Here are 10 ideas you can create with little more than a simple t-shirt, some permanent makers, felt, and a few closet staples:
1. Johnny Appleseed Day: Take a white t-shirt, cut off the sleeves, and add a flannel, jeans or overalls. Add some DIY apple seed packets or a burlap bag and you are done!
2. Superhero Day: To make a cape, choose the t-shirt color of your choice, cut the front and sleeves off, leaving the neck band in place, and add a shield to the back using fabric glue or an iron transfer.
3. Book Character Day: Need a costume in a hurry? No problem. Take a white t-shirt and some multicolored permanent markers and you have a costume for “The Book With No Pictures.”
4. Holidays: A t-shirt and some craft supplies can get you through all the holidays. For Thanksgiving, take a white t-shirt and tea stain it. Add some feathers and you have an adorable turkey costume. For Valentine’s Day, add felt hearts to a t-shirt. For St. Patrick’s Day, add felt clover. Adapt for any additional holidays as needed.
For a fun and easy “tacky Christmas sweater,” take a long-sleeved t-shirt and add any festive items you find around the house using fabric glue or hot glue. You can add a dollar store stocking, garland, Christmas necklaces (bonus if they light up!), a gift bag, candy canes, or any other festive items you already have on hand.
For a Grinch theme, take a green t-shirt and draw a Grinch face with permanent marker.
For a reindeer theme, have your child wear a brown t-shirt and add some antlers and a red nose.
5. 100th Day of School: Using the same method as the “tacky sweater,” add 100 of any item to a plain t-shirt. You can also use permanent markers to draw on to the shirt. (Bonus: You can also draw or attach cow spots onto a plain white shirt for Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A!)
6. Fifties Day: For a boy, take a white t-shirt, tuck it into some rolled up jeans, add some converse or loafers, slicked back hair, and sunglasses. You can add a DIY letterman jacket by creating a letter out of felt and loosely stitching it onto a cardigan or jacket already on hand. (Or you can draw a letter with your permanent markers!)
For a girl, pair a white t-shirt, turtleneck, or collared shirt with jeans or black leggings. Add a belt to the shirt, add some sunglasses and a bow, and pair with white sneakers or oxfords. If you have a little extra time, you can make a low-cost DIY poodle skirt from felt.
7. Eighties Day: For a girl, cut the neck of a brightly colored t-shirt so it’s slouchy. Add leggings, a loose belt, and some jewelry. Add some big hair and you are all set. For a boy, pop the collar on a polo shirt and add some jeans and tennis shoes. Add some gel to their hair and call it a day.
8. Fairytale Day: For a knight costume, take a gray t-shirt and cut down the sides, leaving the neck in place. (This can also be done with felt.) Using permanent marker or cut out felt, add a fleur-de-lis or other symbol for a crest. Pick up a helmet at the dollar store or use something you have on hand. For a princess costume, raid the dress up bin. If you don’t have a princess dress on hand, after-Halloween sales are a great time to grab one.
9. Pirate Day: For an easy pirate costume, cut the sleeves and bottom of a white t-shirt. Add a scarf for a belt and tie another scarf around your child’s head. Pair with leggings, striped pajama pants or solid pants (short baseball pants would also work.) Add some accessories like jewelry or a hook and you are done.
10. Career Day: Cut an oversized white t-shirt down the front. Add a name tag and stethoscope and you have an easy doctor costume.