Halloween is here — my absolute favorite holiday — and with it returns our annual Studio DIY In Costume series. Each year we create playful, food-inspired outfits and share step-by-step ideas so you can make your own. This year we kicked things off with an easy, wearable DIY burger costume that transforms a tan dress into a fun, recognizable look using simple supplies and straightforward assembly.
Last year we made a burger pumpkin, so this year a matching burger costume felt inevitable. The best part: you can adapt this to any neutral dress with an uncomplicated felt belt and some hot glue. It’s fast, fuss-free, and perfect for Halloween parties or group costumes.
Supplies needed:
– Tan dress
– 3″ wide brown elastic (from a craft store, or use a premade elastic belt and position the buckle at the back)
– White seed embellishments (or small white felt pieces)
– Felt in yellow, red, and green
– Scissors
– Hot glue gun
– Velcro
How to make the burger costume:
1. Cut felt pieces: four or five scalloped green strips for lettuce, four yellow triangles for cheese, three red half-circles for tomato slices, and several dozen small white seed shapes for the bun.
2. Arrange the white “seeds” across the top portion of your dress or shirt until you like the pattern. Use a small dot of hot glue to attach each seed—covering both front and back looks great if you want a finished look from all angles.
3. If you’re making a belt from elastic, measure it around your waist and cut to fit, leaving about 1″ extra for attaching velcro. Glue the yellow cheese triangles evenly along the belt.
4. Add the lettuce by running short lines of hot glue along the center of the elastic and attaching the straight edge of each scalloped green strip. Gather the felt slightly as you glue to create a ruffled, leafy effect.
5. Glue the red tomato half-circles on top of the lettuce pieces to complete the layers.
6. Finish by cutting two matching pieces of velcro to the width of the elastic and hot-gluing one piece to the front edge and the other to the back edge so the belt fastens securely. That’s it — you’re done!
Photos by Jeff Mindell
This costume pairs perfectly with more food-themed looks — we’ve got another great one coming tomorrow that complements this design. It’s playful, easy to make, and a fun choice for friends who want coordinating outfits.
If you make a Studio DIY costume, share it on Instagram with #studiodiyincostume to be featured on the blog and join the community of reader creations.