Blue is the colour I reach for when someone wants a costume that can go icy, sweet or space-age depending on two accessories. The thirty looks below run from storybook characters to a crayon, an umbrella jellyfish and a disco jumpsuit, and each one covers clothes, hair, makeup, props and shoes. Most start from a blue dress or separates you may already own or can thrift. I've noted where a hem, a heel or a hidden layer makes the difference between a costume you enjoy and one you're tugging at by nine o'clock.
Mixing Shades of Blue Without a Clash
Most of these costumes use two or three blues at once, and that's where thrifted outfits often go wrong. Navy, royal, cobalt, teal and powder blue all sit under one name, but they don't always get along. I lay every blue piece side by side in daylight before buying anything else, because shop lighting and phone screens hide the difference between a warm teal and a cool sky blue.
- Keep one blue as the main colour and let the others be clearly lighter or darker. Two blues that are almost the same look like a mistake.
- Satin and sequins look brighter than cotton or velvet in the same shade, so a shiny piece can stand a slightly deeper colour next to it.
- Warm party lights push pale blue toward gray and teal toward green. If the event is indoors at night, test the outfit under a lamp.
- White and silver accessories make every blue look cleaner; gold warms navy and royal blue but can make icy blues look dull.
If you're building from separates, start with the largest piece, usually the dress or jumpsuit, and match smaller items to it. A wig is the hardest thing to match by eye, so if a character needs blue hair, buy that first and choose fabrics around it.
1. Cinderella Blue Princess Costume
A pale blue ball gown or a full tulle skirt over a fitted satin top gives you the Cinderella shape. The two details that make people say her name are the black velvet choker and the long sheer gloves, so I'd spend money there before the dress. Put your hair in a smooth high bun with a few loose strands and keep the makeup to shimmery blue lids, rosy cheeks and a pink gloss. A clear acrylic slipper in your hand does the storytelling. Wear silver flats unless you're only standing for photos. If a gown is too much, a knee-length blue party dress with a tulle underskirt and the same choker and gloves still reads correctly.
2. Alice Blue Dress Costume
This is the easiest storybook costume on the list to assemble from a normal wardrobe. A light blue fit-and-flare dress, a crisp white apron and white tights do most of the work, and a wide black headband finishes the hair whether it's your own or a blonde wig. When I style Alice, the prop matters more than people expect: a teacup, a pocket watch or a white rabbit tells the room who you are before anyone sees the apron. Black Mary Janes keep it grounded. On a cold night, a white cardigan slips under the apron without spoiling the outline.
3. Dorothy Blue Gingham Costume
Gingham is the whole costume here, so check the check. A blue-and-white pinafore with a fine, even pattern reads as Dorothy from across a room, while a large picnic check looks like a tablecloth. Layer it over a short-sleeve white blouse, keep the skirt at the knee so you can walk, and add white ankle socks with sparkly red flats. Two centre-parted braids tied with pale blue ribbon do more than any wig. Carry a small woven basket with a plush dog inside. Every piece here is simple to thrift and wearable again afterwards, which is why I suggest it to people who hate single-use costumes.
4. Coraline Yellow Raincoat Costume
The raincoat is yellow, but the blue hair is what sells Coraline, so put the effort into a chin-length cobalt wig with a side part. Under the coat, a striped navy top and straight-leg jeans are enough. Keep the makeup minimal and carry a blue star-print messenger bag or a small black cat plush. I'd never wear button-eye effects that cover your sight; stitch big black buttons onto the bag instead. Yellow rain boots finish it, and this is honestly one of the few costumes on the list that gets better when it drizzles.
5. Elsa Ice Queen Costume
Elsa lives or dies on the cape. A floor-length icy blue dress with sheer sleeves and a sparkly bodice is easy to find, but a cape that drags will collect leaves and get stepped on, so I hem mine to clear the floor by a couple of inches and attach it at the shoulders with snaps rather than pins. A platinum wig in one loose side braid with a few snowflake clips does the hair. Silver-blue shadow and a cool pink lip are plenty. Keep a clear snowflake wand as the prop and hide silver ballet flats under the gown. A sequined blue top with a maxi skirt and an organza cape is the cheaper route, and organza frays, so seal its edges or roll-hem them.
6. Emily Corpse Bride Costume
Emily can look ghostly without anything graphic. A faded blue or blue-gray maxi dress with lace sleeves and an uneven tulle overlay gives the shape, and a light veil on a crown of artificial blue flowers adds the bride. A long wavy blue wig is easier than spraying colour onto a pale one, because temporary spray rubs off on your shoulders. I keep the blue face makeup sheer and build the effect with gray shading under the cheekbones. Carry a small bouquet of dried-looking flowers and wear pale flats or lace-up ankle boots.
7. Mystique Blue Bodysuit Costume
Full-body paint is a lot of work and a lot of cleanup, so I build Mystique on a long-sleeve cobalt bodysuit with matching opaque leggings instead. Lightweight foam or flexible fabric appliqués give the scaled texture; foam glued straight onto stretch fabric tends to pop off when you bend, so stitch or tack the pieces at a few points. A smooth shoulder-length red wig over slicked-back hair is the contrast that makes her readable. Blue face makeup is optional; if you use it, blend it well down the neck so there's no line at the collar. Leave out combat props. Choose a front-zip bodysuit, because you'll thank yourself at the first restroom break.
8. Smurfette Blue Character Costume
Smurfette is mostly a white sleeveless dress over a blue long-sleeve top and blue tights, with a soft white hat that flops forward at the tip. That hat is the giveaway, so make it from a light knit or jersey that won't overheat you indoors. A long blonde wig with soft waves gives her hair; your own blonde hair works too. If you don't want blue skin, bright blue eyeshadow and liner carry the colour instead. A little basket of artificial flowers or paper mushrooms is the prop. Fleece-lined blue tights make it warm enough for an outdoor night.
9. Joy Yellow Dress And Blue Hair Costume
A bright yellow sleeveless dress with vivid blue hair is all Joy really needs. The wig is the hard part: a short blue pixie styled upward holds better with a little wig-safe spray, and ordinary hairspray tends to leave synthetic fibres sticky. If the dress is plain, a few removable fabric starbursts add her print. Peach blush, gold shadow and blue liner keep the face cheerful. Carry colourful foam memory spheres in a clear bag. Outdoors, a fitted yellow long-sleeve shirt under the dress and blue leggings keep the palette and the warmth.
10. Princess Jasmine Teal Costume
For Jasmine, a teal cropped top with supportive straps and high-waisted harem pants are the base, and a sheer hip drape gives movement. Her low bubble ponytail is the detail I'd never skip: section long black hair with teal elastics every few inches, and use a wig only if your own hair is short. A gold headband, big earrings and a simple jewelled necklace finish it. Bronze shadow with a wing and a rose lip suit the character. A lamp-shaped purse is easier to carry than a breakable lamp. Gold pointed flats beat heels for this one, and a fitted nude or teal long-sleeve top underneath adds coverage if you want it.
11. Wendy Darling Blue Nightgown Costume
Wendy is a modest costume, which makes it a good pick for work events. Look for an ankle-length powder-blue nightgown with puff sleeves and a gathered neckline, then tie a wide satin ribbon at the waist. Loose brown curls or a shoulder-length brunette wig with a pale blue bow at the back are enough for the hair, and the makeup can stay at blush and mascara. Carry a small storybook. I'd wear ballet flats rather than real slippers, since slipper soles soak through on wet pavement. For cold weather, thermal leggings vanish under the long gown.
12. Bo Peep Blue Shepherd Costume
This is the modern Bo Peep, the adventurous one in the jumpsuit, which suits anyone who prefers pants to a dress. A pale blue jumpsuit or fitted blouse, a detachable skirt panel or short cape trimmed in pink piping, blue arm wraps and a slim belt give her outline. A blonde braided ponytail with a big pink bow does the hair. The crook is where people go wrong: a full-height one hits ceilings and other guests, so I make it shoulder-height from foam or painted cardboard. Black or navy low-heeled ankle boots finish the outfit.
13. Sailor Mercury Blue Cosplay Costume
A white sailor-style top or bodysuit joined to a pleated royal blue skirt is the start of Sailor Mercury. Add the blue sailor collar, front bow, elbow-length gloves and a tiara cut from metallic craft foam; craft foam is thin enough to cut with scissors and bends around a headband without heat. A short dark blue wig with neat bangs is the fastest way to her hair. Carry a small blue handheld computer made from painted cardboard. Knee-high blue boot covers over comfortable flats give you the boot shape without buying boots. Sew shorts into the skirt or wear them underneath, because pleated minis flip up the moment you move.
14. Blue Fairy Costume
Fairy wings are the part I test before anything else. Translucent wings with silver veining look best, but the straps cut into bare shoulders after an hour, so I hide soft elastic under a layered sky-blue dress with sheer sleeves and pad the straps where they cross. Loose waves or a braided crown with tiny flowers suit the tulle skirt. Pearly highlighter and a few silver freckles give the face its sparkle. A star wand made from foam and ribbon is light enough to carry all night. On a budget, a plain blue party dress with removable tulle and handmade wire-free wings gets you most of the way.
15. Blue Butterfly Costume
Wrist-attached wings are what make a butterfly costume move: lift your arms and they open. Pick fabric wings in blue, black and white, and wear them over a fitted cobalt top with a layered blue tulle skirt and opaque navy tights. The catch is that you lose the use of your hands while the wings are spread, so choose wings with a loop you can slip off for eating. An antenna headband over a sleek bun is enough for the hair. Blue winged liner with tiny white dots around the eyes reads as butterfly without covering your face. A long-sleeve base layer makes it workable outside.
16. Blue Mermaid Costume
A true mermaid tail looks great in photos and makes walking nearly impossible, so I go for a high-waisted blue-green sequined maxi skirt that flares at the hem instead. Pair it with a fitted turquoise top, a shell belt, pearls and a crown made from artificial shells and blue beads. Long waves with a few strands of temporary glitter gel suit the hair. A scale pattern at the temples is easy to do through fishnet tights pressed against the skin with a little shimmer powder. Carry a pearl-covered bag rather than a trident. Sequins scratch the inside of your arms, so a long-sleeve mesh top under the bodice helps more than coverage alone.
17. Blue Crayon Costume
Few costumes are as cheap or as readable as a crayon. A straight royal blue dress over matching tights, black felt squiggles at the neckline and hem for the wrapper, and a pointed cardstock hat on a headband are all it takes. Felt glued to polyester often peels off by the end of the night, so I use fabric glue plus a few stitches at the ends of each squiggle. Tuck your hair into a low ponytail under the hat. Carry a small box-shaped purse decorated like a generic art-supply box. Sneakers or flats suit it, and so does a school or office event.
18. Blue M&M Candy Costume
The blue candy costume needs one thing to work: a large white lowercase letter in felt on the front of a plain blue T-shirt dress. Cut it bigger than you think and centre it high on the chest, since a letter at belly height disappears when you sit. White gloves, white tights and white sneakers mimic the character's limbs. A blue headband or a high ponytail is all the hair needs. Carry a small round blue bag or a bag of wrapped candy to share. It's an easy group idea too, with friends in other bright colours.
19. Blue Cookie Monster Costume
Cookie Monster is the warmest costume here, which is why I suggest it for outdoor parties. A fuzzy royal blue dress or sweater-and-skirt set is the base, with large felt eyes fixed to a blue beanie or headband above your face. Felt eyes droop on a soft beanie, so back them with a stiff interfacing or a circle of craft foam. Blue tights and blue sneakers or furry boot covers finish the body. Keep the makeup to blue shadow and big lashes. Carry decorated cardboard cookies or foam ones. In a pinch, a fluffy blue bathrobe with the eyes on the hood gives you the same costume in twenty minutes.
20. Blue Alien Costume
A metallic blue catsuit or long-sleeve dress is the base for a blue alien, with a silver belt, reflective cuffs and flexible antennae on a headband. A sleek cobalt bob or high ponytail keeps the shape sharp. I build the face around an extended blue and silver wing and a few pearl gems at the temples; gems hold best on skin that's free of moisturiser. A transparent orb or silver mini bag works as a prop. If a catsuit feels too fitted, wide-leg metallic pants with a structured blue top look just as otherworldly and are easier to move in.
21. Blue Astronaut Costume
This is the costume I'd hand anyone who wants pockets. A royal blue utility jumpsuit with zipped pockets and adjustable cuffs, felt mission patches, a silver belt and light wrist panels make the astronaut. A braided ponytail or soft blue flight cap handles the hair, and silver liner with a muted pink lip keeps the face clean. A clear bowl helmet with a painted foam ring is fun to carry, but never wear anything over your head that limits breathing or sight. White high-tops finish it. A fabric name patch on the chest is a small touch people always read.
22. Blue Witch Costume
A midnight-blue maxi dress turns the classic witch into something more celestial. Velvet or soft shimmer fabric works, with a silver moon-and-star belt at the waist and a wide-brim pointed hat wrapped in blue ribbon and a few artificial flowers. Big hats blow off outside, so I sew a thin elastic under the hair at the back. Loose curls or a long navy wig suit the shape, and a few star accents with smoky blue shadow do the makeup. Carry a short twig broom with no sharp ends, and wear lace-up boots with dark blue tights.
23. Blue Ghost Costume
A ghost in pale blue chiffon looks airy rather than scary. Layer a chiffon cape over a slip dress or long-sleeve maxi, and keep the uneven hem off the floor so it floats instead of dragging. A powder-blue or silver-white wig in soft waves adds the otherworldly part. Chiffon is see-through in flash photos, so I always check the layers under a phone torch before leaving. Cool-toned foundation, blue-gray shadow and a faded mauve lip finish the face. Carry a small antique-style frame or a plastic lantern, and hide a fitted blue thermal set under the layers for outdoor nights.
24. Blue Dragon Costume
A blue dragon can be bold and still friendly. Start with a fitted blue jumpsuit, or a long-sleeve top with scale-print leggings, then add a detachable fabric tail, soft foam wings and a hood or headband with rounded horns. Stuff the tail lightly with polyester fiberfill so it swings rather than drags, and attach it with a snap so you can sit. Scales at the temples are quick with a stencil and shimmer. Carry a painted foam egg. Lace-up boots or sneakers with scale-textured gaiters finish it, and every horn and claw should stay soft for crowded rooms.
25. Blue Peacock Costume
A peacock is about jewel tones and a tail you can live with. Pair a royal blue bodysuit or velvet top with a layered teal-and-navy skirt, then attach a fan of synthetic peacock-style feathers to a wide belt behind the waist. Measure the fan against a doorway before you commit; a tail that's too wide means turning sideways all night. A small feathered piece in a polished high bun and sapphire shadow with gold highlights do the head. Carry a blue feather fan or jewelled clutch. Teal tights and blue block-heel ankle boots finish it. Synthetic feathers shed far less than loose natural ones.
26. Blue Jellyfish Costume
An umbrella does all the heavy lifting for a jellyfish. Wear a pale blue dress, or a top with wide-leg pants, and add sheer ribbon streamers at the sleeves and hem. Cover a clear umbrella with blue cellophane or iridescent fabric and hang light ribbons that stop above your ankles. Tape and hot glue work on the canopy, but hot glue lets go in cold air, so I tie each ribbon through the spokes as well. A sleek ponytail and some pearly shadow with small face gems are enough. Keep the umbrella light and skip heavy lights. Flats or sneakers, because you'll be holding it overhead.
27. Blue Flapper Costume
A navy or sapphire fringe dress at knee length is the 1920s shape. Add a long strand of costume pearls, elbow-length gloves and a jewelled headband worn across the forehead. Long hair pins into a faux bob more easily if you curl it first, and a sleek black bob wig is the shortcut. Smoky navy shadow, defined brows and a deep berry lip suit the era. T-strap shoes with a low block heel let you dance. If you want a feather boa, look for one labelled low-shed; the cheap ones leave a trail through the whole house. Opaque tights and a fitted camisole under the fringe add coverage.
28. Blue Disco Queen Costume
Metallic jumpsuits vary a lot in stretch, so I try mine sitting down before anything else. The disco queen needs a wide-leg metallic blue one with a belted waist, plus silver hoops and sparkly wrist cuffs. Big curls or a bouncy blue wig suit the era, and bold blue shadow with silver liner catches party lights. A mirrored ball purse or light star microphone is the prop. Platform shoes look right, but metallic sneakers are kinder if you'll dance for hours. A cropped faux-fur jacket in white or pale blue adds warmth without hiding the shine.
29. Blue Ringmaster Costume
The tailcoat is the costume. A royal blue one with gold trim, decorative buttons and structured shoulders reads as ringmaster immediately, over a fitted white blouse and black shorts or slim trousers. A small top hat on a headband, white gloves and a gold bow tie add the polish. Winged liner, gold shadow and a red lip give stage makeup without going theatrical. Carry a light hoop wrapped in blue ribbon rather than anything whip-like. Knee-high black boots finish it. Swap the shorts for trousers or a knee-length skirt and it suits almost any dress code.
30. Blue Ice Skater Costume
A sparkly pale blue skater dress with long mesh sleeves, a fitted bodice and a short skirt with built-in shorts is the base for an ice skater. Wear it over nude or white thermal tights; real skating tights are warmer than ordinary ones. A sleek bun with rhinestone clips or tiny snowflake pins is the competition hair. Icy shadow and silver liner do the face. Carry white skate guards or a small snowflake trophy rather than wearing actual skates, and wear white lace-up boots with flat rubber soles. A cropped faux-fur wrap keeps you warm without hiding the dress.
Blue Face Makeup That Stays Off Your Collar
Several of these looks use blue skin, from Mystique to Smurfette and Emily. Blue pigment is one of the more stubborn colours in costume makeup, and it shows up on white collars, phone screens and pillowcases. I'd always test a new face paint on the inside of the wrist a day ahead, and use products made for skin rather than craft paint.
Putting It On
- Start with clean skin and a thin layer of a light moisturiser or primer, so the colour doesn't sink into dry patches.
- Use a damp makeup sponge and build the colour in thin layers rather than one thick coat, which cracks as your face moves.
- Press translucent setting powder over the paint, wait a minute, and dust off the extra. This is what stops it transferring.
- Stop the colour at the jawline and fade it out with a clean sponge if your neckline is light. A fade looks better than a hard line on a collar.
Taking It Off
Water alone tends to smear blue around. I break it down with an oil-based cleanser or makeup remover first, then wash with a gentle cleanser. If a faint blue tint stays around the hairline or nose, a second round of oil cleanser usually lifts it. Don't scrub hard; slightly tinted skin fades overnight, irritated skin doesn't.
The Blue Look I'd Put Together This Week
Thirty costumes, one colour, and they could hardly be more different, from Dorothy's gingham to a jellyfish under an umbrella. The method stays the same each time: start with a strong blue base, then add the hair, the one prop and the shoes that make the character obvious. I'd plan comfort from the start, with flats, hidden thermal layers and light craft materials, because a costume you can wear all night always beats one you change out of early.
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