20 Halloween Costumes You Can Create With Clothes You Already Own
No Costume? No Problem
While you can easily spend hundreds of dollars on the perfect Halloween costume, you don't have to. Halloween is all about getting creative and having fun, and you can absolutely pull together something clever, funny, or spooky using what you already have in your closet. Here are 20 Halloween costumes you can create with clothes you likely already own.
1. Hippie
As long as you have something a little flowy and bohemian in your closet, you can pull off the hippie look. Investing in a peace sign necklace and some big circle shades would complete the look, but it's not a complete necessity.
2. Detective
With nothing more than a trench coat, a fedora, and a quizzical expression, you can look straight out of a Film Noir. If you don't have a trenchcoat, a pea coat, or a blazer also works well.
3. David & Victoria Beckham
The classic "it" couple, David and Victoria Beckham, is a simple and great partner's costume. As long as you have some soccer duds and a little black dress kicking around, you can easily pull this off.
4. Nerd
"Nerd" is the perfect outfit for last-minute parties because you can make it with a few simple closet staples. Throw on large-frame glasses, a plaid shirt with suspenders, high-waisted pants that are a bit too short, and sandals with white socks.
5. Rosie the Riveter
"Rosie the Riveter" is an instantly recognizable Halloween costume with a feminist flair. All you need is a red bandana, red lipstick, a jean shirt, and your biceps to pull off this cultural icon.
6. Mime
If you have a black and white striped shirt in your closet, you can be a mime for Halloween. Pair that top with a beret, suspenders, black pants, white makeup, and heavy eyeliner, and get ready to talk with your hands.
7. Men in Black Agent
If you have a black suit with sunglasses, you can go as a Men in Black agent for Halloween. This can make a great group or duo costume, but it also stands well on its own.
Jeremy Thompson from United States of America on Wikimedia
8. Tourist
Anyone with a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts can be a tourist for Halloween. Add some props like a camera, a map, a fanny pack, and a big straw hat to complete the look.
9. Zombie
You might not necessarily have bloody red face paint lying around the house, but that's about the only thing you'll need to buy to pull off the zombie look. Try different themes like "business zombie" or "cyclist zombie" to add something unique and funny.
10. Farmer
"Farmer" is one of the easiest Halloween costumes that never goes out of style. It's best if you have overalls, but you can also just wear jeans, a plaid shirt, boots, and a sunhat. Props like gardening gloves and tools can help complete the look.
11. Joan Jett
Joan Jett, the "Godmother of Punk," is an easy costume to pull off, and it's always a big hit. All you need is some punk-inspired clothes like skinny jeans, a leather jacket or blazer, a choker necklace, and some heavy eyeliner.
Jessica Harcourt Leary [1] on Wikimedia
12. Skeleton
You can make a skeleton costume with nothing more than some white paper and tape. Wear all black, cut paper into the shape of bones, and paste the bones onto the black clothes. Do some spooky skeleton makeup if you feel like adding something extra.
Infrogmation of New Orleans on Wikimedia
13. Wednesday Addams
Given how hot the show is right now, Wednesday Addams would make an excellent Halloween costume idea. It's essentially a black school uniform with her signature pigtails.
14. Mummy
To create a mummy costume, use strips of fabric or rolls of gauze to wrap around yourself. To add an aged look, soak your strips of cloth in tea for a few minutes. Give your face a black and brown look with makeup.
15. Barbie
We got a taste of the Barbie looks everyone could create with what they already had in their closets back when Barbie came out, and people dressed up to see it in cinemas. Just throw on anything you have that's pink. Barbie and Ken also make a great couple's costume.
16. Frida Kahlo
A white top, a shawl, some flowers for the hair, red lipstick, and, of course, the iconic unibrow, are all you need to be the legendary Frida Kahlo for Halloween. It's an artsy and intelligent costume option.
17. Christmas Tree
"Christmas tree" is a surprisingly hilarious and cute Halloween costume, especially if you use twinkle lights that need to be plugged in, necessitating you to stand near an outlet at all times. Just wear a green outfit, paste a gold star on your head or hat, and wrap yourself in twinkle lights.
Frames For Your Heart on Unsplash
18. Doll
To be a doll for Halloween, wear your cutest and most girly dress. Most of the magic is in the makeup, so it helps if you're artistic, but there are tons of makeup tutorials online. You can either create creepy doll makeup or go as a straight-up cute doll, which will still look a little spooky, let's be honest.
19. Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an instantly recognizable music icon. His look is simple: usually a button-up with a black blazer, shades, and messy hair. It helps if you have an instrument like a ukulele or harmonica that you can use as a prop.
Unknown photographer on Wikimedia
20. Jeff Lebowski
"The Dude," Jeff Lebowski, is an easy and crowd-pleasing Halloween costume that also happens to be the comfiest. Wear a bathrobe or comfy cardigan, pajama pants, and a white V-neck with sandals, and of course, shades. You don't have to sip on White Russians the whole night, though it would help complete the look.
