How to Make a Mermaid Costume With Things in Your Home

A bikini and a towel can help make a cute mermaid costume.

Sirens of the sea, mermaids have perennially caught the attention of those looking for a fun costume. The mermaid look is great for all ages; children can look sweet as mermaids, and adults may craft a more seductive style. If you're on a budget, you likely have plenty of materials around the house that can serve as mermaid gear. Grownups can make their own costume with ease, while kids might need help assembling the best items.

Things You'll Need

• Blue or green prom dress, or blue or green paint or dye
• Rope
• Fishing lines
• Green yarn
• Bra or bikini top
• Flowers
• Seashells
• Towel
• Shiny fabric
• Safety pins
• Needle and thread
• Colored paper starfish and seashells
• Scissors
• Glue
• Lei
• Necklace

Instructions

1. Decorate an old prom dress for a grungy mermaid look. Find a blue or green dress; alternatively, dye or paint one either of these colors. Adorn the dress with signifiers of the sea, such as rope and fishing lines. String green yarn around the dress to represent seaweed.

2. Create a mermaid top from a bra or a bikini top. You can glue on such decorations as flowers or seashells for a more ornate style.

3. Fashion a mermaid tail with a towel or any clothing made from shiny fabric. Wrap the material around your legs, and mark the fit with a safety pin. Slip out of the material, then sew it together, or hold it in place with discretely placed safety pins.

4. Draw or make your own decorations to complete the look. Draw and color starfish and seashells onto paper, then cut them out and glue them to your outfit. Wear a lei or necklace as a finishing touch.

References

• The Daily Green: 25 Unforgettable Homemade Halloween Costumes Made From Recycled Materials
• FamilyFun: Halloween Costumes: Littlest Mermaid Costume
• Party Ideas Parade: Make a Homemade Mermaid Costume