Butterfly Costume
Spread your wings with an elegant, vibrant, and easy-to-wear look.
The butterfly is a classic, whimsical costume choice loved for its vibrant colors and effortless elegance. Perfect for Halloween, festivals, or themed parties, it typically features a pair of large, colorful wings paired with a sleek base outfit and playful antenna. This guide focuses on the iconic orange and black monarch butterfly style, which is both striking and highly customizable.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $25–75
Try it on
See yourself as Butterfly
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Butterfly costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Butterfly costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Monarch butterfly wings
Large, fabric cape-style wings featuring a vibrant orange, black, and white monarch pattern.
DIY: Cut a wing shape out of orange felt and paint black veins and white dots with fabric paint.
Black bodysuit or dress
A form-fitting black long-sleeve bodysuit, dress, or top and leggings to serve as the butterfly's body.
DIY: Use any solid black fitted top and black leggings from your closet.
Antenna headband
A black headband with two flexible wire antennae topped with black pom-poms or small butterfly accents.
DIY: Wrap black pipe cleaners around a plain plastic headband and hot glue black pom-poms to the tips.
Black boots or flats
Comfortable black ankle boots, flats, or heels to keep the focus on the colorful wings.
DIY: Wear any comfortable black shoes you already own.
Face gems or glitter
Self-adhesive rhinestones or cosmetic glitter in orange, gold, or black to accent the eyes.
DIY: Use orange or gold eyeshadow to create a shimmering wing effect around your eyes.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Butterfly costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on your base outfit of a black bodysuit, dress, or fitted top and leggings.
- 2
Secure the butterfly wings by fastening the neck strap and slipping your fingers or wrists into the elastic loops at the wing tips.
- 3
Place the antenna headband securely on your head, adjusting the wire antennae so they stand upright.
- 4
Apply your makeup, adding orange eyeshadow and adhesive face gems around the outer corners of your eyes.
- 5
Put on your black boots or flats, and gently spread your arms to display the full span of your wings.
Makeup & hair
Create a dramatic look with bold black winged eyeliner, shimmering orange eyeshadow, and a few face gems near the temples. Style your hair in a sleek high ponytail, half-up space buns, or soft waves that keep your face clear for the headband.
Butterfly for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up as a Butterfly and a Butterfly Catcher, with one wearing wings and the other wearing a safari hat and carrying a net.
- group
- Create a kaleidoscope of butterflies with friends, each wearing a different color of wings like blue, purple, and green.
- kids
- Opt for smaller, wire-framed wings and a matching tulle tutu over black leggings for a comfortable, toddler-friendly look.
- Plus size
- A flowy black A-line dress or a comfortable black tunic paired with cape-style wings offers an elegant, flexible fit.
- pet
- Dress your dog in a lightweight harness with small, soft fabric butterfly wings attached to the back.
More ways people search for this costume
The most-searched variations of “Butterfly costume”, and how this look adapts to each.
Butterfly costume kids
- Opt for smaller, wire-framed wings and a matching tulle tutu over black leggings for a comfortable, toddler-friendly look.
Butterfly diy costume
- Skip the store: Cut a wing shape out of orange felt and paint black veins and white dots with fabric paint. Use any solid black fitted top and black leggings from your closet. Wrap black pipe cleaners around a plain plastic headband and hot glue black pom-poms to the tips.
Tips
- Choose cape-style wings that attach to your wrists so you can easily fold them in when navigating crowded spaces.
- Layer a black thermal top or fleece leggings underneath your base outfit if you are trick-or-treating in cold weather.
- For the best photos, stand with your back to the camera and turn your head over your shoulder while extending your arms to show off the wing patterns.
- Ensure your antenna headband has soft or rubber-tipped ends so it remains comfortable to wear for hours.
Butterfly costume FAQ
- What is the easiest way to make a DIY butterfly costume?
- The easiest way is to wear an all-black outfit, purchase a fabric butterfly wing cape, and make a quick antenna headband using black pipe cleaners and a plain headband.
- How do cape-style butterfly wings stay on?
- They typically feature an adjustable collar that fastens around your neck and small elastic loops at the outer corners that slide onto your wrists or fingers.
- What makeup goes well with a butterfly costume?
- Bold orange and yellow eyeshadow blended outward to mimic a wing shape, paired with sharp black eyeliner and adhesive face rhinestones, works beautifully.
Did you know? The monarch butterfly is famous for its incredible multi-generational migration, traveling up to 3,000 miles from North America to central Mexican forests every autumn.