A good mummy is a sewing project disguised as a pile of rags. Every version below starts with a comfortable base garment, then strips of fabric attached to that garment, plus eye makeup, sensible shoes and one small prop that sets the theme. Some stay classic in aged cotton, some go glamorous with gold, and there are bright, funny, modest, plus-size and last-minute takes too. The one rule I give everyone: attach the strips to your clothes, never wind them tight around your body, and keep loose ends well away from your eyes and the soles of your shoes. After that, it's about which mood you want to wear.
Tearing and Aging the Strips Yourself
Store-bought gauze looks thin and medical. I'd rather make strips from cotton, and the fabric you pick changes the whole look.
- Old cotton bedsheets tear cleanly along the grain and give you long, even strips with a soft frayed edge. One worn double sheet covers most of an adult costume.
- Unbleached muslin is the sewist's favorite: cheap by the yard, tears straight, and takes tea or coffee dye well.
- Cheesecloth is open and wispy. It's lovely as a top layer, but too fragile to carry a whole costume on its own.
- Polyester and blends won't tear straight, and many won't take a tea stain either, so save them for cut strips in bright or metallic versions.
To tear, snip the selvedge every few inches and rip; vary the widths between two and four fingers so the wrap doesn't look striped. Then wash and tumble dry the strips once. It softens the edges, pulls out a fringe of loose threads, and gets the shrinking done before the strips are attached. For an aged look, soak them in strong tea or coffee, wring them out and let them dry crumpled, which leaves darker creases. Do all the staining days before the party, because damp dyed fabric can mark a white base.
1. Classic White Mummy Costume
For the classic version I start with a white long-sleeve shirt and white leggings, so you're fully covered before a single strip goes on. Torn cotton, muslin or old bedsheets get layered across the torso, arms and legs at uneven angles; a perfectly even wrap looks like a bandage, not a mummy. A few smudges of beige and gray makeup rubbed into the fabric age it fast. Pull your hair into a low bun and cover part of it with strips, then use pale foundation and smoky gray shadow around the eyes. White sneakers with a few short strips stitched on, and a foam tablet in hand, finish it.
2. DIY Tea-Stained Mummy Costume
Tea staining is the cheapest way I know to make new fabric look ancient. Tear an old cotton sheet into strips, soak them in strong cooled tea, then let them dry completely; damp strips leave marks on the base garment. Attach them to a tan shirt and leggings with fabric glue, hand stitches or safety pins placed on the inside, and leave the knees, elbows and waist free so you can bend. A messy braid with a few thin strips woven through, taupe shadow and soft brown contour pick up the same warm tone. Beige boots and a kraft-paper scroll keep the whole palette in the same family.
3. Glam Gold Mummy Costume
The gold version is the one I'd wear to a party where people dress up rather than down. Start from a cream fitted dress, jumpsuit, or matching top and leggings, and add narrow ivory strips at the shoulders, waist, wrists and thighs only, so plenty of the base shows. Narrow strips matter here; wide ones bury the gold. A metallic belt, stacked cuffs and a collar necklace go over the wraps, with a sleek black bob or straightened hair. Black winged liner, bronze shadow and gold highlighter keep the face clearly costume, and gold flats or ankle boots mean you'll still be standing at midnight.
4. Black And White Mummy Costume
High contrast does a lot of the work in this one. A fitted black turtleneck and leggings sit under strips of white and light gray, with bands of black left showing between them, which gives you bold horizontal lines from a distance. Keep the pieces at the wrists and ankles short so nothing hangs near your hands or feet. I like a high ponytail threaded with white ribbon, pale foundation and a crisp white liner along the lower lash line. Black combat boots give support, and a small wrapped bag can hold your phone.
5. Scary Mummy Costume With Gray Wraps
Spooky doesn't need gore. This version layers gray, beige and faded white strips over a charcoal shirt and leggings, so the dark base shows through deliberate gaps and makes the wraps look rotted. A long, light shoulder drape adds movement, but I keep its hem above the ankle; anything lower gets stepped on. Tease your hair and dust it with temporary gray color, or use a tousled silver wig. Matte gray and brown shadow sinks the eyes, taupe cream makeup smudged onto the wraps adds dust, and a battery lantern is the safe prop to carry.
6. Cute Mummy Costume With Tulle Skirt
Tulle turns the mummy cute. Wear a white fitted shirt with ivory leggings or opaque tights and add a short layered tulle skirt. Soft cotton strips run diagonally across the shirt, with smaller pieces caught into the skirt. Tulle is slippery, so I tack strips into it with a couple of hand stitches rather than glue, which just sits on top of the netting and peels away. Two buns with tiny fabric bows, pearly shadow and thin gray lines under the eyes keep the face sweet, and white high-tops make it easy to hand out treats all evening.
7. Last-Minute Mummy Costume With Leggings
If you only have tonight, black leggings and a plain white T-shirt will do. Cross pre-cut cotton strips over the shirt at different angles and fix them with fabric-safe tape or safety pins. On the leggings, concentrate strips at the thighs and calves; wrapping every inch takes hours and adds nothing. Tie a strip around your ponytail, use gray shadow and pale powder on the face, and knot a few strips onto old sneakers well above the soles. A cardboard sign reading Unwrapped gets the joke across with zero extra crafting.
8. No-Sew Mummy Costume With Fabric Strips
A cream sweatshirt and joggers make the easiest no-sew base I know, and they're warm. Tear muslin into strips of different widths, then fix them with fabric tape or washable adhesive dots straight onto the clothes. Cross them over the chest, shoulders, hips and legs, and keep the joints clear so you can sit. Adhesive dots hold far better on fleece than on slick fabrics, which is another reason I like sweats for this. A messy bun under a wide head wrap, soft brown eyes and beige sneakers finish it, with a wrapped crossbody pouch for your keys.
9. Mummy Dress Costume With Long Sleeves
A long-sleeve cream dress is a tidy one-piece base. Choose a knee or midi length you can walk in, then sew or glue torn chiffon and cotton strips across the bodice and skirt. A few short pieces can flutter from the sleeves, though I trim anything longer than a hand's length because it ends up in drinks. Opaque ivory tights give warmth and coverage. A textured low bun with a strip worn like a headband, smoky taupe eyes and cream ankle boots keep it looking refined, and a small scroll tied with gold cord adds an ancient touch.
10. Mummy Jumpsuit Costume
A jumpsuit is a good choice for outdoor events because there's no gap between top and bottom for wind to find. Pick a beige, gray or off-white one with a relaxed fit, then attach layered strips along the neckline, sleeves, waist and legs. Mixing muslin with cheesecloth gives you texture for free: cheesecloth is open and wispy, muslin is solid and frays well. A wrapped belt keeps your shape. A low ponytail with a strip over the elastic, brown shadow, a little gray contour and neutral lace-up boots complete it, with a foam tablet if you want a prop.
11. Plus-Size Mummy Costume With Tunic
For a plus-size build, a long ivory tunic with side slits over stretchy leggings gives you room and lets you adjust the fit anywhere. Layer diagonal cotton strips across the front, back, sleeves and hem, placed asymmetrically so the eye moves over the outfit. Diagonal lines also flex better than horizontal bands, which tend to roll up when you sit. Add a wide fabric belt at your natural waist only if you like definition. A full ponytail or a shoulder-length silver wig, smoky bronze eyes and supportive beige boots finish it, plus a roomy wrapped tote.
12. Modest Mummy Costume With Maxi Dress
A long cream maxi dress with long sleeves and a high neckline makes full coverage easy. Attach distressed strips across the shoulders, bodice, sleeves and skirt, and keep the lowest pieces firmly fixed several inches off the floor; a hem that touches the ground collects every leaf on the street. An ivory undercap or headscarf wrapped in muslin keeps the coverage consistent. Soft brown, gray and gold shadow frames the eyes, and an antique-gold belt adds a regal note. Wear flat closed-toe shoes and carry a rolled paper scroll in a small fabric holder.
13. Maternity Mummy Costume With Stretchy Dress
During pregnancy the base matters more than the wraps. A stretchy ribbed ivory midi dress lets you decide exactly where every strip sits, and it should never feel tighter than the dress alone. Attach soft pieces to the garment and angle several above and below the bump, leaving the center free. Light wrapping on the sleeves and shoulders balances the shape. A relaxed side braid with cream ribbon, luminous makeup and supportive white sneakers or low boots make sense here, and a tiny wrapped plush is a sweet prop. Keep every component easy to take off on your own.
14. Mummy Queen Costume With Gold Cape
A cape is what turns a wrapped costume into royalty. Over an ivory column dress, or a long tunic and leggings, add layered cream strips across the bodice, arms and lower half. The gold cape hangs from the shoulders; I'd keep its hem at mid-calf at most so you can manage stairs. Sleek dark hair or a blunt black wig with a gold headband, extended black liner, bronze shadow and gold accents near the brows give her the queen's face. A collar necklace, wrist cuffs and gold flats finish it, and a light foam jewel box makes a better prop than anything heavy.
15. Silver Metallic Mummy Costume
Silver pushes the mummy into science fiction. A metallic silver top with gray leggings, or a fitted silver jumpsuit, sits under narrow strips of white, pearl gray and a little holographic fabric. Go easy on the reflective strips; too many and the layered texture flattens into a shine. Metallic fabrics also fray badly when torn, so I cut those strips with pinking shears instead. A silver bob or a slick ponytail with metallic ribbon, charcoal shadow, white liner and silver highlighter at the temples suit it, with silver sneakers on your feet.
16. Rose Gold Mummy Costume
Blush and rose gold warm up a costume that's usually all cream. Use a pale pink dress, jumpsuit or top-and-legging set as the base, then layer cream, blush and lightly metallic strips over the shoulders, torso, hips and legs. A rose-gold belt and simple cuffs make the wrap look deliberate rather than random. Weave two thin blush strips through loose waves at the front of your hair. Rosy shadow, brown liner, pearl highlighter and a muted pink lip suit the palette, with blush ankle boots or cream sneakers and a small wrapped bag.
17. Neon Mummy Costume
Neon strips over a black base are the party version, and they're easy to spot in a dark room. Start with a black long-sleeve bodysuit or fitted shirt and leggings, then scatter neon green, pink, yellow and orange strips with black showing between them. Spread every color from shoulders to shoes, or the costume looks like it has a bright top half and a forgotten bottom half. Neon fabric is often synthetic and won't tear cleanly, so cut it. A high ponytail with neon ribbon, colorful liner, black sneakers with neon laces and a clear crossbody bag finish it.
18. Pastel Rainbow Mummy Costume
Pastels make the mummy gentle and bright. A white shirt and leggings carry strips in lavender, mint, blush, pale blue and soft yellow, with each color spread across the whole outfit rather than grouped in one area. You can dye cotton strips in pastel shades in small batches at home; just rinse until the water runs clear so nothing transfers onto white leggings. A braided ponytail with pastel ribbons, lilac shadow and a soft pink lip suit it. White platform sneakers or flat ankle boots keep the attention on the wraps, and a little pastel pouch carries your things.
19. Purple Mummy Costume
Deep purple gives you drama while staying friendly enough for a family event. Wear a black or plum dress over opaque tights, then attach violet, lavender, gray and faded cream strips around the dress, arms and legs. A wide purple wrap at the waist shapes the outfit and anchors several loose layers in one go. A wavy lavender wig, or temporary purple color on your own ends, pairs well with plum and charcoal shadow. Black lace-up boots, a purple battery lantern and short strip ends keep it practical in crowds.
20. Red Mummy Costume
A dark red base with cream wraps reads as fashion first, monster second. Choose a red long-sleeve dress or a matching top and pants, and cross ivory, burgundy and dusty rose strips over it. Concentrate the wraps at the shoulders, waist, wrists and calves so the red stays visible; cover too much and you lose the point. A sleek ponytail tied with a burgundy strip, smoky brown eyes with a red liner, and a berry lip coordinate the face. Burgundy ankle boots and a small red clutch with a few cream strips finish it.
21. Blue Ice Mummy Costume
The frozen mummy uses pale blue as the base, either a dress or a thermal shirt with leggings, which also helps on a cold night. Layer white, silver-gray and icy blue strips, then add iridescent organza in a few places to suggest frost. Organza frays the moment you look at it, so I seal the cut edges with a little clear fabric sealant or keep those pieces short. A white or pale blue wig in a tousled braid, frosty shadow and white liner set the mood. White winter boots and a clear box of crumpled silver tissue as an artifact make it complete without any gruesome effects.
22. Green Forest Mummy Costume
The forest version swaps ancient Egypt for something closer to a woodland spirit. An olive-green tunic and dark leggings sit under beige, moss and muted brown cotton strips, with artificial leaves and small fabric vines fixed into a few sections. Plastic leaves have stiff edges that scratch and snag, so I stitch them through the center vein and keep them off the sleeves. A loose braid with green ribbon and leaf clips, olive and bronze shadow and soft brown contour suit it. Dark green boots and a small lantern wrapped in faux moss finish the look.
23. Desert Sand Mummy Costume
Mixing tan, cream and camel is what makes the desert version convincing, because real aged linen isn't one color. Start with a beige long-sleeve shirt and loose matching pants, then attach uneven muslin strips in several neutral shades. A light hood or head wrap should leave your face fully clear. Matte taupe shadow, soft brown liner and warm contour suit the sandy palette, with a touch of gold highlighter so the face doesn't look flat. Wear tan hiking-style boots, wrapping only the uppers, and carry a fabric-covered canteen. Check the ankles and wrists before you leave; that's where ends work loose first.
24. Victorian Mummy Costume
A high-neck blouse and long skirt give the mummy a Victorian silhouette. Choose cream pieces with lace, ruffles or puffed sleeves, and keep the strips narrow across the bodice, cuffs, waist and skirt so the period details still show. A fitted vest or corset-style belt over the wraps gives shape. Arrange your hair in a low curled bun with a small distressed veil on a comb, then use pale powder and gray-brown shadow. Buttoned ankle boots and a fabric-covered journal prop suit the era. Keep the skirt wraps short and firmly attached, or you'll tread on them going upstairs.
25. Flapper Mummy Costume
Fringe and wraps work surprisingly well together. Over a knee-length cream fringe dress and opaque tights, attach narrow muslin strips at the neckline, waist, upper arms and lower skirt, leaving most of the fringe free to swing. If you cover the fringe, you lose the whole reason for the dress. A beaded headband over short waves or a dark bob wig, smoky eyes and a muted berry lip bring in the twenties. Tuck long costume pearls beneath a couple of wraps so they don't swing loose, and wear low T-strap shoes or flats so you can dance.
26. Disco Mummy Costume
The disco mummy starts from a silver or white wide-leg jumpsuit with glittery cream strips around the bodice, sleeves, hips and lower legs. Leave the flared hems bare; wraps on a flare drag under your shoes. Glitter fabric sheds onto everything, so I give the strips a good shake outdoors before attaching them. Voluminous curls with a metallic headband wrapped in gauze, sparkling silver shadow and graphic liner set the party mood. Stable white platforms and a mirrored foam ball or reflective clutch finish it, and the shine catches every light in the room.
27. Steampunk Mummy Costume
Steampunk is the most layered take, so plan where the wraps go before you start. A brown blouse, fitted vest and cropped trousers or a long tiered skirt get tea-colored muslin strips at the sleeves, torso and legs, with buckles and layers left visible. Goggles sit on a small brown top hat or just above the forehead. A messy braided updo with copper ribbon, bronze shadow and smudged brown liner suit the look. Sturdy lace-up boots, fingerless gloves partly wrapped, and a painted cardboard timepiece finish it; skip real metal parts, which are heavy and catch on fabric.
28. Sporty Mummy Costume
An athletic base is what I'd pick for walking all evening or playing party games. A white sweatshirt or zip jacket with matching joggers gets gray and beige strips across the shoulders, sleeves, torso and legs, with the zip and pockets left usable. That detail matters more than it sounds; you'll want your hands in those pockets by nine o'clock. A high ponytail with a wrapped scrunchie, gray shadow and a little white liner keep the face simple. Decorate the laces of white running shoes rather than covering the soles, and add wrapped sweatbands at the wrists.
29. Mummy Ballerina Costume
The ballerina version needs strips thin enough not to swamp the dance shape. Wear a white long-sleeve leotard or fitted top with opaque leggings, add an ivory tulle skirt at the waist, then cross narrow soft strips over the bodice, forearms and calves, each one fixed to the clothes. A neat bun wrapped in distressed ribbon, pearl shadow, gray liner and pale pink blush suit it. Ballet-style flats with real soles beat pointe shoes for a party floor, and a bundle of rolled tulle tied with ribbon is a sweet prop.
30. Mummy Fairy Costume With Wings
Wings make the mummy whimsical. Over a cream tunic dress and ivory leggings, attach pale gray and beige strips across the body, then add light translucent wings in white or silver. Wing straps cut into the shoulders over a few hours, so I wrap them in a strip or two of soft muslin, which hides them and pads them at once. Loose waves with narrow braided strips at the temples, silvery shadow and taupe contour create the fairy face. Cream ankle boots, a cardboard wand with no points, compact wings and short strip ends keep it manageable in doorways.
31. Mummy Cat Costume
This one blends two Halloween classics with almost no extra effort. Attach cream and gray strips in uneven bands over a black fitted shirt and leggings, from shoulders to calves. A black cat-ear headband with one ear partly wrapped does a lot of the storytelling. Draw a small black nose and whiskers, and use smoky gray shadow and a wing around the eyes. A fabric tail fixed firmly at the waist should stop short of the floor; I sew a loop to the tail end and slip it over a wrist when sitting. Black boots and a wrapped toy mouse finish it.
32. Mummy Butterfly Costume
Patterned wings over wrapping give you a mummy halfway to becoming a butterfly. Use a black or cream fitted jumpsuit as the base, layer narrow ivory strips around the torso, arms and legs, and add medium wings in muted gold, blue or purple. Hide the wing straps under a few fixed wraps so they disappear. Two high buns with curled headband antennae and shadow at the outer corners of the eyes, plus fine white lines that hint at wing patterns, keep the face light. Black ankle boots and compact wings make it easier to wear indoors.
33. Funny Unraveled Mummy Costume
The joke here is that the mummy is coming apart, so the strips loosen progressively from one shoulder to the opposite ankle. It's the one costume where the unraveling has to be planned, and every piece still needs to be fixed down, with nothing trailing on the floor. A cardboard spool at your side with one strip running to it sells the idea. A deliberately messy ponytail, soft gray shadow and raised, surprised brows add the comedy. Beige sneakers blend in, and a small Coming Undone sign makes the joke land in photos.
34. Elegant Black Mummy Costume
All-black with dark tonal wraps is the most sophisticated version. A long-sleeve black midi dress and black tights get charcoal, faded black and silver-gray strips across the neckline, bodice, sleeves and skirt. With so little color, texture is what makes the wraps visible, so I mix a matte cotton with a slightly shiny jersey. A polished low bun wrapped with thin charcoal ribbon, smoky black and gray shadow and silver liner suit it. Pointed flats or block-heel ankle boots and a black bag with one gray strip finish the silhouette.
35. White And Gold Royal Mummy Costume
To finish on something bright, the royal mummy uses crisp white and antique gold. A white long-sleeve maxi dress or tunic with leggings carries layered ivory wraps across the torso, arms, waist and lower half, with narrow gold ribbons slipped between some of the strips. A broad gold collar, matching cuffs and a simple jeweled headband establish rank. Straight dark hair or a sleek shoulder-length wig, black liner, bronze shadow and gold accents give her the classic Egyptian eye. Flat gold boots and a lightweight cardboard ceremonial fan complete her.
How the Wraps Stay On All Night
Most mummies fall apart from the edges, and the method you use to attach the strips decides how long yours lasts.
- Hand tacking is the most reliable. A few loose stitches at each end of a strip, and one in the middle of a long one, hold through hours of movement.
- Safety pins placed on the inside of the garment are fine for a one-night costume. Point them downward so they don't open when you bend.
- Fabric glue works on cotton bases, but most need a full day to cure, and it stiffens the fabric where it soaks in.
- Hot glue sits on top of the fibers and lets go in cold air or the first time the fabric flexes, so I don't rely on it for anything that moves.
Before you leave the house, sit down, stand up, climb a step and raise your arms over your head. Anything that shifts will fail by the end of the night, so fix it now.
Rain, Restrooms and Next Year
Cotton strips get heavy and sag once they're wet, and tea staining can bleed onto a white base in the rain. If the party is outdoors, a jumpsuit or sweats base with fewer, shorter strips copes better, and a clear rain poncho over it keeps the wraps intact for the walk. Leave the zip, the waistband and the fly of whatever base you wear completely free of strips, or a trip to the restroom turns into a project. Afterward, unpin or snip the tacking stitches, wash the base on its own, and store the strips flat in a bag. They look even better aged a second year.
One Base, Some Torn Cotton, and a Good Needle
One classic Halloween character turns out to have a lot of range. A secure shirt, dress, jumpsuit or legging set is always the foundation, and the strips are what make it a mummy, whether they're aged cotton, pastel, metallic or royal gold. Add hair, strong eye makeup, shoes you can walk in and one light prop. The construction rules don't change from one version to the next: strips go on the clothes, joints stay free, and nothing loose goes near your face or your soles. Get those right and the rest is just choosing a color.
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