50+ Best Fancy Dress Costume Ideas and Themes for Kids

By Aliya Khan | Updated: 31/07/2024

Even though times have changed, there are some things about parenthood that will probably be the same. Sating the curiosity of your kids about everything related to grown-ups and flashy things is one of them. You can do so through fancy dress! As far as inspirations are concerned, there are so many that you may be spoiled for choice. From food items to cartoon characters, to mythological characters, to items of everyday use to unique ideas that will certainly excite your kid- the possibilities are endless. If you, as a parent, are invited to the event, a unique suggestion would also be to create a couple’s costume where you team up with your kid and create some wonderful memories. This holiday season, we have several suggestions for fancy dress ideas for girl child and fancy dress ideas for boys. Let’s explore some crazy options for fancy dress costumes that will help you stand out.

Homemade & Best Out-of-Waste Theme

Creating homemade costumes from items you already have is a fantastic way to craft unique and eco-friendly fancy dress outfits. By repurposing materials and thinking creatively, you can turn everyday items into imaginative costumes that stand out and save money. Dive into our guide for inspiring ideas and tips on making the best out-of-waste themed costumes!

1. Snail Costume Out-Of-Waste

Yes ladies, gentlemen and kids! One of the best ideas for fancy dress costumes made at home. Nothing quite comes close to creating a snail, with the shell and everything included. Read on to find out what is required and what kind of routine can go with it.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Headband, lots of glue, waste paper, preferably in brown, sellotape or masking tape, ribbon, soft balls, styrofoam preferred, cardboard pieces.

How to Make

The basic idea is to wear the shell of the snail as a backpack. To make the shell, crumple as much of the waste paper as you can in an outward round motion. For obvious reasons, make sure that the shell stands out.
Use the tape to make sure that the structure remains in place.
Ensure that the rolled and crumpled paper looks like a shell. The size is up to you. Make sure to tape and firmly glue everything.
Once the shell is ready, use the ribbon to make it look like a backpack and fix it in place with the cardboard in a firm manner.
Lastly, make the headband by crumpling two sets of the paper in the shape of an antenna.
Crumple the paper in a manner that it stays stiff and can stand on its own.
Don’t forget to stick the balls with glue at the end of these crumpled pieces so that it stands out. Now paste this into the headband and voila, your snail costume is ready.

Dialogue

Here again you can make use of your own or your kid’s creativity. Nevertheless, here is a suggestion; “I am a slimy snail that leaves no trail.”

2. Candy Costumes

Next up on fancy dress theme best out-of-waste is, of course, creating boxes of your kid’s favourite candy. This can be one of the simplest costumes to make and is hands down the most popular.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Befitting cardboard boxes sized as per your kid’s structure. Paints, acrylic preferably. Latex and lots of craft paper in desired colours. Pencils and pens.

How to Make

The trick is to modify the box to fit your kid’s body.
Cut out sections for your kid’s head and hands. Ensure that this cardboard box can be worn as a vest by your kid.
Once the box has been modified as per your kid’s proportions, cover the box in suitable craft paper, be it marble or velvet, of your kid’s favourite chocolate.
After that, use the pencil or the pen to draw the name and other details across the body of the box.
Next paint them with colours to make it look as close to the real thing as possible.
You can also use glitter for an added effect.

Dialogue

There is little room for imagination here as most candy companies have their theme songs or one-liners that are used for marketing. However, you can use your imagination and come up with something.

3. Bat Costume with a Recycled Umbrella

The next fancy dress costume from waste material is not only simple to make, but looks lovely and can certainly win your sweetie awards. And the best part? It takes almost no time to create.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

A black umbrella, preferably black since bats are black. Of course feel free to improve it with patchwork. Electrical black tape, a pair of scissors, 25 mm wide black ribbon, 2 to 3 meters. Side or wire cutters.

How to Make

Be prepared to do a lot of cutting and taping folks!
While this is an easy costume to make, the big challenge is also to make it safe.
Open the umbrella fully and position it upside down. Now begin with cutting the middle triangles in a neat manner.
Next up, cut the joiners as well as the metal supports with the wire cutter.
Don’t forget to cut the handle of the umbrella as well. Make it look like bat wings by taping any of the sharp edges.
Basically dissect the entire umbrella to make it safe for your child.
Now use the ribbon so that it can be tied to your child’s wrists. And your bat costume is ready!

Dialogue: You can practice with your kid to recite a couple of lines from the cartoon or make up your own routine for added effect.

4. Human Rocket

Yes children and parents alike, here is an easy breezy technique to don and rock the human jet pack. This may or may not make ‘wealth out of waste’ fancy dress but is sure to win you the best parent award for some time to come.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cylindrical looking 2-litre bottles of soft drinks, 2 in number. Spray paint, silver preferable. Cardboard, red and orange coloured felt. A waste cloth similar to the texture of felt can also be used. Webbing and buckles, preferably from old school bags and glue, hot preferable.

How to Make

Take the piece of cardboard, big and wide enough to fit the width of your kid’s back, and host the webbing.
You can use either hot glue or staples to adjust the webbing to the cardboard and also so that it fits your kid’s body snugly.
Now use the spray paint to colour the bottles silver. Let it dry a bit.
Meanwhile you can make the rocket fire by cutting the pieces of red and orange cloth in the shape of fire.
You can also use tinsel or streamers to make it fancier. Attach these cut pieces to the spout of the bottles.
Now use hot glue to attach the bottles to the cardboard piece with webbing and there you have it.

Dialogue

There is no hard and fast rule here, and for once your kid will have a routine prepared, especially if she or he likes science.

5. Ghost

This last idea for a kid’s costume is seriously a no-brainer. Pop culture, as well as media around the world, has made it easy enough to carry and create. And the best part is that this is the easiest to create at any given time.

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

An unused bed sheet, white. A pair of scissors and marker pens.

How to Make

Cut out pieces of the bed sheet for eyes, nose and mouth.
For added effect, you can also make patterns of different sorts with your marker.
In fact, you can use glow-in-the-dark markers for creating a story on the white sheet, just for an added effect.

Dialogue

Here, you can certainly make your kid prepare a routine of her or his liking or simply draw from stories around.

Nature & Environment Costume Ideas

Fancy dress ideas for kids is also a wonderful time to include real themes of our surroundings. Nothing promotes education as real issues mixed with fun. Here is also a chance for you to raise a responsible kid with the following homemade fancy dress ideas for kids to save the environment.

1. Dressing up as a Tree

Nothing sends a stronger message than to dress up as the one thing that will protect humankind as a whole. This is, in fact, one of the easiest and best costumes that you and your kid can flaunt at fancy dress events.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard, paints, glue, a rented Christmas tree (optional), or make branches and leaves with cardboard and paint.

How to Make

Paint the main tree shapes with green paint for the leaves and brown for the trunk. Add details like veins on the leaves and bark texture on the trunk. Let it dry completely.
Glue the branches onto the main tree shapes securely. Cut armholes in the sides of the tree shapes so your child can wear the costume comfortably.
Attach string or elastic to the top of the front and back pieces to create shoulder straps. This will allow your child to wear the costume like a sandwich board, with the front and back pieces hanging down.
Ensure the costume fits well and is comfortable for your child to wear. Make any necessary adjustments. If desired, you can add holiday decorations like tinsel and ornaments to make the costume festive.

Dialogues

A suggestion would be, cutting me will cut your oxygen, conserve nature even if free because I am a tree.

2. Cloud

One of the best ideas for fancy dress competition on nature is to dress your kid as a cloud. Clouds are easy to make and create a good impression, but more importantly can be crucial in helping you send a message across with the costume.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard, pens, scissors, ribbon, white paint (optional), polystyrene sheet (optional).

How to Make

Cut out two large cloud shapes from the cardboard. These will be for the front and back of the costume.
Decorate the cloud shapes with pens, adding swirls or other details to make them look more cloud-like.
If using white paint, paint the cloud shapes and let them dry completely. For a fluffier look, cut out pieces of polystyrene sheet and attach them to the cloud shapes with glue.
Cut ribbons to the appropriate length to serve as shoulder straps. Attach the ribbons to the top of the front and back cloud pieces using tape or glue.
Place the cloud pieces over your child’s shoulders, adjusting the ribbons so the clouds hang comfortably in front and back. For added effect, you can create two additional cloud cutouts and attach them to the sides of your child’s body using more ribbon or tape.

Dialogue

A suggestion would be, keep living plain so that I can continue to rain.

3. Earth

This may be the most obvious choice for a kid’s costume part, especially if you are sending a message about the environment and the planet earth.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard, pens, paint, scissors.

How to Make

Cut out two large circles from the cardboard to represent the Earth. These will be for the front and back of the costume.
Paint the circles blue to represent the oceans and let them dry completely.
Use green paint to add the continents on both circles. You can use a map as a reference to draw the shapes of the continents.
Decorate the circles with additional details using pens, such as country borders or landmarks if desired.
Cut two pieces of string or ribbon and attach them to the top of the front and back circles to create shoulder straps.
Place the Earth pieces over your child’s shoulders, adjusting the straps so the circles hang comfortably in front and back.

Dialogue

“Save me Save you” would probably be an excellent suggestion to use in this category.

4. Recycling Bins

This may come across as weird for fancy dress competition ideas on global warming. However, nothing will drive the point home easier and make your kids overnight stars. In fact, if you have twins or triplets, here is your chance to create a story that meets with the current requirement of recycling.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard boxes or rectangular cardboard pieces, craft paper or paintable paper, paint in recycling bin colors, pens and pencils.

How to Make

Cut the cardboard into rectangular pieces that can form the sides of the recycling bin. Assemble these pieces into a box shape, securing them with tape or glue.
Cover the outside of the box with craft paper or paintable paper.
Paint the box in the colors associated with different recycling bins (blue for paper, green for glass, yellow for plastics, etc.).
Use pens and pencils to write recycling symbols and labels on the box to indicate the type of waste it represents.
Cut armholes and a head hole in the box so your child can wear it comfortably.
Adjust the fit as needed and ensure the costume is secure and comfortable.

Dialogue

Keep it simple and effective, such as “feed me paper and I will savour, feed me glass and I will be crass” or something that is short and rhymes.

5. Sun

Another extremely simple to create costume that is layered as a message and a lesson in education. For one, sustenance on earth is impossible with the sun, the warmth and the light that it creates. Here is the easiest way to make it.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard cut into a round shape, yellow paint, polystyrene sheet (optional), ribbons (optional), scissors.

How to Make

Cut a large round shape from the cardboard to represent the sun.
Paint the cardboard yellow and let it dry completely.
For a fancier look, cut a polystyrene sheet into sun rays and attach them around the round cardboard using glue.
Attach ribbons to the top of the sun shape to create straps for wearing.
Place the sun costume over your child’s shoulders, adjusting the ribbons so it hangs comfortably.

Dialogue

The suggestions for sun themed fancy dresses include, “I am warm and I give life, save me or sufferance will get rife.”

Indian National Leaders & Freedom Fighters

A genuine favourite throughout the year and especially during national holidays such as Independence Day or Republic Day. The Indian fancy dress ideas surrounding national leaders are the easiest to recreate and make costumes for. The more important aspect of dressing up an Indian national leader or freedom fighter is recreating and working through the dialogs for fancy dress competition for kids. Here are some nice ideas to work on.

1. APJ Abdul Kalam

The late former president of India is a youth icon and national hero for all ages and stations of life. The dress is easy enough to recreate. The hard work will be the mastering the talking style and gait. He was a scientist and of course related closely to education. So let’s take a look at how to recreate it.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

A white wig, a safari suit, kurta pajama, or a normal suit with a tie.

How to Make

Start by putting on a white wig.
Dress your child in a safari suit, kurta pajama, or a normal suit with a tie.
Ensure the outfit is neat and resembles Kalam’s simple yet dignified style.

Dialogue

Out of a plethora of dialogues to choose from, young aspiring kids can quote “You have to dream if you want your dreams to come true” for a wonderful effect.

2. Bhagat Singh

No list of fancy dress competition for kids national leaders is ever complete without including this amazing freedom fighter. This charismatic national hero was a true revolutionary who was executed at the age of 23. Recreating his style is easy and of course comfortable. Let’s explore the following option for fancy dress competition Indian freedom fighters.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

Fancy dress costumes for Bhagat Singh, or a formal white shirt, formal black pants, a hat styled like Singh’s, and a moustache (or paints or kohl to draw it)

How to Make

Dress your child in a formal white shirt and black cotton pants.
Add a hat styled like the one Bhagat Singh used to wear.
Attach a moustache using a fake moustache or draw it on with paints or kohl.

Dialogue

The best dialogue that makes Singh such an icon can, of course, be delivered duly by your kid, “They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.“

3. Indira Gandhi

This distinguished Prime Minister of India was not only an amazing politician but also quite the style statement. Indira Gandhi’s policies may be up for debate, but nothing can undermine the fact that she has always been a popular choice for kids’ fancy dress competitions.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirements

A saree (cotton or polyester, preferably white with thin borders), simple formal sarees in hues of brown (checkered), simple flat shoes, a black wig cut in a blunt style with a streak of white (or talcum powder to recreate the look)

How to Make

Dress your child in a white saree with thin borders or a simple formal saree in a shade of brown.
Add a black wig cut in a blunt style or use talcum powder to mimic her hairstyle.
Complete the look with simple flat shoes.

Dialogue

There are plenty of dialogues available from the iron lady of India. A suggestion here is posted; “You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”

4. Rani Lakshmi Bai

When it comes to fancy dress ideas for independence days, Rani Lakshmi Bai might be quite the off beat choice. While not quite always recreated, here is a chance you for you to dress your precious daughter as a princess, for real. Also, your daughter can go wild with colours and jewellery for a better effect.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirements

A bright saree (draped in typical Marathi style), colourful jewellery, a fake sword, and a shield complete the ensemble.

How to Make

Dress your child in a bright-coloured saree draped in the Marathi style, resembling pants.
Accessorize with colourful jewellery.
Add a fake sword and shield for a dramatic effect.

Dialogue

Imagine how cute your kid will look while raising her sword and quoting Lakhsmi Bai with words such as “I shall not part with my Jhansi”. Rani’s quotes are widely available to refer from.

5. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

And lastly, let’s round off with another popular choice for kids’ fancy dress costume events. This man has been known to contribute a lot to the history of India’s Independence. Also putting together this look is easy and comfortable.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

A hat, a pair of spectacles, round frame preferably. A typical uniform in brown or khaki. Good boots/shoes.

How to Make

Dress your child in a brown or khaki uniform.
Add a hat and round-frame spectacles.
Complete the outfit with good boots or shoes to match the uniform.

Dialogue

With quotes such as “Give me blood and I will give you freedom” this choice of costume will never go wrong.

Professional Theme

As an inspiration for a fancy dress can come from any avenue of life, why not take real life and create some memories. Professional fancy dress ideas can be a wonderful dry run for what your kid is aspiring to be as well. So let’s play with a few ideas.

1. Police

One of the most popular and easiest to create, police fancy dress promotes all kinds of goodwill in any competition or fancy dress event.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Khaki fabric pants and shirt, a belt, shoes, a toy gun, and some badges

How to Make

Dress your child in khaki fabric pants and a matching shirt.
Add a belt to the waist for a complete look.
Equip with good shoes suitable for a police officer’s uniform.
Include a toy gun and some badges to give an authentic touch.

Dialogue

You can use any amount of imagination to make some dialogue that helps with the image of the controller of law breakers. A suggestion would be, “Let’s fight crime together with honesty.”

2. Doctor

One of the noblest and sought after professions in the world, it’s hardly a surprise that this choice features in this list. A doctor fancy dress is not only fun to recreate but also sends a strong message about the choice of professions.

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

A white lab coat, a stethoscope, and a cute doctor’s bag with medical devices such as a thermometer and forceps.

How to Make

Outfit your child with a white lab coat, ensuring it fits well.
Add a stethoscope around the neck for a classic doctor’s accessory.
Create a small, cute doctor’s bag filled with medical devices like a thermometer and forceps to enhance the look.

Dialogue

A doctor’s dialogue can go something like, “let’s eradicate germs and promote healthy living.”

3. Nurse

Continuing with the list of professional fancy dress costumes, here is another favourite choice to be reckoned with. For fancy dress costume ideas especially, recreating the uniform of a nurse is certainly one of the easiest and most attractive.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirements

A cute white dress, a nurse’s cap, white stockings, white shoes, and a tray with first aid items and scissors.

How to Make

Dress your child in a white dress, ideally a nurse’s uniform.
Add a nurse’s cap to complete the traditional look.
Put on white stockings and white shoes for consistency.
Include a small tray with first aid items, and a pair of scissors for added realism.

Dialogue

A nice dialogue for the role of the nurse would be, “My sole purpose in life is to look after the sick and wounded.”

4. Teacher

This choice of costume is hands down a varied choice in any competition or event. For one, kids can easily create the look of their favourite teacher from school. Otherwise, you can rely on the basic look with what the job entails.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Simple formal clothes like sarees or a formal pant and shirt, glasses, and books related to the teacher’s favorite subject.

How to Make

Choose formal attire such as a saree or a pant and shirt combination.
Add glasses to give the appearance of a typical teacher.
Include books related to a favorite subject to enhance the teacher look.

Dialogue

Since there are no set rules for choosing a dialogue of a teacher, feel free to use your imagination to think of one.

5. Military

This choice is of course not only smart but also offers options to young kids. The range includes dressing up as a soldier, to a defence pilot to being in the Marine Corp.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Camouflage pants, a matching tee, and heavy-duty boots.

How to Make

Dress your child in camouflage pants and a matching tee to resemble a military uniform.
Finish the look with heavy-duty boots to add to the military authenticity.
Consider renting or purchasing additional military accessories for a complete appearance.

Dialogue

My religion and duty are to protect and serve my country could be an idea for dialogue.

Fruits & Vegetables: Food for Thought

You are what you eat. Therefore, dressing up as a favourite vegetable or fruit is always a good idea that promotes a healthy lifestyle as well as sends a positive lesson for life. Check out these fruits fancy dress costume ideas!

1. Pumpkin

Not only is pumpkin a very good choice from a variety of vegetable fancy dress ideas for your kid but is also extremely healthy to eat. More importantly, the costume can surely win your kid some admiration as it’s both colourful and cute.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirement

Cardboard, a pair of scissors and paints can prove effective to make a pumpkin. Apart from making a pumpkin cutout, you can also sew a pumpkin costume with felt, mixing both orange and green coloured felts.

How to Make

Cut cardboard into a pumpkin shape using a pair of scissors.
Paint the cardboard in orange with a green stem.
For a more elaborate costume, sew a pumpkin outfit using orange and green felt.
Attach the felt pieces together to form a complete pumpkin costume.

Dialogue

Small poems written from your kid’s perspective can help nail this look. A simple dialogue would be “I am a giant orange pumpkin, not eating me is a sin.”

2. Watermelon

This fruit is among the top choices for fruit fancy dress ideas. It’s not only a fruit that is widely loved, but the natural colours of this fruit make for a colourful choice of costume.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirement

Cardboard or polystyrene sheets.

How to Make

Create a watermelon costume by cutting cardboard into a watermelon shape or use polystyrene sheets.
Paint the cutouts to resemble the outer rind and inner fruit colors of a watermelon.
Alternatively, make the costume as a whole fruit or as half a fruit depending on your preference.

Dialogue

I am a yummy watermelon, I can cool you in the summer, can be a dialogue idea for this costume.

3. Pear

This fruit again is a wonderful idea for kids of almost any age. Making this fruit is easy and you can have some fun with your kid while making it.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard, scissors, pale green paint, brown paint.

How to Make

Cut cardboard into the shape of a pear using scissors.
Paint the body in pale green and the twig in brown.
For a more durable costume, consider renting one or use fabric to create a pear costume from scratch.

Dialogue

It can go something like, “A pear-shaped world that can just as easily twirl”.

4. Eggplant

This is again a very colourful and cute choice for kids of almost all ages. Though you can also choose green for the costume, the best choice to stick to would be purple and green.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirement

Felt, padding, purple fabric, green fabric, cardboard, paints

How to Make

Sew a costume from felt, using purple for the body and green for the stem.
Alternatively, cut cardboard into an eggplant shape and paint it purple with a green stem.
Assemble the cardboard pieces into a complete eggplant costume.

Dialogue: A small rhyme such as “I am a happy eggplant that can swim, sing and not get tanned.”

5. Apple

Apart from being the first letter of the alphabet, apple is a fruit that is generally liked by kids of all ages. The bright hues of the fruit add an extra charm to the costume.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard, paints, ribbons.

How to Make

Cut cardboard into an apple shape and paint it red.
Use green paint to add a leaf and brown for the stem.
Attach the cardboard to your child’s body using ribbons or straps to complete the apple costume.

Dialogues

Ditching the usual quote for apples, try something new such as “Eat an apple and find the strength to grapple.”

Indian Mythological Characters

When it comes to mythological fancy dress ideas, you don’t have to look much further than the Vedas to create some nice costumes.

1. Lord Krishna Fancy Dress Ideas

Depiction of this character is one of the most popular choices among kids and parents alike.

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

Dhoti, peacock feather, neck pieces, small crown, flute, blue body paint.

How to Make

For a teen Krishna, dress your child in a dhoti and add a peacock feather, a few neck pieces, and a small crown.
Apply blue body paint to mimic Krishna’s skin color.
Provide a flute as a prop to complete the look.

Dialogue

You can make your kid quote any snippet of the Bhagvad Gita or make her/him recite the Gayatri Mantra.

2. Lord Shiva

Here is the depiction of a character than you and your kid will both have fun working on. Don’t forget to add some prop to add to the look.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

Plastic snake, huge stick, bark-printed onesie (sewn at home), rudraksha knock-off beads.

How to Make

Dress your child in a bark-printed onesie or create one using fabric.
Add a plastic snake around the neck and give them a large stick as a prop.
Accessorize with rudraksha knock-off pieces for added effect.

Dialogue

Again, here is your chance to improvise and Shiva has never been known to say much. Quotes about Shiva are widely available to choose from.

3. Hanuman

Another choice of popular costume ideas, Hanuman is easy to recreate.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

A dhoti, a crown and a mace, makeup

How to Make

Outfit your child in a dhoti and add a crown.
Provide a mace as a prop and use makeup to enhance the look.
Dress in colors and styles that resemble Hanuman’s traditional depiction.

Dialogues

A few lines from the Hanuman Chalisa should surely hope to win your kid prizes.

4. Maa Durga

Known by different names in different parts of India, Maa Durga is again a popular choice for kids of any age to be dressed as.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirements

A colourful saree, a trident, a big crown, nice jewellery, long-haired wig, makeup.

How to Make

Dress your child in a colorful saree and add a large crown and some jewelry.
Provide a trident as a prop and use a long-haired wig for added effect.
Apply eye makeup to match Maa Durga’s traditional look.

Dialogue

Here again is a chance for you to improvise a suitable dialogue for your kid.

5. Maa Saraswati

A popular choice again is a goddess identified with education and performing arts.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirements

A saree in white or sunny yellow, jewellery, Veena and the lotus flowers as props.

How to Make

Outfit your child in a white or sunny yellow saree and accessorize with pretty jewelry.
Provide a Veena and lotus flowers as props.
Apply any traditional makeup and add finishing touches to resemble Maa Saraswati.

Dialogue

Any snippet of the Saraswati Vandana or any improvised few lines can go wonderfully with this costume.

Animal Fancy Dress Costume Ideas

Animal fancy dress costumes for kids are generally popular with the younger kids who are learning about the animal kingdom. Of course, the following ideas for animal costumes for kids are welcome to be used for kids of all age.

1. Lion/Lioness

The King or Queen of the jungle can excite young kids without a doubt.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Yellow and black paints, cardboard, felt (for sewing), snout, tail.

How to Make

Use yellow and black paints to create a cardboard cutout of a lion’s face or body.
Alternatively, sew a lion costume using felt.
Add a snout and tail to complete the look.

Dialogue

“I have courage and power but I am also just so no need to cower” is an idea.

2. Snake

This is also a relatively easy costume to put together. Also, you get to play with makeup.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard, paints, felt (for sewing), shimmery material.

How to Make

Create cardboard cutouts and use paints to color coordinate.
Alternatively, sew a felt costume for the snake.
Add some shimmery material on the head for extra sparkle.

Dialogue

“I am a snake that can charm but I am also nice so keep your calm” is a suggestion.

3. Turtle/Tortoise

This is an option where you can stick to the normal animal or use ideas from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. A combination of both can certainly make for a nice look.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard, green and black paints, materials for shell construction, green and colorful eye pieces.

How to Make

Use cardboard cutouts and paint them green and black.
Alternatively, build a shell with similar techniques used for a snail costume.
Make the shell into a backpack and use colorful eye pieces.

Dialogues

“I’m and steady and slow but I can help you in a quick flow” could be an idea.

4. Rabbit

This fast and adorable animal is always a wonderful choice for any costume or fancy dress event.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Felt for homemade suit, cardboard for cutouts, snout, and cute tail.

How to Make

Sew a suit using felt to create a rabbit costume.
Alternatively, make cardboard cutouts to form the rabbit’s shape.
Add a snout and a cute tail for a complete look.

Dialogue

“Fast and easy, this rabbit is cute and crazy” is a mere suggestion.

5. Butterfly

This is hands down a favourite, especially among the girl kids across all ages. This is a simple costume to make and certainly has to be colourful to fit the bill.

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Colorful dress, colorful headband with antennae, printed umbrella (if using umbrella bat costume idea).

How to Make

Have your child wear a colorful dress and add a headband with antennae.
Alternatively, use a colorful or printed umbrella to create butterfly wings.

Dialogue

“I am a free-flying butterfly, but I am kind and not sly.” is a suggestion.

Cartoon Characters: Children’s Favourite

This is, of course, a category that gives you major brownie points as a parent. To dress your kid as his or her favourite character in the world is easy and an exercise in bonding. Here are some easy cartoon character fancy dress ideas for your tiny tot.

1. The Mask

One of the classic choices for cartoon characters fancy dress ideas for kids, this look is easy to put together and has a lot of room for improvisation.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

A formal suit in yellow, a felt hat with one proper feather and some green body paint.

How to Make

Dress your kid in a yellow formal suit.
Create a felt hat with a feather and paint the face green.
Add green body paint for a complete look.

Dialogue

Your kid can quote some favourite dialogue such as “Somebody stop me!”

2. Tom or Jerry

Another classic idea for fancy dress costumes, this also falls under easy cartoon fancy dress ideas.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Cardboard cutouts with paints, or homemade felt costume.

How to Make

Make cardboard cutouts and use paints to create the costume.
Alternatively, sew the costume using felt.

Dialogue

This again is an area where you can improvise. For Jerry, you can write something about his love for cheese.

3. Doraemon

This adorable cat has taken the nation by storm and is also an easy look to bring together.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Felt for the costume, bell for the neck, a cute tail, or cardboard cutouts.

How to Make

Sew a costume using felt and add a bell around the neck.
Create a cute tail and use cardboard cutouts for added details.

Dialogue

Your kid can quote Doraemon directly with lines such as “If you do not at least try, you will never change” etc.

4. Fred Flintstone

A classic and yet one of the easiest costumes to put together.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

Printed fur in classic colors, a blue tie, and optionally, going barefoot for added effect.

How to Make

Rent or make a Fred Flintstone costume using printed fur in classic colors.
Add a blue tie and let your kid go barefoot for authenticity.

Dialogue

Quote Fred directly with “Yabadadoo” with some actions for best effect.

5. Popeye

No list of costumes for kids is ever complete without this famed sailor man who loves to eat spinach.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

Sailor man’s suit, cutout of a can of spinach, sailor cap, eye patch, and pipe.

How to Make

Dress your kid in a sailor suit.
Create a cutout of a can of spinach and add a sailor cap, eye patch, and pipe.

How to Make

Wear a navy blue shirt with a red collar and white cuffs.
Add a pair of white pants with a black belt.
Create a sailor hat and attach an anchor emblem.
Wear a fake pipe and add a can of spinach prop.

Dialogue

Quote Popeye directly with the theme song that goes like “I’m Popeye the sailor man, I’m strong to the fin-ich cause I eats me spi-nach” for best effect.

Fairytales & Princess Theme

There is no going wrong with this choice as this has been, still is and will continue to be the rage for all times to come.

1. Belle

This beloved character from Beauty and the Beast is a classic choice and will certainly help your kid go places.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirements

A beautiful big gown, preferably in yellow and matching shoes, jewellery and books.

How to Make

Wear a long, flowing yellow gown.
Add a pair of matching yellow shoes and gloves.
Create a rose prop or carry a book.
Wear a hairstyle similar to Belle’s from the movie.

Dialogue

You can quote a few lines from the songs that this character sings such as “There must be more than this provincial life” etc.

2. Elsa

This beloved character from Frozen has been on top of the charts for costumes since its release in 2013. Also, this is an easy enough look to put together.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirement

Sequinned layered gown in blue, matching shoes and gloves, and user-friendly lights with a hidden switch.

How to Make

Wear a light blue, sequined gown with a sheer cape.
Add matching blue shoes and gloves.
Create a braid or wig styled like Elsa’s hair.
Carry a snowflake or ice crystal prop.

Dialogue

“Let it go” is a signature statement in itself. You can also practice with your kid to sing a few lines along the way.

3. Olaf

Since we were onto Frozen anyways, this beloved character is a wonderful choice for any fairy tale themed costume event.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

Cardboard cutouts, white paper, black paint for buttons and eyes, and materials for droopy eyes, carrot stick nose, and twigs for hands and feet.

How to Make

Wear a white snowman costume or outfit.
Add black buttons for the snowman’s body and a carrot-shaped nose.
Create twig-like arms and add them to the costume.
Wear a brown hat and orange nose.

Dialogue

“I am Olaf and I love summer” may be the easiest line to remember. Feel free to choose other quotes.

4. Shrek

This giant green ogre with a lovely heart is, of course, one of the best ideas for a kid’s fancy dress event. Check the following tips to compile this look.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

Green-coloured body paint, brown and white coloured shirt and pants, brown half-sleeved jacket, cardboard cutouts.

How to Make

Wear a green body suit or paint your face and hands green.
Add a brown vest and white shirt.
Create large, rounded ears from green felt or foam.
Carry a toy ogre club or use a prop related to Shrek’s swamp.

Dialogue

“Ogres like onions have layers Donkey” may be a nice paraphrased line that your kid can use.

5. Moana

Moana of Motunui is perhaps one of the freshest characters and is steadily becoming a highly popular one in fairy tale themed costume events.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirements

A simple, colorful knee-length skirt, a colorful tube top, a beaded necklace, and optionally, curled hair or a wig.

How to Make

Wear a red crop top and a patterned skirt.
Add a green leaf necklace or a shell necklace.
Create a prop sailboat or a compass.
Wear your hair loose or styled in Moana’s way

Dialogue

“I am Moana of Motunui and I will sail to Te Fiti” might be slightly paraphrased but does the job with flying colours.

Famous Personalities & Celebrities

This will probably be your kid’s second choice in any costume party that she/he will participate in. Read on to explore some of the best and easiest celebrity fancy dress costumes ideas.

1. Amitabh Bachchan

Any list of fancy dress ideas of famous personalities will be incomplete without including this distinguished personality.

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

A suit and tie, preferably in dark tones, white and black wig.

How to Make

Wear a formal suit, ideally in black or dark colors.
Add a bowtie and dark sunglasses.
Create a prop related to one of his famous roles, like a fake trophy.
Wear a hairstyle or wig resembling his iconic look.

Dialogue

A few lines from KBC is all your kid needs to nail the recreation such as “You have won 1 lac rupees”.

2. Sachin Tendulkar

The choice of this character is again a classic and easy enough to recreate.

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

A nice cricket bat, a cricket helmet, and the usual player’s uniform in blue.

How to Make

Equip your kid with a cricket bat, helmet, and a blue cricket uniform.

Dialogue

Dialogues by this master blaster is widely available. “And that is the reason why this victory is great because different players have made contributions to the win” is a suggestion.

3. Vijender Singh

This famous boxed who competed in the Olympics is, of course, an off beat choice but an easy look to recreate.

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

A standard uniform, nice shoes, and optionally, styled hair.

How to Make

Outfit your kid in a boxing uniform and complement it with some good shoes.
Style the hair for added effect.

Dialogue

You can directly complement the look by quoting “Scrutiny has never scared me” etc.

4. Michael Jackson

If your kid has some sweet moves, here is your chance to pull off a wonderful look for fancy dress costume parties.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

A suit or jeans and tee with a leather jacket, short pants, and a wig or curled hair for a dramatic effect.

How to Make

Dress your kid in a suit or jeans with a leather jacket.
Ensure the pants are short to show off the ankles.
Add a wig or curl the hair for a dramatic effect.

Dialogues

Your kid could croon lines from any of his hits such as “All I know is that they don’t really care about us.”

Superheroes Costume Ideas

Generally, this is what most kids in recent times want to dress up in for any fancy dress related event.

1. Spiderman

This beloved hero created by Stan Lee has been the rage for quite long now. Let’s see how to recreate the look.

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

Glossy fabric in blue and red for sewing, a readymade unitard, a mask, and cardboard cutouts for additional details.

How to Make

Sew or use a ready-made unitard in blue and red.
Create a mask and use cardboard cutouts for added detail.

Dialogue

“With great power comes great responsibility” is a timeless dialogue tat your kid can recite.

2. Baymax

This adorable marshmallow-styled robot has been all the rage since its release in 2014. Recreating the look is not that difficult.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys and girls

Requirements

Inflatable costume (for customization), white felt, black buttons for sewing.

How to Make

Buy or sew an inflatable costume with white felt.
Attach black buttons for the look.

Dialogue

Best to stick to the basic “Hi, I’m Baymax, your healthcare companion”.

3. Super Girl

The counterpart of Superman who was sent from Krypton to protect her cousin is quite the rage among kids of all ages.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirements

Red and blue fabric, skirt, top, small cape.

How to Make

Use a red and blue skirt and top or a ready-made costume.
Add a small cape.

Dialogue

“I’m Super Girl and I am here to protect my cousin Superman” may well be an idea.

4. The Hulk

Though an offbeat choice, creating this look is a lot of fun and will help you bond over tasks as never before.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Girls

Requirements

Green coloured body paint, a pair of pants and a normal t-shirt.

How to Make

Apply green body paint, and use a pair of pants and a t-shirt.

Dialogue

“These legs aren’t just for decoration” can be a cheeky suggestion.

5. Deadpool

Another off beat choice as the recreation of this character is slightly darker. Nevertheless, it’s easy to carry.

Source: Pinterest

Suitable For

Boys

Requirements

Red and black unitard, fabric for sewing, slits for mouth, nose, and eyes, fake swords.

How to Make

Create or use a red and black unitard with slits for eyes, nose, and mouth.

Dialogue

The best suggestion ” You don’t need to be a superhero to get the girl, the right girl will bring out the hero in you” can nail the look.

Other Unique Fancy Dress Ideas

Fancy dress ideas can be made into a non-exhaustive list. Here are some more ideas that you can try.

For starters, aliens are an excellent choice for unique costume ideas. Recreating looks of adorable aliens such as E.T. or Jadoo are fairly easy and will definitely add spark to the competition.

Other options include making costumes to match electronic devices. Such exercises are generally fun to compile and easy to depict. Ideas such as calculators, cell phones, satellites, television sets are pretty awesome to recreate and display.

FAQs

1. What are some eco-friendly materials for DIY fancy dress costumes?

Using recycled materials like old clothes, cardboard, or fabric scraps can be great for creating eco-friendly costumes. Biodegradable glitter and natural dyes can also add to the sustainability.

2. How can I ensure my child’s fancy dress costume is comfortable for extended wear?

Choose breathable fabrics like cotton or lightweight felt, and make sure the costume has proper ventilation. Adjustable straps and closures can help in achieving a better fit and comfort.

3. What are some tips for making fancy dress costumes more durable?

Reinforce key areas with extra stitching or fabric patches. Opt for sturdy materials and avoid excessive embellishments that may come off easily. Regularly check and repair any wear and tear.

4. How can I incorporate sensory-friendly elements into my child’s costume?

For sensory-sensitive children, use soft, non-irritating fabrics and avoid scratchy or tight elements. Opt for costumes with minimal seams and avoid decorations that may be uncomfortable or distracting.

So this was our comprehensive list of fancy dress ideas for boy kids and fancy dress competition ideas for girl children. One of the best ways to nail best fancy dress themes is to make something rather than to use something that’s readily available from the shops. Using your imagination along with some smart moves can ensure that your kids will rock any event that revolves around fancy dress party themes. Firstly you should aim to draw inspiration from your kid’s life to create costumes. Nothing will delight your kid and you more than creating something from scratch rather than renting or buying something from the stands. After all, these formative years are some of the best memories that you and your kid will cherish. Might as well make it worthwhile. Happy creating and recreating folks!

Also Read:

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Best Book Character Dress Up Ideas for Children
Dress Up Play for Kids: Importance & Benefits