Dress up in a DIY TV character costume for Halloween: Loki, Riverdale, and more!

Halloween is creeping around the corner, and whether you’re celebrating or dressing up, we have some last-minute DIY Halloween costumes starring some of our favorite TV characters. You don’t have to spend much money to create the costumes, as you may already have the basics in your wardrobe.

When it comes to costumes, I’ve been to nearly everything, including a few of my favorite TV characters and celebrities. The final appearance is the best part of dressing up because the creativity and hard work come to fruition. In high school, I carefully pieced together my Britney Spears costume by using her “Baby, One More Time” video as a reference.  It was 1999, and me and my friends dressed as famous pop stars of the era. Then, for a party in 2014, I was Clarke Griffin, and becoming “Wanheda” was fairly easy as I had similar pieces in my wardrobe to reflect her season one attire. With my light hair pulled back, and some survival makeup, I felt like I could run the world.

Then, there’ll be a time when we panic about what costume to wear because there are so many options. For instance, my quick costume a few years back was a fox, but a mystical fox. It was still an accomplishment because I happen to love foxes.

But in case you have no idea what to be, we’ve compiled some ideas to help you with your costume journey.

Dress up in a DIY TV character costume for Halloween

The 100 DIY Halloween costumes

The 100 has created memorable outfits since its first season, thanks to costume designer Allisa Swanson, who made iconic pieces such as Octavia’s Blodreina wardrobe and Clarke’s jackets. However, you don’t need a costume designer or need to be a cosplayer to recreate some of The 100’s looks for Halloween. You only need a few wardrobe basics to become Clarke, Bellamy, Lexa, Echo, or your favorite character.

The Clarke wardrobe of seasons six and seven is perhaps among my favorites, as colors and dresses were engrained as Clarke wore neutral tones in the previous seasons. The dresses gave our favorite heroine a more feminine and “looser” appearance, while her bobbed blond hair framed her face and brought out her blue eyes. I also loved her aqua top; it was a gorgeous color and gave her more depth.

We’ve got you covered if you want a simplified version of Clarke. Season one was about survival and simplicity because style takes a backseat when you’re dropped on a supposedly isolated planet and become an unofficial leader of minors.

For season one Clarke, start with a long-sleeved grey or light army green henley top, and by looking at stills, you can try to distress it to make the top more worn or post-apocalyptic looking. Wear dark denim skinny jeans or black cargo pants with pockets for her pants.

Footwear on The 100 had only one primary style: combat boots. Throughout the series, Clarke wore them, only swapping for flats when she wore dresses and sneakers in early season two. Getting the exact copies of the boots will be challenging, but if you’re only dressing up as Clarke for Halloween, then use whatever combat boots you have in your closet.

I’ve seen cosplayers in the convention circuit piece Clarke’s season five jacket together by applying pop tops onto the back. If you have the time, you can assemble your own.

Her hair in seasons one through four was long, braided, or partially pulled back, while in seasons five through seven, it was cut just above her shoulders and was set in a wavy style. Eliza Taylor wore wigs and bleached her hair to get that full Clarke effect.

We’re not telling you to bleach or cut your hair, but Amazon offers an affordable cosplay wig option for her seasons five through seven hairstyle.

Now, there’d be no Clarke without Bellamy Blake or her love, Lexa Kom Trikru. To dress up as Bellamy, find a dark blue henley shirt, black cargo pants, and weathered black jacket. To achieve Lexa’s costume of Heda, you must get creative as the costume contains several pieces. However, it can be simplified for Halloween. Go for a long-sleeved black top, a long, black duster, black skinny jeans, and combat boots. Clip on a crimson velvet sash onto your left shoulder, and don’t forget the warpaint, fingerless gloves, sword, and headpiece!

I used ShopyourTV.com/the-100 and Farfarawaysite.com for referential inspiration. Feel free to use them to dress up as other characters!

1950s Riverdale DIY Halloween costumes

Archie Andrews and his gang flashbacked to 1955 in the last season of Riverdale. While the storylines felt con50’sng, season seven offered fans a look at life during post-war America and the threat of Russian invasion. The wardrobe in season fan showed us a close-up of 50s fashions in modernized colors. To achieve Archie’s, Betty’s, Cheryl’s, Jughead’s, Veronica’s, and the rest of the gang’s retro looks, think poodle skirts, tight cashmere sweaters, wide belts, saddle shoes, wiggle dresses, cherries, letterman jackets, and rolled-up jeans.

Try a ponytail, pompadour, bouffant, and Bettie Page-styled bangs for hair. As for makeup, go with a red lip, cat-eyed liner, and false eyelashes.

There are lots of vintage-styled clothes that can be shopped online and in secondhand stores. We recommend the styled versions, as you don’t want to ruin antique pieces.

A League of Their Own DIY Halloween costumes

Whether you’re a fan of the 1992 film or the Amazon series, the 1940s was about women finding their respective place in baseball. The series only lasted for one season, but it broke barriers for LGBTQ fans because here was a series that positively represented their community. Additionally, LGBTQ was unaccepted in the forties and was considered illegal, so people had to hide their identity so they wouldn’t be targeted.

Wear a pink short-sleeved polo top, pink miniskirt, a red belt and cap, red knee socks, and white sneakers or black cleats to create a professional-looking ladies’ baseball uniform from the era. Amazon has patches you can iron or stitch onto your uniform for an extra boost.

To truly stand out in the field, accessorize with a bat and ball!

Bluey DIY Halloween costumes

Since its introduction to the US a few years ago, the Australian children’s series Bluey has found its way into many homes and quickly became a favorite among adults and kids.

Bluey follows the story of a young Blue Heeler puppy, her sister Bingo, her parents, and her friends as they interact in various games and problem-solving.

It’s known for its interactive play, subdued adult themes such as miscarriages and parenthood, disability issues, and even death, as these topics can be controversial. Yet, with the storytelling, Bluey educates the topics from a child’s point of view. It’s a feel-good family show, and according to the creator, Joe Brumm, he wanted a show that families could watch and took inspiration from his own life. The dog Bluey on the show reflects his own dog while growing up in Brisbane.

There is no doubt this year that many fans will dress up as Bluey and her family.

To dress like Bluey, wear a long-sleeved light-blue sweatshirt and matching pants. Stitch on a light blue felt oval for her belly and three dark blue circles for her back spots. Use a blue sock for her tail; color the tip darker if you want.

Bluey has darker blue patches around her eyes, a yellow muzzle, and light blue eyebrows so you can use Halloween makeup for the distinct features.

If you want to go as Bingo, switch the blue clothes and makeup to orange.

For the ears, the official website has a downloadable and printable template for “party hats,” using construction paper and glue. The website has additional Halloween activities and crafts to throw a Bluey-themed party.

Hocus Pocus DIY Halloween costumes

No costume list would be complete with the witches from Hocus Pocus and its respective sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, which dropped on Disney+ right before Halloween 2022. The Sandersons’ sisters were the original witches of Salem in the 1690s, and when all the other citizens wore black and white, the sisters rebelled with bright colors in their dresses. The witches also played with fabrics such as velvet, silk, and lace to create the iconic looks while keeping the styles of the 17th century.

Winifred, the eldest and the most intelligent of the three, opted for emerald and violet. Get a long-sleeved emerald velvet top layered with a purple lacey camisole underneath for her look. Pair the top with a matching velvet skirt with a purple underlayer in lace or silk.

Of course, Hot Topic has a Winifred costume for under $35 if you prefer.

Winifred is also known for her curly red hair in a crazy updo, and if you hate the hassle of styling your hair and coloring it, Amazon has a wig option with Winifred’s jewelry and buckteeth.

Sarah, the sexy sister, wore pink, purple and red. Wear a pink peasant blouse and a red and purple skirt to achieve her look for this year’s Halloween. Again, Hot Topic has pieces inspired by the witches to achieve your spookiest.

To go as Binx the Cat, who has Thackey’s soul entrapped in him, dress in all black, draw whiskers with black eyeliner, and grab a pair of cat ears and a tail.

To top off the costumes, include the cloaks and spellbook.

Ghosts (CBS) DIY Halloween costumes

When Ghosts on CBS first haunted Woodstone Manor in 2021, we couldn’t get enough of their histories and how they impacted America in their periods. We also saw some historic costumes the ghosts wore, like Isaac’s Revolutionary War uniform and Flower’s hippie attire.

Recreating the costumes for Halloween will be tricky but not impossible. Hetty’s roaring twenties ensemble can be achieved with a red velvet sleeveless midi dress, a matching feathered robe/jacket, long-strand pearls, and a feathered flapper hat.

Hetty’s Glided Age elegance is the epitome of wealth in the 1880s-1910s and can be pretty straightforward. Find a button-down teal blouse with a matching ruffled skirt, and for the minimal lace detailing, wear a white or ivory lace high-necked top or bodysuit.

Pete is more now, but historic. To get his 1985 Scoutmaster design, wear a khaki short-sleeved button-down shirt, green knee-length shorts, a black and yellow neckerchief, red and green socks, and hiking boots. Get a pair of nonprescribed 1980s aviator glasses to make it even more authentic.

Loki DIY Halloween costumes

Loki has become a quick fan favorite since his debut on Disney+. With his ability to shapeshift, he caused a lot of chaos inside the Time Variance Authority organization while trying to prevent being erased from existence.

For Marvel’s God of Mischief, that’s a big job, especially when Miss Minutes is tracking the time.

The costume of Loki is pretty head-on, as you’ll only need a black suit, a grey or white dress shirt, a tan military jacket, and a skinny black tie. For an added touch, switch the black suit with a three-piece green suit for President Loki and the gold horns.

Snoopy DIY Halloween costumes

Of course, we can’t forget Snoopy this Halloween. The Beagle and Charlie Brown’s best friend has been around since 1950, gaining even more popularity as time passed.

Snoopy is relatively easy to do as his costume resembles Bluey’s. Wear a white sweatshirt with a stitched black spot on the back, matching white pants attached with a small white tail, and white sneakers. For his black ears, cut out a pair and glue them to a white headband.

As Snoopy dressed as the World War I Flying Ace in It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, you can wear aviator goggles and a red scarf.

Stranger Things DIY Halloween costumes

Stranger Things is another show with period clothes. The characters are set in the mid-1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana; the sci-fi series mixes supernatural and real-life situations. What’s more, if you’re familiar with the tubular decade, you’ll get nostalgic with some of the pop culture details like shopping malls, summer camps, horror films, and trends.

Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is one of Stranger Things’ central characters, and her looks can be combined with things you may already have. To create her pink dress ensemble from season four, start with a pink dress with a white collar, or if the dress doesn’t have a collar, try wearing a collared white shirt underneath. Pair it with a dark blue bomber jacket, white tube socks with green and yellow stripes, and white sneakers. For Eleven’s everyday outfit, get a dark blue button-down and go wild with the colorful paint splatters. The 1980s were all about incorporating colors into the fashion. Wear high-waisted, relaxed-fit jeans, a yellow scrunchie, and dark blue suspenders to complete the look.

Summer camp tees were another 80s staple. Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) donned a green computer graphic camp tee for Camp Know Where when he attended one summer in 1985. The shirt is available to buy through Amazon for $22, along with the matching hat.

Wednesday (Addams) DIY Halloween costumes

Last but not least, Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family. Whether you love Wednesday’s original debut from the 1960s comedy, the 1990s films, or the current Netflix drama, she only has one style, and that’s goth.

Her wardrobe consists of long-sleeved black dresses with a white collar and wrist cuffs, black tights, black combat boots or creepers, and black tights. Given that this is only what she wears, creating a costume based on Wednesday should be easy.

Begin with your black dress and attach the collar and cuffs by stitching, or buy an inexpensive dress with the features. You can even wear a white collared shirt under the dress. Next, slip on a pair of tights or even leggings, and boots or creepers.

Make sure you style your hair in braided pigtails for a more ominous appeal of Wednesday.

That’s it!

With so many TV shows available, there will be endless opportunities to DIY any character you like and have fun with.