Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Holiday

Get the Look: Last-Minute Halloween Costume Inspiration

October 24, 2023

When it comes to Halloween, we typically go "all-out" in the costume AND the party department. Lately, though, we're trying to balance family tradition while not overwhelming ourselves with more to-dos. Easier said than done, right? I thought it would be fun to revisit our costumes from years past, along with how you can get the look, starting with this year's Harry Potter costume.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 2023

This Fall, we've been making our way through all of the Harry Potter movies (and books) with our girls. We've even planned a trip to visit Harry Potter World at Universal Studios. So it's easy to say that our girls were very enthusiastic about the idea of dressing as our favorite wizards this year!

See Harry Potter

  1. Harry Potter Socks (Pack of 4) $17
  2. Marauder's Map $8
  3. Faux Owl $15
  4. Hogwarts Robe $21

Shop the look

Candyland 2022

Last year, after asking the girls what they wanted to be, we got everything from bricks (Polly) to Hunger Games (Greta—who had just finished reading all the books!) to Minecraft people (Faye). We kept brainstorming and came up with something everyone was really excited about individually — the original Candyland characters.

See Candyland

  1. Striped Leggings $15
  2. Fur Shawl $29
  3. Lollipop Charms $13
  4. Green Furry Suit $65

Shop the look

E. T. 2021

In 2021, our family decided to dress as ET, mostly because Polly looks so much like Gertie, Greta had just got a new bike, and we had almost everything for the costumes. Faye as ET had us laughing so hard.

See E. T.

  1. Red Hoodie $12
  2. Hazmat Suit $13
  3. Faux Sunflowers $15
  4. Blue Bike with Basket $179

Shop the look

A Classic Monster Mash 2019

We generally let the girls take the lead on what we're going to be. For instance, in 2019, Greta really wanted to be a vampire so we all joined in!

See Monster Mash

1. Werewolf Gloves $16
2. Striped Skirt $26
3. White Fangs $7
4. Green Face Paint $8

Shop the Look

The Wizard of Oz 2019

This was the year we introduced the girls to the Wizard of Oz, and they were hooked, so we went with it.

See Wizard of Oz

1. Lion Costume $39
2. Red Dorothy Slippers $24
3. Fairy Wand $6
4. Plaid Scarf $13

Shop the Look

Dolls 2017

For years, we would dress up for the sole purpose of snapping a photo to use as an invitation to our Halloween party. This was one of those years.

See the doll costume

1. Corset Dress $30
2. Bow Hair Clips $9
3. Jumbo Eye Pencil $5
4. Red Suspenders $11

Shop the Look

The Beatles 2016

Dressing as the Beatles was such an easy thrift store throw-together.

See the Beatles

1. Black Silk Ties $16
2. Beatles Wig $14
3. Round Glasses $17
4. Black Suit Jacket $54

Shop the Look

Sandlot 2015

This costume was born completely around a (non-stretch! no stretch at all!) vintage bathing suit my mom had stashed in the dress-up. Charly is wearing my shirt, and Smalls is killing me–Faye Faye, you nailed it.

See Sandlot

1. Striped Baseball Jersey $18
2. Red Swimsuit $21
3. Baseball Mitt $18
4. White Sunglasses $14

Shop the Look

What are you being for Halloween this year!? Do you do a family or group costume? It's one of our favorite family traditions.

— Hide Comments
+ ShowComments
What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. We're going for easy yet meaningful costumes this year with our almost-2-year-old: Beanie Babies! He absolutely loves his dad's old beanie babies, and it's a super simple costume. Husband is going as Chocolate the Moose (all brown, added orange felt to Christmas moose antler headband), I'm going as Zip the Black Cat, and our son is going as Buddy the White Bunny in this adorable bunny onesie outfit. I just handmade some TY tags out of construction paper and we're done! It's a really easy Trunk or Treat theme too!

  2. We love family costumes too! We've done: Charlotte's Web, Grease, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, 101 Dalmatians... to name a few. This year we are being Wreck It Ralph and my 2 year old is going to be Sour Bill... I'm most excited to dress him up 😆

  3. I loved ET - haven't seen it for years now but it was my go-to comfort film when I was sick until probably my 20's. I'm guessing the rest of you will all be the friends on bikes?!
    My husband and I have done couples costumes recently while our two girls are whatever they feel like. This year he is Inigo Montoya and I'm Buttercup... he wasn't feeling the Westley vibe and that's fine :-D

  4. I guessed little red riding hood, but my thought was you would have a red hoodie and be on a bike…so I was close…sort of, right?! 😂

  5. I used to have a costume closet; alas, downsizing to a condo ended that. In the past, I've talked my office into Wizard of Oz (the tin (wo)man commuted on the bus in full silver makeup. I was the wicked witch of the east with a cardboard house over my shoulders. We even had a live Toto.
    We've also done Alice in Wonderland. I was the Queen of Hearts complete with plastic lawn flamingo.
    This year, I'm repeating the Queen (bought a new red wig at Goodwill) and my husband agreed to be the white rabbit.

  6. I'm not from Amerika so I'm wondering: do you do this familycostume just for Pictures or do you go trick or treating in them?
    The pictures are great, I love the Beatles and the monster Mash. Your kids poses are top, I usually struggle to get them look in the same direction

What We're

Loving

Right Now

What We're

Loving

Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop
Shop All

Love Stories

Love Where You Live

In an industry that often feels designed to make you discontent, we want this to be place you come for inspiration, ideas, and encouragement to make the space you're already in feel like home.
Read All Posts
let's break this thing up

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

01

Portfolio

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
read more
02

Projects

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
read more
03

Design

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
read more
hello world!

looking for inspiration?

A front entry dresser featuring FloorPops peel-and-stick floor tiles in red & white marble checkerboard
Decor

My Top Black Friday Finds at Wayfair

This post is sponsored by Wayfair. Black Friday is a great time to pick up gifts for others, but it's also a great time to discover new home decor for yourself. Wayfair is one of my go-to places for both holiday and non-holiday decor, and this Black Friday they have gone DEEP with markdowns — […]
Sales

The Best Early Black Friday Deals in 2024 (And More to Come!)

So many of our favorite stores have already launched early Black Friday sales, and we know there’s more to come! We collected all of the best deals of the holiday season—from tech to home decor—in one place for easy reference. Whether you want the lowest price on one of the best gifts of the year […]
Design

The Exciting Plans for Our Primary Bathroom Design

Chris and I have always said that if we don't feel 100% all-in excited about a project—both of us—then we probably haven't found the solution yet. I think that's been the tale with our primary bathroom renovation as a whole. We feel excited about doing the project, but it's been YEARS in the design phase […]
Chris Cooks

Mom's Light & Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls

I do a lot of cooking for food restrictions, but this recipe is none of those things. These dinner rolls are my mom's recipe, and they're one of her signature dishes. She has made them for almost every gathering since I was a kid. The smell of these...it's the smell of every family event in […]
Learn With Us
Want to do what we do? Get the tools, mentorship, and training to be a Good Influencer professionally.
Learn More
Looking for Something?

SEARCH THE BLOG

We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

hello world!
Follow Along on Instagram
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
© 2024 Chris Loves Julia, LLC
PRIVACY POLICYTERMS & CONDITIONSAFFILIATE DISCLAIMERSITE CREDITCOMMUNITY GUIDELINES