20 All Saints Day Costume Ideas: DIY, Amazon, Etsy, and Dollar Store Finds
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Some of my favorite All Saints’ Day costumes were the ones I made myself, starting with a picture of a saint, a piece of fabric, a sewing machine, and a few props that I planned to use for the final touches. Others arrived in an Amazon package, all ready to go, just days before the party. I have loved both kinds!
After nine years of dressing up my children for All Saints’ Day, and with six children now, I have tried quite a few costumes and approaches. I have sewn costumes without really knowing how to sew, searched antique stores for props, reused the same dress for different saints, and ordered complete outfits when life was just too busy.
A costume does not have to be perfect to be special and memorable. My children have enjoyed my imperfectly sewn homemade costumes just as much as the store bought ones. The little details often make the biggest difference (for example, roses, glasses, a bird on a shoulder, etc).
Here are the costumes my family has used over the years, with the materials, accessories, and little lessons that helped me put them together.
Key Takeaways
- Saint costumes can combine homemade pieces, purchased costumes & props, and clothing already in the closet.
- A reference image helps identify the colors and accessories that make a costume recognizable.
- Costumes and props can be reused for different saint costumes over the years. (for example, tunics, dresses, halos, flowers, and glasses, etc.)
- Fabric choices should suit the weather, with fleece especially helpful for cold outdoor celebrations.
Table of Contents
- How I Choose an All Saints Day Costume
- My First Homemade Saint Costumes
- Costumes with Memorable Props
- Simple Clothing Pieces and Sibling Themes
- Purchased Costumes with Personal Touches
- Three More Saint Costume Ideas for Plays and Dress-Up
- Recap of Lessons I Have Learned Over the Years
How I Choose an All Saints Day Costume
I usually begin with an image of the saint. My children either choose a picture from one of the saints books we have or from a prayer card they like. Having a particular image or photograph of the saint to refer back to really helps me decide what we are going to need to buy at the store or look for in our closet, which colors to use for fabric, and which props matter most. I look for the features that will make the costume recognizable (like a palm for the martyrs).
Before buying anything, I check what I already have. A brown tunic can become more than one saint costume. A pink dress and gold halo can work for St. Cecilia one year and St. Philomena another. Even the little glasses I bought for my baby’s costume one year eventually became part of another costume.
I also think about the weather. In Maryland, an outdoor evening event was always really cold, so fleece was wonderful. Years later, in Florida, during a daytime party, I did not need those warm layers at all. The best fabric depends on where and when the costume will be worn.
And I give myself permission to choose the easiest option when I want or need to. After a move or during a particularly busy time (like a pregnancy or caring for a newborn), ordering a costume online has worked out perfectly and turned out just as cute and fun. Props and special touches make all the difference!
My First Homemade Saint Costumes
1. St. Maria Goretti: Red Fleece, a Shawl, and Lilies
St. Maria Goretti was one of the first costumes I ever made. I had never really sewn before, but I bought red fleece and made a simple tunic. It had some imperfections, but it was definitely cute and, most importantly, it kept my daughter warm during a chilly evening.
For the shawl, I bought a light, transparent fabric and then trimmed it down to the right size for my daughter. The combination of the red tunic and light pink shawl matched the picture I was using very nicely.
I finished the costume with artificial lilies and palms that I bought from a craft store, since St. Maria Goretti is a martyr. Craft stores such as Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Joann’s were the kinds of stores I checked for these floral & plant accessories.
This was a great beginner project. I did not need perfect stitches or to follow an elaborate pattern to make something my daughter enjoyed wearing.
2. St. Thérèse of Lisieux: A Brown Habit and Dollar Store Roses
For St. Thérèse, I used brown fleece. I cut two pieces, pinned them together, and worked out where I needed to sew as I went. I really was learning as I went, so please do not feel that you need to be experienced either before trying something simple.
The white fabric around her face was a turtleneck I already had in the closet. I arranged it around her face and added a piece of black fabric over it as the veil. That combination came out so cute, and it saved me from making every part from scratch.
I also made a light-colored cape and sewed on a little button that reminded me of the one in my reference picture of St. Therese. For the props, I bought several colors of artificial roses at the dollar store, and I used a crucifix I already had.
Were those first costumes perfect? Not at all. But the costumes and pictures were still very cute; my children had fun, and that was the beginning of a tradition we wanted to continue.
Costumes with Memorable Props
3. St. Cecilia: A Pink Dress, a Harp, and a Homemade Halo
For St. Cecilia, I took my daughter to look at fabrics and compare them with our inspiration picture. I chose a shiny pink fabric that seemed to match best.
The harp was the challenge. I considered whether I could make one from styrofoam, wood, or cardboard, but I was worried about how much work that would be. Then one day I stopped at an antique store near our co-op, hoping to find something that could work, and I was so excited to find a small wooden harp (I think it might have originally been for some flowers!). It was perfect!
The old strings were cracking, so I went to the craft store and got some gold elastic cord to replace the strings. Finding this harp was such a blessing because using an older object to adapt was so much easier than trying to make one from scratch.
For the halo, I chose a Styrofoam ring at a craft store, wrapped it in gold fabric, and secured the fabric with fabric glue. I tried the ring on my daughter before choosing it, which helped me see which size would work best.
The finished gold halo became one of those accessories I was very glad to use again and again over the years for different saints’ costumes.
4. St. Dymphna: A Crown, Sword, and Oil Lamp
St. Dymphna’s costume came together around the accessories. I ordered a crown and a decorative oil lamp online, and the lamp matched the picture I was using beautifully.
For the flame of the lamp, I cut a small piece of fabric from some of the leftover gold fabric I used to make St. Cecilia’s halo. With fabric markers, I colored the tip of the fabric piece red and tucked it into the lamp. It was such a small addition, but it looked really cute and made it look more realistic.
A costume sword completed the look. October is a great time to look for accessories like this, since stores are already carrying costume supplies.
5. St. JosemarÃa Escrivá: A Baby Cassock and Little Glasses
When my son was about six months old, I chose for him to dress up as St. JosemarÃa Escrivá. I thought if I combed his hair to the side and added little glasses the resemblance would be perfect.
I ordered the glasses online and made the tiny cassock myself from a thick black cotton fabric. This was one of my more ambitious projects. I spent a lot of time on this one, including making and sewing on the little buttons, but it was worth it.
To help the black part of the collar hold its shape, I used a strip cut from a yogurt container as an insert. This one definitely required some creativity and improvisation. It was a very homemade solution, but it did the job!
I enjoyed making that costume, but for future years I have tried to keep things simpler.
6. St. Philomena: Reusing the Pink Dress and Gold Halo
For St. Philomena, I reused the pink dress and halo from the St. Cecilia costume. Changing the details around the neckline and parting my daughter’s hair down the middle (like St. Philomena in the picture I had) gave the outfit a completely different look.
I had trouble finding pink and gold trim to match the picture, but eventually, I found a white ribbon with a gold Greek key ribbon pattern. Since I already had fabric markers, I colored the white sections pink, and I used some hem tape to hold it in place.
This is one of my favorite examples of using what I already had on hand from previous years and just adapting it to make something new.
7. St. Clare of Assisi: A Lantern-Based Monstrance Prop
For St. Clare costume, I made a monstrance by gluing together a small lantern and a candle stand.
The stand I used was metal, although wooden candle stands were another option I considered. Small decorative outdoor lanterns were easy to find in craft stores, and I had also seen similar ones at Ikea. The dollar store might even have some!
I glued the main pieces together and spray-painted them gold. Then I added a battery-operated tealight candle inside, taped a white paper circle on it to represent the host, and then added a tiny gold cross to the top. It was great for this nighttime event we attended!
I also reused the black veil I still had from the previous year. Between the habit and the distinctive prop, the costume came together so nicely.
Simple Clothing Pieces and Sibling Themes
8. Mother Mary: A Ready-Made Costume
Another year, when one of my daughters wanted to dress up as Mother Mary, I ordered that costume online. That made this one very simple, and I later reused it when I needed costumes quickly after a move.
The dress, veil, and mantle made it a recognizable outfit without a sewing project.
9. St. Jacinta Marto: A Blouse, Skirt, Head Covering, and Lamb
For St. Jacinta, I ordered a blouse, head covering, and skirt online that seemed to match the picture we had of her.
I already had the little lamb stuffed animal, so that was such a sweet finishing touch.
I tied the head covering into place and was so happy with how the whole outfit looked. The original blouse I ordered is no longer available, but the skirt and head covering provide a great starting point for the outfit.
10. St. Francisco Marto: Gingham Pants, a Jacket, and a Rosary
Since my daughter chose St. Jacinta, I thought it would be especially cute to dress my son up as St. Francisco Marto. These became one of my favorite pairs of costumes.
I did not want to sew a jacket and pants, so I searched for some online options. I found brown gingham-patterned pants on Etsy and a corduroy jacket from Poshmark.
I already had a black beanie-style hat and paired the outfit with a wooden rosary. Those pieces pulled the look together without requiring any sewing.
That year, I took the children to an amazing All Saints’ Day celebration in Washington, DC. Adults were dressed as saints at different stations, told the children about the saints’ lives, and handed out candy. Because it was during the day, the children did not need quite as many warm layers this year either.
11. St. Francis of Assisi: A Brown Tunic and a Bird
The next year, after moving to Texas, I had very little preparation time before an All Saints’ Day party. For my son, I reused the brown tunic I had made a few years ago and used it to make a costume of St. Francis of Assisi.
I attached an artificial craft bird to his shoulder with adhesive Velcro. One side went on the costume, and the other went on the bird. I also used leftover gold elastic cord from the harp project to make a simple halo.
This was one of the easiest costumes I have made, and one of my favorites. For the tunic, a large brown adult shirt could work for a smaller child, or a purchased monk costume could replace the homemade tunic. The little bird accessory is the detail I especially loved!
12. Little Thérèse: A Dress Already in the Closet
For my youngest daughter at the time, I chose to use a dress I already had, and since it had lots of roses on it, it made me think of St. Thérèse as a little girl.
This is an easy option when you need something uncomplicated. Sometimes, choosing a saint as a child is a fun and creative option that opens up possibilities that do not require special religious clothing. For that year, the dress I already owned was enough.
Purchased Costumes with Personal Touches
13. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: A Black Dress and Bonnet
I ordered a black dress for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton online and purchased the bonnet separately. Together, they gave the outfit the appearance I wanted without much preparation.
Final touches for this costume were a wooden rosary and a small black book.
14. St. Anne: An Orange Dress with Added Trim
For St. Anne, I worked from an image showing an orange dress and dark blue veil. I ordered an orange maxi dress and added brown trim with a triangular pattern along the neckline, sleeves, and lower edge.
The veil was a piece of dark blue fabric with white ribbon sewn along the edge. That turned out to be the hardest part because my ribbon was not stretchy. Getting it to sit in the right shape took some effort.
Still, the outfit came out so nicely. The orange maxi dress gave me a ready-made base, and the added trim made it look much closer to the picture.
15. St. John Bosco: A Priest Costume and Printable Biretta
For St. John Bosco, I ordered a priest costume from Amazon during a busy season after another move (this time to Florida). It arrived quickly, and I only needed to add the biretta.
The biretta came from an Etsy digital download. It only took about five minutes to assemble, and it looked great with the costume. I love that a simple printable accessory could finish it so easily.
16. Our Lady of the Rosary: Add a Wooden Rosary
When my two younger girls both wanted to dress as Mother Mary, I chose for each of them to dress up as Our Lady under her different titles. One was Our Lady of the Rosary, and the other wore a white-and-blue Marian costume inspired by Our Lady of Lourdes/Our Lady of Grace.
For Our Lady of the Rosary, I ordered the costume online and used a wooden rosary I already had. The rosary was the only accessory, so I did not need to add a lot of other details.
A ready-made Marian outfit worked well as the base. This is another example of letting one meaningful prop carry the costume idea.
17. Our Lady of Lourdes/Our Lady of Grace: White and Blue
For the other Marian costume, I started with a white angel-style dress and added a blue mantle. I liked how the pieces looked together, and it was another quick outfit to assemble.
18. St. Bernadette: A Blue Dress, Apron, and Head Covering
St. Bernadette was another easy combination of purchased pieces. I found a head covering that matched the picture well, a shawl, a gray waist apron, and a modest blue dress for underneath.
I especially liked that these pieces could be useful afterward. The apron had pockets and could be worn in the kitchen. My daughter could wear the blue dress to Mass, and she received so many compliments on it! A few years later, I wore the costume to an All Saints’ Day event (pictured above).
19. St. Joan of Arc: A Purchased Costume with a Fleur-de-Lis
For St. Joan of Arc, I ordered the armor-style costume online. I then enlarged a fleur-de-lis design in Canva and used it to personalize the front.
I did the best I could with a limited amount of time, and the result was cute. The ready-made costume handled the complicated part, while the emblem gave me a manageable little DIY project to make the costume more special and customized.
20. St. Carlo Acutis: A Red Polo, Khaki Shorts, and Sunglasses
For my youngest son, I put together a Carlo Acutis costume using a red polo and khaki shorts I already had. At the time I made it, Carlo was still Blessed and awaiting canonization.
I reused the glasses from the St. JosemarÃa costume and added dark tape to make them resemble sunglasses. Later, I found inexpensive sunglasses at the dollar store that could have worked, too.
This was a wonderfully simple and easy choice. Ordinary clothes and one recognizable accessory were enough.
Three More Saint Costume Ideas for Plays and Dress-Up
Not every costume I have made was for an All Saints Day party. My children have also used saint costumes for little plays and for fun at home. These are three additional ideas from those projects.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
I made an Our Lady of Guadalupe costume with a pair of curtains I purchased from Walmart (for the dress), a teal flat twin-size sheet (for the veil), and I put gold duct tape around the border of Our Lady’s veil to give it that signature Our Lady of Guadalupe look. I used a black ribbon to tie around her waist.
I had a piece of black poster board at home that I used to cut out the shape of the moon at her feet. Afterwards, I enlarged an online image of the angel, printed it out, and taped it onto the bottom of the dress.
St. Nicholas
My children enjoy doing little plays at home, and one year, for the Feast of St. Nicholas, they wanted to make a play about St. Nicholas. The costume we put together for that one was very simple. All we used was a t-shirt and a ribbon that I already had at home. No need to turn every dress-up project into a large shopping or sewing project!
This is the kind of project I enjoy for an at-home play: something uncomplicated that helps the children take on their roles and have fun.
St. José Sánchez del RÃo
For St. José Sánchez del RÃo, I used leftover fabric pieces. The costume was easy to put together, and it was another reminder that fabric scraps from earlier projects can still be useful.
I love being able to make a new outfit from things already in the house. Sometimes those quick, resourceful projects become just as memorable as the ones I have spent hours planning.
Recap of Lessons I Have Learned Over the Years
Lessons I’ve learned over the years:
- Begin with a picture: it helps me choose the few details that matter most.
- Check the closet first: ordinary clothing can be the foundation of a wonderful costume.
- Match the fabric to the weather: fleece was helpful for cold evenings, but unnecessary for warm daytime parties.
- Mix purchased and homemade pieces: I can buy the main outfit and make one accessory.
- Save the props: flowers, halos, and glasses may become part of another saint’s costume.
Definitely save the reusable pieces. Keeping things like a tunic, dress, halo, artificial flowers, glasses, and rosaries all helped me put together later costumes with less effort.
Overall, I have had years when I wanted to sew everything and years when I needed almost everything to arrive ready-to-wear. Both approaches have helped my family celebrate All Saints’ Day in a special, fun, and memorable way. I hope you found this post helpful and that it helped to give you some ideas and inspiration!
