With World Book Day being little over a week away, the annual panic over what to dress up as has begun. But don’t start tearing your hair out just yet. Captain Fantastic is coming to the rescue with some suggestions to create a quick and easy World Book Day costume.
Raid the dressing up box
You probably have a plethora of ready-made costumes at your fingertips.
Witch costume from Halloween? Think Room on the Broom.
Got a fairy outfit? Go as Tinkerbell or a character from the Rainbow Magic series.
Lots of little girls have princess outfits that lend themselves perfectly to a whole variety of book characters. Choosing the outfit and then finding a book to fit is definitely the key here.
Or their wardrobe
If you’ve got older children who perhaps don’t want to dress up in an all-singing-all-dancing-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink outfit, have a look in their wardrobe to see what you can use. If you’ve got a striped top it can make a perfect Dennis the Menace outfit, or Where’s Wally (just add a bobble hat!). Got a child who is football mad? They can pop on their favourite team’s strip and go as a character from one of the many football themed books.
Pop on some PJs
Pajamas are a quick and easy costume idea for World Book Day. Just be sure to pop another layer of clothing underneath so they don’t get too chilly! Sophie from the BFG, Wendy Darling from Peter Pan, Tom from Tom’s Midnight Garden. Add a few accessories and you’ve got yourself a hassle-free outfit. And talking of accessories…
Accessories are your friend
That’s right, accessories can make or break an outfit, and a World Book Day outfit is no exception. In fact, accessories can be a great starting point for a costume. Got some toy dinosaurs hanging around? Stick them in a bucket and you’ve got Harry and his bucket full of dinosaurs. Grab a wicker basket and you’ve got the beginnings of Little Red Riding Hood (check out this tutorial on how to make a no-sew hooded cape).
Switch up the school uniform
They may wear their school uniform every day, but with a few tweaks, it can become a fabulous World Book Day costume. Add a tie and blazer and you have one of any number of characters from Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers or The Naughtiest Girl collections. Shorts and long socks make a great Just William outfit for boys. Adding a cloak and glasses can make an instant Harry Potter and a checked summer dress can so easily become a Dorothy outfit.
Get Creative
Homemade costumes don’t have to be tricky. A bit of cardboard and some craft supplies can be turned into something amazing. Think superhero shields, Charlie’s golden ticket (find some old clothes to wear and you have a super easy costume). Make a mask, or a crown and go as the Little Princess. Use some packing boxes and string to make a tabard and make a giant peach outfit (James and the Giant Peach) or an envelope for a Flat Stanley costume.
We’d love to see your World Book Day outfits. Share your ideas and creations with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
