If you’re reading this, you probably need a last-minute Halloween costume.
Don’t worry, Mama. There are plenty of ways to find a costume or make a DIY costume in a time crunch.
I got you!
- Shop your closets! You never know what you might find that will spark some creative Halloween costume genius ideas.
- Ask friends on Facebook. You never know who else’s kiddo outgrew their love for Spiderman or Elsa and would be willing to pass down an old Halloween costume.
- Are you part of a neighborhood Facebook group or NextDoor? Your neighbors may surprise you and have just the costume you’re looking for. Not to mention, you or your child might even make a new friend.
- If that doesn’t work, seek out Facebook Marketplace or ask in a local parenting Facebook group. Someone’s bound to have that perfect costume for you!
- If it’s not the week before Halloween, you might be able to find something on Poshmark. Don’t forget that you can also negotiate the price.
- If all else fails, you might have to start searching through the local Goodwills and consignment stores. As they say, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” and it might just be your lucky day!
If you are short on time and can’t find anything, remember that you can make some really simple DIY costumes.
Here are some fun and quick ideas:
A Black Cat
It’s so basic but also SO cute. Just find some black leggings and a black long sleeve shirt. If you can’t find cat ears at the store, you can buy craft felt, cut out cat ears, and glue them to a headband.
Bonus: If you have a sibling set and need a second costume, you could make your other child a mouse and buy grey leggings and a long sleeve shirt.
A Scarecrow
Find a plaid shirt and some overalls. For a fun touch, buy a blackbird and some sunflowers.
M&Ms
Grab some colored oversized t-shirts and black pants or leggings. For the “M” you could buy felt, cut out an “M” and glue it onto the shirt. Or, if you have a Cricuit or a Sillhouette (or if you know someone who has one), you can buy iron on vinyl and create your “m” that way.
If you don’t own one of those machines and you don’t know anyone personally that does, it’s time to consult Facebook again!
The Minions
Okay, hear me out– if you want to go the family theme route, this would be super easy. All you need are yellow shirts, which you can find at the craft store, and overalls. And if you can’t find overalls, jeans would work too. To top it all off, if you can find a yellow beanie, your costume will be complete!
Superhero
Superheroes are so fun! Head to your nearest craft store, like Hobby Lobby or Jo-Ann, and buy some fabric. For the eye mask, you could make it yourself out of felt, or you can try to see if you can find eye masks in either the craft section or the party section.
A Favorite Athlete
Is your kid obsessed with sports? Maybe your kid has a Steph Curry jersey. Or perhaps your kid is a die-hard Alabama fan. If you already have the jerseys, you might as well use them for Halloween too!
A Candy “Rapper”
My niece did this one year, and I thought the play on words was quite clever, especially since I love a good pun. She wore all black and pinned candy wrappers to her clothes, a wide-brim baseball hat, and sunglasses.
80’s/90’s costume
Let’s not mention the fact that the stores are selling “90’s costumes.” But we all know that the ’90s were the best decade. How fun would it be to throw it back to 1996? Break out the bright-colored shirts, windbreakers, flannel, baggy pants, and overalls.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Here are a few more resources for you to gain inspiration from:
36 DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids from Sugar & Cloth
90 Easy Last-Minute Halloween Costumes from The Pioneer Woman
Have fun!
Remember, it’s about having fun and making memories with your children.
And here’s a throwback to my family’s costume last year. (Hence my first suggestion of a cat and a mouse.) My husband bought the plywood and painted it, and he made the rest of it with an old pool noodle and a PVC pipe.
And yes. I was a piece of cheese made from poster board. The headpiece was created from floral foam.
