Halloween Costume Ideas Planned & Last Minute Costumes

Have you started making or DIYing your Halloween costume this year? Whether you need a last-minute look or are planning a complex project, finding the perfect character is half the fun. We’ve made and sewn dozens of homemade costumes over the years, proving that the quality of a DIY look is almost always better than a pre-made one!

We specialize in creative costume ideas for the whole family—from concept to finished piece. This guide is your ultimate hub for our best DIY tutorials, no-sew hacks, and quick-win looks. We’ll show you how to pull off incredible costumes—like the ones we make for Sammie, who usually needs a minimum of two costumes a year! Let’s get crafting!

If you’re looking for a truly unique and iconic character costume that showcases your DIY skills, you have to check out our ultimate tutorial for the [Wirt Costume DIY: The Ultimate Over the Garden Wall Tutorial. It’s a fan-favorite, easy-to-sew look that receives compliments every time!

Halloween Costume Ideas

I thought I would share my process as it might help you put together your costume (s). This year, she has flip-flopped on ideas several times. Not uncommon with kids or teens and even some adults. But, if you are doing the costumes for kids, make sure they really want the one you and they decide on. There is nothing like putting money or effort into a good costume and their not wanting to wear it. Right? Need more ideas? You can find all our Halloween Ideas here.

Tips for styling the perfect costume or character

Decide on the character or costume
Decide if you will make the entire costume or parts of it, or purchase it
Research your costume online
Look up makeup tutorials (if needed) on YouTube
Grab an easy-to-make costume pattern to sew up See my previous costume ideas under sewing (most can be done in 4 hours or less)
Look up easy sewing / DIYs for costumes on YouTube and elsewhere
See the end of the post for lots of costume ideas and links to ones we’ve made
Use your clothing in combination with other costume pieces to make a costume
Search Thrift Shops for needed items
Yard sales and consignment shops are great for looking too

Finding Your Costume Ideas: Halloween / Cosplay / Costume Inspiration

How To Find And Style Your Costume

Over the years, we’ve been inspired by books, magazines, movies, and costumes on Pinterest.

This year, we went from the ideas of the character Jillian Holtzmann, the zany, salty, and witty scientist in the 2016 version of Ghostbusters.

Jillian Holtzmann, the zany, salty, and witty scientist in the 2016 version of Ghostbusters.

We not only really enjoyed the movie but, loved her character, who was played by Kate McKinnon. Sammie’s quite like this character in some ways. (She might hate me for saying this.) Just before Sammie got her hair cut into a pixie cut, it looked just like this. Left over bleaching on top from having been lavender.

We were thrifting in a nearby town and came across glasses that would have worked for the Spitfire 52 Sunglasses.

We also spotted an Electrolux vacuum that we thought would have been perfect for modeling into one of her “new toys”, aka ghost blasters. But then we are headed to NYC for Halloween, and we didn’t think the airlines would love our choice. You know what I mean, right? Bringing ghost-busting equipment with us. But, I still want to make this costume!! Below, this version makes me want to do it even more!

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All credits to the image below to itslike0715.tumblr.com/post/147981794870itslike0715 on Tumblr which is no longer available

Costume Must-Haves for Jillian Holtzmann

Spitfire Sunglasses | Leather Finger-less Gloves| Leather Bomber Jacket | Lace Up Boots | Striped Socks

This is an awesome example of a Cosplay costume for Holtzmann from Ghostbusters 2016. Shop the Look >>

A Wirt Costume Using Clothes

Anyway, she opted to pick Wirt for her new costume, which is one we can pack and take. Some of you might be saying What? Who is Wirt? Wirt is the character of a tall (which Sammie is not), thin boy (which she is not) with a cape and an old Santa hat from Over The Garden and voiced by Elijah Woods.

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Both boys and girls have created these costume ideas for Cosplay and Halloween. The character Wirt is always determined to make a point, being in opposition to others, which then leads him into trouble. Sammie, being strong-willed, sticking to convictions and ideas, might be somewhat like this character. Wonder if that is why she picked him??

Here’s how we’ll pull him together. She recently got her pixie haircut, which is perfect under the cone hat. (But, I’ve seen it with long hair and it looks great too). We actually made the costume cape/hat and will share how to, along with the finished costume, in our next post. It only took about 4 hours. But we are also sharing how you can style this costume with regular clothing.

Since this post, we have sewn the costume! Be sure to see that post!

Would you try sewing a costume for Wirt?

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poncho | slouch beanie | boots | white shirt

After more research, our favorite boots are the Cromwell low boot, and they are less expensive. We will be buying a white shirt, boots (she has the boots already), and she’ll need grey pants and suspenders. The perfect pants on the inexpensive side are these grey treggings. Our favorite grey pants are the Lucky Cords skinny pants. Either pant as well as the other items can be used for everyday fashion. Don’t forget to grab a pair of suspenders. We grabbed ours from our local department store in the men’s section, near by belts.

Need more costume ideas? Check out our Pinterest Boards for Costumes, Halloween, and Autumn…. Over 430 ideas all in one place!

What do you or your kids want to dress up as this year??