Superhero Costume Ideas

How to Dress Up as a Superhero

Superhero Costume Ideas

Are you planning a child’s birthday party, a superhero party or just thinking ahead for Halloween? If so, superheroes are respected, fun and super powerful. If you’re interested in ideas for superhero costumes, continue reading. Superheroes can be men or women, and some some superheroes can even kids.

Who Can I Dress As?

If you’re a man going as a male superhero, you can select from dozens of superheroes. There’s the ever-popular Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Captain America, the Green Arrow, Wolverine, Spiderman and Zorro, to name only a small selection.

If you’re a woman going as a female superhero, there are just as many options, even if they’re not all as well-known. Dress as Wonder Woman, Storm, Aquagirl, Xena, Elastigirl, Batgirl, Supergirl and Firebird, to name a selection.

Finding a Costume

One of the easiest ways to get a costume is to go to a costume store near you. These often open up near Halloween and are only open for a few weeks, so you may have to go after Halloween to get a good discount. However, don’t just settle for a Batman costume if you want to be Green Arrow. Keep looking. Ask if they can order it and if not, look online. The internet is a wonderful thing that can help with just this sort of thing.

Create Your Own Superhero

If you aren’t satisfied by being someone else’s idea of a superhero, create your own superhero costume for your own superhero or an established one. Remember, if you go the do–it-yourself route, a superhero usually has another identity, in this case, you. The costume will embellish your natural abilities and interests. So think a little bit about the things you love most (books, music, basketball, animals), the things you’re most afraid of (spiders, dragons, the dark) and decide where your power comes from. You may need to have it on you, like a weapon or as part of your costume. Also, decide if you’re good or evil. What’s your goal? What do you stand for? What’s your weakness — how can you be overpowered? Every superhero has a kryptonite.

Now, on to creating your costume. Decide on your color scheme. Choose two or three of your favorite colors and then gather your supplies. You’ll need:

• Tights, leggings, shorts or exercise pants that you can dye to match your color scheme (or are already that color)
• Something to cover your eyes and conceal your identity (glasses or a mask)
• Tight shirt
• Belt
• Boots
• Spray paint and clothing dye
• Fabric large enough for a cape
• Gloves

Pulling It All Together

Depending on who you want to be, you may need additional items. Start with the first layer. Your shorts, tights or leggings should be all one color and it should be tight. Your tight shirt should be the same color and it should be tight. If you have a decal you want to add, like Batman’s Bat or Supergirl’s “S”, now’s the time to add it.

Take your belt and dye it a different color than your bottom layer. Make your cape. Cut it so it settles around you comfortable and consider attaching it to your shoulders. Decide how long you want it, but remember that most superheroes’ costumes nearly touch the ground.

Grab your boots. You can leave them black or you can paint them to match one of the other colors in your costume. Dye your gloves to match the color of your cape and belt. Then, if you’re planning to wear a mask, dye it or paint it to match, as well.

Try your costume on. It should be tight, but you should be able to move easily.

The Finishing Touches

This is important even if you purchased a costume. Select your superhero weapons. Toy guns, toy arrows, a knife, little fake bombs or whatever else you’re interested in. Maybe you want a whip like Zorro. Whatever you use, make sure it matches the theme of your costume.

Whomever you go as, someone everyone knows and loves or your own creation, own it. Be proud, confident and get ready to save the world. Don’t forget to keep your true identity a secret.

Jill Ballantine from UniqueCostumes.org contributed this post. She’s really proud of her latest article about Gorilla Suit Costumes there, so be sure to check it out.