How many times have you found yourself scrambling to find a last-minute costume? Maybe Halloween snuck up on you, or you might have been invited to a costume party on short notice. That's okay because we'll show you some of our favorite normal clothes costumes! With the addition of a simple accessory or two, you'll feel ready for any costume party. Not only are closet costumes great to have in a pinch, but they're budget-friendly options when you're strapped for cash. How many of these regular clothes costumes are hiding in your closet already?
1. Witch Costume
| Witch Hat | Spiral Witch Broom |
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Witch costumes are probably the first to come to mind for women who need a costume fast! Roll your eyes all you want, but there's a reason this is a classic Halloween costume. All you need is a little black dress or your favorite black outfit paired with a witch hat. While a broom isn't necessary to complete your look, it's another excellent option to pair with your easy witch costume.
2. Cowboy Costume
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Can you give up wearing your jeans for a day? Make them part of your costume by becoming a cowboy! Pair your favorite pair of jeans with a button-down flannel shirt and a cowboy hat, and you have the basics for a great Halloween costume. You can always add a bandana around your neck, a belt with a big buckle, and a vest for a more well-rounded look.
3. Black Cat Costume
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Is your closet full of black clothes? Make use of them with a black cat costume! To create this costume, you can use practically any of your regular clothes paired with black cat ears and a matching tail. In the end, what really pulls it all together is your makeup. Give yourself a cat nose and some simple whiskers, and you'll be feline fine in no time!
4. Vampire Costume
| Classic Vampire Cape | Vampire Teeth |
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A vampire is another classic Halloween costume you can assemble from everyday clothes. You probably have a formal outfit hiding in the recesses of your closet to wear as the base of your Halloween costume. Then, you only need to add a vampire cape to complete your transformation. However, if you're missing the fangs, they're a very cheap costume accessory to include.
5. Devil Costume
| Red Devil Horns | Red Pitchfork |
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Feeling a little devilish? Dig up some red clothing to DIY a devil costume! With only an accessory or two, you're ready for life in the underworld. While a pair of devil horns will do, a pitchfork wouldn't be out of place either. You'll be prepared to hex a Halloween party in no time flat.
6. Zombie Costume
| Zombie Makeup Kit | Zombie Tattoo FX |
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We hope you have some apparel you're ready to part with because once you go zombie, you never go back. We have a handy tutorial for turning costumes and clothing into zombie costumes, which is the first thing you must do. Being a zombie means you also have to do some serious makeup to pull it off! Luckily, makeup kits and tattoos will have everything you need to complete your DIY zombie costume.
7. Hippie Costume
| Round Purple Glasses | Peace Sign Necklace |
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Calling all boho girlies! A hippie costume is so easy to make if you already have a boho-style wardrobe. (Or if you have a boho bestie from whom you can borrow clothes.) Pair a neutral top with a flowing skirt or a fringed vest, and accessorize it! Glasses with colorful lenses turn most boho looks instantly more hippie, and don't forget your peace sign necklace.
8. Lumberjack Costume
Have you ever been told that you dress like a lumberjack? Embrace the lumberjack look this Halloween! Once again, grab your favorite pair of jeans. Then, wear a checkered shirt and finish it off with a fake axe. This is also a great Halloween costume for guys with tattoos, so roll up those sleeves!
9. Fairy Costume
Do you have a favorite dress you wish you could wear all the time? Why not turn it into your Halloween costume this year? Transforming into a fairy is as easy as wearing a dress and a pair of fairy wings. Or, for more mythical fun, wear a dress and elf ears to become a fantasy elf. You can even hang onto your costume accessories and wear these costumes to your local Renaissance Festival! How's that for being frugal?
10. Superhero Costume
| Black and Green Cape | Kids' Superhero Eye Mask |
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Do you have a kid who loves to dress like a superhero even when it's not Halloween? Whether you want a superhero costume for dress-up or Halloween, it's easy enough to assemble your own! Find a colorful shirt to which you can glue an emblem, whether that's a lightning bolt, a star, or another logo your child would like. Pair it with colorful pants in a contrasting color, and find a matching or neutral cape and eye mask. So, what is their superhero name going to be?
11. Pirate Costume
| Women's Suede Pirate Hat | Silver Pirate Cutlass Prop |
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A pirate costume is another easy costume to make with your own clothes, provided you can get your hands on a pirate hat. Essential pieces include a white blouse with a collar or ruffles, and layering with a vest or a coat and some belts already makes your outfit more piratey. Slap on a pair of neutral brown or black pants, grab your pirate hat, and get ready to sail the seven seas!
12. Secret Agent Costume
| Secret Agent Earpiece | Black Fedora | Costume Black Sunglasses |
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A secret agent costume is excellent for men, women, and children. Wear a formal outfit from your closet with black pants, and add a black jacket or trench coat. Your spy costume is practically complete, but the right accessories will really make it shine! Cheap costume accessories like a secret agent earpiece, black sunglasses, or a black fedora help to tie your look together. You might even have a few of these items at home!
13. Mime Costume
| Black Beret | White Costume Gloves |
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We hope your makeup skills are on point! Makeup is the most important part of pulling off a mime costume. However, you still can't forget a black-and-white striped shirt as the main component of your costume. You also want to wear black pants, and a vest is optional, but it is a fun touch. Finish it off with a beret and white gloves, and you'll look like a mime. Now it's time to practice your miming skills!
14. Baker/Chef Costume
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A chef costume is relatively low-effort, but it's an excellent option for anyone in a pinch. The iconic white button-up shirt may not be an option for you, but an apron and a chef hat are the accessories that do the heavy lifting here. Wear casual clothes underneath and bring along a wooden spoon or a rolling pin; no one has to guess your costume.
15. Pop Art Costume
| Blue Bob Wig | Red Babydoll Heels |
Do you love easy costumes where your makeup does all the heavy lifting? Pop art costumes are tons of fun to make, and the results can be stunning! The keys here are polka-dot or vintage-look clothing that feels like it came out of an old printed comic book. Also, get a wig in an unnatural hair color like blue, pink, or yellow. Pops of color in your outfit also look great with brightly-colored heels, hair bows, or jewelry.
16. Frankenstein Costume
| Frankenstein Monster Kit | Platform Monster Boots |
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Let's get back to some classic Halloween costume ideas, shall we? Whether you're team Frankenstein or Frankenstein's Monster, this iconic look is easy enough to recreate yourself. Black slacks and a black shirt under an open black blazer are basic items you likely already have in your closet. The one thing you have to buy is green makeup. Get a pair of black platform shoes to mimic the Monster's iconic shoes for a fun upgrade.
17. Princess Costume
| Gold Circlet | Kids' White Costume Gloves |
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Would you like more excuses to wear that pretty, formal dress sitting in the back of your closet, waiting for its time to shine? Dust it off and turn it into a princess costume this Halloween! Satin and velvet dresses especially have a regal feel—just add a tiara! Wear a matching pair of heels, and you can plus it up with long saying gloves if they match your princess aesthetic. How's that for being fabulously frugal?
18. Magician Costume
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Abracadabra! You can be a magician in a flash with formal attire. A black suit or tuxedo makes a great base, but don't forget the top hat! (Where else are you supposed to hide your rabbit?) You can always accessorize with a bow tie and white gloves, but test your pieces to see what works best for you. Bring along a deck of cards for extra flair, and you can always impress the crowd if you learn a few easy card tricks.
19. Angel Costume
| Angel Wings | White Angel Halo |
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You can make so many costumes with little black dresses, but what about white dresses? An angel costume is a great idea to pair with a white dress. Just add angel wings and a halo, and you'll feel heavenly! Of course, this costume also has a fallen angel variant, where you can wear a black dress paired with black wings and a black halo. Grab a best friend, and you can be both!
20. Clue Costume
| Clue Dagger Game Piece | Brown Tortoiseshell Glasses |
Do you need an easy DIY group costume idea? Clue is a great option! Characters in Clue have color-themed names and outfits, such as Professor Plum, Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, and more. Find colorful clothes to coordinate with your character and perhaps an accessory or two for that finishing touch. The example shown is Professor Plum, who pairs well with any Clue-themed weapons and scholarly spectacles.
21. Doll Costume
| Pink Doll Wig | Black and White Striped Tights |
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Some DIY costumes, such as a doll costume, offer a ton of flexibility. Do you want to be a scary doll or a cute porcelain doll? What about a short dress or a long dress? Pigtails or ringlet curls? Give yourself time to play around with this one so you can pull off your look flawlessly! Also, wigs are highly recommended costume accessories for doll costumes, so you can get that fake hair to look just right.
22. Indiana Jones Costume
| Kids' Indiana Jones Hat | Whip Prop |
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Do you love action-adventure films? Some of your favorite action heroes wear everyday clothing, such as Indiana Jones. No one will accuse you of wearing a lazy costume to Halloween when you show up in brown slacks and a button-up collared shirt with a fake whip. If you can get your hands on a brown leather coat and a brown fedora, you'll be less like casual Indy and appear closer to his signature look. (Or, with some tweaks, you're close to Brendan Fraser in The Mummy!)
23. Breakfast at Tiffany's Costume
| Pearl Necklace Costume Jewelry | Black Cigarette Holder | Breakfast at Tiffany's Crown |
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Classic Hollywood icons are another great source of inspiration for closet costume ideas. Take Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's! Get a slinky black dress to be the base of your costume, and all you need are a few accessories—a pearl necklace, a tiny crown for your up-do, and a cigarette holder. This classy outfit is so chic and easy to replicate!
24. 80s Workout Costume
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We heard you wanted more flexibility. Try an 80s fitness costume! Find the brightest pieces of clothing you have and mash them together to fit your 80s aesthetic. Don't forget a set of brightly colored sweatbands to tie your look together. This costume is great for any age, gender, or group size. Grab your friends and create an entire 80s fitness class!
25. Lara Croft Costume
| Belt and Holster Set | Toy Gun and Grenade Set |
Get ready to shine, gamer girls! A Lara Croft costume is incredibly easy to pull off with the right costume accessories. Wear black or brown shorts, a tank top (cropped or uncropped), and combat boots. Make sure to braid your hair as well! Then, you only need to add a holder with an optional toy gun. (Just make sure to look at prop weapon policies at any venues you plan to go to.) Even if you dress with empty holsters, people should know who you are!
26. Scarecrow Costume
| Scarecrow Hat and Collar | Scarecrow Makeup Kit |
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Who knew a flannel shirt could be so versatile? Get your flannel ready again for this easy scarecrow costume. Wear either jeans or denim overalls, and you're almost there! Every good scarecrow needs a floppy hat or a straw hat, and patches are optional. Add a little makeup, and use raffia accents to look like hay. (As a bonus, it's much less itchy than the real thing!)
27. Barbie Costume
| Pink Cowboy Hat | Pink Gogo Boots |
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It's time to dig through your closet to make the most obnoxious pink outfit you have! Barbie can be anything, but a pink outfit is the most recognizable option if you go the DIY route. You might find buying a pink accessory or two helpful so you're pink from head to toe. Come on, Barbie, let's go party!
28. Aviator Costume
| Brown Aviator Hat | White Aviator Scarf |
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Include your favorite leather jacket in your Halloween costume this year by dressing as a vintage aviator. Wear your own coat and jeans, and a scarf if you have it. Complete your outfit with an aviator hat and goggles; you're ready for Halloween! This is also a great costume with a jacket so you can feel dressed up while taking the kids trick-or-treating.
29. Rosie the Riveter Costume
Dig out your denim and dress as the iconic Rosie the Riveter! All you really need is a denim shirt and a red headband, but we love this costume kit with the inclusion of the "We Can Do It!" slogan. Don't forget to practice the pose for your social media photo!
30. Charlie Chaplin Costume
| Black Bowler Hat | Police Mustache | Walking Cane |
Charlie Chaplin was a master of comedy, all without saying a word! This silent film star famously dressed in baggy suits, so you may need to borrow one from a friend. Other accessories that help complete your costume are a black bowler hat, a cane, and his signature 'stache. We recommend taking a pair of scissors to this police mustache to get the right look for Charlie Chaplin.
31. Medusa Costume
| Medusa Headdress | Gold Snake Armband | Gold Snake Sandals |
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Haven't had enough dress costume ideas? Show off your love for classical mythology with a Medusa costume! DIY your own gorgeous gorgon costume with a green or snakeskin-patterned dress. Then, add a snake crown or perhaps some snake-themed accessories. Shimmering snake scales and metallic makeup are fun additions if you love Halloween makeup.
32. Reporter Costume
We repeatedly see suits as versatile outfits for Halloween costumes. (Just swap the props!) This easy costume for guys with normal clothes only needs a microphone accessory. However, if you want to get extra creative, add an inside-out umbrella, some leaves pinned to your outfit, and wires in your clothing to look like a weatherman in a windstorm. That's even more fantastic outfit ideas in one!
33. Harley Quinn Costume
| Black Fishnet Stockings | Wood-Look Bat |
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The more comics and movies Harley Quinn has, the more outfits she has! However, one of her most DIY-able looks is from the 2016 Suicide Squad movie. Wear black fishnets under short shorts and a white shirt under a bomber jacket. You might not have the exact pieces, but you'll have the vibe. Just don't skimp on the different-colored ponytails! Get hair color or clip-in accessories to match her blue and red ponytails. A baseball bat is a nice touch to complete your Harley Quinn costume.
34. Sailor Costume
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Maybe costumes aren't your thing, but you feel obligated to dress up. This simple sailor costume could be just what you need! Wear a polo shirt with a sweater tied around your neck, shorts, sunglasses, and a sailor hat. This casual costume lets you pop the hat on and off as needed, so you're not stuck in costume wherever you go.
35. Maleficent Costume
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As cool as it would be to look like you're stepping straight off the set of Maleficent, you can make your own last-minute Maleficent costume that still gets the point across. Wear a black top and skirt or a long black dress, and make sure your makeup is sufficient for the mistress of evil. All you really need to pull off this costume is a Maleficent headpiece so you can have her signature horns!
36. Plague Doctor Costume
| Plague Doctor Kit | Black Cross |
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We love a plague doctor costume for Renfest or Halloween, and you might already have most of this costume in your closet! Wear black clothing under a black overcoat, peacoat, or trench coat, and you have the base for your outfit in order. Then get a cross and a plague doctor mask, hood, and hat, similar to what we have in this costume kit. If the cord on your necklace stands out too much for your liking, you can always replace it with a black cord or a similarly discreet chain.
37. Frida Kahlo Costume
If you love art and feminist icons, Frida Kahlo is a great costume. To start, you'll need a floral dress. Wear a shawl around your shoulders or a folded piece of fabric to act as a shawl. You'll need bold jewelry, especially eye-catching earrings, and a floral crown to tie it all together. For her signature unibrow, take an eyebrow pencil to draw eyebrow hairs that go across your forehead. If you wish, you're okay with stopping here, but you can always bring an artist's pallet and a brush as costume accessories.
38. Boxer Costume
Who doesn't have a pair of athletic shorts and a tank top in their wardrobe? Perhaps some gym socks and a pair of sneakers? That's all you need for a boxer costume—just add boxing gloves! Wear a silky bathrobe over your outfit if you're feeling fancy or want a little more warmth for Halloween. You can always toss it off with flair before you pretend to enter the ring!
39. Alice Costume
| Alice Bow Headband | White Baby Doll Heels |
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Some classic book characters have simple enough costumes to recreate with regular clothes. Alice wears a blue dress with a white apron on top and generally a bow in her hair. Then, accessorize with white tights, socks, and white shoes, and you're ready to fall into Wonderland. (But be careful not to anger the Queen of Hearts!)
40. Miami Vice Costume
| Black Sunglasses | Toy Police Gun |
We have seen examples of a few black suit costumes, but what about white suit costume ideas? One popular idea is a Miami Vice costume. This hit cop show from the 80s had a main character who frequently wore white or other light-colored suits with pastel casual tops and tees underneath. Add a pair of dark shades and a prop gun if you wish, and you'll feel like a Miami cop.
41. Red Riding Hood Costume
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Most of what you need for a Red Riding Hood costume can be found in your closet. However, the essential red-hooded cloak might need to be purchased. (If you already have one, that's great too!) Wear a white blouse, skirt, dress pants, or something fairly neutral underneath your cloak. A basket is handy as a costume prop and can also double as your purse for the night!
Hopefully, you feel inspired by some of these choices or have your own closet costume idea. Have you made a creative costume at the last minute? Do you have additional ideas for Halloween costumes made from regular clothes? We'd love to hear more of your ideas in the comments! Also, don't forget to check out our Halloween costume accessories to add the finishing touches you need. We hope you have a great time in costume!
