Shop your closet.
14 DIY Costume Ideas You Already Have in Your Closet

Halloween is a magical holiday where you get to be who or whatever you want for an evening. An iPhone? Sure. A giant piece of birthday cake? Go for it, girl. We more than applaud those of you who shoot for the moon on All Hallows’ Eve, but we know an elaborate costume isn’t always the easiest thing to put together. If you’re in need of a little inspiration for this year’s costume, why not start with what you already have hanging in your closet? Here are 14 show-stopping (not to mention affordable) Halloween costumes ideas you can create with garments you probablyalready own. But don’t worry, if you don’t happen to have these staples at the ready, we’ve hooked you up with options to buy. Happy Halloweening.
Verdusa Women’s Overalls
To be Super Mario or a Despicable Me minion, just wear an appropriately colored shirt underneath and add signature details like mustaches for M+L or silver goggles and a yellow beanie (genius hack!). To be a scarecrow, find a straw hat and a little hay, pin on some flowers, and you’re good to go.
Verdusa Striped Tee
Keep quiet and let your outfit do all the talking as a mime, sail the seven seas as a pirate (eye patch is a must!), or channel your inner Bonnie and Clyde as bank robbers with the Jay to your Bey.
Xiaolizi Hooded Cape
Winifred Sanderson
Sookie Active Leotard
sparkly gymnast
ASOS New Look Trench Coat
Carmen Sandiego
Nasty Gal Out With the Cold Turtleneck
Zeagoo Flannel Button Down
Take the decade’s grunge looks to an extreme as a ’90s teen who would give Angela Chase a run for her money with a jean jacket, Docs, and a near constant eye roll in tow. You can also opt for a hipster ensemble, with beanie, expensive coffee, and more.
White Button-Down
H+M Red Dress
If you own a red maxi, pull it up and turn it into an ultra-simple dress. Pop on a wild wig, print out Thing 1 and 2 signs, and you and your bestie have an excuse to be extra-silly all night long.
Lulus Little Black Dress
Olsen twin
Forever 21 White Dress
Option 1: Just add wings and a sparkly headband to become a heavenly angel. Option 2: Take it back to the age of Marilyn. Option 3: Grab some markers and let your kids doodle all over your dress — it’ll be worth it when you pop on a veil to recreate Angelina Jolie’s wedding day look.
BDG Denim Shirt
Nothing says Halloween like a bit of time travel. Take it back to the ’40s as the oh-so-empowering Rosie the Riveter, or skip forward a few decades and dress as the hoverboard-riding teen, the one and only Marty McFly.
Caracilia Faux Fur Coat
Obviously, the ever-rebellious Margot Tenenbaum is our throw-on-and-go frontrunner. But if this Wes Anderson character is a little too monotone for you, go for Disney’s most over-the-top villain, Cruella De Vil.
Urban Outfitters Faux Leather Jacket
Rock out as punk royalty Joey Ramone in a Ramones t-shirt, messy black wig, and round sunglasses, or go the bombshell route as Grease’s Sandy. If you ask us, any excuse to wear stellar heels and red lipstick is hard to pass up.