Ideas to create your carnival costume with household clothes

Sometimes the party shows up before the costume. Or maybe you’d rather reuse your clothes later than buy a full outfit for one night. The good news: you can build costumes with everyday pieces easily, quickly and with style. With black basics, thermal layers and simple accessories, you’ll get solid looks for Halloween or Carnival without hassle or extra spend.

This guide brings together ideas for women, men, kids and family combos, and includes product tips you can find on our site. Our goal: help you decide what to dress up as with real, reusable ideas.

Costumes using everyday clothes for women

The key is to start with a comfy, versatile base and build with layers and details. If you want costumes with normal clothes that still feel current, go for leggings, tights, bodysuits, opaque pantyhose and fishnets. Black works brilliantly because it flatters and acts as a canvas for almost any character.

At Ysabel Mora you’ll find pieces perfect for indoors and outdoors, from soft cottons to thermal options for chilly nights.

We recommend these products as a base for your look:

• Thermal leggings, ideal if your plan is outdoors.

  

• Black faux-leather leggings for a more night-out finish.

  

• Basic black bodysuit, long sleeve or strappy, for support and a sleek line.

• Thermal opaque tights and fishnets to add warmth or texture.

  

• Black knee-high socks in cotton or rib.

  

Women’s costume ideas with black leggings

With black leggings you can build several easy all-black costumes:

• Cat: black leggings, black bodysuit or tee, DIY ears and eyeliner whiskers. Faux-leather makes it sleeker.

• Witch: all-black base with dress or long tee, opaque tights and boots. Add a hat and a cape made from an old T-shirt.

  

• Spy: fitted all-black with a bodysuit or thermal turtleneck, belt and dark glasses. Lightweight, comfy and easy to move in.

• Urban dancer: black leggings, sweatshirt and fishnets peeking at the waist or under subtle rips for texture.

Ideas with fishnets or black socks

Fishnets and knee-high socks transform a look in seconds:

• Rocker: fishnets under shorts, graphic tee and ankle boots.

• Goth: black bodysuit, black skirt, fishnets and a choker.

• Dark cowgirl: knotted black shirt, shorts, knee-high socks and hat. long black shirt

Perfect matches: fishnets, patterned pantyhose, black cotton or rib knee-highs.

Costumes with everyday clothes for men

Dressing up with normal clothes is easy for them too. Prioritize undershirts, thermals, long johns and socks in black. The result is comfortable, practical and easy to reuse daily.

Great base pieces:

• Men’s undershirts and thermals in short or long sleeves.

• Sport socks or dress socks in black.

Men’s costume ideas with basic black

• Ninja: black thermal tee, thermal long johns and a neck warmer as a mask. Add a fabric belt if you like.

• Classic thief: black tee, dark trousers, beanie and gloves. For a comic-style version, add stripes to an undershirt.

• Undercover agent: head-to-toe black with undershirt or thermal, jacket and sunglasses. Comfortable with impact.

Costumes with everyday clothes for kids

For little ones we want safety, comfort and warmth. Thermal tees, leggings and tights help keep heat in and allow easy movement. They’re perfect for costumes with pieces you already own and can be used all winter long.

We suggest as a base:

• Long-sleeve thermal tees for kids

  

• Basic black leggings and thermal leggings for girls.

• Soft, durable tights and pantyhose for kids.

Kids’ examples

• Ninja: black thermal tee, black leggings and a fabric belt. Finish with a felt eye mask.

• Bat: thermal tee and leggings with a DIY cape made from an oversized T-shirt. Draw the wings with fabric chalk and cut along the outline.

• Kitten: pantyhose or tights with a black tee, paper ears and whiskers with face paint.

• Spooky ballerina: kids’ fishnets, skirt and black tee. Add dark ribbons if you like.

Good picks: kids’ thermal tees, black leggings, tights and pantyhose.

Family costumes with what you already own

Choosing one theme for everyone makes the whole set work and keeps it easy. These ideas suit all ages:

• Secret agents: head-to-toe black with dark sunglasses. For women, leggings or tights; for men, undershirt or thermal; for kids, thermal tee with leggings.

• Rock crew: dark jeans or leggings, black tee, optional fishnets and boots. Add a leather jacket or tie a shirt at the waist.

• Shadows or bats: all-black outfits with tights and undershirts. If it’s cold, add thermal layers underneath to stay warm without breaking the look.

Practical tips for your “normal clothes” costume

1. Start with a black base: it simplifies and flatters. Leggings, bodysuits and plain tees are a great starting point for women’s, men’s or kids’ looks.

2. Add one distinctive piece: a character-driven detail changes everything. A bold belt, a hat or a DIY cape can make the costume.

3. Play with textures: mix smooth pieces with fishnets or faux leather to add depth without overdoing it. All-black costume ideas look more interesting while staying comfy.

4. Prioritize comfort: if you’ll be dancing or moving a lot, wear thermal tights or warm leggings. For kids, pick soft thermals and comfy waistbands.

5. Keep kids’ safety in mind: avoid small detachable parts and make sure nothing restricts movement.

6. Think reuse: black bases and thermals are useful all winter. These ideas work as Halloween costumes with black clothes and as Carnival costumes with pieces you already have.

7. Plan for weather and outdoor plans: if you’ll be outside, add a thermal base layer for adults and kids. A black sweatshirt helps you go in and out without breaking the look.

Dressing up can be easy, fun and sustainable. With basics you already own and our online essentials, you’ll pull off easy costumes with everyday clothes that work for Halloween and Carnival without sacrificing comfort.

Find everything you need for your next costume with style and comfort in our online store. With these ideas and a smart selection of basics, deciding what to wear will be as simple as opening your wardrobe.