Spirit Week Dress-Up Days: 9 Themes and Easy Costumes for Each

ByCostume Team

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Spirit week sneaks up on everybody. The schedule goes out on Friday, and by Sunday night you’re digging through closets for something that counts as “Decades Day.”

Here’s every common theme day with the easiest costume for each, plus a few backups. Almost all of it comes from regular clothes, and none of it will get anyone sent to the office.

Jump to a Costume

  1. Decades Day
  2. Western Day
  3. Character Day
  4. Superhero Day
  5. Twin Day
  6. Senior Citizen Day
  7. Career Day
  8. Fairy Tale Day
  9. Throwback Day

1. Decades Day

Illustration of a 1980s aerobics costume: a woman in a neon pink leotard over shiny tights, bright leg warmers, a sweatband, a side ponytail with a scrunchie, white high-top sneakers.

The most popular spirit week theme. Pick a decade and commit: the 80s is easiest, since neon and big hair are hard to get wrong.

How to do it: 80s: neon top, leggings, side ponytail, scrunchie. Other decades that work from a closet: a 1920s flapper, a 1950s greaser, a 70s hippie or disco look, or 90s grunge with flannel and ripped jeans.

Worth buying: neon leg warmers.

2. Western Day

Illustration of a cowboy costume: a man in a felt cowboy hat, a plaid snap-front western shirt, a red bandana at the neck, jeans with a big belt buckle, leather cowboy boots, a coiled lasso in one hand.

Boots, plaid and denim. A cowboy or cowgirl is the easiest spirit day there is, especially in Texas.

How to do it: Plaid or denim shirt, jeans, boots, a bandana and a hat if you have one. Backups: a farmer in overalls or a lumberjack in flannel.

Worth buying: a kids’ cowboy hat.

3. Character Day

Illustration of a classic storybook wizard costume: an old man with a long flowing white beard to mid-chest, a floor-length midnight-blue robe with wide sleeves embroidered with small silver stars and crescent moons, a tall pointed blue hat with a wide brim, holding a tall gnarled wooden staff with a glowing crystal at the top.

Dress as a favorite character from a book or movie. Classic storybook characters are easiest and never get banned. A wizard works for almost any reading list.

How to do it: Robe, pointed hat and a wand or staff. Other storybook picks: Little Red Riding Hood, the Queen of Hearts, or a mad scientist.

Worth buying: a kids’ wizard hat and robe.

4. Superhero Day

Illustration of an original superhero costume: a person in a deep teal bodysuit with gold boots, gold gloves and a gold belt, a knee-length gold cape, a simple teal eye mask, and a gold lightning-bolt emblem on the chest, hands on hips.

Kids love it, teachers love it. An original superhero skips the licensed-costume price tag.

How to do it: Solid-color top and leggings, a cape (Velcro, not tied at the neck), an eye mask and a felt emblem with your initial. Fists on hips for every photo.

Worth buying: a kids’ cape and mask set.

5. Twin Day

Illustration of a classic sheet ghost costume: a figure under a long flowing white sheet that just brushes the floor, two cut-out eye holes, a wide-brimmed hat under the sheet giving it a rounded shape, playful rather than scary.

Match a friend. The easiest twin costumes are ones you can both build from a closet, like two sheet ghosts.

How to do it: Two matching ghosts, two garden gnomes, ketchup and mustard, or just identical outfits down to the socks. The more specific the details, the funnier it is.

Worth buying: matching novelty sunglasses.

6. Senior Citizen Day

Illustration of an old lady costume: a smiling girl dressed as a 100-year-old grandma with a gray bun, glasses on a beaded chain, a lavender cardigan over a floral dress, a shawl, pearls and slippers, leaning on a cane.

Dress like you’re 80. It’s a high school favorite and the same idea as the 100th day of school. The old lady and old man look is all cardigans and canes.

How to do it: Gray hair spray, glasses on a chain, a cardigan or sweater vest, slippers and a cane. Carry a newspaper or knitting.

Worth buying: temporary gray hair spray.

7. Career Day

Illustration of a chef costume: a woman in a white double-breasted chef's jacket, a tall white toque, a red neckerchief, a floury apron and checked trousers, holding a wooden spoon and a copper pan.

Dress as what you want to be. A chef is easy to recognize and easy to make.

How to do it: White shirt, apron and a paper chef hat. Other easy careers: doctor, police officer, construction worker, firefighter or astronaut.

Worth buying: a kids’ chef costume set.

8. Fairy Tale Day

Illustration of a fairy costume: a woman in a layered dress with jagged petal-shaped hem in leaf green and lavender, sheer iridescent wings, a flower crown, pointed ears, leggings, light shimmer on the shoulders.

Storybook characters are perfect for younger grades. A fairy is wings and something sparkly.

How to do it: Wings, a flower crown and a tutu or dress. Other fairy tale picks: a princess, a dragon, or a knight.

Worth buying: kids’ fairy wings.

9. Throwback Day

Illustration of a 1990s grunge costume: a young woman with messy shoulder-length hair and dark eyeliner, an oversized open red and green plaid flannel shirt over a short floral slip dress, a black velvet choker, ripped black tights, scuffed black combat boots, a knit beanie, a bored expression.

Dress like your parents did at your age. For most families now, that’s 90s grunge: flannel, band tees and chunky shoes.

How to do it: Flannel tied around the waist, a band tee, ripped jeans and combat boots or high-tops. For an older throwback, go Rosie the Riveter or a greaser.

Worth buying: a set of 90s butterfly clips.

Spirit Week Survival Tips

Read the rules first. Most schools ban masks, face paint that covers the face, fake weapons and anything with gore.

Plan all five days on Sunday. Most spirit weeks repeat the same pieces (flannel on Western day, flannel again on throwback day), so map it out once.

Don’t forget the easy days. Pajama day, class color day and jersey day need no costume at all, so save your effort for decades and character day.

See every costume in our Spirit Week collection, or browse the full costume encyclopedia from A to Z.

Spirit Week FAQ

What are the most common spirit week days?

Decades day, Western day, character day, twin day, pajama day, jersey day, class color day and career day show up at most schools.

What’s the easiest decade for decades day?

The 80s. A neon top, leggings and a side ponytail are hard to get wrong.

What should I wear for Western day?

A plaid or denim shirt, jeans, boots and a bandana. Add a cowboy hat if you have one.

What are good twin day ideas?

Two sheet ghosts, two garden gnomes, ketchup and mustard, or identical outfits down to the shoes.

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