Beware! Halloween [1] is looming, and being lazy [2] is no excuse to not have a costume. Luckily, there are some great last-minute adult Halloween [3] costumes that you can DIY [4] on the fly, using an item or two that's hiding in your own closet [5]. From pop culture ideas like characters from Stranger Things [6] or nostalgic '90s throwbacks to classic looks like unicorns and ghosts, the options are endless. The best part is, they all look so good, no one will guess they were last minute [7]. Check out more than 50 costume ideas for men, women, and groups. There's a little something in here for everyone.
— Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes
Suzie and Dustin From Stranger Things
Become Suzie and Dustin from Stranger Things [9] in the blink of eye! For Suzie, wear a nightgown with glasses. For Dustin, shorts, knee-high socks, a vest, hat, and a graphic t-shirt do the job.
Billy, Steve, and Eleven From Stranger Things
Quickly morph into the Stranger Things [10] characters by using clothes in your own closet. For Billy, wear a button down collared shirt, jeans, and sunglasses. For Steve, light-washed jeans, a black t-shirt, grey jacket, and sunglasses do the job. Lastly, for Eleven, a pink dress and blue bomber jacket completes her look from the first season.
Chucky
A striped t-shirt and overalls are all you need to dress as Chucky.
Dora the Explorer
You can be the grown-up version of Dora the Explorer if you've got a purple backpack. It also wouldn't hurt to carry around a map.
Tourist
We've all been a tourist at one time or another. A tropical shirt, sunglasses, and a floppy hat are all you need for this look.
Damian From Mean Girls
Anyone can be the notorious Damian from Mean Girls [11]; simply wear a hoodie with its strings pulled tight and add a sign that says, "She doesn't even go here."
Deviled Egg
How cute is this? Wear devil horns with a white shirt that has a yellow circle in the middle, and just like that, you're a deviled egg.
Aerobics Instructor
If you have a bodysuit of any sort, you can use it to create this look. Pair it with leggings, and complete the look with sneakers and sweatbands.
Unicorn
The best part about dressing up as a unicorn is that your outfit can be anything you want it to be. As long as you have a unicorn horn on your head and some good makeup, you're good!
Lifeguard
If you have any kind of red bathing suit and a whistle, you can pretty easily be a lifeguard.
Ghost
This one is so easy, a dog could do it. Cut holes for your eyes and mouth in an old white sheet. Done and done.
Nickelback
You can affix any amount of nickels to the back of whatever you're wearing to portray this Canadian band.
Rosie the Riveter
Denim on top, denim on bottom, red bandana in your hair, and done. These are all items you might just have in your closet already.
Risky Business
If you don't mind going pantless, you can easily re-create this look with just a white button-up, socks, and sunglasses.
Sims Characters
To be a Sims character, you can dress however you want. You just need your diamond over your head, which you can make with a drugstore headband and green paper.
Cat
Because cats come in a variety of colours, you can put on any type of outfit in whatever colour cat you want to be. All you really need are the cat ears!
Vampire
This is another costume that can be made of any outfit you like, as long as you have vampire fangs.
Brawny Man
Dig out that red and black flannel from the back of the closet and carry around a roll of paper towels for this costume.
Cactus
There are a few ways you can turn a green sweatshirt into a cactus costume. You can glue on pieces of yarn to be the prickles or even pipe cleaners. Then stick a few flowers here and there.
Trash
To be rubbish, literally just outfit yourself in a trash bag. If you're feeling ambitious, you can attach some pieces of trash to the top or bottom of the bag as well for added flair.
Avocado
If you have a green dress or outfit, you can cut out a brown circle to stick onto your belly to be a cut-open avocado.
Scarecrow
If you have a pair of denim overalls on hand, you can turn them into your scarecrow costume. Pair them with a flannel shirt and that's really all you need. If you want to use makeup to give yourself a scarecrow face, that'll take it up another notch.
Bloody Victim
You can make blood drips using a hot glue gun and sticking it to your skin — so you can look all bloody without the mess!
Wednesday Addams
A black dress with a white collar is key to being Wednesday Addams. Braid your hair into pigtails and look sombre all night.
Holly Golightly From Breakfast at Tiffany's
Audrey Hepburn's iconic character is popular — and very easy — Halloween [12] costume to re-create. It requires a black dress, a big necklace, and sunglasses. You'll also need to pile your hair on top of your head and attach a fancy barrette or clip to it.
Beetlejuice
You can be Beetlejuice with any form of vertical black and white striped outfit. Just add creepy makeup!
Winnie the Pooh
How easy is it to take a red t-shirt and write Pooh on it? You could also carry around some honey if you really want to get into character.
Doctor
If you're already a doctor or know someone who is, you can borrow scrubs or a white coat for the evening. The key is a stethoscope around your neck though.
AIM Away Message
Ah, the days of AOL Instant Messenger. You can dress all in yellow to be the little mascot and then carry around your away message on a sign or whiteboard.
Hippie
This one is up for interpretation, but you can do some sort of bell bottoms and crop top with a headscarf.
No Scrubs
TLC has a lot of hits, but an easy one to re-create is "No Scrubs." Draw a big X or a circle with a line through it on the front of some scrubs.
It's Raining Men
Another song you can re-create is "It's Raining Men." Glue some pictures of your favourite guys onto cutout raindrops, and attach them to an umbrella.
Pig in a Blanket
Put on a cute pig stuffed animal and pig ears, and wrap yourself in a blanket to be this fun party snack. Plus, you'll be supercomfy in a blanket!
Life of the Party
Find some fun party materials and wear a box of Life cereal around your neck to be the life of the party.
Social Butterfly
Stick the logos of all your favourite social media all over yourself and wear some cute wings to be a social butterfly.
Devil
You can be this classic Halloween [13] character by wearing a red outfit and putting on some devil horns.
Sporty Spice
While any of the Spice Girls would be fun to dress up as, Sporty Spice is easy to emulate with whatever athleticwear you have on hand.
Beanie Babies
Take your onesie up a notch by making a Ty Beanie Babies hang tag for it. You'll just need a red poster board and some ribbon to make it into a necklace.
Grammar Police
For a fun spin on the typical police officer costume, make a shirt that says Grammar Police and throw on some aviators and correct everyone's grammar all night.
Care Bears
The Care Bears logos are pretty easy to paint onto fabric that you can attach to a shirt to match your bear. Don't forget your cute little bear ears.
Witch
A witch costume is a classic — and so easy to put together. Any black outfit will do, as long as you have a witch hat.
Where's Waldo
Any red and white striped top will do for this costume. A hat and glasses are an added bonus.
French Maid
Put on your favourite little black dress for this costume. You'll need some kind of lacy white apron and a duster for an added touch.
Cheerleader
If you've got an entire cheerleading uniform, great. If not, you can tape stripes around a skirt and tank top to make it look more like a uniform. If you love Bring It On [14], you can re-create the East Compton Clovers uniform in green.
Starbucks Barista
You could wear a green apron for this, but you can get by with just cutting out a photo of the Starbucks logo and taping it to the front of your all-black outfit.