Halloween Costumes for Girls That’ll Actually Make Them Excited to Trick-or-Treat

Why Picking the Right Costume Actually Matters

Kids remember Halloween for years.

I still remember being seven and wearing a mermaid costume that was so scratchy I cried halfway through trick-or-treating.

Don’t let that be your kid’s memory.

The right costume makes the whole night better—she’ll pose for pictures without complaining, she won’t overheat, and she’ll actually want to keep it on past the first block of houses.

Plus when she feels confident and comfortable, you get better photos and way less drama.

Trust me on this one.

Disney Princess Costumes That Don’t Feel Overdone

Disney princesses are classic for a reason.

Your girl probably already has a favorite, and honestly there’s nothing wrong with going this route if it makes her happy.

Top princess picks that are huge right now:

• Elsa – Still going strong even though Frozen came out forever ago. Girls love the ice queen vibes and the dress is usually pretty comfy.
• Moana – Perfect if she’s active and wants to actually move around. Way less restrictive than ball gown styles.
• Ariel – The Little Mermaid remake brought this one back in a big way. You can find Ariel costume dresses that range from simple to super elaborate.
• Tiana – Underrated honestly. The green dress is gorgeous and it’s nice seeing more variety in princess representation.
• Snow White – With the new live-action movie, this one’s making a comeback. Classic and recognizable.

The key with princess costumes is checking the material before you buy.

Cheap polyester that doesn’t breathe will make her miserable if it’s even slightly warm outside.

Look for costumes with good reviews mentioning comfort, not just how “pretty” they look.

Movie and TV Character Costumes She’s Actually Watching

Here’s the thing about character costumes—they need to be from shows or movies she actually cares about right now.

Not what was popular when you were a kid.

What’s trending for 2025:

• Wicked characters – If she’s seen the movie or musical, she probably wants to be Elphaba or Glinda. The green witch look is iconic and honestly pretty easy to put together even if you go DIY.
• Bluey costumes – Perfect for younger girls and AMAZING if you have siblings. You can do the whole Heeler family and it’s adorable. Plus Bluey costumes are usually comfortable since they’re based on a dog character.
• Wednesday Addams – Still popular from the Netflix show. Super easy to recreate with a black dress, white collar, and braids. One of those costumes that doesn’t require buying anything fancy.
• Minecraft characters – With the new Minecraft movie, these are everywhere. Simple, blocky designs that are surprisingly fun.
• Descendants villains – If she’s into the Disney villain kids, these costumes let her be edgy without being scary. Mal, Evie, and Uma are the favorites.

I’ve noticed character costumes work best when the character is still relevant to kids right now, not just nostalgic for adults.

Ask your daughter what she’s been watching lately and go from there.

Superhero Costumes for Girls Who Want to Feel Powerful

Superhero costumes are great because they’re usually designed for movement.

She can actually run around and play without the costume falling apart or getting in the way.

Popular superhero options:

• Wonder Woman – Classic, empowering, and the costume usually includes cool accessories like the lasso and cuffs.
• Supergirl – Bright, fun, and recognizable. Plus capes are always a hit with kids.
• Batgirl – Darker color palette if she’s not into the bright costumes. The mask is usually the favorite part.
• Spider-Gwen – Different from regular Spider-Man and the color scheme is really cool.
• Captain Marvel – Strong character and the superhero costume designs are usually pretty comfortable.

Superhero costumes also tend to be warmer, which is actually helpful if you live somewhere where Halloween night gets cold.

You can layer underneath without ruining the look.

DIY Costume Ideas That Don’t Require Crafting Skills

Not everyone has time to hot glue gun their way through Pinterest projects.

I get it, I really do.

But there are some DIY costumes that are genuinely easy and look great.

Simple DIY options that won’t stress you out:

• Rosie the Riveter – Denim shirt, red bandana, jeans. Done. You probably have most of this already.
• Cat costume – Black clothes, cat ears headband, draw whiskers with eyeliner. Takes five minutes and kids love it.
• Cowgirl – Jeans, plaid shirt, cowboy hat, bandana. Western themes are big right now.
• Ice cream cone – This one’s actually adorable. Brown outfit for the cone, pastel colors for the ice cream, maybe add some pom-poms for sprinkles.
• Jellyfish – Clear umbrella, attach streamers or ribbons. It’s cute and keeps her dry if it rains.
• Stick figure – Black outfit, tape or sew white strips for the “bones.” Add glow sticks for nighttime and it’s even cooler.
• Rainbow – Colorful clothes, maybe add some clouds made from cotton balls. Simple but effective.

The best DIY costumes use stuff you already have at home, with maybe one or two purchased items to complete the look.

Don’t overthink it.

Kids usually care more about the overall idea than perfect execution.

Spooky Costumes for Girls Who Like Being Scared

Not every girl wants to be a princess or a cute character.

Some want to actually be spooky for Halloween.

And that’s totally fair—it is a holiday