.
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Audrey Hepburn
Image Credit: Cecilia Macris/SheKnows. Eat breakfast at Tiffany’s this Halloween as Audrey Hepburn. You’ll need a vintage-inspired LBD, a string of pearls, black gloves, big sunglasses and her signature cigarette holder.
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‘Despicable Me’ Minion
Image Credit: Kristina Fabela/SheKnows. Channel your inner Minion this Halloween. Get some jean shorts, a yellow shirt, black suspenders, fingerless gloves and some goggles.
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Unicorn
Image Credit: Ceirra Smith/SheKnows. Make your Halloween holiday as magical as a unicorn. You’ll need white leggings, a white tank top, some glittery fabric paint, a unicorn headband and some slip-ons you can decorate.
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Ice Cream Cone
Image Credit: Natalie Tischler/SheKnows. Be sweet and cool just like an ice cream cone. Get some tan shorts, fabric markers, a white tank top, some sparkly foam for ice cream sprinkles and a red headband to make this costume a reality.
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Flowerpot
Image Credit: Joy Findeisen/SheKnows. Show off your green thumb as a flowerpot. Get a green bucket, tons of fake flowers, green leggings, elastic and a flower headband to complete the look.
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Sun Drop Girl
Image Credit: Kristina Fabela/SheKnows. Dance the night away this Halloween as the Sun Drop girl! You only need black leggings, ripped jean shorts, a red sweatband and of course, a Sun Drop shirt, to make this costume.
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‘The Great Gatsby’
Image Credit: Farrah Wade/SheKnows. Try dressing up as your best Daisy this Halloween, old sport. Time travel back to The Great Gatsby. Find a flirty flapper dress, some long pearls and a 1920s-inspired headband.
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‘Pitch Perfect’
Image Credit: Chelsea Frisbie/SheKnows. You’ll be looking aca-awesome when you dress up like the ladies from Pitch Perfect this Halloween. Get a Barden Bella shirt, a blue-and-yellow scarf and a whistle to look like a Bella.
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Pinterest Board
Image Credit: Emily Nicholson/SheKnows. How about dressing up as a Pinterest board this year? You just need to print out your favorite pins and put them up on a poster board. You can put the poster board over your head by attaching it a durable string.
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Flamingo
Image Credit: Natalie Tischler/SheKnows. Fly high this Halloween as a flamingo. You’ll want to get a feather skirt, a cute mask and a bunch of feathers to cover a white bodysuit.
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Patti Mayonnaise & Doug Funnie
Image Credit: Nicole Factor/SheKnows. Feeling “Funnie” this Halloween? Try dressing up as Patti Mayonnaise and Doug Funnie. For Patti’s costume, you’ll need a bright blue mini-skirt, a yellow wig, a light blue shirt, pink felt for the shirt’s polka dots, high white socks and bright pink shoes. For Doug, your partner in crime will need a dark green vest.
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Gumball Machine
Image Credit: Raechel Bolen/SheKnows. Blow bubbles as a gumball machine. You’ll need red fabric, a red shirt, some cardboard, a plastic bowl and plenty of pom-poms, which are your pretend gumballs.
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Broken iPhone
Image Credit: Katie Owen/SheKnows. Having a broken iPhone is a fear of many. Scare your friends with this DIY costume and show off your artsy side. Get some poster board, paint, and string to make this costume a reality.
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Fruit of the Loom Grapes
Image Credit: Joel Miller/SheKnows. Nothing is more awesome than grapes bringing wine to a party. Just get some purple legging, purple balloons, a leaf crown and a bottle of wine, of course.
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‘Where’s Waldo?’
Image Credit: Morgan Smith/SheKnows. Document your Halloween hijinks with a camera, like Waldo. You’ll need a red-and-white striped shirt, a red-and-white hat and a fun camera, like a instant camera.
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Dora the Explorer
Image Credit: Kenia Carlos/SheKnows. Grab your backpacks and vamonos! Get some orange shorts, a bright pink shirt, a purple backpack and felt to bring Dora’s trusty sidekicks to life.
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Soap & Loofah
Image Credit: Ashley Haines/SheKnows. Have some squeaky-clean fun with this costume. Literally. For the soap costume, you can use an oversized t-shirt or can fashion a white piece of fabric into a dress. Paint “SOAP” on with some fabric paint. Finish the soap costume off with a cute headband. The loofah costume can be created out of lots of tulle, which can be layered over a pink bodysuit.
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Flo the Progressive Lady
Image Credit: Nicole Schwab/SheKnows. Be Progressive! B-E Progressive!
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Nerds
Image Credit: Chriselle Asuma-Irion/SheKnows. Nerds have the most fun. Rope a friend into this fun costume. This entirely DIY costume, so you’ll need paint, a big poster board and some artistic skills.
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Katniss Everdeen
Image Credit: Kortney Gruenwald/SheKnows. Kick butt just like Katniss did in The Hunger Games movie with this DIY costume. Hunt down a black sweatshirt, brown cargo pants, a brown belt, bow and arrows and a black leather jacket to transform into Katniss.
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Flight Attendant
Image Credit: Ashley Haines/SheKnows. Next stop: A Halloween party, of course! Get yourself an ascot and snazzy jacket to really pull off this costume.
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Disney Princess — Ariel
Image Credit: Merrick White/SheKnows. Bring a grown-up Ariel to life with a plain-ole white t-shirt, a mermaid skirt and red wig.
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Disney Princess — Belle
Image Credit: Merrick White/SheKnows. Bet you never knew dressing up like Belle could be so easy. Just get a blue dress and a white apron.
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Disney Princess — Elsa
Image Credit: Merrick White/SheKnows. Because we all secretly want to dress like Elsa, and making her gown is super-easy. Get a white lace long-sleeve shirt and a strapless blue dress. Don’t forget her glittery train, either.
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Pin It!
Image Credit: Gabriela Arellano/SheKnows Pin now to DIY later!
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