10 Childhood Halloween Costume Ideas to Steal Right Now

Emily Orofino

Didn't it seem a lot easier to come up with a Halloween costume when we were kids? Back then, there wasn't the same pressure as there is now to show up to a party in a costume that is sexy but not slutty, topical but not obscure, and funny but not offensive. Back then, when our moms asked us what we wanted to be for Halloween, we just shouted the first thing that came into our heads: Penguin! Mouse! Baby Spice!

After looking back at the incredible — and often handmade — costumes a few POPSUGAR editors donned back in the day, it became clear that some of the best childhood costumes could still work today. (Sure, a few would benefit from slight modifications — maybe a turtleneck defeats the purpose of a flapper dress, and perhaps we ditch the Pocahontas headpiece?) Whether it's dressing up as a favorite Disney character, a beloved animal, or an important national landmark, let's go back to the basics. Here are 10 Halloween costume ideas that'll inspire you to do just that.

01
National Landmarks
Rebecca Gruber

National Landmarks

"Even from a young age, I was drawn to New York City! My mom used to sew all of my costumes for me. I remember standing in her sitting room for hours as she pinned fabrics around me. I'd fidget and complain, but the results were always fabulous! This one was a collaboration by the two of us, one of the first I remember having a hand in making. With no pattern to follow, we created it completely on our own. Making the crown out of tinfoil was 100 percent my idea!"

Rebecca Gruber, senior editorial director

02
Pop Culture Icons
Sarah Wasilak

Pop Culture Icons

"Despite what it may look like, I didn't really consider this a costume, per se. Because when I was in kindergarten, I really thought that I was Baby Spice. I went around yelling, 'Girl Power!' and 'My mommy is my best friend' at people. So, I talked the talk, and I walked the walk in those makeshift platform Keds that my dad mounted onto styrofoam, taped up, and spray-painted white. Also, where did that black stretch choker go?!"

Sarah Wasilak, editor, Fashion

03
Erin Cullum

I had never even seen Josie and the Pussycats (PG-13!), but when I saw this costume at Party City, I had to have it. I remember feeling like such hot stuff in my risqué crop top and matching purple lipstick — an outfit I would never be able to wear regularly. The cheetah pants are obviously what sealed the deal here, and I definitely got many more wears out of them.

Erin Cullum, assistant editor, Food

04
Adorable Animals
Kate Schweitzer

Adorable Animals

"I was one of the youngest kids in my extended family, which meant lots of hand-me-downs, and Halloween was no exception. My cousin was an elephant the year before, so when it was my turn to wear it, my mom helped give it a feminine touch and turned me into a mouse ballerina. The hands filled with candy, however, was all me."

Kate Schweitzer, senior editor, Moms

05
Emily Orofino

"My grandmother was an amazing seamstress and made me many outfits as a child. My grandmother asked what I wanted to be and I promptly said, 'penguin,' providing no reasoning whatsoever. She got to work and created one of my favorite costumes of all time."

Emily Orofino, editor, Beauty

06
Peter Pan Characters
Laura Meyers

Peter Pan Characters

"Never have I been more excited about a Halloween costume than when I dressed as Tinkerbell in preschool. My mom made me a shiny, glitter-covered outfit that I loved. Writing Tinkerbell on my shirt, plus T and B on my shoes, really drove it home. Also, she didn't have the heart to tell me that my wings were on upside down, which I find so sweet and hilarious."

Laura Meyers, editor, Trending and Viral Features

07
Society Girls
Hedy Phillips

Society Girls

"This was the first year that I got to pick my own costume, so naturally I tried to go with something cool and grown up. But because I was only 10 years old, my mom insisted on some modifications to my flapper outfit. She made me wear a nude-colored turtleneck underneath to minimize the skin showing. Also, I'm pretty sure I danced at everyone's door while trick-or-treating to show off my awesome fringe, because obviously."

Hedy Phillips, copy editor

08
Nancy Einhart

"My mom made me amazing Halloween costumes, most of them reflecting significant moments in fashion history: a poodle skirt, a flapper dress, and this can-can girl costume, which was probably my favorite. She altered an old red dress of hers to fit me, added lace and sequin trim, and layered it over a petticoat. My favorite part of the costume was the fishnet stockings. My favorite thing about this photo is my pose."

Nancy Einhart, VP and executive editor

09
Disney Princesses
Kelsey Garcia

Disney Princesses

"Mulan had just come out and I was (er, still am) obsessed. I remember thinking the costume was so chic and I would frequently wear it any chance I could get. I would even carry the little parasol around the house imagining that I was this very elegant lady. What's odd is that the costume has little renderings of Mulan all over it — like on the slippers and kimono — which made it seem like I was just a Mulan fan, instead of Mulan herself."

Kelsey Garcia, editorial assistant

10
Regular Princesses
Tara Block

Regular Princesses

"As an only child for the first seven years of my life, I was a bit of a princess growing up and had a tendency to wear tiaras all the time, Halloween not excluded. In this photo, my best friend Katy was a kitty cat and I was (surprise) a princess."


Tara Block, content director, Living

11
Brinton Parker

"When I was four, one of my older cousins was away at college studying fashion design. When my family flew out to visit, she sewed handmade 'dress-up' costumes for me! My favorite was this fairy princess getup (complete with a fur collar and sequined belt, obviously) so I wore it while trick-or-treating. Handmade > store bought every time."

Brinton Parker, assistant editor, Trending and Viral Features

12
Hula Girls
Hannah McKinley

Hula Girls

"The benefit of growing up in Miami means you can totally wear beachy, less-covered-up costumes without freezing. So, I thought I was pretty genius when I landed on a cool, hula girl costume. My mom helped me dress up the store-bought grass skirt with layers of flowers and my Hawaiian print suit, not to mention long, flowing locks to make my outfit all the more authentic. We staged this photo shoot before news broke that mosquitos possibly carrying malaria had arrived in the area. On Halloween night, my Hula girl costume came complete with a turtleneck and leggings, as ordered by my mom."

Hannah McKinley, editorial director, Fashion

13
Cowgirls
Michele Foley

Cowgirls

"After a few years of being dressed up in obscure Halloween costumes by my parents — one year they went as far to dress me up as Stan Laurel — my mom finally let me pick out my own costume. My not-very-creative self immediately yelled 'cowgirl!' While the hat is missing from this photo, it shows off my mom's impressive sewing skills. She made the majority of my costume from scratch."

Michele Foley, content director, Fitness

14
Biker Chicks
Samantha Sutton

Biker Chicks

"I was a girly-girl growing up, so when I walked into school wearing this biker chick costume, even my teacher was shocked. I thought it was hilarious! The best part is, I would totally rock the same look today, but as my everyday outfit: a leather jacket, bandana, black jeans, and statement earrings? That sounds like the bread and butter of every fashion girl’s wardrobe!"

Samantha Sutton, assistant editor, Fashion