Women’s DIY Halloween Costumes Made from Clothes You’ll Actually Wear Again
Don’t feel like spending $50-100 on something you’ll only wear once? We get that. Whether you’ve been invited to a costume party or are looking for something quick to throw together to take your kids trick-or-treating, there are plenty of women’s DIY Halloween costume ideas out there. From classic costumes to today’s hottest pop-culture characters, here are 13 easy Halloween DIY costumes you can make from clothes you already own or from clothes you can buy and will actually wear again.
1. Black Widow
Black Widow finally got her own movie this year, and now it’s time for you to be your own “she-ro” this Halloween.
What you’ll need:
- Black leggings
- Long-sleeve black top
- Black knee-high boots
- Red wig
2. Princess Leia
Too often female characters are portrayed as damsels in distress. Not Princess Leia. She was strong, loyal, smart, courageous and capable of kicking butt. Along with this heroine’s well-known white ensemble, don’t forget to complete the look with Leia’s iconic space buns.
What you’ll need:
- Long-sleeve white dress
- White and silver belt
- White tights
- White boots
3. Scarlet Witch
You don’t need a black pointy hat, broom and warts to be a witch this Halloween. Dress up as Wanda Maximoff in her red Scarlet Witch costume from the TV show “WandaVision.”
What you’ll need:
- Red one-piece swimsuit or bodysuit
- Red thigh-high boots
- Red women’s gloves
- Red cape
- Nude-colored pantyhose
4. Cruella De Vil
Cruella isn’t a new costume idea, but after seeing Emma Stone’s performance in Disney’s “Cruella,” who wouldn’t want to dress up as her this year? Those who love animal print and black will find shopping for this costume easier than catching dalmatians. And if you’re feeling daring enough, dye your hair black and white or just buy a black and white wig.
What you’ll need:
- Animal-print faux fur women’s coat
- Form-fitting black dress (or red if you want to copy the fiery scene from the latest movie)
- Red gloves
- Red lipstick
5. Sandy from “Grease”
Who doesn’t love an all-black outfit? That and a pop of red on your feet are all you need to recreate this adored character from a classic movie. This DIY costume is sure to have everyone saying, “You’re the one that I want!”
What you’ll need:
- High-waisted black jeggings
- Black shirt or crop top
- Black leather jacket
- Red heels
- Hoop earrings
6. Moira Rose
Few TV characters are as fashionable as Moira Rose from “Schitt’s Creek.” She was always dressed to the nines, making it easy for you (or maybe hard) to choose from one of her countless chic yet edgy looks. Like Moira’s style, go above and beyond by donning a look-alike of one of her walls of wigs.
What you’ll need:
- Classy yet edgy black and white women’s clothing
- Black heels
- Flashy jewelry
7. Mary Poppins
If you’ve got a sweet, nurturing personality and are musical – or if you want to be for one night – give this lovable fictional character a go.
What you’ll need:
- Women’s white blouse with a collar
- Black skirt
- Black tights
- Red bow tie
- Black boater hat
- Umbrella
- Big purse
8. Rosie the Riveter
Rosie’s claim to fame may have come in 1943, but her iconic status is still seen around Halloween. Make sure to strike your feminist power pose for an Instagram picture once you get your costume put together.
What you’ll need:
- Denim shirt
- Denim women’s jeans
- Red hair scarf or red bandana
- Red lipstick
9. Medusa
If you’re going for a cute but kind of creepy costume, and are a fan of Greek mythology, be Medusa. We know you’ll wear the dress and jewelry again, but we can’t speak for the snakes.
What you’ll need:
- Green or white dress
- Metallic accessories
- Fake rubber snakes to pin into your hair
10. Simone Biles
Since the Olympic Games are this year, how fun and easy would it be to dress like your favorite Summer Olympics female athlete? We don’t know your favorite, but we’re partial to gymnast Simone Biles. Like her moves, this costume is a perfect 10. Slicked back hair, glittery eye shadow and a medal are optional but highly recommended.
What you’ll need:
- Red, white and blue bodysuit or one-piece swimsuit
- Red, white and blue tracksuit
- Gold medal
11. Vice President Kamala Harris
Halloween isn’t only choosing to look scary or pretty. It can also be a time to pay tribute to someone you admire. Who better this year than our country’s first female vice president? The nice thing about Kamala Harris’ style is that it’s refined yet comfortable. This DIY women’s costume idea is for one of her go-to outfits, which includes all things we’re
100% sure you’ll wear over and over again throughout the year.
What you’ll need:
- Blazer
- White women’s T-shirt
- Pants
- White Converse sneakers
12. Hippie
Since ‘70s fashion is back, this colorful ensemble should be pretty easy to put together.
What you’ll need:
- Bell-bottom jeans
- Tie-dye shirt
- Circle sunglasses
- Floral hairband
13. Flight Attendant
The look of a flight attendant is made up of women’s clothing that you could wear to work, church or on a date. So if you plan on doing one or all of these, buy yourself the pieces that make up this put-together outfit.
What you need:
- Black or navy blazer
- Black or navy pencil skirt
- White blouse
- Silk fashion scarf
These Halloween costumes are simple enough for beginner DIYers yet are still fun and fashionable to help you stand out in a sea of Halloween partygoers. Plus, they’re all made up of cute and comfortable clothing that won’t just sit in the back of your closet until you finally take them to a thrift store, like many store-bought Halloween costumes.