If you're planning a stage production, Halloween costume, or dress-up reading day featuring Dr. Seuss books, you'll want to come up with great costumes. From the classic Cat in the Hat to lesser-known characters like Mr. Brown, you don't need to do a lot of work to get it right. Try one of these fun DIY options that can be modified to fit any body size!
How to Make a Cat in the Hat Costume
The Cat in the Hat is both a book and popular movie. This costume can be modified for children, men, and women - just pick out items that fit!
Supplies
- Black pants
- Black long-sleeved shirt
- Red top hat
- Red bowtie
- White felt or paper
- Glue
- Safety pins
- Cat tail
- Face paint
Instructions
- Cut a large oval out of the white felt or paper. It should be large enough to cover the torso of the person wearing the costume. Set it aside.
- Cut a thick strip out of the white felt or paper large enough to add a white stripe to the top hat. Add the white felt strip to the top hat using glue or safety pins.
- Put on the black pants and shirt.
- Add the red bow tie.
- Paint a cat face using face paint.
- Use safety pins to pin the white oval on your torso so it looks like the Cat's belly.
- Use safety pins to pin the cat tail on the back of your pants or belt loop.
- Add that top hat.
How to Make a Sam-I-Am Costume
Sam-I-Am is the character from Green Eggs and Ham who insists that you should try the strangely hued dish. His look is easy to replicate with a yellow outfit paired with a top hat and accessories.
Supplies
- Yellow onesie or oversized long-sleeved yellow shirt and sweatpants or old costume with a similar look
- Red top hat
- Large platter
- Green fabric
- Scissors
- Velcro or sewing needle with thread
- Toy ham and eggs (use old toys from a kitchen play food set, pretend play eggs (such as plastic Easter eggs) paired with a ham dog toy from your local pet store, or make them yourself)
- Glue
- Slippers
- Yellow fabric or yellow spray paint
Instructions
- Gather the items you are using for ham and eggs.
- If you need to make a ham, cover a kitchen funnel with light green fabric and use a black permanent marker to create the bone.
- If you need to make the eggs, you can use light green felt ovals for the whites and dark green felt circles for the yolks.
- Trace a rough outline of the toy ham and eggs on the green fabric large enough to cover the toys.
- Cut out the fabric. Either sew the fabric around the toys or use Velcro to close the fabric around the ham and eggs.
- Glue the ham and eggs onto an old platter.
- If your slippers are not yellow, you'll need to cover the tops in yellow fabric or spray paint them yellow to match the rest of your costume.
- Put on the yellow shirt and pants or old costume. Remove any old identifying marks.
- Add yellow pants, if needed.
- Add a red top hat.
- Carry the platter with you so people recognize your character right away.
How to Make a Mr. Brown Costume
Mr. Brown is first introduced in Hop on Pop!, but he also appears in Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? A Mr. Brown costume is fun and easy to make. He is a lesser-known character in Dr. Seuss books, but you'll have a lot of fun dressing up like him.
Supplies
- Brown long-sleeved shirt and pants
- Faux moustache (even if you have a scruffy beard, the moustache adds character)
- Top hat
- Brown spray paint
- Brown ribbon
- Glue
- Blue bowtie
- Blue ribbon
Instructions
- Spray the top hat with brown spray paint. Allow it to dry.
- Once dry, add a brown ribbon to the hat with glue.
- Put on the brown long-sleeved shirt and pants.
- Tie a blue ribbon around your neck and leave the ends loose. If that bothers you, use safety pins to attach the ribbons to the shirt.
- Add a bowtie on top of the ribbon.
- Add the moustache.
More Costumes Inspired by Dr. Seuss
Get inspired and make a Horton costume, Whoville costume, Grinch costume, or any other Dr. Seuss character. If you want to purchase a costume, consider:
- Thing 1 or Thing 2 - A large red onesie with a white belly and Thing 1 or Thing 2 on the front makes this costume stand out. Bright blue hair complete the characters from The Cat in the Hat. Get it in adult sizes for less than $60 at Amazon.
Dr Seuss The Cat in the Hat - Thing 1 - One Fish, Two Fish - Get a red fish or blue fish costume for the baby or toddler in your crew and you're set for depicting this fun-filled book of the same name. Baby sizes come in an infant bunting that will fit most babies and toddler sizes run 2T to 6T. Spirit Halloween sells them both for less than $35 each.
- Lorax - Don a peach shirt and pants, and top them with the Lorax hat to create the famed character from the book and movie of the same name. It's available at Target for less than $20.
- Fox in Socks - Pair a set of fox ears and a tail with similar colored pants and top and you have the perfect start for a Fox in Socks character costume. You'll also need bright blue socks pulled up to mid-calf and blue gloves. The ears and tail are available from Amazon for about $25.
Creative Character Costumes
Characters from Dr. Seuss stories are well-known and beloved by children and adults alike. From Cindy Lou Who to the Cat in the Hat, you can easily recreate these beloved characters at home for any event.
