9 DIY Christmas Costumes for Adults (Mostly From Your Closet)

Byadmin

Costumepedia earns a commission if you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change what you pay. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Christmas parties with a costume theme sneak up on everyone. The good news is that most holiday characters are built from red, green, white and brown, and you probably own a lot of that already.

Each costume here uses regular clothes plus one or two cheap pieces. None of them need a sewing machine.

Jump to a Costume

  1. Santa Claus
  2. Elf
  3. Reindeer
  4. Gingerbread Person
  5. Snowman
  6. Christmas Tree
  7. Nutcracker
  8. Ebenezer Scrooge
  9. Snow Queen

1. Santa Claus

Illustration of a classic Santa Claus costume: a jolly man in a plush red velvet suit with thick white fur trim, a wide black belt with a gold buckle, black boots, a full soft white beard and mustache, a red hat with a white pom-pom, round wire glasses, white gloves, rosy cheeks.

Everybody’s favorite. A DIY Santa looks better than a cheap felt suit if you build it right.

How to do it: Red sweatshirt and red pants, a wide black belt with a big buckle, black boots and a Santa hat. Glue white faux fur strips down the front and around the cuffs. A good fluffy beard is the one thing worth spending on.

Worth buying: a Santa beard and wig set.

2. Elf

Illustration of a Christmas elf costume: a cheerful person in a green tunic with a red zigzag pointed hem and collar, a black belt with a gold buckle, red and white striped tights, a pointy green hat with a red trim and a jingle bell, pointed ears, curled-toe felt shoes.

An elf is the most popular adult Christmas costume because it’s cheap, cute and comfy.

How to do it: Green top, red or green-and-white striped tights or socks, a belt, a pointed hat with a bell and pointed ears. Cut a zigzag felt collar for the classic elf look.

Worth buying: elf ears and a jingle-bell hat.

3. Reindeer

Illustration of a cozy reindeer costume: a person in a brown fleece hooded onesie with a cream chest patch, soft plush brown antlers and small ears on the hood, a short tail, a painted red nose and freckle spots on the cheeks, brown boots.

Brown clothes plus antlers equals reindeer. It’s the fastest costume on this list.

How to do it: Brown sweater and pants or leggings, an antler headband, a tan felt circle pinned to the chest, and a red or black nose drawn on. Jingle bells on a ribbon collar.

Worth buying: a reindeer antler headband.

4. Gingerbread Person

Illustration of a gingerbread man costume: a child in a cookie-brown sweatshirt and pants with wavy white icing rickrack trim at the neck, wrists, waist and ankles, three big round gumdrop buttons in red and green down the front, rosy pink cheeks, a big smile, arms out.

Sweet and funny. A gingerbread costume is just brown clothes and icing.

How to do it: Brown sweatshirt and pants, white ric-rac trim or puffy paint for icing along the cuffs and hem, and three big buttons in red, green and white. Rosy cheeks and a smile drawn on.

Worth buying: white ric-rac trim for icing.

5. Snowman

Illustration of a snowman costume: a cheerful person in a puffy round white outfit with three black coal buttons, a red and green striped scarf, a black top hat, an orange carrot nose and brown mittens.

White clothes, a scarf and a carrot nose. Instantly recognizable and very easy.

How to do it: All-white outfit, three black felt buttons down the front, a knit scarf, a black top hat or beanie, and an orange paper carrot nose stuck on with spirit gum or drawn with makeup.

Worth buying: a carrot nose and top hat.

Full guide: our full Snowman costume guide

6. Christmas Tree

Illustration of a Christmas tree costume: a smiling woman in a flared green tiered dress wrapped in gold tinsel and fairy lights, decorated with red and gold baubles, with a gold star headband.

Wear the decoration. It’s one of the most photographed costumes at any holiday party.

How to do it: Green dress or green top and skirt, tinsel garland wrapped around you in a spiral, small ornaments clipped on, and a star headband. Battery-powered fairy lights take it over the top.

Worth buying: battery-powered fairy lights.

Full guide: our full Christmas Tree costume guide

7. Nutcracker

Illustration of a nutcracker costume: a man standing at attention in a red military jacket with gold braid and epaulettes, white trousers, tall black boots, white gloves, a tall black hat, a white beard and rosy cheeks.

The ballet’s toy soldier is a sharp, structured costume that works well for guys.

How to do it: Red jacket or blazer, black pants, gold ribbon across the chest, white gloves and a tall black hat. Paint rosy cheeks and draw a square jaw line. Stand at attention.

Worth buying: a nutcracker soldier hat.

Full guide: our full Nutcracker costume guide

8. Ebenezer Scrooge

Illustration of an Ebenezer Scrooge costume: a thin scowling old man with round spectacles, a long gray nightshirt under a faded brown dressing gown, a tasseled nightcap and slippers, holding a lit candle.

Bah, humbug. A Dickens costume is perfect for anyone who wants to be festive and grumpy at the same time.

How to do it: Long dark coat, a vest, a white shirt with a cravat or scarf, a nightcap or top hat, and small round spectacles. Carry a candle holder or a ledger book. Scowl.

Worth buying: a Victorian top hat.

Full guide: our full Ebenezer Scrooge costume guide

9. Snow Queen

Illustration of an original Snow Queen costume from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale: a regal woman with sleek loose platinum hair in a long shimmering ice-blue satin gown, a sheer white floor-length cape, a white faux fur stole at the shoulders, a tall spiky silver crown of ice crystals and snowflakes, icy silver eye makeup, a cool stare.

Elegant and wintry. The Snow Queen is a great pick if your party leans dressy.

How to do it: Long pale blue or white dress, a sheer cape, a white faux fur stole, a silver snowflake crown and icy blue eyeshadow.

Worth buying: a silver snowflake crown.

DIY Christmas Costume Tips

Start with the color. Red, green, white or brown clothes from your closet get you halfway to almost every holiday character.

Spend on one piece. A good beard, a crown or real-looking antlers make the rest of a DIY costume look intentional.

Use felt and safety pins. Felt doesn’t fray, comes in every color, and pins on and off without hurting your clothes.

Want more holiday looks? See the full Christmas costumes section, or browse the costume encyclopedia from A to Z.

DIY Christmas Costume FAQ

What’s the easiest DIY Christmas costume for adults?

A reindeer. Brown clothes and an antler headband, and you’re done.

What Christmas costume can I make with a green dress?

A Christmas tree or an elf. Add tinsel and ornaments for the tree, or striped tights and ears for the elf.

What’s a funny DIY Christmas costume?

Ebenezer Scrooge, a Christmas present, or a gingerbread person with a bite taken out of the ear.

What DIY Christmas costume works for men?

Santa, a nutcracker or Ebenezer Scrooge. All three build from a jacket you probably own.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *