Easy Last-Minute Halloween Costumes

Every year we swear we'll start planning our Halloween costumes in mid-September. And yet, somehow, we always end up un-costumed and panicking on October 27th. But never fear! I have a collection of (easy - but not lame!) homemade costumes that can be thrown together relatively quickly at the last minute using mainly items you already have on hand or can pick up or make easily. 

Here are my favorite easy last-minute Halloween costumes for 2023!

Mary Poppins

All you need is a plain white button-up shirt, a red bow tie, a dark small-brimmed hat, a dark skirt (any length or style), a plain umbrella, a large handbag, a little red lipstick, and a spoonful of sugar to transform yourself into everyone's favorite nanny. 

Flight Attendant

Add a plain white blouse and a silk neck scarf to a pencil skirt and a pair of pumps, plus a full face of makeup and polished updo hairstyle, bring along a rollerbag to collect all your candy, and you'll be flying high in this cute flight attendant getup. 

Allan & Ellie from Jurassic Park

He needs khakis, a denim shirt, a red bandana, a straw hat, and cool shades; she needs tan shorts, a solid color tee and long-sleeved cotton shirt tied at the waist, and you're good to go! Bonus points if you can find a buddy with one of those fabulous inflatable T rex costumes.

Wind-up Doll

Save a paper towel tube, glue or tape it to a figure 8 cut from a piece of cardboard, then put on your cutest babydoll dress and lots of pink blusher, and break out your best robot dance moves for this adorable wind-up doll costume.

Scuba Diver

Black pants and long-sleeved shirt form the basis for this scuba diver costume. Add a pair of swim goggles and a couple of spray-painted 2-liter soda bottles held together with some washi tape and cord and you're ready to go!

Baby Shark (doo doo doo-doot doo doo)

Take an old gray sweatshirt and sew (or glue) on some white felt teeth and eyes (color in the center with a black sharpie), add a fin made from gray fabric scraps (or felt) and some pillow stuffing or more fabric scraps, then break out the two-note cello soundtrack to have everyone fleeing the water. 

Rubik's Cube

If you can come up with a cardboard box that's larger than your child (early Christmas shopping on Amazon can help), cut  a head hole and armholes, open the bottom, add a square of colored posterboard on each side, and use black electrical tape to form a 3x3 grid on each side, and you're the coolest cube in town. 

Barbie

Although it's better if you have a long blond wig (or naturally long blond hair), any stylish outfit in vivid pink plus a pair of high heels will instantly turn you into Barbie (Ken not included, although it will probably be easy to recruit a handsome guy with a dark suit and a pair of sunglasses - or board shorts and a Hawaiian shirt).  

Pasta Pasta Pasta

Get a rectangle of stiff off-white, pale tan, or yellowish fabric or even lightweight posterboard, cut zigzags along the two short edges, run some cord or twine through the center to gather it, and tie around your waist over a neutral colored top and pants, and you're farfalle pasta! Or stitch together a zigzag-edged pillow and be a ravioli. 

Bat

That broken black umbrella that's been hanging around at the back of your closet for years? Take off the handle, cut it in half, and strategically safety pin it to the sleeves of a black hoodie, and pair it black leggings and a couple of black felt or construction paper ears, and you can echolocate the best candy in the neighborhood.

The Bachelorette

Dig out that old bridesmaid or prom dress from the back of your closet, buy yourself a bouquet of roses, and you're ready to win over the hearts of everyone you encounter.

Wednesday Addams

If you have a short black dress and a white top, some goth makeup, braided pigtails, and a withering stare, this Wednesday Addams costume is the look for you. 

Rosie the Riveter

A denim shirt with jeans or overalls, a red bandana or polka-dot scarf, some red lipstick, and a nice flex and you're ready to win the war as everyone's favorite riveter. (Bonus points if you can sing the song.)

Palm Tree

Pair any kind of tan or brown outfit with this palm tree hat made from green posterboard or stiff felt and a cardboard chip or coffee can hot glued to a plastic headband (complete directions here) for a delightful tropical look. 

Vampire

Black pants, white dress shirt, and black dress or sweater vest, a little eyeliner smudged under your eyes, and a simple black cape (purchased or cut out of inexpensive fabric), and a terrifying glare are all you need to be a vampire. Fangs entirely optional, but be sure to brush after you eat your candy. 

Bubble Bath

Start with a white or light blue base (t-shirt and shorts if you're in a warm climate or sweatshirt and light-wash jeans if you're somewhere cooler), then blow up a bunch of white and pink balloons and safety pin them to the shirt, and tape on a rubber ducky or two just for fun. (Bonus points for singing the song with this one, too.)

Cavity Sam

Remember the game "Operation"? The guy with all the organs was named "Cavity Sam," and you can become him by cutting out the various organs from red and white felt and pinning them to a base costume - and don't forget Sam's red clown nose. Make it into a couples' costume with a set of scrubs and a pair of tongs. 

Bob Ross

Add an afro wig and an artist's palette with some paint splotches to jeans or dark pants and a denim or plaid flannel shirt and you'll be "happy little trees"-ing with the best of them. 

Jake from State Farm

Start with, uh, khakis and a red polo, then pin on a State Farm logo made from posterboard (or a stick-on nametag) and red sharpie. I promise you won't be hideous. 

Canoe

Cut a canoe shape and oar blades out of posterboard or an empty box, attach the blades to a pool noodle, and add some suspender-type straps and you're ready to win the Halloween regatta.

Happy Halloween and happy crafting!

DIY Halloween Costumes, 2017 Edition

Last-minute Halloween costumes often tend towards the traditional: a white-sheeted ghost, a black cat with ears and tail, a fortuneteller/lumberjack/hobo - anything that can be easily thrown together using items that you already have around the house. But even the lastest of last-minute costume designers can manage to put together these easy - and unusual - costumes!

Historical and Cultural Figures

Rosie the Riveter

Items Needed: blue shirt (long- or short-sleeved), red bandanna, red lipstick

Frido Kahlo

Items Needed: Silk flowers, bobby pins or floral wire, brightly colored dress or blouse, large tropical earrings, bright shoulder scarf, eyebrow pencil, red lipstick

Amelia Earhart

Items Needed: Leather bomber jacket, long scarf, tan pants, boots, safety glasses or swim goggles.

Bonnie and Clyde

Items Needed (for her): Pencil or flared skirt, light round-necked jersey or sweater, neck scarf, large beret, pumps, Nerf pistol
Items Needed (for him): Three-piece suit, white shirt, striped tie, fedora, Nerf pistol

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Items Needed: Long blue scarf, long yellow scarf, white blouse, tan jacket, pearl drop earring

Book Characters

Mary Poppins (from Mary Poppins)

Items Needed: Black full skirt, black tights, black boots or shoes, high-necked white blouse, red bowtie, black hat, umbrella, large bag or tote. Can substitute a black overcoat and long scarf for the blouse and bowtie.

Greg Heffley (from Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Items Needed: Black shorts, long-sleeved white t-shirt and leggings or pants), black electrical tape, photocopy of Greg's face, paper plate, narrow elastic. Apply the tape to the shirt and pants according to photo, above. Glue to face to a paper plate with eyeholes (and a mouth hole, if you prefer) and attach elastic to hold mask in place.

Pete the Cat (from Pete the Cat)

Items Needed: Blue hoodie, blue pants (or jeans), red sneakers, yellow t-shirt, multi-colored felt. Cut out 4 large felt circles and stitch to t-shirt for buttons. From blue felt, make cat ears and stitch onto hood. Optional: make cat nose and whiskers on face using an eyebrow pencil.

Harry Potter (from Harry Potter)

Items Needed: Black graduation robe, red-and-yellow striped scarf (or red-and-yellow striped necktie with white shirt), large round glasses, wand or stick.

Waldo and Wanda (from Where's Waldo?)

Items Needed (for him): Long-sleeved red-and-white striped t-shirt, jeans, red and white knitted cap with pom-pom, glasses, cane or walking stick (optional)
Items Needed (for her): Red-and-white striped tank or t-shirt, short blue skirt, red-and-white striped tights or socks, red and white knitted cap with pom-pom, glasses, cane or walking stick (optional)

Olivia (from Olivia)

Items Needed: Red tutu, red shirt or jacket, black and white striped leggings or tights, pig nose and ears (optional)


Puns and Wordplay

Social Butterfly

Items Needed: Butterfly (or fairy) wings, headband with pipe cleaner antennae, solid color shirt, printouts of social media logos, safety pins.

French Kiss

Items Needed: Black and white striped shirt, narrow red or pink scarf, black beret, white face paint, black facepaint (or eyeliner pencil), red or deep pink lipstick.

Identity Thief

Items Needed: Solid color shirt, "Hello, My Name Is" labels, Sharpie marker.

Fork in the Road

Items Needed: Black pants and top, wide yellow tape, plastic fork

Iron Chef

Items Needed: White t-shirt, white chef's apron, fabric marker

Formal Apology

Items Needed: Tuxedo or gown, "I'm Sorry" sign