Halloween is one of my favorite holidays- you get to play dress-up, eat lots of sugar and relive those carefree days of childhood. With that being said, I’m a working adult now (aka a busyyy girl), so create a Halloween costume is not at the top of my priority list and I am ALWAYS throwing together something last-minute.
There is nothing that I despise more than going to a Halloween shop and dropping $$$ on a poorly-made store-bought costume. We all know that the quality and fit aren’t great AND there will definitely be someone else wearing the same costume as you. This is why I choose to scavenge my closet and find pieces that I can turn into a costume with a couple of accessories.
Lucky for you, I have created these last-minute Halloween costumes to do most of the costume prep-work for you. I’ve chosen four of my favorite costumes that are just the right balance of quick, creative and stylish. I hope this helps you ace your last-minute Halloween costume or inspires you to create your own!
Planning for another holiday? Check out some of my other guides
THE FORTUNE TELLER
This costume was the easiest to create, which is probably why it’s my favorite. I tend to be a very boho gal in the summertime, so my closet is FULL of maxi skirts, flowy dresses and crop tops perfect for this costume.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME:
- Find a crop top or flowy peasant blouse
- Match the top with a maxi skirt or palazzo pants
- OR find a flowy midi or maxi dress that has a boho-vibe
- Layer on lots of gold chains, bracelets or rings
- Tie a scarf around your head or wear a turban
- OPTIONAL: Purchase a gold chain belt or sash and a crystal ball
For my Fortune Teller costume, I grabbed a crop top, sheer kimono, maxi skirt, silk scarf and gold chain necklace from my closet. I ordered a Belly Dancer Hip Scarf with next-day Amazon Prime delivery and borrowed my grandma’s crystal ball.
Disclaimer: the ball looks good for photos, but can be inconvenient if you are going out to a Halloween party (unless you want to dance the night away with a ball in your hand… you do you)
THE COWGIRL
Ok, I know what you are thinking – Sam is from Texas, so this what her daily wardrobe looks like. Wrong! I’m not a country gal and I’ve never worn a cowgirl hat in my life, but I do own a few pairs of cowboy boots.
In any case, all things western have been VERY trendy for the past year now, so it’s likely that you already have some western pieces in your wardrobe or can easily find some in stores or online.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME:
- Find a peasant blouse, milkmaid top, puff-sleeve top or western-style button down with fringe
- Pair it with a suede or leather skirt, peasant skirt, fringe skirt, denim skirt, blue jeans or leather pants
- Wear your western booties or cowboy boots if you have them
- Add a cowboy hat to finish it off
- OPTIONAL: find some rope as an accessory
For my Cowgirl costume, I used a cowboy hat from a previous costume and a faux-suede fringe mini skirt and white cowboy boots from my closet. I ordered a cow print top with next day delivery from ASOS.
THE TROPICANA GIRL
Channel your inner Brazilian Bombshell and let’s get tropical. The Tropicana Girl costume is inspired by Carmen Miranda, who was a famous samba singer, dancer and actress (and the highest paid woman in Hollywood in the 1940’s!) I wore this same costume as a little girl and it never gets old!
- Get crafty and pick up some fake fruit and hot glue from a local craft store. Order a turban with next-day delivery online or find a headscarf in a nearby store
- Create your headpiece! (P.S. make sure that you place the turban on something head-shaped when gluing to ensure that it sits on your head properly – I used a vase. DO NOT hot glue onto your head!!!)
- Find a colorful crop top, puff-sleeve top or off-the-shoulder blouse
- Match it with a midi or maxi skirt
- Layer some old costume jewelry like faux-pearl necklaces and chunky bangles
HOW TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME:
For my Tropicana Girl costume, I pulled a tropical print top and red maxi skirt from my closet and found some old costume jewelry. I bought some fake fruit and hot glue at a craft store and ordered a turban with next-day delivery from Amazon.
THE LITTLE BO PEEP
I grew up watching Toy Story and Little Bo Peep was always one of my favorite characters. Maybe its because she wore pink or maybe it’s because she is kind of a badass (especially in Toy Story 4!) Either way, this costume is super simple and super cute.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME:
- Find a puff-sleeve or milkmaid top or dress in white, pastel pink or blue. If you choose a top, pick out a feminine skirt to pair it with.
- Create a hairbow with some thick, wired ribbon or wear a bonnet if you fancy
- Order a Little Bo Peep staff online with next day delivery or find one in your local Walmart, Target, toy store or Halloween store
For my Little Bo Peep costume, I wore a puff-sleeve gingham dress that I bought last summer. I ordered a Little Bo Peep staff from Amazon and a Pink Headband from ASOS, both with next-day delivery.
I hope that these last-minute ideas have helped you find your Halloween costume! Remember: Halloween is all about the fantasy, so the creativity you can pull from your closet is limitless!
