10 DIY Costumes with Normal Clothing

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If you’re anything like me, you don’t really plan out your Halloween costume enough in advance and therefore find yourself making do with things you already have. But you know what? I think this is okay. I find costumes that incorporate regular clothing to be my favorite costumes for the following reasons:

• Being last-minute about your costume is suddenly okay
• You can use clothing items you already have
• And therefore, it’s often cheaper
• You can keep and use anything you end up buying for your costume
• You skip the madness that is any party supply store at Halloween
• Your personal style shines through a little bit more
• You’re easily the most comfortable person at the Halloween party

I think Rent the Runway does this really well, by the way. But. Without further ado, here is my (kinda weird, but different at least) list of 10 last-minute costume ideas that all use normal clothing…

Note: Every once in a while I go through and update these links since things go out of stock on websites. But I’ll let your creativity fill in for where the links fail us!

1. A PRESENT

 

Probably the easiest costume on here.

2. TOADSTOOL MUSHROOM

 

You could make a “mushroom top” yourself with a tutorial like this one, or you can simply adhere white felt circles to a floppy red wool hat. I recommend going kind of “boho” with this—with a lacy white dress, and bare feet when you can get away with it—because it gives your costume a nice woodsy vibe.

3. CAT LADY

This one is perfect for this Halloween, in particular, because clothing with cats on it is very “in” right now. You could get your entire costume at Forever 21 easy. Or just hit up the thrift store.

4. DALMATIAN

This one incorporates another trend: polka dots. I went with a dress here because it’s easier than matching up different polka dot pieces, but do whatever you like! (Oh, and the ribbon is for a “collar.”)

5. AN ELF

 

Lucky for you, stores have already started putting out Christmas stuff. (Skirt tip: A-line is where it’s at here. Definitely more elfy.)

6. TIN-TIN

 

You now have a perfectly kind of good excuse to get that trench coat you’ve been eyeing.

7. CAT (OR OTHER ANIMAL) BEANIE BABY

 

 

Scenario: You’re in a “costume group” where each person is assigned a different decade to embody. You got the ’90s. Bam. This costume. (You could even have some fun creating your own “Beanie Baby” poem for your giant hand-made tag if you wanted.) Just don’t let anyone rip your tag off. Because that’s always really sad.

8. ARNOLD FROM HEY ARNOLD!

 

…Or be any other character from this awesome show. If you’re having trouble finding a little blue hat like Arnold’s, try making one with paper with this origami tutorial. Then pin in place.

9–10. FORREST GUMP AND JENNY

Aw. This one is for couples. How sweet.

Happy pre-Halloween weekend, everyone! Eat lots of candy, okay?

Love, Maurine