Charlotte Costume
Spin a web of literary magic with this classic spider costume.
This costume depicts Charlotte A. Cavatica, the clever and loyal barn spider from E. B. White's classic children's novel, Charlotte's Web (not to be confused with Charlotte La Bouff from Disney's Princess and the Frog). Perfect for book reports, school plays, or Halloween, this look features a dark spider base complete with extra legs and her famous hand-spun message web. It is a heartwarming, recognizable literary costume that is easy to assemble.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~60 min
- Budget
- $15–40
Try it on
See yourself as Charlotte
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.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Charlotte costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Charlotte costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Black or dark gray outfit
A comfortable long-sleeve shirt and matching leggings or pants to serve as the spider's body.
DIY: Use any plain black sweatpants and long-sleeve t-shirt from your closet.
Stuffed spider legs
Four extra legs made from black knee-high socks or tights stuffed with polyester fiberfill.
DIY: Stuff old black socks or tights with crumpled newspaper or plastic bags.
Clear monofilament line
Clear fishing line used to link the stuffed legs to your arms so they move when you do.
DIY: Use thin black yarn or thread if clear line is unavailable.
White felt or tulle web cape
A semi-circular white fabric cape cut to look like a spiderweb.
DIY: Cut a web pattern into a circular piece of white felt or a white umbrella canopy.
Black fabric paint
Used to write Charlotte's famous words like 'SOME PIG' or 'TERRIFIC' onto the web.
DIY: Write the letters using a thick black permanent marker or glue down black yarn.
Black headband
A simple plastic headband to anchor spider eyes or small pipe-cleaner antennae.
DIY: Attach googly eyes directly to a black knit beanie.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Charlotte costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black long-sleeve shirt and matching black pants or leggings.
- 2
Stuff four black socks or cut-up tights with polyester fiberfill to create four lightweight spider legs.
- 3
Sew or safety-pin two stuffed legs to each side of the shirt, spacing them evenly below the armpits.
- 4
Tie clear fishing line from the shirt's wrists to each of the stuffed legs on that side, leaving enough slack so they lift in unison when you raise your arms.
- 5
Cut a white felt circle or tulle cape into a spiderweb pattern, then use black fabric paint to write 'SOME PIG' or 'TERRIFIC' across the center.
- 6
Attach the web cape to the shoulders of the shirt using safety pins or fabric tape.
- 7
Glue small googly eyes or plush spider accents onto the black headband and place it on your head.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair simple and pulled back in a ponytail or bun. Optional: Use face paint to draw a tiny, delicate spiderweb on one cheek.
Charlotte for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with someone dressed as Wilbur the pig in a pink outfit with a snout and ears.
- group
- Add Templeton the rat (gray outfit with a tail) and Fern Arable (plaid shirt and jeans) for a full barnyard group.
- kids
- This is an ideal, comfortable costume for school dress-up days and book character parades.
- Plus size
- Use a comfortable black tunic or oversized black sweatshirt as the base for attaching the legs.
- pet
- Dress a small dog as Wilbur the pig to accompany your Charlotte.
Tips
- Keep the extra legs lightweight so they do not drag the shirt down or restrict movement.
- Use safety pins to attach the legs if you want to reuse the black shirt afterward.
- Make sure the fabric paint lettering is completely dry before wearing the cape to prevent smudging.
Charlotte costume FAQ
- How do you make the spider legs move?
- Tie clear fishing line or black yarn from your wrists to each of the stuffed legs, leaving enough slack so they lift in unison when you raise your arms.
- What is the best way to write the words on the web?
- Black puffy fabric paint or thick black yarn glued down with hot glue works best to mimic Charlotte's thick silk writing.
- Is this costume comfortable for kids?
- Yes, using a soft cotton t-shirt and leggings as the base makes it highly breathable and easy to run around in.
Did you know? In the novel, Charlotte's full name is Charlotte A. Cavatica, which is a reference to the barn spider's scientific name, Araneus cavaticus.