Absolem the Caterpillar Costume
Bring Wonderland's wise, blue, hookah-smoking caterpillar to life.
Absolem the Caterpillar is a beloved, enigmatic character from Alice in Wonderland, famous for his wise riddles and clouds of smoke. This costume is a popular choice for book lovers and Disney fans who want a unique, whimsical look. The outfit features a multi-segmented blue body, extra stuffed arms, and his signature hookah prop.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~90 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
See yourself as Absolem the Caterpillar
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
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What you need for a Absolem the Caterpillar costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Absolem the Caterpillar costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Blue Segmented Tunic
A plush, royal blue sleeveless tunic or body pod with horizontal segments to mimic a caterpillar's body.
DIY: Use a long blue sleeping bag or oversized blue sweatshirt stuffed with batting and cinched with elastic bands.
Stuffed Blue Arms
Two pairs of matching blue fabric tubes stuffed with polyester fiberfill, sewn or pinned to the sides of the tunic.
DIY: Stuff the sleeves of two blue long-sleeve shirts and attach them to the main tunic.
Blue Hood with Antennae
A matching blue hood or beanie featuring two soft, upright antennae with pom-poms on the ends.
DIY: Attach blue pipe cleaners and pom-poms to a blue beanie.
Toy Hookah or Bubble Pipe
A prop hookah pipe, preferably gold or brass-colored, to represent Absolem's signature accessory.
DIY: Decorate a plastic bottle with gold paint and attach a flexible plastic tube.
Blue Face Paint
Water-based face paint in shades of light and dark blue to blend your face into the costume.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Absolem the Caterpillar costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on a base layer of matching blue leggings and a blue long-sleeve shirt.
- 2
Slip into the main blue segmented caterpillar tunic, ensuring the extra stuffed arms hang freely at your sides.
- 3
Secure the extra arms to your main sleeves using safety pins or clear fishing line so they move when your real arms move.
- 4
Put on the blue hood or headband, positioning the antennae so they stand upright.
- 5
Apply blue face paint, focusing on the forehead, cheeks, and nose to match the caterpillar's skin tone.
- 6
Carry the prop hookah or bubble pipe to complete the iconic Wonderland look.
Makeup & hair
Apply a solid base of light blue face paint, using a darker blue eyeshadow to contour the cheekbones and nose. Keep hair completely tucked away under the blue hood or beanie.
Absolem the Caterpillar for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with Alice in her classic blue dress, or the Cheshire Cat.
- group
- Join a full Alice in Wonderland group featuring the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, and White Rabbit.
- kids
- Use a cozy, plush blue caterpillar bunting or one-piece pajama suit with attached soft arms.
- Plus size
- An oversized blue fleece poncho cinched at intervals with elastic bands creates a comfortable, adjustable segmented body.
- pet
- A blue dog sweater with stuffed felt legs attached to the sides and a soft antenna headband.
Tips
- Connect the extra stuffed arms to your real sleeves with clear fishing line so they mimic your movements.
- Use a bubble machine or bubble wand disguised as your hookah pipe for a fun, interactive smoke effect.
- Wear comfortable blue sneakers, as you will be walking with a bulky lower body.
- If wearing this indoors, opt for a lightweight fabric tunic to avoid overheating from the stuffing.
Absolem the Caterpillar costume FAQ
- How do you make the caterpillar segments look realistic?
- Cinch a long blue tunic or fleece tube at regular intervals using elastic bands or rope, then puff out the fabric between the cinches.
- What is the best prop for an Absolem costume?
- A gold prop hookah pipe or a bubble blower that releases 'smoke' bubbles is the perfect canonical accessory.
- How do I attach the extra arms?
- Sew or safety-pin four stuffed blue fabric tubes to the sides of your tunic, then link them to your actual arms with clear thread so they move in unison.
Did you know? In Lewis Carroll's original 1865 novel, the Caterpillar is never actually named; the name 'Absolem' was introduced much later in Tim Burton's 2010 film adaptation.