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The difference between a rushed costume and a good one is usually about twenty minutes of work the night before.
Every pair here is split into two lists: what to do tonight while you are sitting on the sofa, and what to do tomorrow before you leave. Tonight is never more than twenty minutes.
Do the small jobs now and tomorrow becomes getting dressed. Skip them and you will be cutting paper in a hallway with your coat on.
Why the Night Before Matters
Anything involving drying time is the whole argument. Marker ink, drawn detail on fabric and tape on paper all need a few hours to settle, and none of them get it on the day.
Hair is the other one. Plaits slept in overnight, or gel set and left, give you texture in the morning that you cannot fake in ten minutes.
And laying both outfits out flat the night before catches the missing sock, the lost sunglasses and the shirt that needed washing while there is still time to fix it.
1. Doctor and Patient
A white shirt with a pen in the pocket and a clipboard. Pyjamas, a visible bandage and an arm slung in a scarf on the other side.
Tonight: wrap the bandage and tape it so it holds its shape, and write a few fake notes on the clipboard. Tomorrow: get dressed.
2. Vampire Love Story
Both in black, one collar up, both with a strong red lip and two small marks drawn at the neck.
Tonight: test the fangs for an hour so you know you can talk in them. Tomorrow: lip, marks, done in five minutes.
3. Greaser and Pink Lady
Dark jacket, white tee and cuffed jeans. Pink with a neck scarf and a high ponytail opposite.
Tonight: sleep with the ponytail half in, so it holds volume. Tomorrow: gel the front, cuff the jeans.
4. Bank Robbers
All black, beanies low, scarves up, a bag each with a currency symbol drawn on in marker.
Tonight: draw the symbols and leave them to dry flat. Tomorrow: nothing at all.
5. Holiday Tourists
Loud shirts, shorts over high socks, sandals, sunglasses up top and a camera round the neck.
Tonight: print a boarding pass and fold a map so they look used. Tomorrow: the sun cream stripe, last.
6. Ghost Sheets
Two white sheets with generous eye holes, worn over something with shape so they hang rather than swamp.
Tonight: cut the holes with the sheet actually on, so they sit at your eyes. Tomorrow: throw it over.
7. Farmer and Scarecrow
Denim and checked shirts on both. Straw at the scarecrow cuffs and collar, with triangles and a stitched mouth drawn on.
Tonight: stitch or pin the straw into the cuffs so it stays put. Tomorrow: twenty minutes on the face.
8. Netflix and Chill
A red top with white lettering taped on. Blanket, thick socks and a hot drink permanently in hand opposite.
Tonight: cut and tape the lettering, and check it survives being sat on. Tomorrow: pick up the blanket.
9. Eighties Workout Partners
Bright leggings, headbands, a wide-necked oversized tee and as much hair volume as you can manage.
Tonight: cut the neckline on the tee and plait damp hair for the crimp. Tomorrow: unplait and shake it out.
10. Chef and Ingredient
White shirt, apron and a folded paper hat. One block colour on the other side with a green scarf as the stalk.
Tonight: fold the paper hat and tape it to fit your head properly. Tomorrow: tie the apron.
11. Celebrity and Paparazzi
Sunglasses and a turned-up collar on one side. Camera, lanyard and notebook on the other, always half a step behind.
Tonight: make the lanyard and charge the camera. Tomorrow: style the celebrity half and go.
A Twenty Minute Evening
Do all of tonight in one sitting and it comes to about twenty minutes: cut, tape, draw, plait, lay both outfits out flat.
That twenty minutes is the entire difference between the two of you looking planned and looking caught out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these needs the most prep tonight?
The farmer and scarecrow, because the straw has to be fixed into the cuffs properly or it sheds everywhere. About twenty minutes on its own.
Which needs none at all?
The celebrity and paparazzi, provided the camera is charged. Everything else about it is worn straight from the wardrobe.
Can we still do this the morning of?
Most of it, yes, but anything drawn in marker will smudge if you wear it within the hour. Do the drawing first and get dressed last.
What should we lay out the night before?
Both full outfits, flat, including shoes and accessories. It is the fastest way to find the missing piece while shops are still open.
The Bottom Line
Costumes do not fail on the night because people lacked ideas. They fail because everything was left until an hour before.
Twenty minutes tonight buys you a calm morning and a costume that holds together until the end of the night.
Left it later than this? These last-minute couple costumes come with shopping lists, and these minute-fast pairs need nothing bought. With a full weekend, try the DIY couple costume guide or these easy and adorable DIY pairs. Finish with some Halloween nails.
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