Unless you go all out for Halloween, you may be struggling to pick the perfect costume. Maybe you started a Pinterest board to meticulously plan your disguise, only to discover that Halloween is just a couple days away. Sure, you could go to a box store for something off the rack or take a risk and pay extra for express shipping. But with a little time, some crafting supplies, and some ingenuity, you can become a DIY warrior and create costumes from the supplies you already have at home, or you can quickly pick up at a craft or hardware store. Here are some suggestions for last-minute costumes that are perfect for kids or the whole family.
Rosie the Riveter
Choosing the perfect Halloween costume can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Thankfully, Rosie is here to say, “You Can Do It!” As the focus of U.S. marketing campaigns that encouraged women to join the factory workforce during World War II, Rosie the Riveter is a ubiquitous symbol of independence and female empowerment. To channel this American cultural icon, all you’ll need is one denim button up, a pair of jeans, one red bandana, and some red lipstick. Simply cuff the shirt sleeves above the elbow, roll the bandana and tie it around your head, and you’re ready to show the boys how it’s done. And, yes, boys, it’s OK if you want to be Rosie, too.
Wednesday Addams
According to the Frightgeist Costume Tracker — a tool created by Google that ranks the most popular Halloween costumes based on search history — Wednesday Addams is the sixth most popular costume for 2023, and it’s easy to see why. With the recent Netflix reboot, Wednesday, which follows the life of the titular eldest Addams child, interest in the franchise has skyrocketed. And because Wednesday wears a signature all-black outfit, you can easily make this costume from materials you have at home. All you’ll need is a black knee-length dress (preferably with a white collar), black tights, and black shoes. If your hair is long enough, tie it into two braids on either side of your head. Finally, add black or red lipstick. The only thing missing from this costume is Wednesday’s spooky psychic powers, but we know you have those, too.
Tetris
Ever since its original release in 1985, Tetris has grown in popularity such that it is a part of the cultural zeitgeist. And this Halloween, you can dress up as your favorite video game with only a couple of minutes of preparation. All you need is a pair of black pants or leggings, a black T-shirt, and a stack of sticky notes in several colors. Place the sticky notes in the shape of Tetris patterns on the front of the shirt, and you’re ready to go trick-or-treating.
Ash Ketchum
It’s the end of an era. With the 25th and final season of Pokémon wrapping this year, now is the perfect time to indulge in some childhood nostalgia and say, “Ash, I choose you!” Since its initial release in 1997, the Pokémon franchise has enjoyed multi-billion-dollar success, while capturing the hearts and minds of adults and children alike. For this costume, you’ll need a pair of jeans, a white T-shirt, a blue zip-up vest, a red baseball cap, and a pair of fingerless gloves. Now you’re ready to catch them all.
LEGO Family
Show the world that your family are true LEGO fanatics. You’re going to need a couple of large pieces of cardboard, scissors, plastic cups, super glue, a roll of twine, a colored T-shirt, and a can of spray paint. Start by cutting the plastic cups 2 inches from the bottom to create the studs of the LEGO — for a full-size brick you will want to make four studs. Next, use scissors to cut the cardboard into a LEGO shaped rectangle, or a square for toddlers. Decide where you want to place the studs and add some super glue to the stud so that the base of the cup is facing toward you. After the studs are securely glued to the cardboard, let them dry for 20 minutes. When the glue has dried, take your cardboard pieces outside and spray paint them and let dry for another 20 minutes. After the LEGO cardboard pieces have dried, use the scissors to punch two holes at the top, one on either side, and feed a length of twine through the holes. Tightly fastened the twine to the cardboard, put on your colored T-shirt, and all that’s left to do is hang your LEGO pieces around your neck. Now you can say that you love LEGOs so much that you wear them.
Feature image by Mallivan/stock.adobe.com
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