CHICAGO-THEMED HALLOWEEN
22 DIY costumes that will do the Windy City proud
If the perfect Halloween costume idea is evading you, never fear: Chicago is here to inspire.
We’ve got 22 costumes you can put together yourself on the cheap — inflation’s no laughing matter, even for the spookily inclined. And in a city like this, there are endless options that also pay tribute to Chicago culture, heroes, animals and icons.
There are ideas for single costumes, as well as for groups, couples and families. Some will require a little forethought, as a couple of accessories can really perfect an otherwise easily assembled costume.
Choose wisely, celebrate safely and have a happy, scary, super Halloween.
FERRIS BUELLER
Perfectly aligned with the late 1980s and early ’90s looks trending in fashion right now, a riff on this Chicago-set film could also work as a group costume if you’ve got a couple more Matthew Broderick fans around. Hit the thrift stores for a boxy sweater vest and high-waisted pants, plus a sporty beige jacket, then get ready to be haunted all night by calls of, “Bueller? Bueller?”
THE BEAN
She’s curvy, she sparkles, and everyone wants a selfie with her. While you might not be able to design a Bean costume on the level of Cookie Gluck’s 2016 version, you do have a few options. There are full-body costumes shaped like avocados to which you could affix shiny material, or you could buy pillowy Santa Claus tummy padding (or take advantage of a well-timed pregnancy) and wear a metallic silver bodysuit, romper or other outfit with accessories such as shiny tights, gloves and silver face makeup.
MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT
This one is best left to the adorable kids, in our opinion. But, boy, do they pull it off. Grab a teeny tiny pantsuit and some gray hair spray, and they’ll be enacting no-bedtime ordinances before you know it.
MURPHY THE BILLY GOAT
The legendary bleat machine whose ouster from Wrigley Field led to a curse on the Chicago Cubs that would last for 71 years is a great costume choice for a creative Cubs fan. There are a few particularly adorable mountain goat costumes for kids out there, in case parents want to dress as their favorite Cubs players, but for a DIY approach you’ll want to put most of your effort into the horns and ears, which can be constructed with toilet paper tubes, cardboard, felt wrapped around headbands or other easily acquired materials. Dress in go at friendly hues (grab a fuzzy vest from the thrift store for extra oomph), and finish it off with black mittens and dark shoes.
BUBBLY CREEK
Who doesn’t love a costume that doubles as a statement on the dangers of pollution? While the south fork of the Chicago River’s South Branch doesn’t really bubble anymore, Chicagoans will surely appreciate the ode to its more odious history.
But how to personify a river rank with Stockyards refuse? Grab a swamp monster costume and glue pieces of trash to it, or for an Old Gregg-esque look get fake greenery from a craft or dollar store and fashion it into a wig, along with dingy green clothes accessorized with more greenery and netting. This one might take a little explaining, but it’s sure to make an impression.
THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE
There are tons of ways to DIY this one. Wear a red bodysuit with an orange tutu or fiery wig to represent flames; affix strips of orange, gold and red fabric to a top; friends could join you as Mrs. O’Leary and her pesky cow for a group look.
IRONHEART
Not only is “Ironheart” comic book writer Eve Ewing a Chicago icon in her own right, but a new Disney+ series centered on teenage genius Riri Williams has been filming in Chicago ahead of an expected debut late next year. For something simple, find a red cropped tank and attach a white circle or small tap light in the middle (there are also light-up versions of reactors on sites such as Etsy), and pair with black pants and an Iron-Man helmet for an early “Ironheart” cover look.
If you want to put together a full suit, downloadable templates make it possible to build one cheaply out of foam.
YOUR FAVORITE CHICAGO SKYSCRAPER
While you’ll have to get creative to pull this one off, a group of architects pulled out all the stops in 2019 for re-creations of the Hancock Center, Aqua Tower and other famous buildings, and we’re certain you can too.
If you’ve got a 3D printer, creating a tower mask should be a breeze, or you can make a version out of cardboard boxes and acrylic paint. To finish off the look, get some tape that will adhere to clothing and trace out a simple outline of the building down the rest of your outfit.
THE DARK KNIGHT
The great thing about dressing like The Batman is such an enduring, well-known character has spawned plenty of affordable costume options (Chicago gets to claim him after “The Dark Knight” famously filmed in the city). This step-by-step YouTube tutorial from a crafty teen who uses craft foam, a heat gun, sweatpants and a shirt to create an impressive DIY version that’s simple and effective.
Bonus points if you skulk around Lower Wacker Drive asking if anyone’s seen the Batmobile.
CHANCE THE SNAPPER
It was a quaint, pre-pandemic moment that united the city, with round-the-clock coverage of an alligator that avoided capture for a week while living it up in the Humboldt Park lagoon. Dubbed “Chance the Snapper” by thousands of Block Club Chicago readers, the elusive gator was eventually caught and sent off to a life of luxury, spawning countless artistic tributes, gator merch and, hey, Halloween costumes.
Sure, you won’t be the most cutting-edge Chicago nod, but with the right crowd this will get the nostalgia going.
THE MORTON SALT GIRL
While the Salt Shed is now filled with sweet tunes instead of salt, our city’s favorite umbrella-slinging kid is still a fun costume for children and adults. Once the requisite umbrella is acquired (ideally dark blue or lavender), you’ll just need a short yellow dress (if you strike out at the thrift store, try secondhand clothing sites such as eBay, Poshmark, Mercari or Thred Up), and Mary Janes or other flat shoe.
To finish it off, stop by the grocery store for the largest Morton Salt container you can find — if you’re planning to indulge on Halloween, you could also print out an image of the label and wrap it around your beverage container of choice for the night.
SUE THE T. REX
Perhaps the oldest famous Chicagoan around, Sue the T. rex has been on display at the Field Museum since 2000. They’re about 67 million years old, and they still looks great.
An inflatable T. rex costume — the meme personified — is an easy option, but DIY options abound online. Zygote Brown Designs sells downloadable templates for impressive masks made from cardboard, or you can opt for a simpler skeletal look with some basic supplies.
Group, family and couple costumes CHICAGO HOT DOG WITH A BOTTLE OF MUSTARD
Nothing gets between Chicagoans, their hot dogs and a good squirt of mustard. Your costume can inspire cries of adoration and fervent debates over ketchup over the course of a lively night.
Unfortunately, this writer’s extensive searching yielded just one ready-made hot dog costume that features all the Chicago toppings. But one DIY blogger has worked out simple ways to craft both outfits, using a yellow dress and pie tin fascinator for her bottle-of-mustard look and a felt-constructed hot dog attached to her baby’s onesie for a cute, easy pairing.
If you’ve got a group, each person could dress as an individual ingredient. The options are endless.
THE OBAMAS
Famously fans of Halloween costumes — and tiny impersonators — the Obamas would surely welcome a tribute from the city they long called home. Get artistic and re-create the “Hope” poster from Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential run, or pair up for looks inspired by the Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald paintings unveiled in 2018.
For Barack, you’ll need a sharply tailored dark suit and a large cardboard background decorated with fake vines to really pull it off. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, you could make a dress like the one 3-year-old Parker Curry wore to great internet applause in 2018, or try hot gluing strips of felt or other fabric scraps on a white halter dress in a pattern like the original dress for a less-durable rendition.
BLUES BROTHERS
Shake a tail feather and don your Ray-Bans for a Chicago-inspired classic just as recognizable as it is adaptable.
The “Saturday Night Live” characters made legendary by Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi went on to become a real, world-touring band, featuring in movies, tributes and a stage musical. You’ll need black suits, skinny ties and fedoras — a costume that can be repurposed to portray “Men in Black” characters, Secret Service agents or (if you swap in a bow tie) James Bond in future Halloweens. But this time around, don’t forget the harmonicas and crazy dance moves.
‘THE BEAR’ STAFF
White T-shirts, blue aprons and a gruff call of, “Yes, chef!” are all you and a few friends need for a group costume inspired by the TV show inspired by a Chicago Italian beef shop.
If you really want to commit, add some fake arm tattoos, bring some of these Italian beef sandwiches to the party (maybe not dipped, just for longevity’s sake) or tote around a few pans and spatulas. A couple of you should be prepared to shout, “Cousin!” in increasingly loud intervals throughout the night.
THE ART INSTITUTE LIONS
Created in 1893 to stand guard outside The Art Institute, the museum’s two lions would make for a purrfect costume this Halloween. There are lots of DIY lion costumes out there — and easily acquired accessories like a lion’s mane headband or attachable tail — but what will really sell this look is dyeing it all to match the bronze statues’ green-blue patina. Make sure to get dye that will work with the type of fabric you use, and matching ferocious face paint.
THE ‘L’ LINES
Everyone pick a color — Red, Pink, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple, Yellow and Brown — and dress in it from head to toe. Or wear train-metal gray with tank tops or sunglasses in your assigned colors, with face paint mimicking the front of CTA trains.
For bonus points, play audio of CTA announcer Lee Crooks on your phones or portable speakers
every time you enter a room.
BOOTLEGGERS
So you don your sleekest suit. And then you slip a few bottles into your jacket, like so. Offer people shots of your bootleg whiskey and you’ll be a crowd favorite in no time.
ROCKFORD PEACHES
Not only are the real-life Rockford Peaches enduring icons in their own right, but a new Amazon Prime series starring Abbi Jacobson of “Broad City” and not-a-girl “The Good Place” alum D’Arcy Carden gives you even more reason to don one of baseball’s most iconic uniforms.
DIY versions of the uniform can range from belting a pink dress to thrifting a pink skirt to pair with a similarly hued collared shirt or T-shirt — you can find inexpensive iron-on patches or T-shirt jerseys on sites like Etsy. Add a red baseball cap and matching knee-high socks, and your costume will be a grand slam.
BILL SWERSKI’S SUPER FANS
What would be a lazy excuse for a costume for any other team is actually a clever wink toward another iconic “Saturday Night Live” skit here in Chicago.
If you’re already a Bears fan, you probably have most of what you need in your closet: a team jersey and baseball cap, some sunglasses and maybe a pillow to stuff under your jersey to compensate for all those Italian beefs and Chicago-style hot dogs you have left to chow down on during future games.
What’ll really sell this costume: a fake (or real) mustache and perfect Chicago accent.
MEAN GIRLS
If you’re, like, really pretty, this is the perfect costume for you (So you agree? You think you’re really pretty?). This works best for either three Plastics or the trio plus Cady. There is some flexibility in which outfits you don — all-pink looks featuring mini skirts and heels will probably be the most recognizable, but with the right attitude and conspiratorial smirks, you’ll be giving Mean Girl in no time.