DIY Christmas Costumes for a Unique and Creative Holiday

Christmas costumes are the friendliest DIY project of the year. The colors are already in your closet, the characters are simple shapes, and nobody expects screen accuracy from an elf. Our approach is to make most of the costume at home and buy the one piece that is hard to get right, usually a hat, a beard, or the shoes. Here are the ideas we come back to every December.

Santa from the closet

Red sweatpants, a red sweatshirt, a black belt, and a pillow. That is a Santa. What you cannot fake is the beard and the hat, and those are cheap: our basic Santa Hat is red velvet with plush trim for $8.99 at time of writing, and the Adults Santa Beard and Mustache is a white synthetic set for $9.99. Add white gloves and you have a Santa for under $20 plus whatever you already owned. If you would rather skip the DIY, the Men's Complete Velour Santa Suit includes the jacket, pants, belt, boot tops, gloves, beard, and hat in one box, and it fits sizes 40-48.

An elf in three pieces

Green top, red bottoms, pointed shoes. A green T-shirt with felt "buttons" glued down the front and a brown belt does the top. For the bottoms, Red and White Striped Tights (one size fits most women 4-14) are the classic and cost $8.99 at time of writing. Shoes are the hard part, so either buy the Adult Elf Shoes with pom-poms and red scalloped tops, or make curled toes by stuffing green felt cones and safety-pinning them over sneakers. Ears are optional; a Santa hat with a bell sewn to the tip is an elf hat.

Reindeer from a brown hoodie

A brown hoodie and brown pants are the body. Cut antlers from brown felt, stiffen them with pipe cleaners or cardboard, and stitch or hot glue them to the hood. Add a red pom-pom nose on an elastic loop and a bell on a ribbon around the neck. For a family herd, everyone wears the same brown hoodie and one person gets the red nose. If a fully finished version is easier, our Reindeer Christmas Costumes collection has plush one-piece suits with hoods, antlers, mitts, and shoe covers.

Gingerbread person

Brown sweats again (Christmas DIY loves brown sweats), plus white felt "icing" squiggles glued along the cuffs, hem, and collar, three big colored pom-poms down the front, and pink circles on the cheeks with blush. Kids love making this one because it is basically decorating a cookie.

A wrapped present

A cardboard box with holes for the head and arms, covered in wrapping paper, with a big bow on top. Wear it over a solid-color outfit. It is the fastest DIY on this list and works for any age that can walk in a box.

Snowman for the little ones

A white sweatshirt with black felt buttons, a scarf, and a black top hat cut from card stock and taped to a headband. Draw a carrot nose on with orange face paint or pin a felt carrot to the hat. For toddlers who will not keep a hat on, a bought tunic with an open-face headpiece is more reliable; see Snowman Christmas Costumes.

A Victorian caroling family

This is the easiest coordinated look for a family photo. Everyone wears dark coats, scarves, and mittens; add top hats from card stock for the men and bonnets from a folded scarf for the women. A songbook, a lantern, and a lamppost in the background finish it. If you want one authentic piece as an anchor, our Victorian and Nutcracker Costumes collection is where to look.

Tips for DIY that survives the party

• Hot glue beats tape for felt on fabric, and a few stitches beat both.
• Test face paint on an arm the day before.
• Keep the base outfit wearable so the costume goes over clothes and comes off when the toddler is done.
• Buy the head. Hats, beards, and headpieces are the pieces homemade struggles with, and they are the least expensive to buy.

Everything bought in this post is in our Christmas Themed Costumes collection. Prices are accurate at time of writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest DIY Christmas costume?

A wrapped present: a cardboard box with head and arm holes, covered in wrapping paper with a bow on top, worn over a solid-color outfit. It works for any age that can walk in a box.

What Christmas costume pieces are worth buying instead of making?

Hats, beards, shoes, and headpieces. A Santa hat and beard set costs under $20 together, and elf shoes and striped tights save hours of frustration compared to homemade versions.

How do I make a DIY elf costume?

Wear a green top with felt buttons glued down the front, red and white striped tights or red pants, a brown belt, and pointed shoes. A Santa hat with a bell sewn to the tip works as the elf hat.

Can I make a reindeer costume without sewing?

Yes. Hot glue felt antlers stiffened with cardboard to the hood of a brown hoodie, add a red pom-pom nose on elastic, and tie a bell on a ribbon around the neck.