Animal costumes are the ones I get asked to help with most, mostly because people already own half of one. A black jumpsuit or a gray hoodie is a perfectly good start, and the animal comes from three or four details: ears, a tail, a few markings, a nose. Below are 40 animals, from house pets and farm animals to sea creatures, birds and insects, and nearly all of them can be put together from comfortable clothes, felt and a little makeup. Each one scales for kids, teens or adults once you change the fit and the shoes. The rule I sew by is simple: decide which single feature tells people what you are, and make that one feature well. Everything else can be quick.
Sewing Ears and Tails That Last Until Midnight
Most animal costumes fail in the same two places: the ears flop and the tail falls off. Both are easy to prevent if you spend a few extra minutes before Halloween instead of fixing things with safety pins on the doorstep.
Ears that stand up
Craft felt on its own is too soft for anything taller than a cat ear. I cut each ear twice, sandwich a layer of stiff felt or iron-on interfacing between the pieces, and stitch around the edge. For tall ears like a bunny's, slide a length of craft wire or plastic boning up the middle and fold the cut end of the wire back on itself so it can't poke through. Sew the ears to a fabric-covered headband rather than gluing them to bare plastic. Hot glue on smooth plastic pops off with the first knock, and it turns brittle in cold night air.
Tails that stay put
Pinning a tail directly to a jumpsuit pulls the fabric down and leaves holes. I sew every tail to a separate strip of wide elastic or a cotton tape belt that ties under the costume, so the weight sits on your waist and the clothing stays untouched. Stuff tails loosely with polyester fiberfill. A heavy tail swings and knocks things over, while a light one moves the way you do.
What I keep in a small repair kit for Halloween night:
- A needle threaded with black thread and another with the main costume color
- Fabric glue for felt-to-felt joins, since it dries flexible where hot glue cracks
- Large safety pins for emergency fixes, pinned from the inside so they don't show
- Spare elastic and a couple of bobby pins for a headband that starts to slide
1. Black Cat Halloween Costume
Black cat is the costume I'd hand to anyone who has twenty minutes and a black outfit, and it still reads from across a dark street because of the ears. Start with a fitted black jumpsuit, leggings with a long-sleeve top, or a black dress over opaque tights. Make the ears from two layers of felt with a scrap of interfacing between them, or they flop by the second hour. I sew the tail onto a strip of elastic that fastens around the waist rather than pinning it to the clothes, because a pinned tail drags the back of a dress down. A high ponytail or a sleek black wig both work. Draw a small nose, whiskers and a little winged liner, and add a collar with a light bell if you can stand the jingle. Felt paw pads on black gloves are a nice touch, but skip them if you need to handle candy or a phone.
2. Lion Halloween Costume
The mane is the whole lion, so that is where I spend my time. A tan sweatshirt and pants, a brown jumpsuit or a golden dress over thick tights gives you a warm base for a cool October night. For the mane, I cut felt strips in brown, rust and gold about two inches wide and stitch them in overlapping rows around a hood or a wide headband. Stitching beats hot glue here because the strips get tugged constantly. Full natural curls or a textured brown wig fill in underneath. Bronze around the eyes, a dark nose and a few whisker dots finish the face, and a slim tail with a furry tip helps from behind. Tan boots or brown sneakers keep you comfortable. I'd leave the leaf garland prop at home if you're trick-or-treating and want your hands free.
3. Red Fox Halloween Costume
Fox comes down to the white chest and the black-tipped ears; the rest is ordinary rust and orange clothing. A rust sweater dress, an orange jumpsuit or a matching sweatshirt and joggers all work. I make the white chest panel removable by sewing it onto a felt bib that ties at the neck, so the sweater goes back in your closet untouched. Black gloves or wrist cuffs stand in for the dark paws. The tail needs real volume to read as fox rather than cat, so give it a white tip and stuff it loosely with polyester fiberfill. Copper or auburn hair in loose waves suits it, or a soft orange wig. Warm orange blush, a black nose, white near the mouth and fine whiskers do the face, and black ankle boots ground the bright base. A small cluster of artificial autumn leaves makes an easy prop.
4. Woodland Deer Halloween Costume
Deer is quieter than most animal looks, which is exactly why it suits people who don't want to be loud on Halloween. Wear a tan dress, a brown romper or a beige top with fitted brown pants, and add a cream faux-fur vest if it's cold. The antlers are where people go wrong. Heavy foam antlers pull a headband backward within an hour, so keep them small and light, and stitch the felt ears close to the band so the weight sits centered. Loose waves or low braids look right with it. Brown blended across the forehead and cheeks, white freckle spots, a dark nose and defined eyes make the face. Brown boots keep it grounded, and a short tail stays out of the way while you walk.
5. White Bunny Halloween Costume
White bunny looks sweet, but white clothing shows every smudge of face paint and every bit of sidewalk, so I build it from pieces that go in the wash. White overalls, a white jumpsuit or a sweater dress over thick white tights all work, with a pale pink or light gray belly panel for contrast. Tall ears need structure: I sew a length of craft wire or a strip of plastic boning into each one so they stand up instead of folding over. A pom-pom tail sewn to the back finishes the shape. A high bun tucked under the ears or a short white wig both suit it. Rosy blush, a pink nose and fine whiskers keep the face friendly. Felt carrots in a small basket are a cute prop, and they don't break when dropped.
6. Leopard Halloween Costume
Leopard can come straight out of your closet if you own any leopard print at all. A leopard jumpsuit, a midi dress or a matching top and leggings is the fast route. If you only have tan clothes, cut irregular rosettes from brown and black felt. Real leopard spots are broken rings, not solid dots, and that detail is what stops it reading as cheetah. I attach them with a few hand stitches rather than tape, since fashion tape tends to let go on knit fabric once you start moving. Big hair or a warm brown wavy wig, rounded ears, a long spotted tail and black gloves give you the animal shape. Winged eyes, a dark nose, whisker dots and a few spots at the temples do the face, with black boots underneath.
7. Zebra Halloween Costume
Stripes do nearly all the work here. A striped jumpsuit, a long-sleeve dress or black leggings with a zebra-print top is enough of a base. Add a short striped tail and rounded ears so it reads as an animal and not just a graphic outfit. The mane is the detail I'd never skip: a narrow strip of upright black faux fur along a headband or hood. Cut faux fur from the back with small snips through the backing only, never straight across with long blades, or you shear the pile and shed fluff everywhere. Go sparing with white face makeup, because a full white base cracks and transfers onto everything. A few clean black stripes on the forehead and cheeks read better. Black sneakers or ankle boots, and a bundle of artificial grass if you want the joke.
8. Giraffe Halloween Costume
Giraffe spots are irregular patches with thin light lines between them, and getting that spacing right is what separates a giraffe from a cow. A golden yellow jumpsuit, a tan dress or a mustard sweater with brown pants is the base. I cut every brown felt patch slightly different and leave narrow gaps between them, keeping them off the elbows and knees so you can still bend. The ossicones are two short, stubby horns: wrap two small pieces of foam in fabric and stitch them to a headband beside rounded ears, keeping them short so they don't wobble. A textured ponytail or a brown wig with a small upright section suggests the mane. Warm bronzer, scattered patches, a darker nose and long lashes for the face, and brown boots or tan sneakers on the feet. A slim spotted tail at the waist finishes the back.
9. Giant Panda Halloween Costume
Panda is the one I recommend when someone tells me they'll be outside all evening, because it's built on a hoodie. Black pants and a white hoodie or sweatshirt dress do most of it. Pandas have black arms and shoulders, so add black sleeves or arm warmers if your top is all white. The ears are rounded black felt fixed to the hood or a padded headband. Two high buns or a short black wig frame the face. Use white only where you need it and blend soft black patches around the eyes. On a real panda those patches droop toward the outer corners, which is why it looks gentle rather than like a raccoon. A small black nose, black sneakers or fuzzy boots, and a painted cardboard bamboo stalk if you want a prop.
10. Koala Halloween Costume
Koala is mostly about the ears, which are big, round and fluffy, and they're usually the first thing people make too small. A gray hoodie and joggers, a fleece jumpsuit or a sweater dress with gray tights makes the base, with a white or pale gray chest patch in felt. I cut the ears at least the width of my palm and back them with stiff felt, then cover the fronts in fluffy fabric so they hold their shape on a light headband or right on the hood. Muted gray eye shadow, rosy cheeks and a large rounded black nose read as koala. The nose is big on a real koala, so don't be shy with it. Gray sneakers or ankle boots, and a faux eucalyptus branch with the leaves glued down tight if you'll be in a crowd.
11. Spotted Cow Halloween Costume
Cow is the easiest animal to size for a whole family because the base is white clothing almost everyone owns. White overalls, a white sweatsuit or a white dress over black tights all work. Cut the black felt patches in uneven, blobby shapes; neat circles look like a dalmatian. I tack them on with a few loose stitches so they come off later without leaving glue on the clothes. Floppy ears and small soft horns go on a headband, and a thin tail with a black tuft clips at the waist. Two low buns or braids suit it. Paint a pink muzzle with black nostrils and a couple of small spots at the temples. Black boots or sneakers match the markings, and a light cardboard milk carton makes a good prop for adults.
12. Pink Pig Halloween Costume
Pig needs only three things to read: pink, pointed ears and a curly tail. A pink sweatshirt and pants, a pink jumpsuit or a dress with matching tights gives you the color. I make the tail from fabric wrapped around craft wire, then fold back the cut wire end and cover it with a felt cap so it can't scratch anyone sitting next to you. Two buns or a pastel pink bob wig work for hair. Draw the snout on the tip of the nose rather than across the lower face, with rosy blush and two nostril marks; a big painted snout smudges into your mouth the first time you eat. Pink sneakers or rubber boots keep the color going. A small faux apple or a farm basket is enough prop, and you can still sit, walk and dance in it all night.
13. Fluffy Sheep Halloween Costume
The fleece texture is the sheep, so this is the costume where I'd happily spend an evening at the sewing machine. Wear a black long-sleeve shirt and black leggings under a white tunic or oversized sweatshirt. Cover the white layer with faux fleece circles or puffs of quilt batting, and leave the underarms and side seams bare so you can move. Batting sheds, so stitch it in place instead of gluing, and expect a little fluff on everyone who hugs you. Black felt ears go on a white hood or headband, and a short curly white wig adds texture if your own hair is short. Keep the face simple: a black nose and a little shading on the cheeks. Black sneakers look like dark hooves.
14. Yellow Chicken Halloween Costume
Chicken is loud yellow, and it shows up well in group photos. A yellow sweatshirt dress, a roomy jumpsuit or a matching top and pants is the base. Feather trim sheds, and those loose bits go straight into eyes and mouths, so keep it to the shoulders and sleeve edges and give the trim a good shake outdoors before you wear it. A red felt comb on a hood or headband, plus wing panels along the arms, make the bird. A high ponytail or a short fluffy yellow wig works. Orange eye shadow, a small beak drawn around the lips and rosy cheeks are enough makeup. The legs are what most people forget: orange tights with orange sneakers or shoe covers. Plastic eggs in a basket make an easy prop.
15. Colorful Peacock Halloween Costume
Peacock is the animal for anyone who'd rather look glamorous than cute. A fitted teal jumpsuit, a blue-green maxi dress or an emerald top with coordinating pants makes the base. The tail carries everything. I cut lightweight fabric panels with blue, green and gold eye spots and attach the tail to a separate belt with snaps, so it comes off when you sit or get into a car. A tail sewn straight onto a dress gets crushed and pulls the neckline backward. Wear a high sleek bun or a vivid blue wig with a small feathered headpiece. Blend teal and gold eye makeup outward with defined lashes, and keep the rest of the face plain so the eyes carry it. Gold flats or teal boots, and one artificial feather in hand for when the tail is off.
16. Pink Flamingo Halloween Costume
Flamingo is one color and a funny silhouette, and it's easier than it looks. A hot pink dress, romper or fitted top with pink leggings is the base. Layers of pink tulle at the hips and shoulders suggest plumage, and tulle is light and doesn't shed the way feather trim does. A headband with a curved flamingo neck and small fabric head makes the bird obvious, but stuff that neck lightly with fiberfill or it tips forward over your face. Pink wings and a short tail can carry the theme if you'd rather skip the headpiece. Pink blush, glossy makeup and a small black accent at the nose echo the dark tip of a flamingo's bill. Pale pink tights with flats keep the legs long, which is half the joke.
17. Brown Owl Halloween Costume
Owl is a layering project. Start with a brown sweater dress, a tunic and leggings or a fleece jumpsuit, then overlap felt feather shapes in brown, tan, cream and rust across the chest and sleeves. I sew them in rows from the bottom up, like roof shingles, so each row hides the stitching of the one below. Wide wing panels from wrist to side seam spread out for photos. Small feathered ear tufts sit on a headband, with loose waves or a textured brown wig. The face is where an owl reads: big rounded eyes in bronze and cream, and a small golden beak at the nose. Brown boots, and a rolled paper scroll if you want the wise-owl joke.
18. Monarch Butterfly Halloween Costume
Wings make or break a butterfly, and the mistake I see most is wings so wide you can't get through a door. A black bodysuit with leggings, a simple black dress or a fitted jumpsuit is the base. Monarch wings are orange panels with thick black veins, a black border and white dots along the edge, and I build them from fabric over a light wire frame so they flex instead of snapping. Wear them on elastic straps you can slip off for the car. A curved antenna headband finishes the insect. A smooth bun or a black bob wig keeps the head neat. Orange eye shadow with fine black liner and a few white dots at the temples echoes the wing pattern. A floral wrist corsage leaves both hands free.
19. Bumblebee Halloween Costume
Bumblebee suits nearly any age, and the stripe width is the detail to get right: broad, even bands read as bee, while thin ones read as a prison uniform. A black-and-yellow striped sweater dress, a fitted jumpsuit or a yellow top with black pants all work. A soft black waist panel makes the stripes look more structured. Translucent wings on an elastic shoulder harness and a headband with round-tipped antennae finish it. Two high buns or a sleek ponytail. Golden eye shadow, black liner and rosy cheeks are plenty for makeup. Black boots or yellow sneakers. For little ones, a felt honeycomb or a fabric flower is the better prop, since both survive being dropped on the sidewalk.
20. Red Ladybug Halloween Costume
Ladybug is a black base with a red shell over it, and you can make it in an afternoon. A black long-sleeve shirt and leggings go under a red dress, cape or rounded tunic. I mark a center line down the back and place the black dots in roughly mirrored pairs on either side of it, the way a real ladybug's spots sit; scattered random dots look more like a rash. Small red wings on elastic straps and curled antennae on a headband finish it. Two buns or a glossy black bob wig. Red eye shadow, fine black liner and a couple of tiny dots at the outer corners of the eyes. Any black shoes work. A large artificial leaf is a light enough prop to carry for a long event.
21. Green Frog Halloween Costume
Frog is the one I'd build for a rainy Halloween, because rain boots are part of the costume. A green hoodie and joggers, a fitted jumpsuit or a green dress with matching tights is the base, with a pale green or yellow felt belly panel. Webbed wrist and ankle cuffs in flexible fabric suggest the feet and hands. The big eyes are two stuffed felt half-balls on the hood or a padded headband; stuff them firmly so they don't sag by the end of the night. A smooth bun under the headpiece or a short green wig. Green around the eyes and a wide smile line, but keep the cheeks rosy so the face doesn't look ill. A felt lily pad is the prop.
22. Green Turtle Halloween Costume
The shell is the centerpiece, and it's also what catches on doorways and chair backs, so make it light. A green sweatshirt and pants, a jumpsuit or a long-sleeve dress with opaque tights is the base. For the shell, quilted fabric stuffed with batting is my first choice: it's soft to lean against, it squashes into a car seat and it doesn't go limp in rain the way cardboard does. Mark brown and green sections on top, and wear it on backpack straps so it slides off. A green hood or headband with small rounded eyes, and hair tied back or under a short green wig. Soft green makeup and a small curved smile are enough; I wouldn't paint the whole face for this one. A felt lettuce leaf is a funny prop.
23. Gray Shark Halloween Costume
Shark depends on the dorsal fin, and a floppy fin is the most common problem. A gray hoodie and sweatpants, a simple jumpsuit or a gray dress with tights is the base. I cut the dorsal fin from two layers of felt with stiff interfacing or a scrap of craft foam inside, so it stands upright on your back. Smaller fins go on the sleeves, a white felt belly panel adds contrast, and a hood ringed with soft white felt teeth frames the face. Hair tucks into the hood or under a short gray wig. Silver-gray eye shadow and a small gray nose are all the makeup it needs. Gray sneakers, and a blue felt wave or a cardboard surfboard for the beach joke.
24. Purple Octopus Halloween Costume
Octopus is fun to wear because the tentacles move every time you do. Start with a purple dress, an oversized sweatshirt or a fitted top and leggings. Sew six tentacles around a waistband and let your arms count as the other two. Stuff them lightly, and I mean lightly: fully stuffed tentacles swing like clubs and knock drinks off tables. Pale felt circles stitched underneath give the suction-cup detail. A purple hood or headband with large rounded eyes sits on top, with loose curls or a wavy violet wig. Lavender eye makeup, pearly highlights and pink cheeks. Purple boots or sneakers keep the color consistent, and a shell-shaped purse is both prop and a place for your phone.
25. Blue Jellyfish Halloween Costume
Jellyfish is built on a clear dome umbrella, which makes it the one animal costume that is actually useful in the rain. Wear a pale blue dress, a loose jumpsuit or a blue top with flowing pants. Decorate the umbrella edge with ribbons in blue, white and lavender, and keep them above knee length so nobody steps on them. A low bun or a silver-blue wig sits under a translucent head covering. Iridescent blue eye shadow, a few pearl accents and a glossy finish do the face. Battery fairy lights wound around the umbrella ribs look great after dark; use LED strands, which stay cool, and tape the battery pack to the shaft where it won't bump your hand. An open umbrella takes up a lot of room indoors, so I'd save this one for outdoor events.
26. Penguin Halloween Costume
Penguin is warm and very simple to read, so I'd steer kids toward it when the forecast is cold. A black jumpsuit, a black hoodie and pants or a long-sleeve black dress is the base. The white belly panel should be a big oval from the collarbone to below the hips; a small patch just looks like a bib. Short fabric flippers along the arms and a black hood with rounded eyes and a soft orange beak finish the head. Hair goes in the hood or under a short black wig. Cool silver eye shadow, rosy cheeks and an orange accent on the nose if you skip the beak. Orange tights with black shoes, or orange shoe covers, give you the feet, and a felt fish is a cheerful thing to carry.
27. Polar Bear Halloween Costume
White fleece makes this the warmest costume on the list. A white fleece jumpsuit, a hoodie with matching pants or a plush sweater dress with thick tights is the base. Add rounded ears to the hood, black felt paw pads to white gloves and a short fluffy tail. Polyester fleece can melt or go shiny under a hot iron, so don't try to fuse the felt pads on; a few hand stitches hold far better anyway. Tuck your hair away or wear a shoulder-length white wig. Pearly white around the eyes, a rounded black nose and a few whisker dots. White snow boots are the practical choice for a cold night, and a pale blue cardboard snowflake makes a light prop.
28. Black Bat Halloween Costume
Bat is the slightly spooky option that still works at a family party. A black jumpsuit, a fitted dress with leggings or a long-sleeve top and pants is the base. The wings run from wrist to side seam, and scalloping the bottom edge between each 'finger' is what turns a cape into bat wings. Cut them from a knit that doesn't fray and you won't need to hem all those curves. Small pointed ears go on a headband or the hood. A sleek ponytail or a short black wig. Smoky gray eye shadow, defined liner and a small black nose keep it polished rather than frightening. Black combat boots or sneakers, and a moon brooch near the neckline if you want one more detail.
29. Gray Wolf Halloween Costume
Wolf reads through texture rather than scary makeup. A gray sweater with fitted pants, a faux-fur-trimmed jumpsuit or a gray tunic over black leggings is the base. Add pointed ears, a long bushy tail and faux fur panels at the shoulders and wrists. Faux fur sheds hard on its first wear, so I shake the cut pieces outdoors or tumble them on a no-heat dryer cycle before sewing. Tousled hair or a layered silver-gray wig suits it. Blend charcoal and gray around the eyes, add a dark nose and fine whiskers along the cheeks, and keep the expression neutral. Lace-up boots in black or gray, and fingerless gray gloves that keep your hands warm while passing for paws.
30. Raccoon Halloween Costume
The black eye mask and ringed tail make the raccoon, and the mask is easier to get right with makeup than with a fabric mask that slips. A gray hoodie and black pants, a charcoal jumpsuit or a gray sweater dress with tights is the base, with a pale gray belly patch. For the tail, I sew alternating bands of black and gray faux fur into a tube before stuffing it; sewn-in rings look far tidier than stripes painted on later. Rounded ears go on the hood or a headband. Shape the mask in soft black around the eyes with a pale strip above it, then set it with powder so it doesn't slide when you warm up. Black ankle boots, and a clean mini trash-can bucket for candy is exactly the right joke.
31. Red Squirrel Halloween Costume
A squirrel's tail is huge and curls up over the back, and holding it up is a small engineering job. A brown or reddish-orange jumpsuit, a sweater dress or a fitted top with leggings makes the base, with a cream belly panel and small rounded ears on a headband. I build the tail from faux fur over a flexible foam core and strap it at both the waist and the shoulders. With only a waist strap, a tail that size flops backward the moment you walk. An auburn ponytail or a textured copper wig. Brown eye shadow, rosy cheeks, a tiny dark nose and fine whiskers. Brown boots for stable footing, and a foam acorn or an acorn-style drawstring pouch for candy.
32. Gray Mouse Halloween Costume
Mouse is a quiet, easy costume for anyone who likes gray. A gray sweater with pants, a fitted jumpsuit or a soft gray dress with tights is the base, with a pale pink belly panel. The ears should be large circles lined in pink felt. I glue the two felt layers together with fabric glue and let them dry flat under a heavy book overnight so they don't curl. A sleek low bun or a short gray bob wig fits neatly under the headband. Light gray eye shadow, pink cheeks, a small pink nose and whisker lines. A foam cheese wedge is the joke prop. Keep the tail soft and pin it so it sits slightly raised, because a tail that drags will get stepped on in the first doorway.
33. Spotted Dog Halloween Costume
Spotted dog is built on casual basics, which makes it a good pick for school or work where you still need to sit at a desk. A white sweatshirt and pants, white overalls or a white dress over black leggings. Add irregular black felt patches, floppy ears and a flexible spotted tail. The red collar with a blank bone-shaped tag gives the costume a focal point near the face, which is where people look first. Two low pigtails line up nicely with floppy ears, or wear a short white wig with black sections. A black nose, scattered face spots and whisker dots in cosmetic paint. Black sneakers or boots, and a foam bone rather than anything hard or bulky.
34. Brown Sloth Halloween Costume
Sloth is mostly about long arms and a sleepy face. A loose brown jumpsuit, an oversized fuzzy sweater with leggings or a hooded fleece outfit is the base. I extend the sleeves a few inches with soft brown fabric and stitch light felt claws at the ends; keep the claws soft, because you'll be brushing them against people all night. Add a rounded hood with small ears and a darker face panel. The makeup is what makes it a sloth rather than a bear: a pale beige face with a darker stripe running from each eye back toward the temple, then a dark nose and a small smile. Soft boots, and a faux branch or a leafy garland draped over one shoulder.
35. Hedgehog Halloween Costume
Hedgehog quills have to look spiky without being spiky. A brown hoodie and leggings, a tan jumpsuit or a sweater dress with dark tights is the base. I cut layered triangles of felt in brown, tan and cream and sew them in overlapping rows down the back and hood, stitching the top edge only so the points lift a little as you move. Leave the front smooth and lighter. Small rounded ears go beside the hood, with a neat bun or a short warm-brown wig. Peachy blush, a dark button nose and tiny whisker dots. Felt points bend when you sit down, which is exactly why I prefer them to foam spikes. A foam apple makes a cheerful prop.
36. Green Dinosaur Halloween Costume
Dinosaur is a kids' favorite, and at heart it's a hoodie project. A green hoodie and joggers, a fleece jumpsuit or a dress with matching tights is the base. Sew a row of soft triangular spikes from the hood down the back and along a padded tail. Stuff the spikes just enough to stand, and taper the tail so the end is thinner than the base; a straight tube looks like a sausage. A lighter green belly panel breaks up the solid color. Hair goes under the hood or a short green wig. Green and yellow eye shadow with a few scale shapes near the temples. Sturdy sneakers, a speckled foam egg, and soft fabric claws on gloves instead of anything with an edge.
37. Kangaroo Halloween Costume
The pouch is the kangaroo, and it's also the most useful costume pocket you'll ever sew. A tan jumpsuit, a brown hoodie with matching pants or a beige dress over leggings is the base. Sew or pin a roomy pouch across the front and tuck a small plush joey inside. I add a zipped inner pocket at the back of the pouch for keys and a phone, since an open pouch tips everything out when you bend over. Long rounded ears and a padded tail that rests behind the legs without dragging. A high brown ponytail or a short tan wig. Warm bronzer, a dark nose and whisker dots. Brown sneakers or ankle boots, and soft paw cuffs at the wrists.
38. White Llama Halloween Costume
Llama gets its personality from color: a fluffy white body with bright tassels and pom-poms. A white fleece jumpsuit, a textured sweater with white pants or a sweater dress over opaque tights makes the base. Add a hood or headband with tall pointed ears and a tuft of faux fur between them. Sew bright pom-pom trim in pink, turquoise, yellow and purple around the neckline. Buy trim on a woven tape rather than loose pom-poms, because the tape gives you something to stitch through and nothing pops off. A low bun or a fluffy white wig under the ears. Pearly eye shadow, rosy cheeks and a soft beige nose. A small woven blanket over one shoulder repeats the colors.
39. Garden Snail Halloween Costume
Snail is a clever pick because one piece, the shell, carries it all. A beige jumpsuit, a tan dress or a taupe sweater with leggings is the base. For the spiral shell, I roll a long tube of brown fabric stuffed with batting into a coil and stitch the coils together, which keeps it light and soft. Painted cardboard works too, but it won't survive rain. Mount the shell on backpack straps. Keep the eye stalks on the headband short, about a hand's length, or they bob around and pull the band forward. A low bun or a smooth beige wig. Shimmery taupe eye shadow and glossy highlights hint at the slime. Flats or sneakers, and a green felt leaf bag for candy.
40. Colorful Chameleon Halloween Costume
Chameleon gives you permission to use every color you like at once. A fitted green jumpsuit, a dress with leggings or a matching top and pants is the base. Add patches of turquoise, yellow, purple and blue. Fabric paint stiffens knit fabric and can crack when it stretches, so on a stretchy jumpsuit I'd use felt pieces stitched lightly in place. A curled padded tail and a soft ridge along the hood or back give the right shape; stitch the curl of the tail closed at a couple of points so it stays coiled. A sleek ponytail or a green wig with temporary color streaks. Multicolored eye shadow around the temples and small scale patterns that leave most of the face bare. Green or turquoise ankle boots, and a leafy wrist cuff as a subtle prop.
Noses and Whiskers That Survive a Party
Nearly every animal here uses the same small face: a nose, a few whiskers, maybe some color around the eyes. Small is good. A little makeup in the center of the face moves less and smudges less than a fully painted face, and it's far kinder to kids who hate the feel of paint.
Test anything new on the inside of your wrist a day ahead, especially for children, and skip it on broken or irritated skin. Water-activated face paint dries matte and stays put better than cream paint, which stays slightly tacky and creases as soon as the room warms up. Whichever you use, press translucent setting powder over it with a puff. I draw whiskers with a black liquid liner or a fine brush, because a pencil drags on painted skin.
To keep paint off a white collar, do the face after the costume is on, or pull the top over your head with a thin scarf draped across your face. At the end of the night, loosen everything with an oil-based cleanser or a little baby oil on a cotton pad before washing. Scrubbing with soap alone leaves a gray shadow and leaves the skin sore.
A Black Base That Turns Into Five Animals
If you own a black jumpsuit, or black leggings with a black long-sleeve top, you already have the base for the cat, the bat, the ladybug, the penguin and the monarch butterfly. That is the main reason I make ears, tails and panels removable: next year the same clothes become a different animal with a new headband and a felt panel. Store felt pieces flat in a zip bag with tissue between them, because folded felt holds a crease for good. Fluffy tails and ears go in a box rather than squashed in a drawer, and a quick shake brings faux fur back to life.
The Animal I'd Sew on a Free Afternoon
Every animal here works the same way: one feature that names the animal, done well, on clothes you can stand to wear for a whole evening. Ears, tails, wings and markings tell people what you are far better than a heavy mask, and they leave you able to see, eat and talk. All of them adapt to different ages and budgets. For a cold outdoor night I'd go with a fleece animal like the polar bear, penguin or panda, and for a warm party a light dress or jumpsuit base like the flamingo or ladybug. Make anything bulky removable so sitting and driving stay easy. My own first pick would be the sheep or the snail, because those are the costumes where a little sewing really shows.
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