Why buy a superhero costume when you can have fun making one on your own? Copy your favorite character's costume or completely invent your own superhero with custom powers using simple materials that you probably have lying around the house. Think about the basic elements you will need for a superhero costume and start creating your own style.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Putting the Basics Together
Step 1. Use some spandex
All superheroes wear a tight-fitting suit such as the unitard, leggings, or full-body suits. Pick a color or two and start building your spandex-based costume.
Step 2. Find leggings and a long-sleeved shirt
Most superheroes completely cover their skin so that no one will recognize them.
- You can also wear a solid color dress instead of the spandex.
- You could wear Under Armor sportswear or go to the American Apparel store if you have a hard time finding a full-color spandex.
Step 3. Wear a full body suit
If you are more daring, you could also buy a full-length spandex suit at a costume store or order one online at a website such as superfansuits.com.
Method 2 of 5: Hide your identity
Step 1. Hide your face with a mask
It is extremely important for every superhero to hide their identity from potential enemies. Make a mask of any material to hide your face and avoid being recognized. There are many techniques you can use to make yourself a mask at home.
Step 2. Make yourself a paper mask
Put a piece of sturdy cardboard over your face and ask a friend to mark a couple of dots on the outside where your eyes are and a dot on the tip of your nose (you can also use a disposable plate).
- Draw the mask on the piece of paper, using the dots your friend made as a reference for the size of your mask.
- Cut out the mask and poke a hole on each side near where your ears will go.
- Attach a ribbon or string to each hole so that you can tie the mask behind your head.
- Decorate the outline with colored markers, paint, sequins, feathers, glitter, or any other embellishment that fits your super power.
Step 3. Create a mask using foil and duct tape
Stack three sheets of aluminum one on top of the other and place them on your face, pressing to leave a mold in the aluminum.
- With a marker trace the contour of your eyes and that of any other hole. With the scissors, cut out the edge of the mask, the eyes, the mouth and any other holes that you have outlined.
- Punch a hole in each side of the mask near where your ears will go and attach a ribbon or string to tie the mask to your face.
- Keeping the mold steady, cover the mask with strong clear tape like packing tape.
- Decorate with acrylic paint and any other ornaments such as feathers or sequins.
Step 4. Make a papier-mâché mask
Blow up a balloon until it is the size of your head. Lay newspaper on the table or floor to use as a work surface.
- Tear the newspaper into strips or use a thin fabric cut into long strips.
- Combine 2 cups of flour and 1 cup of water in a bowl. You can use 2 cups of white glue instead of flour if you don't have it on hand.
- Soak the strips of paper or cloth in the mixture completely and begin to place them on the balloon until everything is covered. Make sure to place the strips randomly, intersecting angles.
- Let it dry completely and then pop the balloon with a needle. Cut the sphere in half using thick scissors, starting from the bottom of the balloon all the way to the top of the balloon.
- Shape the mask so that it fits your face, make a hole for your eyes or mouth and finally, decorate it with paint or some other ornament of your choice.
Method 3 of 5: Make a cape
Step 1. Find a piece of fabric
Most superheroes are recognized by this stylish accessory. Make a cape out of whatever old rectangular fabric you have lying around, like an old sheet that you can cut. Felt also serves as a cape material and is inexpensive at most arts and crafts stores.
Step 2. Wrap the fabric over your shoulders and ask a friend to mark small spots where you want your cape to fall
Make sure the cape is not too long to step on when you walk.
Step 3. Cut out the layer
Use a ruler to connect the four corner points and carefully cut into a rectangular shape.
Step 4. Decorate your cape
Glue the symbol or letter that represents your superpower in the center of the layer.
- The felt serves as an ornament for the cape, as it is quite manipulable and will not wrinkle when you try to fly.
- You can also stick this ornament with a glue gun or with velcro tapes.
Step 5. Put on the cape
You can tie the fabric with a knot at the height of the sternum, use a safety pin, or attach velcro straps to your base suit and cape so that you can stick them over your shoulders.
Method 4 of 5: Show off your shoes
Step 1. Wear colorful boots
If you already have a pair of colorful rain boots, wear them as part of your outfit to attract more attention.
Step 2. Wear sports socks
If you're not going out on the streets, you could just wear a pair of long sports socks in your preferred color.
Step 3. Make yourself some duct tape stockings
If you're hanging out around the neighborhood or dancing until dawn, duct tape boots are a quick and inexpensive alternative to buying colorful boots.
- Put on a pair of old sneakers and wrap them in a few layers of plastic packaging, going down your calves until they are the same height as boots.
- Buy duct tape in the color you want your boots to be. Start gluing this tape onto the plastic in small parts, trying to make the tape as flat as possible. Be careful not to tighten your leg too tightly.
- After you've covered the entire surface of the boot, you can start the trick-or-treating game.
- If you make the boots ahead of time, using scissors you can carefully cut an opening in the back of the boot so that you can stick your foot out there. When you want to put your boots on, slide your foot down to the shoe and tape the opening with duct tape.
- For a more refined look, add a few inches of duct tape to the top of the boot to make it a little looser.
Step 4. Make yourself some felt boots
Stand on a piece of paper and outline the outline of your right and left foot with a marker, leaving an additional space of about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) between the outline and your foot.
- Use a tape measure to measure from the tips of your fingers to the height your boot will reach and the circumference of your calf. Add about 2 inches (5 cm) to the circumference measurement to make the boot wider.
- Transfer these two measurements to another piece of paper and join them so that you have a kind of inverted T. Do the same with the other foot.
- Cut out the two soles and the four body parts of the boots and lay them on the felt. Gently outline each paper mold on the felt with a pen or pencil and cut out the four pieces of felt.
- Pin two of the L-shaped body pieces across the top of your foot and sew the two pieces together. Turn the boot inside out to hide the seam.
- Pin the part of the sole to the L-shaped tube and sew its edges about twice to secure the seams. Repeat this process with the second boot and they are done.
Method 5 of 5: Show Your Super Powers
Step 1. Accessorize your superhero costume
Carry a fake gun or decorate your costume with accessories that show neighborhood kids what you are capable of as a superhero.
For example, if you have the power to transform into an animal, cut out some paper design and place it on the front of your shirt or on your cape. If you are thinking of being an existing superhero, make sure you have the right accessories
Step 2. Become Superman
Superman's superpowers are part of his being. Recreate the look of this superhero by simply placing an "S" for Superman on the front of your shirt. You can make it out of felt glued with a glue gun or even out of thick paper. Stick it on your shirt with hot glue or velcro.
Step 3. Shine like Spider-Man
As with Superman, for Spider-Man you don't need very sophisticated tools to fight crime. To create a Spider-Man costume, draw cobwebs all over your costume, letting the center of your shirt be the center of the web.
- You can make the web by drawing it with silver glitter glue or white glue and covering it with silver glitter while it is still wet. Let the glue dry and shake off any excess glitter.
- You could also make a spider out of paper or felt and glue it to the center of the web.
Step 4. Make a Batman costume
Batman wears a black belt with square buckles on the sides where he places his spectacular weapons. You can make the belt out of felt and sew pockets into it if you wish, or redesign an old belt and glue lens cases to the sides to hold your weapons.
- Do not forget to put accessories in your belt pockets such as Batman's bat-monitor (use a walkie-talkie), bat-cuffs (black plastic handcuffs) and the bat-tie (use a black rope).
- If you don't have a walkie-talkie or toy handcuffs, you can make them out of construction paper and draw the details.
Step 5. Captivate in a Wonder Woman costume
A gold bow, a gold belt, gold bracelets and a sparkling tiara are the most characteristic accessories of this superhero.
- Spray any rope you have for the bow with gold paint and tie it to your belt. You can make Wonder Woman's gold belt out of heavy paper or felt, or paint any old-fashioned belt gold.
- Wear gold bracelets or use strips of fabric, gold foil, or gold-painted foil. Put these bracelets on your wrists.
- Finally, for the tiara you can use a headband covered with gold material or simply cut paper in the shape of a tiara and put it on the head. Put a red star on the front of the tiara.
Step 6. Create a Captain America shield
In addition to his impressive mask, Captain America sports a super shield. You can make the shield with cardboard cut in a circular shape and painting it in the appropriate color. You can also use a round plastic sled, a large pot lid, or the lid of a waste container.
- Glue a piece of felt or tape to the back of the shield using hot glue or a stapler as the shield's handle.
- Cut out a white paper or felt star and glue it to the center of the shield.
Step 7. Roam the streets as Wolverine
You can easily create Wolverine's sharp claws out of aluminum foil and construction paper.
- Get yourself some latex dishwashing gloves and paint them the same color as your skin.
- Cut long, sharp claws out of cardstock and cover them with aluminum foil.
- Use hot glue to glue the claws to the top of the latex gloves (on the knuckles).
Warnings
- Do not use real weapons as an accessory, as it can be extremely dangerous (and sometimes illegal).
- Be careful not to burn yourself when using the hot glue gun.
- Be careful when handling fake weapons.
Advice
- Don't forget to name your superhero and place the name somewhere on the costume.
- Be creative! You don't have to be a superhero that already exists. Pick your favorite powers, add your favorite colors and accessories, and get your costume.
- Felt is an easy fabric to work with for making costumes, but it is not very thick. Wear shoes under your felt boots.
- Take the time to finish your superhero costume. Some of these methods take considerable time.
- Consider creating an entire superhero gang with your friends for a fun group costume idea.
- If you don't feel comfortable wearing spandex, opt for a solid colored shirt and pants.