Last Minute Book Character Costumes From What You Own

Book Week is tomorrow and nobody has a costume. It happens in most houses at least once. The good news is that most well known characters are a handful of clothes and one clear signal. Look through the wardrobe before you look anywhere else.

How to build a character from ordinary clothes

People recognise a character from a few things: a colour, a silhouette, and one item that is theirs alone. Get those three right and the rest can be plain.

• Start with colour. A red top and blue trousers do more than a perfect copy of a costume in the wrong colours. Match the main colour first.
• Choose one signature item. A striped top, a red cloak, a pair of round glasses. Make sure it is easy to see from across a room.
• Use what is at home. Dressing gowns, blankets, school jumpers, dark coats, old dresses and scarves all turn into costume pieces when worn a little differently.
• Add a prop. A basket, a book, a stick or a bag tells people who you are before they say a word.
• Keep it wearable. A child has to sit at a desk, run about and go to the toilet in this. Anything that trips, itches or blocks their view will be off by mid morning.

Check every piece fits properly, and that nothing drags on the floor or covers the eyes. Trim or pin things up before the day, not on the way out of the door.

The one or two pieces worth buying

If you are going to buy anything, buy the thing that does the most work. It is usually one of three.

• A hat. A hat is the fastest way to say who someone is. A tall striped one, a pointed one or a bobble one makes the character clear at once, and it sits on top of whatever else is being worn.
• A wig. Hair colour and shape are hard to fake. If the character is known for their hair, a wig in the right colour does the job of a whole outfit. Check it fits comfortably and does not itch.
• A prop. A wand, a magnifying glass or a tea cup gives the child something to hold and something to point at. Pick a light one with no sharp edges, and read the label for age advice.

One bought piece is usually enough. Two is plenty. If the rest of the costume comes from your own cupboards, the bought piece will look like it belongs.

Six characters you can put together at home

• A young wizard from a school of magic. A white shirt, a striped or plain tie and a dark jumper or cardigan. Add a long dark coat or dressing gown worn open as a robe. Round glasses help. For the bought piece, a wand is enough. Face paint for a lightning scar is optional, and do a small skin test first.
• Little Red Riding Hood. A plain dress or a skirt and top, with a red hooded jumper or a red blanket or large scarf pinned at the neck as a cloak. Carry a basket with a cloth over it. If you want one bought piece, a red cape with a hood is the one to get.
• Where's Wally (also known as Waldo). A red and white striped top, blue jeans and round glasses. Wear a bobble hat, red and white if you can find one. Stand a bit apart from the crowd, which is half the fun. The hat is the piece worth buying if you do not own one.
• Pippi Longstocking. A checked or patchwork dress, and odd stockings or socks, one of each colour. Big boots or black shoes. The hair is the point here: two stiff plaits sticking out sideways. You can make them from your own hair and some wire in the plaits, or buy a red plaited wig.
• The Cat in the Hat. A white shirt, a red bow tie (a red ribbon or a strip of card works), dark trousers and white gloves. Everything else is ordinary. The tall red and white striped hat is the piece that makes it work, so that is the one to buy or make from card.
• Alice from Wonderland. A light blue dress, a white apron or a tea towel tied at the waist, and white or striped tights. A black hairband finishes it. For the bought piece, a long blonde wig makes the character clear straight away. A small prop like a pocket watch or a teacup adds a nice touch.

Making it work on the day

Try the whole outfit on a day early. Children often change their minds when they see a costume in a mirror, so it is better to find out on the evening before than in the hall at school.

Use safety pins and tape on the inside of clothes, not on skin. If you are using face paint, do a small skin test first and read the label. Keep it away from the eyes.

Bring the book if you can. A child holding the story they are dressed from is one more clue, and it gives other children something to ask about. If a piece falls apart at lunchtime, the character still stands.

Most importantly, let the child have a say. A costume made from home clothes is easy to change, so if they want a different hat or a bigger bow, swap it. They will wear it more happily if it feels like theirs.