PLUS SIZE COSTUMES: Epic DIY Costume Compilation

Like I've mentioned in several of my posts leading up to Halloween, finding affordable and cute costumes can be tough for us plus-size ladies! (And, let's be real, it can be rough for lots of folks regardless of gender or body size!)

I've found the best way to look and feel great in costume is to craft my own!

Here is a compilation of of all of my recent costume posts. Just click on each one to be taken to that blog post where you'll find more pictures, info about how I created each look, and suggestions for items you can use to make your own version of these costumes.

And, for a little more costume inspiration, here are some looks I didn't have a chance to detail in the posts above.. .

Mermaid

Circus Ring Master

Retro Flight Attendant

What are you wearing for Halloween?? Let me know in the comments below!

PLUS SIZE COSTUMES: DIY Pirate Costume Ideas!

Pirate costumes might be my favorite!!  Maybe it's because I happen to have a lot of items I regularly wear that can easily be used for costumes like this. At any rate, it's a frequent go-to of mine. Here are some ideas for easily throwing a pirate costume together! (You might have more than half of these items in your closet already!) 

Basics: 

• Flowy white tops (I like them off the shoulder)
• Lots of reds, whites, and black. 
• Tattered or ripped items 
• dark pants or skirts 
• knotted or gathers skirts
• layers 
• corsets! Create your own! (That red one was originally a dress that was too tight so I cut it in half, made some holes, and then cut up a t-shirt for the black lacing.) Or, make a small one larger. (The black corset is actually a size M but I got my own ribbon and added it in to make it fit my XXL body.) 

Accessories: 

• eye patch
• sword
• scarf tied at waist or around head/in hair
• belts (big buckles) 
• bangles
• hoop earrings
• ripped tights 
• bare feet or boots 
• Hair ideas: messy curls, side ponies, ponytails, or scarves in hair 
• Make up idea: intense eyes!

Like this? Check out all of my awesome costume ideas here. And, leave me a comment about what you're planning to dress up as this weekend? 

PLUS SIZE COSTUMES: Turning Gowns into DIY Fairy Costumes

Do you have an old prom or bridesmaid dress laying around? Maybe a ballgown? A fancy dress you found at a thrift shop?

A natural way to re-purpose these type of dresses is to turn them into a fairy costumes! This costume post some easy tips for converting a gown into a fairy costume.

As plus-size people, I think creating costumes ourselves is the best way to find cute costumes that aren't too terribly expensive. So, here's another crafted, thrifted look you can recreate!

To create this look, cut away at the bottom of the dress to get it to your desired length. Remember, you can always go shorter, but you can't (easily) add fabric back on after you chop it off - so take your time! You can also wear a pencil skirt, shorts, or slip under it if it gets too short. You can save some of the fabric to re-purpose to poof up wings, add to a wand, or another creative use.

On the green dress, I was going for a Tinkerbell look so I chopped the skirt in triangle cuts and then sewed green, yellow, and white fabrics to it. (I used a sewing machine but you could totally do it by hand.)

NOTE: If you're looking for dresses at a thrift shop, size tags can be deceiving. Think about it - many people get dresses like this altered so you just never know. For example, that green dress had a tag that read "size 26" but it fit like a 20.

Wings, gloves, and wands can be found at dollar stores or other in expensive places. (Maybe at a thrift store if you're lucky!) This might be a little fancy, but I didn't want the elastic arm bands to take away from my look (plus, they're tight), so I cut the wings in half with a wire cutter and then hand sewed them in/on to the back of the dresses!

Oh, yeah! That purple number is my prom dress from my junior year of high school Not surprised it doesn't quite zip anymore. . .

Of course, here's a look at my costumes from last year. Also check out my other thrifted, plus-size costume tutorials on my blog this week!

Do you have a dress laying around that you could turn into a fairy costume? Share a pic with me if you do!

PLUS SIZE COSTUMES: Four Easy DIY Thrift Shop Costumes

Sometimes one or two key clothing items found at a thrift shop can make a great costume. Visiting thrift shops this time of year in search of some thing specific can be tough, so it's good to go in with multiple ideas.  Here are four simple and creative costumes that were put together with thrift shop finds!

50's CHIC

Pencil skirt, retro top, scarf in the hair, keds or saddle shoes, and a scarf around the neck or hair. . .throw them together to create a simple, chic 50's look.

 

GYM TEACHER

Find an epic wind breaker, throw on a white t-shirt underneath, add tennis shoes and maybe a clip board and a whistle. . . and you've got yourself a gym teacher costume.

 

FLOWER CHILD/PRAIRIE GIRL/EXCUSE TO WEAR A FLOWER CROWN

Find a flowy and flattering dress and construct a flower crown - boom! =)

CARMEN SANDIEGO

Find a red trench coat or dye a light colored one red. (That's what I did with this one!)
Add some other red accessories and you have yourself a fab Carmen SanDiego costume!

These costume are fun and simple - but, they rely heavily on one or two items! When you're at the thrift shop, be open to what you might find as you keep these and other costume ideas in mind!

For more costume ideas, checkout all of my looks from last year. . .

PLUS SIZE COSTUMES: DIY Flapper Girl Costumes

Flapper costumes are cute and classy! Plus, they're relatively easy to put together with items already in your closet. . . and, a few small and inexpensive additions. Not to mention, so many fabulous make-up and hair possibilities!

Here you'll find two different flapper costumes that are easy to recreate. Below, I list each item you can find or create to put together a costume like this! I'm all about thrifted, crafted costumes! As plus-size ladies, sometimes it's hard to find cute AND affordable costumes.  Well, its time to get all DIY with these so we can have both!

FLAPPER GIRL ESSENTIALS

• Dress: Start with a simple shift dress or skirt and top. Look for garments with low waists that are solid, bold colors.
• Gloves: Find these for less than $5 at almost any store or thrift shop. I suggest black or white.
• Pearls: Find a long string of beads and knot it if you can. (I am wearing left over Mardi Gras beads!)
• Headband: You can glue some feathers to a headband you already have or get some of that stretchy sequin elastic at a fabric store and make your own. 
• Tights: Wear black tights - a design or stripes is a fun detail.
• Shoes: Something black! Flats are usually great for these looks.
• Extras: A coordinating clutch, a fake cigarette on a cigarette holder, or fringe on the dress!
• Hair & Make-Up Ideas: Red lips, dramatic eyeliner, finger waves, faux short hair/headband hair styles, or a wig! (In the second pictures, I am wearing a $3 wig I found in Target's $1/$3/$5 bins. By itself, it looked messy and hilarious but the headband toned it down a bit and I think it totally works!)

For more costume ideas, checkout my looks from last year. . .