Are you looking for a show-stopping Halloween costume that’s both elegant and eco-friendly? Look no further than this DIY peacock costume guide for women and pets! Perfect for the crafty and environmentally conscious, this stunning ensemble will turn heads at any Halloween party while allowing you to reuse and recycle materials you might already have at home. Let’s dive into creating a fabulous peacock costume that’s as kind to the planet as it is beautiful.

Illustration for inspiration: Amazing DIY peacock costume for woman and pet: by Foftychel Chelsea aka Bird Nerd.

Why Choose a Peacock Costume?

Peacocks are known for their vibrant, iridescent feathers and regal appearance. By choosing a peacock costume, you’re embracing:

1. Natural beauty and elegance
2. Vibrant, eye-catching colors
3. A timeless and recognizable look
4. The opportunity for creative expression

Plus, with our sustainable approach, you’ll be reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly fashion choices – a win-win for style and the environment!

Materials You’ll Need

Before we start crafting, gather these materials:

• Old or thrifted blue or green dress (for women’s costume)
• Cardboard or foam board
• Green, blue, and purple feathers (look for faux feathers or collect fallen ones)
• Glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors
• Blue, green, and purple fabric scraps
• Elastic band
• Headband
• Fake gems or sequins (optional)
• For pets: Blue or green pet shirt or vest

Now, let’s break down the costume-making process for both women and pets.

Creating the Peacock Costume for Women

Step 1: Prepare the Base Dress

1. Start with a blue or green dress as your base. If you don’t have one, check local thrift stores for an affordable option.
2. If needed, adjust the length or fit to suit your preferences.

Step 2: Craft the Tail Feathers

As you can see in the illustration of Chelsea’s dress, you can make feather strips, sew these together into a long and a shorter panel and then sew both panels onto a waist band to tie to your main dress at the front.

If you are a pro seamstress, of course you can use fabric stiffeners and make individual, slightly stiffened feathers, and layer an interfacing under your top fabric the professional way.

For the rest of us, and the more crafty option: let’s make use of easy to find alternatives like cardboard or foam board even, to add a bit of ‘body’ to the feather components, like so:

1. Cut a large, fan-shaped piece from cardboard or foam board. This will be the base for your tail feathers.
2. Cover the cardboard with fabric scraps in shades of blue and green. This adds texture and reduces the amount of feathers needed.
3. Starting from the bottom, begin gluing feathers onto the fabric-covered cardboard. Overlap them slightly for a fuller look.
4. Create “eyes” on the feathers using larger, rounded feathers and/or by gluing fake gems in circular patterns. TIP: See the illustration for a suggested layering. I recommend that you make the eyes ahead of time, in advance. As these eyes will be the ‘attention grabbers’ in this peacock costume, you will want to spend a bit of time to get them to look ‘jewel-like’ and really beautiful.
5. Either sew fabric feathers onto a band to go around your waist, and/or sew them on the main dress. Or, if you work with cardboard-feathers, you can go as simple as this: attach an elastic band to the back of the tail piece so you can secure it around your waist.

Step 3: Design the Headpiece

1. Take a plain headband and cover it with blue or green fabric.
2. Attach a small fan of feathers to the headband, mimicking a peacock’s crest.
3. Add a few longer feathers for an extra dramatic effect.

I think Chelsea’s hat is a great inspiration. Look at the pictures above.

Step 4: Add Final Touches

1. Accessorize with blue and green makeup, focusing on dramatic eye shadow to complement the costume.
2. Consider adding some sparkle with sequins or glitter to your dress or face for that extra peacock shine.
3. Pair the costume with comfortable blue or green shoes – consider reusing ones you already own.

Creating a Matching Peacock Costume for Pets

Step 1: Prepare the Base

1. Start with a blue or green pet shirt or vest. If you don’t have one, consider dyeing an old white pet garment.

Step 2: Create Mini Tail Feathers

1. Cut a smaller fan shape from cardboard, appropriate for your pet’s size. (Or again, use top/bottom fabric with an interfacing layer in between).
2. Cover it with fabric and feathers, just like the human version, but on a smaller scale.
3. Attach the tail to the back of the pet shirt using safety pins or by sewing it on.

Step 3: Craft a Pet-Friendly Headpiece

1. Make a small elastic band with a few feathers attached.
2. Ensure it’s comfortable and not too tight for your pet.

Step 4: Ensure Comfort and Safety

1. Make sure all parts of the costume are securely attached.
2. Allow for easy movement and bathroom breaks.
3. Never leave your pet unattended while in costume.

Sustainable Crafting Tips

To make your peacock costume even more eco-friendly:

1. Use fallen feathers found in nature instead of buying new ones.
2. Repurpose old jewelry or buttons for the “eyes” of the feathers.
3. Use fabric scraps from old clothes or curtains for added texture and color.
4. After Halloween, disassemble the costume and use the materials for other crafts.

Caring for Your Peacock Costume

To ensure your DIY peacock costume lasts for future Halloweens or costume parties:

1. Store feathers in a cool, dry place to prevent moolding.
2. Gently brush feathers to maintain their shape and remove dust.
3. For the fabric parts, spot clean as needed and air out after wearing.

Conclusion: Strut Your Stuff!

With your DIY peacock Halloween costume, you and your pet are ready to dazzle at any Halloween gathering. This sustainable and stylish approach not only showcases your creativity but also shows your commitment to eco-friendly fashion choices. Remember, the key to pulling off this look is confidence – so spread those feathers and strut your stuff– ha, ha — literally!

It is really so much fun to create your own peacock costume, the prep is often one of the best parts of celebrating Halloween imo. Makes you love your life / lifestyle with creativity, sustainability, and self-expression. So go ahead, I’d say! Be that belle of the Halloween ball, inspire others with your stunning, earth-friendly creation, and of course, have fun!

Happy crafting, and have a spectacular Halloween!

Halloween Costume Ideas

If you have time to make your own, than click here for dozens of ready-made Halloween costumes for women (including a beautiful peacock outfit) and costumes for pets. For another free Halloween costume pattern for women: check out this belly dancer outfit.

First published on October 22, 2009 6:00 am. Updated 2024.