Halloween Costumes Inspired by Music

Music brings a lot of joy to life. So why not use music as the basis for your Halloween costume? Think about your favorite songs and then brainstorm costume ideas. Or use some of the ideas here to create a unique Halloween costume.

Be the Theme of a Song

Create a costume to depict the theme of a favorite song. For example, for the song "Imagine" by John Lennon, you could have a costume as a peace sign. For the song "Californication" you could wear a map of California as a costume. And for the song "American Idiot" you could wear a costume of George W. Bush.

Carry a boom box to play a CD of the song that you are referring to in your costume. This costume idea offers endless variations. Have fun with this idea and be creative!

Janis Joplin: America's Favorite Hippie Chick

Dressing up like Janis Joplin on Halloween is a fun idea. Janis had a hippie chick style all her own. So find some boas, bell bottoms, a wig with long sandy blonde hair, a lot of rings and necklaces and you will be able to recreate the look of Janis.

Look around some thrift shops and flea markets and you will probably find some hippie type clothing in the vintage section. This costume won't cost a lot to make. It will however bring a smile to the face to anyone who loves the music of Janis Joplin. Janis forever!

Be a Note of Music

A costume in the shape of a note of music is easy and cheap to make. Just get some black felt and some black embroidery thread and a large needle. Then use a large piece of poster board to cut out the shape of the note of music. Use that shape as a pattern to place on the piece of felt to neatly cut the felt into the note of music. Then sew the two pieces of felt together with large whip stitches on the outside of the fabric.

Make the costume wide enough so you will be able to walk normally while wearing it. You may wish to end the costume at the knees for ease of movement. If so wear black tights under the costume.

Favorite CD or Album Cover

Walk around on Halloween as a poster of your favorite CD or album cover. Go to Kinkos or another copy store and make a large color Xerox of the CD or album. Then tape or glue it to a large piece of poster board.

Then punch holes in that piece of poster board and another piece two. Tie some string or ribbon through the two pieces of poster board at the top. Also make holes at the sides of the poster board near the middle of the costume. Run string through the 2 pieces there too. This will keep the costume stable once you put it on.

Lady Gaga

Since Lady Gaga is always wearing some outrageous outfit, there are many of Halloween costume ideas that could be created based on her style. You could make a mock up of the meat dress by using poster board cut in the shape of meat to make a dress.

Another idea is to find an old evening gown at a thrift shop and a long blonde wig and put together a costume based on one of Gaga's more glamorous looks.

Be a Color!

Many songs refer to a color in the lyrics. This can lead to some fun costume ideas. You could create a costume of fabric in the color purple to depict the song "Purple Haze" by Jimmy Hendrix.

Other songs that mention color include: "Yellow" by Cold Play, "Yellow Submarine" by Beatles, "Black" by Pearl Jam, "Pink" by Aerosmith, "Pink Cadillac" by Bruce Springsteen, "Paint it Black" by Rolling Stones, "Ebony & Ivory" by Stevie Wonder, "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison, "White Wedding" by Billy Idol, "Orange Crush" by REM,

Carry a boom box or i-Pod with speakers to play the song the costume relates to. You might want to carry a basket full of lollipops in the color of the song too. Give one to anyone who asks about your costume.

Be Your Favorite Singer

Dress up in a costume to replicate the look of your favorite singer. Play some of his / her songs as you walk around on Halloween.

Be a Ghost & Play Spooky Music

A ghost costume is the easiest to create. Just cut some eye holes and a mouth hole in a white sheet and the costume is created. Then carry a boom box playing some spooky music to add to the creepy feel of the costume. Carry a sign that says RIP or wear that message on a banner.

Source: My creativity and seeing Halloween costumes over the years.