7 Budget-Friendly DIY Halloween Costume from Thrift Finds (Not Big Box Stores!)
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Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, and not for the haunted houses or scary movies (I mean, have you met me?), but instead for the fun and creativity that comes from making something out of nothing. Over the years (and across a couple continents!), I’ve created some of my most memorable looks with a mix of mostly thrifted treasures, a glue gun, and a lot of imagination. Plus, it is so much more sustainable and, it’s important now more than ever, to not support big box stores. So dig through your closet, grab something from a friend or hit up your small, local thrift store instead.
Here are seven of my favorite DIY Halloween costume ideas that prove you don’t need to spend a fortune or a ton of time to make something magical. (Note: Unfortunately, several of these photos have been dug up from the archives and were taken during a different era of life and before photos were what they are today. ☺︎)
1. The Deer (Half-o-Ween in Australia)
During my time living in Australia, my friends and I celebrated Half-o-Ween at the end of April, both because it was fall in the Southern Hemisphere and to introduce our international crew to the joy of how Halloween is celebrate in the States. With living cost high in Australia and on a very tight budget, I transformed a thrifted dress and an old teddy bear into a soft, woodland-inspired deer. I sculpted paper-mâché antlers using a clothes hanger, flour and water, attached them to a headband, and then let makeup bring the look to life.
💡 Pro Tip: Use what you already have! Paper, glue, and a little paint can go a long way.
Thrifted:
Brown dress
Brown stuffed animal
Black or brown shoes
Other Things:
Dark foundation
White & black eye pencil
Headband
Clothes Hanger or wire
Newspaper & maché paste
2. The Mermaid
Another thrifty success, this mermaid costume combined seashells, hot glue, sequin fabric, tulle and the perfect thrifty outfit. I layered shimmering blues and green sequin fabric over a thrifted pencil skirt to create a scaly effect, attached tulle to the bottom and glued seashells and thrifted fish tank plants onto a sturdy, denim, shell-colored crop top for a beachy finish. Attach a starfish to a hair comb or pick and your look is complete.
💡 Pro tip: Fabric choice is important! Is it strong enough to hold what I am attaching? Will it melt if I use hot glue? Make sure to consider when choosing items.
Thrifted:
Green Pencil Skirt
Fitted crop top made of sturdy fabric
Green shoes
Pearl necklace
Optional fish tank plants
Other Stuff:
Seashells
Hair comb or pick
Green makeup
Green sequin fabric
3. The Unicorn
This one was pure whimsy and one I had been wanting to create for awhile! Using a thrifted pair of white pants, a white vest and lace leotard as a base, I crafted my own unicorn accessories: a horn made from polymer clay and wire, clip-on ears from felt and bobby pins, fur “hooves” from fur fabric scraps, and a colorful yarn tail.
💡 Pro Tip: Add lashes, iridescent makeup or glitter to make it extra magical.
Thrifted:
White pants
White top
White shoes
Optional white fur vest
Other Stuff:
White & pink felt
Pink and white polymer clay
Thick but flexible wire
Bobby pins to hold on your ears & horn
Optional white fur fabric for wrists to create hooves
White & pink yarn to make the tail (attach with safety pin)
4. The Snowman
For this costume I started with a white t-shirt and I made a fluffy white tutu from tulle (but you could thrift yours!) and added black felt circles for buttons. A red scarf brought it to life and a pair of legwarmers kept me warm while doubling as part of the look. You could also highly up the makeup to take it to the next level.
The tiny top hat was my favorite part. Made from a sparkly beer koozie attached to a headband, it gave the costume just the right touch.
💡 Pro Tip: If it’s cold where you are, use a white long-sleeve or fleece instead of the tee and wear thick tights under the tutu to make it warm but still festive and photo-ready. If you are going to be outside, wear mittens!
Thrifted:
White tutu (or make your own)
White top
Scarf
Legwarmers or tall socks
Black boots or booties
Other Stuff:
Black foam koozie (or spray paint one black)
Black felt
Headband
5. The Lobster
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most fun. This one was VERY last-minute! I turned a thrifted red dress into a full lobster costume by creating claws and a tail from felt and tulle, plus antennae from pipe cleaners and eyes from ping pong balls. It was cute but funny, while still being super comfortable. So much so that I went bowling in it!
💡 Pro tip: Look for solid-colored clothing you can build on. A red dress, green jumpsuit, or blue overalls can become almost anything with a little imagination.
Thrifted:
Red dress (A high low works great but any red dress will do)
Red shoes
Red gloves
Other Stuff:
Large sheets of red felt
White acrylic paint
Styrofoam balls
Pipe cleaners
Black acrylic paint or felt for eyes
Thick red ribbon
Red tulle
6. Rainbow Brite (Featured on Oprah Daily!)
This one was a last-minute miracle that ended up being featured on Oprah Daily! In just a few hours, I transformed a plain blue dress using felt, fabric, batting, and ribbon to create a full Rainbow Brite look. This one required some sewing but proved you can make something truly spectacular with limited time and materials.
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t have fabric? Use old tee shirts or a variation of with colored duct tape as suggested by Oprah Daily.
Thrifted:
Blue dress
Red sneakers (or spray paint some tall boots and add fabric to them)
Other Stuff:
Red, blue, purple, yellow and green fabric
White fluffy fabric
Thick red ribbon
Wired purple ribbon
Red, yellow & green craft foam
Optional batting to add poof to my “boots”
7. The Mad Hatter & Alice-Inspired Duo
For our most recent couple’s costume, Travis and I went all-in on the thrifting. Nearly everything was thrifted except for my bow, a piece of felt, and some fabric. My white “apron” was actually a repurposed dress with the sleeves and back cut out, plus a felt heart hot glued on. Travis wore thrifted bright pants, a quirky scarf, and a hat made from a lampshade covered in fabric. We even carried a thrifted tea set that we had painted and I used a purse made from a used wall clock for extra flair.
💡 Pro Tip: For myself, it’s important that a costume is recognizable. The last thing I want is to be asked “What are you supposed to be?” all night, BUT it doesn’t need to be exact! It’s all in the details. Consider how you can give as many context clues as possible using thrifted objects.
Thrifted for Him:
Collared, fun-colored shirt
Bright pants
Over-sized suit jacket
Bright scarf
Lampshade
Pointed dress shoes
Thrifted for Her:
Blue dress with puffy sleeves
Lightweight plastic clock
White cotton dress or white apron
Round purse (or any shape the clock can attach to)
Plastic (or lightweight) teacups & teapot (Check the kids toys!)
Black ballet flats
Other Stuff for Him:
Green fabric (we used a velvety shiny one so it pops)
Fabric to go around the hat (any color you choose!)
Black acrylic paint
White cardstock
Other Stuff for Her:
Thick black wired ribbon
One piece of red felt
High temp hot glue & glue gun
Optional spray paint (if you want to paint your tea set)
Why DIY Halloween Costumes Are Worth It
DIY costumes aren’t just about saving money. They’re about choosing creativity on purpose. When you create something yourself, you’re not just putting together an outfit. You’re practicing creative intentional living. It’s the art of slowing down, using what you have, and making something that feels authentically you.
One of the best parts? You’ll never show up wearing the same thing as everyone else. Every thrifted find, hand-stitched detail, or hot-glued accent is yours. People notice that. The compliments hit differently because they’re not just about how you look. They’re about what you made.
And even if you don’t consider yourself “a creative person,” this is a beautiful place to start. DIY projects remind us that creativity isn’t about perfection; it’s about curiosity, problem-solving, and a willingness to play and be resourceful. Every time you bring an idea to life, even a simple Halloween costume, you’re strengthening that muscle.
So the next time you see a wall of identical store-bought costumes, remember: you can create something that no one else will. And that kind of originality? It’s pure magic.
Ready to Make Your Own?
This Halloween, skip the big-box store and raid your local thrift shop instead. With a little imagination (and maybe some felt and hot glue), you can create something unforgettable.
I’d love to see what you come up with!
Tag me on Instagram @adandyline to share your DIY Halloween costume and get featured in my stories.
