The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (2024)

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (1)

Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

You don't have to spend a fortune on a store-bought costume you'll wear once (twice, if you're lucky!) to come up with something creative for Halloween—even if you have minimal crafting skills and limited time.

Whether you want to go as something sweet—a cupcake that comes together with your normal clothes, for example—or prefer to use All Hallow's Eve as an excuse to tap into your darker side—a Disney villain, a pretty sorceress, or one of the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus—there's an easy (and cheap!) DIY Halloween costume for you.

You can make many of these at the last-minute (read: the morning before the party) with just a few wardrobe staples and a few simple supplies, like a glue gun and some felt. Of course, experts can feel free to take any of these ideas and run with them, showing off their sewing skills to create something truly out of this world—a pearl in a life-size shell or a Jeff Koons-inspired balloon animal, perhaps. And, yes, you could totally skip the crafting session all together and, instead, lean on an ugly Halloween sweater that's perfect for work or makeup (think: something witchy).

Ready to start planning? Here, dozens upon dozens of affordable and simple ideas for women. (There's even a few that make great couples or BFF costumes, too!) And while these are all pictured on adults, you could totally use the inspo on your kids as well.

1

Vintage Clown

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (2)

Not all clowns have red hair and rainbow outfits. If you prefer a more neutral aesthetic, go dressed as a vintage clown. You don't need much—just a linen dress, some striped black tights, and some black yarn.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP TIGHTS

2

Pearl and Shell Costume

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (3)

You don't have to be pregnant to pull off this adorable—albeit, not exactly easy—costume, but there's no denying the bump helps accentuate the "pearl" inside the shell (a multi-dimensional accessory made from foam and spray paint).

Get the tutorial.

SHOP FOAM BOARD

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

3

Holly Golightly

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (4)

It's easy to pull off this classic costume with wardrobe staples—all you need is a black dress, a pair of pumps, a big necklace, and a pair of sunglasses. To finish the look, take advantage of two-day shipping, and order a pair of gloves and a tiara.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP GLOVES

4

Balloon Animal

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (5)

A plain white outfit provides the perfect blank canvas for this fun costume inspired by the work of Jeff Koons. We love the way red pops, but you can use any color that suits you—as long as you can find the spandex fabric for the job.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP FABRIC

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

5

Cookie Monster

As long as you have a blue dress and a brown clutch, you'll be well on your way to this homemade Cookie Monster costume. A blue boa, white foam balls, and black felt will take you the rest of the way.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP FELT

6

Cupcake

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (7)

Here's a fun idea: Pretend it's your birthday. Glue strips of felt onto a sweatshirt, then fashion yourself a giant candle headband using a cardboard tube (an empty toilet paper tube works just fine!) and cardstock.

SHOP FELT

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

7

Mrs. Potato Head

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (8)

Make this cute DIY costume even simpler by attaching felt to a tan-colored dress.

SHOP DRESS

8

Ball of Yarn

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (9)

Want to stand out in a crowd? We're willing to bet you'll be the only ball of yarn at the parade.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP LARGE YARN

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

9

Piñata

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (10)

It's easy to turn yourself into this classic party game—just arrange strips of crepe paper in layers on a white shirt. Finish the look with two party hats decorated the same way.

SHOP CREPE PAPER

10

Goddess

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (11)

Dress yourself in all white, then don a homemade gold crown (attach spray painted roses and dowels to a headband) to transform yourself into a heavenly goddess.

SHOP GOLD SPRAY PAINT

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

11

Comic Book Character

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (12)

A little creativity with makeup, plus some spray-on hair color, will make you look like you jumped right out of a comic book.

SHOP FACE PAINT

12

Candy Necklace

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (13)

A super sweet take on the DIY costume that requires just five simple supplies and make good use of those $1 pool noodles when the season is over.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP POOL NOODLES

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

13

Cruella de Vil

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (14)

A little silver hair dye and some clever accessorizing makes it easy to transform yourself into one of Disney's most infamous villains.

SHOP HAIR COLOR

14

Cher From Clueless

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (15)

As if there was a better costume than this for any 90s-loving lady.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP SKIRT

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

15

Gumball Machine

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (16)

Simply glue multicolored pom-poms to the top half of a red dress. Make sure to craft a little dispenser out of some gray and black felt, too.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP POM-POMS

16

Bubble Tea

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (17)

Minimal crafting skills? You've got this—this cool costume just requires a bit of felt, cardstock, and a hot glue gun.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP FELT

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

17

Power Ranger

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (18)

Gather your mightiest crew and assign each person a color. Then, affix white felt to a leotard, add a ribbon belt, and finish the look with a pair of knee socks.

SHOP LEOTARD

18

Sandy From Grease

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (19)

Here's an easy look almost anyone call pull together with wardrobe staples, like a moto jacket, leggings, and a pair of red heels.

SHOP HEELS

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

19

Pantone Color

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (20)

Hate dressing up? Here's a little cheat: Pick your favorite solid shade, then just pin on a little Pantone label. Boom—instant costume.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP FELT

20

Terrarium

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (21)

Show off your green thumb and your crafting skills all at once with this creative plant-inspired getup.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP GREEN DRESS

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (22)

Brigitt Earley

Contributing Writer

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.

The Most Creative (and Easy!) DIY Halloween Costumes Yet (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6582

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.