Make a Mermaid Costume
Making a mermaid costume is fun and easy, and the right mermaid costume will make you look like an underwater goddess. If you want to know how to make a mermaid costume, just follow these easy steps.
Contents
Steps
Make a Mermaid Tail
- Make a skirt. Gather {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of green organza. The skirt you make should fit neatly around your waist and fall to your feet.
- Cut the green fabric into a rectangle based on your measurements.
- Use hot glue to connect the ends of the fabric to create a tube skirt.
- The seam will be the back of the costume.
- If you have more time, you can sew the fabric together using thread of the same green color.
- Get a few pieces of light stretchy fabric. These will be used as fins. The fabric can be light blue, dark blue, shimmery, or metallic. You can use just one color of fabric or multiple colors.
- Cut the fabric into squares that are about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} by {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. Pinch one of the tops of the squares, and twist the fabric.
- Pin the fabric to a cloth. The cloth should be flat on a table.
- Twist the fabric a few more times until it appears to have shrunk.
- Run an iron over the fabric.
- Pick up the fabric and shake it out. Shake it gently, as if you were shaking out a handkerchief.
- Repeat this process until you have at least six pieces of the ironed stretchy fabric.
- Attach the stretchy fabric to your skirt. Put hot glue around different points around the middle of the skirt, and attach the pieces of stretchy fabric. They should attach at a point and will fan out and cascade down the skirt.
- They should start cascading just below your knees. They can fall from the same height, or from different heights for variety.
- Draw scales on the skirt. Use a gold fabric paint to draw scales all over the skirt. Each scale can be about two or three inches long and should look like a "C" turned on its side.
- Give the skirt time to dry. Wait for the fabric paint and fins to dry before you try out your new look.
Make a Mermaid Top
- Get a flesh-colored tank top or bikini. It should have cups to keep the material thick.
- Lay the top flat on a table.
- Place small bowls under the cups to support the top.
- Gather big, light shells. A few handfuls of white and sandy shells will be enough for your look.
- Use a hot glue gun to place a little bit of glue on one of the cups. Stick on one or two shells. Repeat the process until you have covered the the cups with shells.
- Give the top time to dry.
- Brush the shells with glitter or gold paint. Do this lightly.you can also use gold glittery paint!
Complete Your Mermaid Look
- Have the hair of a mermaid. Make your hair look wavy and sand-swept. Your hair can even look a little bit wet, as if you just stepped out of the ocean.
- Wear a shell headband if you have one. You can also add a starfish hair clip to your hair.
- Wear mermaid make-up. Your mermaid makeup should make you look natural and beautiful. You don't have to wear too much makeup for the right look.
- Wear a light pink lipstick.
- Shade your eyes with subtle colors like blues, greens, and purples.
- Put on silver or blue mascara for emphasis. If you wear black mascara, make sure it's subtle.
- Add a light layer of makeup to your face.
- Have mermaid shoes. Your shoes should be simple and beachy. Since real mermaids don't wear shoes, your skirt should cover most of your feet and you don't need to draw attention to them.
- Wear slinky flip-flops or sandals with shells on them.
- Wear shoes that are brown or another neutral color.
- Paint your nails and toes a subtle shade of pink.
- Avoid heels.
- Add mermaid accessories to your costume. Mermaids don't have too much time for accessories because they're busy swimming, but there are a few things you can add to complete your mermaid look. Here are a few things to try:
- Put on a mood ring or mood necklace.
- Wear a small coral purse.
- Wear coral and shell jewelry.
Tips
- Buy more fabric than you need so you'll have enough if you make a mistake.
- If you can't gather shells on your own, you can buy them at a craft store.
- Don't make the mermaid tail too long because you don't want to trip on it!
Warnings
- Be careful when you use a hot glue gun. Don't touch the glue directly.
Things You'll Need
- Shells
- {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of green organza
- {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of stretchy fabric
- A hot glue gun
- Pins
- Two bowls
- Metallic gold paint
Related Articles
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- Apply Mermaid Makeup
- Make a Mermaid Tail
- Act Like a Mermaid at School
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