Forget the bloated, gooey costumes made of cardboard and face paint. Dressing like Harry Potter will keep you comfortable and stay instantly recognizable. Just watch out for anyone else dressing up as Lord Volde– we mean, One Who Must Not Be Named.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Dress Like Harry Potter
Step 1. Put on black trousers and a white shirt
If you can, wear loose-fitting trousers and a button-down shirt with a collar. The dress code at Hogwarts requires everyone to look cool.
Wear a burgundy cardigan (red sweater) in cold weather
Step 2. Put on an old black robe
Harry Potter does not wear this robe all the time in the film, but it is mandatory for all Hogwarts students in the books. After all, just wearing a shirt and trousers wouldn't look very much like a witch. There are several ways to get this cloak:
Step 3. Look for graduation gift shops that sell academic gowns
Ask if the store has used gowns that can be sold cheaply to wear as costumes.
- Thrift stores, charity stores and costume shops might stock these robes.
- If you know a professor, judge or lawyer, try borrowing their robes.
- Wear a long black coat with the front facing back or a long black skirt over your shoulders.
Step 4. Hide the long hair under the hat
A black conical hat isn't necessarily necessary for Harry Potter, but a hat like this one is easy to spot as a wizard's hat. The main function of this conical hat is to hide your hair if it is long.
Step 5. Make a "broken" eyeglass
Look for an eyeglass with round lenses and a black frame at a thrift or department store. Put a piece of tape in the center of the glasses, as Harry did when his glasses broke.
- Toy shops sell fake glasses with toy noses and mustaches. Cut off the extra pieces and you'll get glasses with the perfect shape for this costume.
- If you have your own glasses, you can make the frames black with puffy paint (a paint commonly used in children's crafts). For a faster costume, cut two hollow circles out of construction paper and stick them over your eyeglass frames.
Step 6. Make a red and gold scarf
If you're lucky, you can find scarves with red and gold stripes in clothing stores. Or pay someone to knit or sew it for you. Otherwise, you will have to start with a red scarf. There are many ways you can add gold or yellow stripes to that red scarf:
- Wrap the yellow ribbon around the scarf in a spiral. Attach with staples or sew to keep it in place.
- Cut felt or yellow construction paper into rectangular shapes. Lay these papers on top of the red scarf and attach them with staples or sew in place.
- Color the cloth with cloth paint.
Step 7. Make a red and gold tie
Look for a red tie at a thrift store – you probably don't want to paint a tie that's yours or a family member's. You can make this red and gold tie in the same way you would a scarf, but fabric paint will give you the best results.
In the film, the Gryffindor students' ties are red with gold diagonal stripes. Draw a thin line of gold color. Pause 3 cm, then draw two thick lines with a thin gap between them. Pause another 3 cm and repeat by drawing one more thin line
Step 8. Draw a lightning bolt-shaped wound
Draw a bolt of lightning going down your forehead. Use a non-toxic red eraser lip pencil, lipstick or marker.
The wound is sometimes shown and narrated down the center of Harry Potter's forehead, or on the right side of his forehead
Part 2 of 2: Adding Equipment
Step 1. Turn a stick into a magic wand
Look for a strong trunk from any tree that is about 28 cm long. Decorate the stems to your liking with paint or create a spiral pattern with puffy paint or hot glue. Harry Potter's wand looks pretty simple in the movies, but your wand doesn't have to be the same.
- You can use thick wooden dowels from the hardware store instead.
- To make an easy and quick wand, stick a few pencils, sticks or chopsticks together. Glue brown or black construction paper on top.
Step 2. Bring a white stuffed owl
Bring your own Hedwig perched on your arm or shoulder (tie the doll with a little string if necessary). Look in the toys section of a convenience store or charity store.
Step 3. Make a quill
Feather with any rigid base can be made into a quill. For an easier version, stick feathers from a craft store onto a pen or pencil. Craft stores may also stock parchment or faux parchment scrolls to write on with your quill.
Step 4. Bring a broom
Harry the Quidditch player must have a broom to fly around. Choose a wooden broom with real broom bristles for the best look.
- To complete the look, bring along a Gold Snitch as well. Paint a table tennis ball with gold paint and attach two wings made of yellow construction paper.
- Try to get friends to play Quidditch with you.
Tips
- If you're playing this character for Halloween or a fancy costume party, point at people and say "Expeliarmus!", "Expecto Patronum!", or some other Harry Potter spell.
- If you're really serious about this costume, embroider the Hogwarts logo onto your robe.
- If you are a girl, tie your hair in a ponytail or style your hair in a slightly messy bob.
