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Gone are the days of dressing your little ones in matching Halloween costumes or coordinating a theme for the entire family. But don’t stress: there’s still plenty of October fun to be had with your teenage kiddos. In fact, helping a teen craft a homemade costume can be a fantastic bonding experience and can help instill a love of DIY early on. From pop culture to historical figures, there is surely a doable costume option to suit your teen. We gathered plenty of fun, clever, and wearable options for a festive teen Halloween here, so take a look together and start crafting.
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01 of 20
Tina Belcher and Jimmy Junior Costumes
Animated television shows are a wonderful resource for Halloween costume inspiration. Both Tina and Jimmy Junior of Bob’s Burgers are easily created with a few key pieces—just stick to bright, primary colors and easy cotton knits for the most convincing transformations.
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02 of 20
Coffee Filter Mermaid Costume
![Mermaid DIY costume]()
For a completely recyclable Halloween costume, consider crafting a fully paper-based mermaid tail. There are considerable benefits when it comes to working with paper: it can be fully customized to your color scheme, it’s affordable, and its construction doesn’t require a needle and thread.
Coffee Filter Mermaid Costume from The House that Lars Built
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03 of 20
White Rabbit Costume
![White Rabbit costume]()
Show up to the Halloween Party fashionably late, and fully in character, if you go as the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. This one allows for a lot of outfit creativity, and can definitely be made suitable to a full range of gender identities.
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04 of 20
LaCroix Can Costume
![LaCroix costume]()
For the die-hard seltzer fan (or just a teenager with a strong funny bone), try this slip-on soda can costume. Of course, the label can be personalized to any favorite drink; simply print out the correct brand and iron it onto a suitable fabric.
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05 of 20
Ghostbusters Costumes
![Ghostbusters costumes]()
Start with a set of khaki coveralls, and then deck them out with reflective tape and the iconic Ghostbusters logo to recreate one of the most recognizable uniforms in cinematic history. This one’s ideal for a group, so gather a few friends for an afternoon of constructing proton packs before hitting the town.
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06 of 20
Stranger Things Cast Costumes
![Stranger Things costumes]()
Perfectly capturing the aesthetic of the 1980s, it’s hard to resist impersonating the cast of Stranger Things in their sci-fi finest. There are tons of characters to choose from, so give the series a re-watch for a little inspiration before deciding and creating.
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07 of 20
Snapchat Filters Costumes
![Snapchat Costumes]()
Opt for a simple neck-up costume and have your kid mimic their favorite social media filter. If you’re not too confident with your makeup artistry, create felt or paper props instead and attach them with a few dabs of skin-safe eyelash glue—easy and quick!
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08 of 20
Frida Kahlo Costume
![Frida Kahlo costume]()
For the budding artist, an homage to Frida Kahlo herself is just the ticket. Don’t forget a plush monkey to sit upon your teen’s shoulder to fully embody one of Kahlo’s most famous self-portraits.
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09 of 20
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Costume
![Sabrina costume]()
If your teenager adores a supernatural, coming-of-age television show, select an easy, witchy Sabrina costume. Details like an antique lace collar and cuffs, as well as a thick black headband and dark lip, allow the wearer to remain chic, trendy, and stylish while still in costume.
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10 of 20
Black Cat Costume
![Black cat costume]()
With its very simple accessories and all-black color palette, there are many ways to achieve a cute cat costume. Try a leotard, tutu, and tights for a sleek, feminine black cat, but a dark jean and fuzzy sweater would do the trick too (just don’t leave home without a set of ears and drawn-on whiskers).
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11 of 20
Dancing Girls Emoji Costume
![Dancing Girls emoji costume]()
Perfect for a pair of BFFs, this emoji-inspired couples’ costume couldn’t be simpler (black leotards and oversized bows are all you need). For a more modest interpretation of the Dancing Girls, add a pair of black shorts over a sleeved unitard, or grab a pair or opaque tights as a full-coverage underpinning.
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12 of 20
Snow White Costume
![Snow White costume]()
Give the most iconic princess a modern update by creating her look using chic separates. Keep your color palette true to the original character to ensure it's recognizable, and absolutely carry a prop poison apple to truly sell the look.
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13 of 20
Jack Skellington and Sally Costumes
![Nightmare Before Christmas costumes]()
A true Halloween classic film, The Nightmare Before Christmas has absolutely stood the test of time. If your kids count themselves as members of the fandom, consider an ambitious DIY Jack or Sally costume (or both!). While these could be done by hand-stitching, a sewing machine definitely moves things along quicker.
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14 of 20
Serena Williams
![Serena Williams costume]()
Channel the GOAT tennis pro, Serena Williams, with a sleek athleisure outfit and a racket. Bonus points for Serena-inspired nail art, too. Game, set, match.
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15 of 20
Elle Woods Costume
![Elle Woods costume]()
Start with a dress already in your teen’s closet, then you can easily recreate this all-pink iteration of Legally Blonde’s intelligent and bubbly law student Elle Woods. The teeny bag and 2000s-era sunglasses really sell the look, so hit the thrift store for some rosy and retro accessories.
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16 of 20
Furby Costume
![Furby costume]()
The '90s are back, make no mistake about it. If your adolescents have caught the nostalgia bug, suggest a comical Furby costume for Halloween. This is a great project for beginning crafters, and to avoid any sewing you can employ the use of a hot glue gun and non-fray fuzzy fabric.
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17 of 20
Fancy Sprinkle Costume
![Sprinkles costume]()
A terrific option for the avid amateur baker, this colorful sprinkle packet costume is as unique as it is whimsical. Use a clear plastic garment bag as the base of this outfit, and the rest of the DIY is fun and simple. A vibrant wig tops things off perfectly!
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18 of 20
Futurist Costume
![Futurist costume]()
If your kid is more interested in makeup artistry than a full-on Halloween costume, suggest a fanciful wig and an experimental cosmetics look. Silver sparkles make for a convincing futurist (or alien, or robot), but consider a rainbow fairy or black-and-white mime too. This is also the perfect base for a Euphoria-inspired costume if your teen is a fan.
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19 of 20
Poop Emoji Costume
![Poop Emoji costume]()
Opt for a humorous costume for Halloween (and make it easy on yourselves by going no-sew while you’re at it). Felt saves the day again when constructing this emoji outfit—it sticks together well with fabric glue and its raw edges never fray. Don't forget a pair of stunner shades.
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20 of 20
Jughead Jones Costume
![Jughead Jones DIY costume]()
Raid your teenager’s closet for a few key basics that’ll make for a convincing Jughead Jones of TV’s Riverdale. And have no fear if this Halloween’s activities keep your kid outdoors; Jughead’s signature fleece-lined denim jacket will keep them warm even during a chilly October night.
