Halloween. It’s the one celebrated day of cosplay that comes each year.
So far in this column, for Halloween, I’ve done costume deals and reusable costumes. This year’s theme? Dirt cheap cosplay.
The goal? Keep the amount of money as low as possible. Probably not as low as the $5 cosplay challenge that some people have attempted, but low enough that the majority of the costume could be found in your closet or any thrift store. And, because I know I can’t be the only one with a lack of creative talent, something that requires little to no skills with arts and crafts.
There are a lot of other alternatives if you want to portray characters who wear regular clothes. L, for example, just wears a shirt and pair of jeans, but that’s not something that’s going to stand out or be easily identified by the public at large. People may not recognize who you are if you dress up as one of the following characters, but they would at least realize you’re wearing a costume. Check out the honorable mentions section for a couple other ideas though.
Also, a word of caution: be careful about ordering anime merchandise from third party sellers from Amazon or eBay. Make sure you check the country it’s being shipped from (China should be a huge red flag) as well as the seller’s feedback. You don’t want to be getting counterfeit merchandise. If you do take a chance, make sure you immediately check the tags or other official markings upon delivery. Although the objective here is to keep your total as low as possible, it might be worth it to lay out a couple more dollars and buy from Amazon directly, Walmart, Hot Topic, etc. to avoid getting ripped off — and ripping off the creators as well.
Pikachu – Pokémon
Let’s start off with one of Nintendo’s icons, something that guys and gals of all ages can easily put together.
My first thought with Pikachu was to use one of those headband and tail kits that I’ve seen. However, I was surprised that they were going for $15+! No, we can do better.
Instead, the first option is to buy a hat. You have lots of hats to choose from — a snapback with ears like this or this, an everyday hat like this (and, as of this writing, is only $3 to boot!), or a laplander/winter hat like this or this. Even if you spend $10, you still get a hat you can wear anytime. If you do want to stay with as low of a budget as possible, you can make a headband yourself by cutting a piece of construction paper to go around your forehead and then staple or glue some ear cutouts to that.
Next, a yellow top. Hoodie, jacket, shirt, or dress, whatever you feel most comfortable in — and where you are planning on wearing this to. Yellow isn’t the most popular color though, so if you don’t have one, check thrift stores. If you do spend a few dollars on a used one you don’t mind marking up, add the stripes and tail with a magic marker. Otherwise, if you do want the tail, a simple zigzag pattern out of construction paper can be taped to the back.
Pants, you can either go with yellow (to match Pikachu itself) or black/brown to bring out Pikachu’s other color aspects.
Alternatively, if you have a Pikachu T-shirt already, go with that. Perhaps, if you are looking for a kid or can fit into boy’s clothing, something like this for the win?
Some of you might have a Pikachu plush you could also carry around for extra fun.
Luffy – One Piece
I think he’s required to be on a list of cheap cosplay ideas. Pretty much the only question you must ask yourself is how much of your chest you want exposed.
Pre-time skip Luffy you need a red sleeveless shirt, but you are more likely to have a long- or three-quarter-sleeved shirt like post-time skip Luffy.
If you go with the post-time skip Luffy, you also want a yellow scarf. The scar is iconic, but you can either skip it, draw one on with body paint, or find a basic undershirt to draw one on with a marker.
Outside of that, I’d be shocked if you didn’t have a pair of blue shorts or pants (which you can roll up).
You can buy an official Luffy straw hat, but unlike a Pikachu hat, this probably is not going to find a lot of outside of Halloween. So save some money buy check local craft stores or big box stores for a cheap straw hat. The only other thing is a small amount of red ribbon. Or use construction paper if you don’t have any lying around the house.
Put on the simplest thong sandals you can find ($1 at most stores), and voila!
Sebastian – Black Butler
Many of you (particularly the gents out there) probably have a Sebastian-like outfit at home: your Sunday best, your funeral outfit, groomsman suit. Either way, it might not be super accurate, but you can still have a butler-like feel to your day!
The black jacket, pants, and white shirt are easy enough to find. The double-breasted style jacket Sebastian wears is less common, but you might get lucky at local second-hand retailers. If not, it’s no big deal, or if you don’t mind some alterations, find a slightly larger jacket and glue buttons (real or fake) on for the same effect, using a pin to keep the jacket closed. (Or sew, if you are so inclined.)
Black ties are also easy to find for cheap if you look at second-hand retailers, but in a pinch, construction paper to the rescue!
For his hands, you can either draw his mark (again, safe body paint only!) or find a cheap pair of white gloves. There’s the actual formal-style gloves, or grab some simple magic-style winter gloves.
Finally, a couple of old or cheap pieces of jewelry can be used as the pocket watch’s chain.
Kiki – Kiki’s Delivery Service
Black or purple? That is the question. You could go either way, making this simple outfit even easier.
If you don’t have or can’t find a simple plain dress, you could also go with something like an oversized T-shirt or nightgown with shorts hidden underneath.
For her trademark bow, there is an official version. Go cheaper by looking at the accessories at your local major retailer, buying a spool of ribbon and actually tying a bow on top of your head, or finding an old Christmas red ribbon to stick on an old hair elastic or whatever.
Her shoes are red flats, but you could go with the live action look and wear black.
You can go further by wearing a simple orange or brown-ish purse. An old cell phone pouch can be hung from the broom as the radio.
Use your own broom to “fly” on, or go for a more authentic look by looking at the Halloween sections at the stores. Craftier cosplayers can make their own broom by destroying a straw one or using sticks from your backyard.
If you have a little extra cash, and you’d like to have Jiji around without having to carry a plush (or even the broom!), how about a cute little necklace?
Mario/Luigi – Super Mario Bros.
This is another popular and simple choice, and for good reason!
For a DIY costume, there are two options for the basic outfit:
- A) solid red/green longsleeved shirt, denim pants, and suspenders (actual suspenders or some type of creative alternative like ribbons or pinned blue fabric scraps)
- B) actual overalls where almost any red/green shirt will work, as it will be covered by the overalls
Either way, go the route that best fits you and your budget. Depending on your outfit, you can add the yellow buttons or omit them completely. Keep in mind that “adding” doesn’t necessarily mean getting some old buttons and sewing them on; go the construction paper route if you want that bright yellow-ness popping outs on the costume.
The shoes are pretty simple. They’re pictured as brown, but wear whatever you have.
Now, the gloves. Depending on your plans, you can search for the more cartoonish oversize gloves or more use the form-fitting ones you already have. (See Sebastian’s section for a couple of options.)
Finally, we get to the brothers’ trademark caps. One option is to use any Nintendo-related hat you already have. But you can also find basic hats at your local store. They’ll probably be baseball caps instead of the more newsboy-style, but it works. Draw a big M/L on a piece of printer paper, cut it out, and tape it to the front. Alternatively, buy some foam sheets and make Cappy’s eyes for Mario’s.
The mustaches are another trademark, but you can skip and go as young Mario/Luigi. If you need one and don’t want to make yourself a mustache, check out photo props in your store’s party department or party favor mustaches.
Hiei – YuYu Hakusho
Hiei wears a couple different versions of his outfits depending on the arc. But you can put together a rather simple outfit without his jacket, and Hiei can have a monster-like appearance thanks to his mummy-like wrapped arm and third eye.
First up are the sleeveless black top and black pants.
Next, the belt/protective waistguard. I think it’s technically four, but some images and game models have it looking like two (probably to simplify the animation). Go with whatever you have. Heck, even a single white belt with a black stripe could give the illusion of the multiple belts.
Shoes can be black boots or black socks with your current footwear.
Buy some white bandages to wrap up his right arm, unless you want to use body-safe paint to draw the dragon’s flame.
While you’re at the store, look at the Halloween sticker sheets to find set that has a cyclops eye. Put one on your forehead for Hiei’s third eye.
Finally, if you want, simple color hairspray can get the white streak in his hair.
Café Mew Mew Girls – Tokyo Mew Mew
Of course, you could dress up as the girls’ transformed animal hybrid versions, but their waitress versions would probably be easier.
First, you need an apron, preferably one with a long bow. You may have one at home already. But something like this works for a basic apron, this one if you want frills.
Underneath is a short dress that’s paired with a colored ribbon and socks. Colors to choose from are red/pink, orange/yellow, blue/light blue, green/light green, or purple/light purple. A spool of ribbon can be bought at stores. Alternatively, use a printable template and color/cut one for yourself. You might even be able to use a digital paint program if you don’t have any markers or colored pencils.
The shoes are basic black tennis shoes, but if you should be so inclined, you can look for colored shoelaces for around the $2-3 mark at local retailers. Go with the paired color (so pink to go with Ichigo’s red dress, light blue for Mint’s, etc.)
Now, the headpiece may be the only tricky part. First option is to buy a cheap one from Amazon/eBay seller that has kind of a zigzag pattern, perhaps drawing a zigzag on it in the matching color. Second option is to find a cheap headband and some foam or lace and make your own.
Obviously, if you have more time or creativity, you can add all the other accents to the costume like the paired colored parts of the sleeves (construction paper perhaps?), lacy underskirt (glue lace to the dress?), etc.
Honorable mentions:
Namine (Kingdom Hearts): just a white dress and sandals
Phoenix Wright or Apollo Justice (Ace Attorney): Phoenix wears a blue suit, Apollo a red vest
Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist): bandana, black crop top, and oversized gray or tan-ish pants
Yato (Noragami): black track suit with blue-grey scarf