Pretty much every year I leave our Halloween costumes to the last minute and then pull something together after frantically scrolling through Pinterest. I try to avoid mass-produced costumes, favouring a unique costume that not everyone in the neighbourhood will be wearing. So, I decided to gather a few ideas for last-minute Halloween costumes to help others who might be in the same situation. These are costumes that can be pulled together from your closet or local store or DIYed in a few hours or less. I’ve included some links to help you save time if you do decide to order online. Luckily, some stores offer two-day delivery so you’ll be decked out in no time. I hope you’ll find something fun for yourself, your partner, or for your entire family.
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1) Chip and Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper
If you love Farmhouse décor as I do, you will likely be very familiar (obsessed) with this couple. Their style is easy to achieve with some basics you likely already own. For Joanna, it helps to have her long dark hair. However, the rest of the look is easy- fitted dark jeans, a light-coloured button-up denim shirt, and cozy loafers. For Chip, you’ll need baggy blue jeans, a grey button-up shirt worn casually, leather cowboy boots or work boots, and a chunky baseball cap.
Suitable for…
This costume is particularly cute for a couple of any age as you can see in the second photo.
2) Breakfast at Tiffany’s Holly Golightly
This one is definitely on my bucket list of Halloween costumes I must try. It’s a favourite of mine because it’s feminine and pretty without being revealing. As an added bonus, it recalls the lovely cinematography and charm of this classic movie. For this costume, you will need a black dress (something fairly sleek), black satin gloves, black dress shoes, an updo, tiara, oversized black sunglasses and a multi-strand pearl necklace. Most of us already have these items in our closet. I looked in my closet and have everything except for the long black gloves. However, I know these are readily available online, at thrift shops, and costume stores.
Suitable for…
This costume is suitable for all ages.
Dominique Sachse has a well-done video on how to achieve this look. Check it out here.
3) Black and white Mickey Mouse and Mini Mouse
These monochromatic costumes can most likely be pulled together from clothes in your own closet. For Mickey, you will need light grey trousers, black top, black gloves (optional), black mouse ears, white shoes, and white felt (cut into ovals and applied to the top of the pants). For Minnie, you will need a full, knee-length or longer grey skirt (solid or polka dots), black top, black mouse ears, white shoes, and white felt (cut into ovals and applied to the bottom of the black top). I love how this costume is stylish and understated, but the theme is still readily apparent.
Suitable for…
This costume is suitable for singles, couples, groups of friends, or entire families.
4) Jurassic Park themed costumes
The original movie has become such a classic and the clothing is so identifiable. For Dr. Grant, you will need a denim button-up (sleeves rolled up), red bandana (tied around the neck), beige pleated pants, wide brown belt, and straw Panama hat (a beige felt fedora would also work).
For Dr. Sattler, who embodies girl power (recall “Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the earth.”), you can likely find everything you need in your own closet. This includes a pair of beige pleated shorts, wide leather belt, blue tank top, peach button up (sleeves rolled up, buttons open and shirt tied at the waist).
Suitable for…
This is a great costume arrangement for a single, couple, or family. For a family costume, you could have the children wear dinosaur costumes, which are easy to come by at consignment shops and costume stores.
5) Harry Potter themed costumes
Harry Potter costumes aren’t all that unique, but you can make them more original looking by going as a larger group, including less well-known characters, or by including interesting props. For a Harry Potter costume, you will need a black cape lined with burgundy fabric, a white button-up shirt, black pants and shoes, burgundy tie with golden yellow diagonal stripes, and black-rimmed glasses. In the books, each house has its own unique colours, and capes for each house can be readily purchased. Many of the teachers from the Harry Potter series have very unique looks and would be fun to pull together into a costume. These include Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Snape, Professor Lupin, and Sirius Black to name a few of the more popular teachers.
Suitable for…
Most of the Harry Potter costumes work well for singles, but when grouped together they make quite a statement. So this is a fun choice for families and groups of friends.
To read about our Harry Potter Halloween party and see the complete planning guide, click here.
6) Forrest Gump themed costumes
Life is like a box of chocolates… Forrest Gump in his tidy beige khakis and plaid shirt buttoned ALL the way up is pretty recognizable, especially when seen on the arm of his sweetheart Jenny. These costumes can likely be found by looking in your own closet. For Forrest, you will need beige khaki pants, a white-background short-sleeved plaid button-up shirt, and a red baseball cap. Additionally, a table tennis paddle as a prop makes the character instantly recognizable. For Jenny, any hippy-style flowing outfit would work well. Particularly recognizable is the fringed vest and flower garland Jenny wore in her hair.
Suitable for…
These costumes are at their best when paired together (like peas and carrots).
7) Mary Poppins and Bert costumes
Who doesn’t love the wholesome Mary Poppins franchise? For the pair of costumes, you will need a long-sleeved Peter Pan collared top, black or navy full skirt, black tights, grey long sleeve t-shirt, grey chino pants with suspenders, navy vest, red bandana, red felt, and cute hats. Useful props include a mop, a long umbrella, and a vintage-style travel bag.
Suitable for…
This is such a cute idea for a pair of children, but Mary Poppins is a also a great stand-along costume.
8) Deer costume
This is such a lovely costume, very pretty, delicate, and earthy. This costume can be created using clothing your child possibly already owns and some simple makeup.
Suitable for…
There are so many beautiful variations on this theme for girls and women.
DIY last-minute Halloween costumes
I hope you have enjoyed seeing these last-minute Halloween costumes that can be easily assembled from your closet or local store. The last two ideas are DIY costumes for children that shouldn’t take more than a few hours to make. Each costume is linked to the original post, which include step-by-step DIY instructions.
9) Hot air balloon costume
This is one of the most striking and unique DIY costumes I’ve ever seen, though I don’t think it would be terribly difficult to make. The main expense for this item is the helium-filled balloons. For this costume, you will need a large cardboard box, heavy-duty long wood dowels, pool noodles and grey paint, large kraft paper bags, twine, and about 20 balloons in a rainbow of colours. See the instructions by Country Living here.
10) Ninja costume
Since I have three boys, I’m always looking out for great boys’ costumes and this one hits the mark. I love that this costume can be pulled together quickly from clothing and supplies likely found at home. The step-by-step tutorial by Lia Griffith can be found here.
I hope you have been inspired by my last-minute Halloween costumes post. I’d love to hear how you’ll be celebrating Halloween and what costume choices you’ve made.
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