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What are Some Ways to Make Unique Halloween Costumes?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

If you’re feeling bored with the usual assortment of ghosts, ghouls, pirates, witches, vampires and such that are offered as traditional Halloween costuming, you might want to consider coming up with some one of a kind or unique Halloween costumes this year. There are several ways to make a Halloween costume original, and to be certain you won’t be one of a string of french maids or black cats at any dress-up events you attend. Unique Halloween costumes can be a great way to express your artistic side and creatively dig deep, and they’re also a lot of fun to invent.

Just because retail stores tend to focus on more traditional costumes, don’t discount them completely as possible resources. A piece of a costume may inspire other ideas not intended by the manufacturer. You may not want to be a pirate, but if you’d like to be the Highwayman, from the famous poem, you’ll probably be able to find a wonderful lace shirt in the pirate section. Do think about your favorite fictional characters, especially from at least several decades ago for inspiration.

A woman dressed as a gypsy.
A woman dressed as a gypsy.

For example, you might want to be a Beat writer, and represent one of the many characters in Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, or you might want to be Daisy, from The Great Gatsby. With traditional costuming for the beat generation or for flappers, you can add a few touches that make you distinct and more like your character. If you really want to go all out with authentic costuming, try searching thrift stores or stores specializing in haute couture clothing. With a Pucci dress, a blonde wig, and a skinny figure, you can transform yourself into the famous model, Twiggy, for the evening.

Dressing up as a medieval monk might be a unique Halloween costume idea.
Dressing up as a medieval monk might be a unique Halloween costume idea.

Alternately, turn to history. Think of the many figures of the past that don’t get represented, like Greek scientists, medieval monks, leaders of countries. You can often use ready-made costumes representing that period and just know enough about your character to add a few touches that will make you easy to recognize. Galileo could have a model of the solar system, or wear a sign that says, "The Universe does not revolve around me."

Costumes can be given decorative touches using yarn and other craft supplies.
Costumes can be given decorative touches using yarn and other craft supplies.

If you’re not a fan of literature, history, or popular culture, don’t despair. Consider making unique Halloween costumes that represent a theme or an idea. Try wearing red, golds, and browns and use a few leaves from a local crafts store to be the incarnation of autumn. Similarly you could costume yourself as spring or winter with the appropriate colors and decorative touches from crafts store or with handmade crafts. Ideas can be hard to represent, but with a little creativity, you could be Wisdom, Peace, or a variety of other figures. Think of looking up signs and symbols appropriately associated with the idea you’d like to be for a night, and work a costume up that includes these symbols.

Characters from classic movies, like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, make entertaining Halloween costumes.
Characters from classic movies, like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, make entertaining Halloween costumes.

Another fun way to make unique Halloween costumes is to juxtapose two types of costumes together. If you’re not great with crafts, you can still purchase items that will make your costumes one of a kind. For instance, you could be a nerd vampire, a kitty french maid, a clown witch, an elephant fairy princess, or a doctor on vacation. You may have to do some explaining about unique Halloween costumes of this type, but they will cause comment and many of these can be lots of fun at a party.

Thrift stores often have cheap Halloween costume materials.
Thrift stores often have cheap Halloween costume materials.

Whether you’re handy with crafts and sewing or just a conscientious shopper, let your imagination go wild. With a little thought and planning you can definitely outfit yourself and family in unique Halloween costumes. No more run of the mill ghosts and ghouls for you!

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Fiorite

If you have a daughter and you are looking for cool ideas for toddler costumes, you could try mother Earth. All you would need is a pair of tights and a long sleeve shirt painted green, blue and brown. You could then decorate this outfit with vines made from shredded and knotted fabric, silk flowers from the craft store, and silk and plastic butterflies and bugs. This would be a simple, unique, and easy to make costume for a girl.

submariner

I like homemade versions of the more popular costumes. If you are crafty, this is an opportunity for you to show other parents up, and make your kids stand out. Some of the most unique toddler Halloween costumes available are the costumes from Yo Gabba Gabba (These costumes are even popular amongst adults). Plex is probably one of the easiest costumes to make. You can basically make a costume from a box painted yellow with dots and knobs to painted on to represent buttons and lights. Have your child wear a gray onesie dusted in silver sparkles, and top the costume off with a hat made form a small box painted yellow. This costume is sure to be popular with the other toddlers in the neighborhood.

Babalaas

I need a good idea for an easy toddler Halloween costume. I have seen some cute ones in the store, but I would like to make something that is a little more unique than the off the rack costumes that you see in stores. Does anyone have any ideas?

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    • A woman dressed as a gypsy.
      By: Wisky
      A woman dressed as a gypsy.
    • Dressing up as a medieval monk might be a unique Halloween costume idea.
      By: Nomad_Soul
      Dressing up as a medieval monk might be a unique Halloween costume idea.
    • Costumes can be given decorative touches using yarn and other craft supplies.
      By: adam36
      Costumes can be given decorative touches using yarn and other craft supplies.
    • Characters from classic movies, like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, make entertaining Halloween costumes.
      By: aceshot
      Characters from classic movies, like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, make entertaining Halloween costumes.
    • Thrift stores often have cheap Halloween costume materials.
      By: Laurent Hamels
      Thrift stores often have cheap Halloween costume materials.