50 Animal-Inspired Halloween Costume Ideas For All Ages

Whether you want to buy, DIY, dress up the whole fam and/or just wear a fuzzy onesie all day and night, we got you.

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Halloween is SOON and that means it's time to party like animals, y'all. This is one holiday when it's totally appropriate to show off your wild side without worrying about having your sanity questioned. Finally, an excuse to dress up as something you're not. So we say forget trying to pin down that perfectly creative and easy-to-execute costume and just go a little wild. If you're still costume-less and idea-less, it's safe to end your “what to wear" quest now — whether you want to buy, DIY, dress up the whole fam, you and your sig-O and/or just wear a fuzzy onesie all day and night we have you covered.


flamingo costume

Flamingo

You know what they always say: Halloween is the best time to let your inner bird shine. This outfit is super easy and quick to make, so you'll have time to make one for yourself and your little mini-me.

nemo costume

Nemo

Turn it into a family costume with the whole Finding Dory getup. (via Brit + Co)

bee costume

Bumble Bee

Grab some felt and get crafty with this tech-focused and contemporary take on a classic bee costume - the Bumble dating app! (via Brit + Co)

Baby Cow Costume

Baby Cow Costume

Everyone will be udderly delighted by this tiny cow. And it's SO easy to execute. (via Make It and Love It)

T-Rex Costume

T-Rex Costume ($99)

Clearly falls under the cute category. We can hardly imagine anything more aww-dorable!

Pig Costume

Pig Costume

A completely pink clothing ensemble can transform into a pig costume with the simple addition of ears and a snout. (via A Little Red House)

owl costume

Wise Old Owl Glasses

How simple and cute are these sweet owl glasses that can double as Halloween photobooth props too! (via Emmy in the Making)

bear costume

Bear ($37)

Is Halloween here yet? We just can't wait for an excuse to walk about in this cozy bear costume.

Adult Giraffe Onesie Kigurumi Pajamas

Adult Giraffe Onesie Kigurumi Pajamas ($60)

In case you didn't know that adult onesies were a thing, here's proof. If it pains you to invest in a piece that you'll only wear one day of the year, take heart knowing that this costume can definitely double as cozy pjs after their big debut.

Llama Costume

Little Llama Costume

Your little one will feel eight feet tall in this adorable DIY. (via Oh Happy Day)

DIY Penguin

DIY Penguin

Wanna pull something creative out of your craft closet? This penguin looks boutique, but no one needs to know that you actually created it out of a few items in your craft closet. (Shhh, we won't tell!) Dress as Mary Poppins and — boom. Mom + baby costume FTW! (via Make It and Love It)

Toddler Woodland Deer Costume

Baby Woodland Deer Costume ($69)

We're obsessed with this, the sweetest fawn we've ever seen.

panda costume

Panda Bear ($45)

This cuddly panda costume is already a steal, but if you're the crafty type, this look could also easily be cleverly recreated with a black tutu, tights, leg warmers and a hoodie.

Lion Halloween Makeup Tutorial

Lion Halloween Makeup

Mee-yow! (via From Head to Toe)

lamb costume

Little Lamb

Got a last minute invite to a costume party? Rummage through your bathroom cabinet for the cottonballs, there's still time to DIY this one-of-a-kind little lamb. (via Parents)

Party Animals

Knock it out of the park at this year's Halloween bash with a costume that calls for a mask of your choice and your Saturday night best. Who's ready to party? (via Brit + Co)

diy fox ears

DIY No-Sew Fox Ears

For our procrastinating friends who have that Halloween thing to go to and nothing to wear, here's a DIY idea that's ideal for last minute. Use a bit of fur and some glue to transform a headband into a fantastic foxy headpiece. (via BITS)

No-Sew Kids Lion Halloween Costume

No-Sew Kids Lion Halloween Costume

Wanna play king for a day? This no-sew lion costume is totally fun. (via A Night Owl Blog)

Raven Mask

Raven Mask ($59)

Can you say… HOT?

Big Bad Wolf Hoodie

Big Bad Wolf Hoodie

DIY enthusiasts, Halloween is the perfect time to get your game on. (via Martha Stewart)

Animal Ear Clips

Animal Ear Clips

This easy tutorial might be the last minute and/or work-appropriate costume of your dreams. (via Gleeful Things)

DIY Snail Costume

Have you ever seen a snail as cuddly as this one? We didn't think so. (via Oh Happy Day)

cow costume

Cow Costume ($25+)

Halloween just doesn't get any more comfy than this cow costume.

owl costume

Handmade Hooty Owl Costume

This costume gets its inspiration from our feathered friends. Proof that DIYs are a zillion times more creative than anything you'll find in a superstore. (via My Owl Barn)

Caterpillar Costume

Caterpillar Costume ($69)

Bundle up your toddler in this Eric Carle-inspired costume. It's just about as snuggly as they come.

Dog Costume

Dog Costume

To recreate your child's favorite animal, spray paint brown spots onto a grey hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, then add a brown felt tail and ears. Almost too easy. (via BHG)

Foxy Halloween Costume

Foxy Halloween Costume

This foxy getup is as non-basic as it gets. With a bit of makeup and a quick hair transformation you'll blow everyone's minds. (via Katie Nash)

butterfly costume

Madame Butterfly Costume

You can bet that no one at your party will do a butterfly like this! Let Martha help you craft a beautiful butterfly hairpiece using a flurry of the winged beauties (artificial, of course). (via Martha Stewart)

Denim-Clad Horse People

Denim-Clad Horse People

Get a little country and a little creepy with this easy last minute couples costume. (via Brit + Co)

lion mask

Lion Mask ($12)

Tease your hair and turn this into a pretty sweet last minute costume.

Faux Fur Tail + Ears Tutorial

Faux Fur Tail + Ears Tutorial

These simple sewing tutorials will transform you into any animal you want based on what faux fur you pick. (via jessyratfink on Instructables)

zebra costume

DIY Halloween Zebra Costume

Go for Best in Class with this easy to make zebra costume. That mane will be the talk of the party! (via Baby Gizmo)

jellyfish costume

DIY Jellyfish Costume

Wanna be that mom who comes up with cool out-of-the-box costume? Well, you can stop racking your brain because we've just located the prettiest DIY. This jellyfish might just be our favorite of the bunch — and you could DIY an adult version with longer tentacles! (via Style Me Pretty)

swan dress

Bjork Swan Dress Tutorial

No one will ever guess that this dress was a DIY. Bjork's got nothing on her. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Bunny costume

Halloween Bunny Ears and Dress Up Kit ($20)

Why not go a bit more cutting edge with your costume? This ensemble from ASOS has all the items you need to transform into a bunny for a few bucks.

giraffe costume

Kids' Giraffe Costume ($89)

This impressive DIY is (wait for it) actually really inexpensive to do using posterboard and ModPodge. That's right, you might even have the goodies to make it right now.

Butterfly Costume

Bust out your tie dying skills on Halloween for more than a hippy costume. (via Oh Happy Day)

black cat makeup

The Perfect Black Cat

Okay, so here's the thing about the black cat. A lot of people will be doing it. So if you want go for this look, better to go DIY. And sassy. (via Brit + Co)

care bear costume

Care Bear Family

What? Care Bears count as animals — especially when the whole family gets involved in an amazing DIY project that calls for some sorbet-hued sweatsuits and a set of crafting skillz. (via See Vanessa Craft)

fox costume

Fantastic Mr. Fox Sibling Costume 

Pop culture + animal-inspired = this DIY idea that you can do to any degree (the print in the kiddy costume is hand-painted, but the masks in the adult version could be a last minute hack). It makes a sweet sibling ensemble or works for grownup Wes Anderson fans who have the Hallotween look down pat and can't be Margot and Richie Tenenbaum one more year. (via Skirt As Top)

fantastic mr. fox costume

Fantastic Mr. Fox Couples Costume

Grownups are more likely to be into this movie-themed costume so here's some adult inspo!! (via A Beautiful Mess)

bird mask

DIY Bird Mask

This gorgeous mask can be crafted with crepe and dressed up with your outfit of choice. (via Martha Stewart)

skunk costume

Skunk ($50)

Too cute to be stinky.

rainbow unicorn costume

Rainbow Unicorn ($44)

What little girl isn't in love with the idea of the unicorn? Turn fantasy into reality with this mystical costume — or use it as DIY inspo.

Crocodile Costume

Crocodile Costume

What can you create with a cardboard box, butcher paper and some tape? Why, this crocodile, of course! (via Evil Mad Scientist)

lip halloween makeup

Dress Up Your Lips

There might not be a tutorial attached to these kissers, but may we recommend using them as inspo for the best lowkey look ever? (via lolhit)

Goldilocks and the Three Bears costume

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Family of four, you've just found this year's coordinating costumes. We find these bear heads slightly disturbing but they're sure to make a statement. (via A Beautiful Mess)

diy animal scarves

DIY Animal Scarves Out of Stuffed Animals

Complete your child's wild ensemble with a DIY animal scarf. The best part about this? The scarves were made from actual stuffed animals. (via A Subtle Revelry)

No-Sew Dinosaur Costume

No-Sew Dinosaur Costume

Dinos are animals too, right? Yes, especially when they're this adorbs and this easy to make. (via Gingersnap Crafts)

DIY Spider Costume

DIY Spider Costume

Consider this a Halloween intervention — we're bringing you the coolest creepy-crawly spider costume EVER. This will be an epic DIY. (via Pretty Providence)

P.S. We can't wait to hear about all your creative creations! Share with us @BritandCo!

This article has been updated from an earlier post.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.


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