Why should you buy a superhero costume when you can make one at home? You can imitate the costumes of your favorite characters, or create your own complete superhero with special powers using only simple arts and craft materials you might have at home. Think about the basic elements of a superhero costume below, and start making your own superhero look!
Step
Method 1 of 5: Making the Base
Step 1. Collect some spandex
All superheroes wear costumes that are quite tight and consist of some type of unitard, leggings, or full body suit. Choose 1 or 2 colors and start creating your costume a spandex foundation.
Step 2. Get long leggings and a long-sleeved T-shirt
Most superheroes cover themselves completely so as not to be recognized by others.
- If spandex is not available, you can replace it with clothes that have solid colors.
- You can visit a well-known clothing store (such as Under Armor or American Apparel) if it's hard to find solid-colored spandex.
Step 3. Get a suit that covers the whole body
If you're ready to be awkward, buy a full-body spandex suit at a costume store or order from an internet store through a website like superfansuits.com.
Method 2 of 5: Hiding Your Identity
Step 1. Cover your face using a mask
As a superhero, it is very important to hide your identity from enemies. Make a mask that can disguise your face and prevent your identity from being recognized. There are several ways to make your own mask.
Step 2. Make a paper mask
Hold a piece of cardboard against your face, then ask your friend to mark 2 dots on the corners of your eyes and a dot on the tip of your nose (or, you can use a paper plate).
- Draw the mask on a piece of paper, using the points as reference points for the size of the mask you need.
- Cut the size of the mask and make 2 holes on each side close to where your ears are.
- Add a ribbon or string to each hole so you can tie it behind your head.
- Decorate the shape of the mask with colored markers, paint, sequins, feathers, glitter, or other decorations that match your special powers.
Step 3. Make a mask using tin foil and plaster
Stack 3 sheets of aluminum foil together and press the stack against the face to make a face print on the aluminum foil.
- Outline your eyes and other openings using a marker. Use the scissors to trim the edges of the mask, the eyes, the mouth, and any other openings to the outline.
- Make a hole on each side near the ear for a place to tie a ribbon or string to hold the mask to the face.
- Make sure the existing mold is strong. Wrap the mask with a strong tape such as packing tape.
- Decorate the mask with acrylic paint or other decorations such as feathers or sequins.
Step 4. Create a papier mâché mask
Inflate a balloon until it is the size of your head. Spread the newspaper on the table or floor where you work.
- Tear the newspaper into several long, thin strips.
- Mix 2 cups flour with 1 cup water in a bowl. If flour is not available, replace it with 2 cups of white glue.
- Dip the strips of newsprint into the prepared mixture and begin attaching the strips of paper to the balloon, until the entire balloon is covered. Make sure you stick the pieces randomly at an interesting angle.
- Let the piece of paper dry completely, then take the needle and pop the balloon. Cut the ball into two halves using fairly strong scissors, starting at the bottom of the balloon where the balloon is tied and working your way up to the top of the ball.
- Shape the mask to fit the face, cutting out any openings for the eyes or mouth. Finally, decorate the mask with paint or other decorations at will!
Method 3 of 5: Stylish the Coat
Step 1. Find a piece of fabric
Generally, superheroes will not look different without this dashing accessory. Make your coat out of an old rectangular cloth you have at home, such as scrap that can be cut into pieces. Thick fleece fabrics can also be used as a base for coats, and they are inexpensive to buy from craft shops.
Step 2. Hang the cloth over your shoulder and ask your friend to mark a small dot where the corner of the coat will be
Make sure the coat is not too long so you don't trip over it while walking.
Step 3. Cut the coat to the size made
Use a ruler to unite the four corner points that you created, then carefully cut out the rectangle that has been created.
Step 4. Decorate your coat
You can also add a symbol or letter representing your superpowers in the center of the coat.
- Thick, downy fabrics are suitable for coat decoration because they are easy to manipulate and don't fold when you fly to and fro.
- You can also glue these decorative symbols using hot glue or leftover Velcro strips.
Step 5. Tie the coat around yourself
You can tie it in a knot around your breastbone, use a safety pin to hold it in place, or add a Velcro strip to the base garment so the two meet at your shoulders.
Method 4 of 5: Showing off Foot Accessories
Step 1. Get brightly colored shoes
If you already have a pair of brightly colored rain boots, add them to your outfit to make you look cool.
Step 2. Put on exercise socks
If you're not going out for a walk, wear a pair of soccer socks in the color of your choice.
Step 3. Make boots wrapped with tape
If you're going to hang out with your neighbors or dance until the early hours of the morning, masking tape boots are the quickest and least expensive way to buy colored boots.
- Put on an old sneaker and wrap several layers of plastic around the shoe up to your calf, as high as you want it.
- Buy tape according to the color you want. Tape the tape over the top of the plastic in small pieces, and keep the tape as flat as possible. Be careful not to glue too tightly.
- Once you've covered the entire surface of the shoe, you're ready to go!
- If you are making the boots first, use the scissors to cut the back of the shoe so you can get the foot out. When you are about to put on the shoes, tuck your feet into the sneakers, then re-glue them with tape.
- To add more polish to the look, add a few inches of masking tape to the top of the boots to make them look slightly puffed out.
Step 4. Sew the boots out of thick soft fabric
Step on a piece of paper and mark your left and right feet with a marker, adding about 1/2 cm from the line you made to the feet.
- Use a tape measure to measure from toe to toe of the boot at the calf and calf line at the highest point of the boot. Add about 5.1 cm to the circumference measurement to allow your boots to expand outwards.
- Transfer these two measuring lines to a separate sheet of paper and connect them to make an inverted T shape. Repeat for the other leg.
- Cut the soles of the shoes and the four body parts and place them on a thick cloth. Trace the sketched shape of each paper template onto the fabric with a pen or pencil, then cut out all four sections of the fabric.
- Stitch the two halves in an L shape at the end of the toe and then sew the two halves together with the top stitch going through the top of the leg, and the back stitch going through the back of the leg. Take the inside of the boot outward to close the seam.
- Insert the sole of the shoe into the L-shaped tube and then sew around the edge of the shoe at least twice for a strong seam. Repeat the same process for the second shoe, and you're done!
Method 5 of 5: Showing off Super Powers
Step 1. Add accessories to your superhero costume
Bring a fake gun or dress up in the superhero style that you want to show the kids in the neighborhood.
- For example, if you have the ability to transform into a certain animal, cut out a piece of paper or cloth and stick it on the front of your shirt or on the back of your coat.
- If you're planning on becoming an existing superhero, make sure your accessories match theirs.
Step 2. Be Superman
Superpowers are part of Superman. Recreate this superhero look by sticking a simple "S" on the front of the outfit. You can make them from thick cloth that has been glued with hot glue, or from stiff cardboard. Attach it to the clothes using hot glue or Velcro.
Step 3. Shine like Spiderman
Like Superman, Spidey does not need fantastic tools in his action to defeat evil. To make Spiderman's outfit, draw cobwebs all over the outfit, making the center of the front of your outfit the center of the web.
- You can enhance the look of the netting with silver glitter glue, or you can draw the net with white glue and then cover it with silver glitter while it's still wet. Let the glue dry and then shake it to remove any excess glitter.
- You can also make a spider image out of thick paper or cloth and glue it to the center of the web.
Step 4. Make the Batman costume
Batman has a black belt with a square pocket on the side to store his gear. You can make a belt out of thick fabric and sew a pocket if you want, or use an old belt and add a lens case to store your gear.
- Don't forget to fill your belt pocket with some super accessories like Bat-monitor (use black walkie talkie), Bat-cuffs (dye plastic cuffs black), and Bat-lasso (use black straps).
- If you don't have walkie-talkies or toy handcuffs around, make this kit out of cardboard and describe it in detail.
Step 5. Create the Wonder Woman costume
Gold straps, gold belts, gold ribbons and gold tiaras are the most recognizable assets of this superhero.
- Spray gold paint on any string, then tie the string to a belt. You can make Wonder Woman's gold belt out of thick paper or fabric, or spray gold paint on the belt.
- Wear a bold gold bracelet to represent the bracelet, or cut out bright fabric, gold foil, or foil painted gold. Tie the bracelet to your wrist.
- Finally, make a tiara by covering the headband using gold-colored material, or by cutting the tiara shape out of paper and then sandwiching it together behind your head. Add a red star on the front of the tiara.
Step 6. Create Captain America's shield
In addition to an impressive mask, Captain America also has a super shield. Make the shield out of cardboard by cutting it into a large circle and then coloring it with the appropriate color. You can also use a round plastic skateboard, a large pot lid, or a round trash can lid.
- To make a shield grip, add a piece of thick cloth or ribbon to the back of the shield using hot glue or a stapler.
- Cut a white star out of thick paper or cloth and attach it to the center of the shield.
Step 7. Walk the streets like Wolverine
Wolverine's sharp claws are easy to make using foil and cardboard.
- Get rubber wash gloves and spray paint according to skin tone.
- Cut out long, pointed claws from cardboard, cover them with aluminum foil.
- Use hot glue to attach the claws to the tips of the rubber gloves at the knuckles.
Warning
- Don't make accessory attributes using real weapons, this is very dangerous (and sometimes illegal).
- Don't burn yourself when using hot glue.
- Be careful when carrying fake weapons.
Tips
- Make sure you give your superhero a name, and print his name somewhere on your costume!
- Be creative! You don't have to be an existing superhero. Choose your favorite power, add your favorite color and some accessories and then create the costume!
- A thick downy fabric is a fabric that is easy to use for making costumes but is not very strong. If possible, wear shoes under your cloth shoes.
- Give enough time to make the costume. Some of the methods above will take some time to complete.
- Consider the idea of making a group costume with your friends.
- If you don't feel comfortable wearing spandex, you can opt for a solid-colored shirt and sweatpants.
