Get Inspired — DIY Pet Costumes

By Julie Senger

 

If you’re on social media, you’ve likely seen many precious animal “influencers” with their own Instagram or TikTok accounts, followed by thousands of devoted fans. So, if you celebrate Halloween with your pet or want to keep their social media accounts fresh and exciting by dressing your furry friend in cute costumes for photoshoots and reels, read on for cute costume ideas.

For extra-special costumes, it’s best to create the look yourself instead of buying one that’s prepackaged. Creating a homemade costume can be a fun, cost effective, yet slightly challenging alternative for a more unique look.

To save time and money, try to choose a costume that can be made with things you already have at home, or that is constructed from items that can be purchased inexpensively at local dollar stores, thrift markets, or secondhand consignment establishments. While pondering ideas, also consider whether your pet will wear the costume for a quick photoshoot/reel, or if your furry friend will be strutting about for an extended period for trick or treating or a Halloween pet parade.

To help get your creative juices flowing, here’s a list of places from which to draw inspiration, along with some photos of Family Life staff members’ pets in a few fun examples.

 

Everyday People

Consider clubs, occupations, organizations, popular styles, recreational activities, or sports that require distinct uniforms or clothing items and accessories.

Red Hat Society
Materials used: artificial purple flower, hot glue gun, pearl bracelet, purple T-shirt, red hat

Punk Rock Princess
Materials used: black tutu, funky glasses, purple wig, spikey bracelet

80s Teen
Materials used: colorful retro shades, MTV T-shirt, mullet wig

 

Historical Figures

There have been many historical figures with ornate styles or who are associated with very specific fashionable (and not-so-fashionable) looks.

Uncle Sam
Materials used: blue T-shirt, construction paper, hot glue, paper towel roll, posterboard, red scarf

Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Materials used: collar, hot glue, scissors, wide lace. Since this pet’s fur is black, no materials were needed to create a Supreme Court robe.

 

The Entertainment Industry

Think of iconic actors, characters, musicians, or even props and settings. Does your pet remind you of any of your favorites?

The House From UP!
Materials used: cardboard, construction paper, glue, helium balloons, pet life jacket, self-adhesive hook and loop Velcro fasteners (to attach the cardboard house to the life jacket), scissors

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Materials used: black permanent marker (to create the design on the shirt), pink tutu, white golf shirt

Maverick From Top Gun
Materials used: brown leather bomber jacket, mirrored aviator sunglasses, white T-shirt

 

The Truly Unique

These costumes are more conceptual, using various scenarios, phrases, or figures of speech as inspiration.

Monster Under the Bed
Materials used: box, hot glue, pet harness, pipe cleaner twist tie (to attach the box/bed to the harness), small plastic doll and bed