Clippy Costume
It looks like you're trying to wear a Halloween costume.
Clippy, the helpful yet famously persistent Microsoft Office assistant from the late 1990s, is a nostalgic favorite for tech fans and retro gamers. This costume features a giant silver paperclip body paired with Clippy's signature expressive cartoon eyes and thick black eyebrows. It is a highly creative, funny DIY project that is guaranteed to spark conversations.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~120 min
- Budget
- $20–60
Try it on
See yourself as Clippy
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 Clippy costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Clippy costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Silver or gray bodysuit
A solid gray or metallic silver long-sleeve bodysuit, jumpsuit, or matching sweatshirt and sweatpants set to serve as the base.
DIY: Use a plain gray sweatshirt and gray sweatpants from your closet.
Gray foam pool noodles
Two or three flexible gray foam pool noodles or foam pipe insulation tubes to construct the paperclip loops.
DIY: Use thick gray pipe insulation tubes from a local hardware store.
Thick aluminum wire
Heavy-duty, bendable wire or wooden dowels to insert inside the foam noodles so they hold their bent paperclip shape.
DIY: Unravel and tape together several wire coat hangers.
White and black craft foam sheets
Large, stiff craft foam sheets to cut out Clippy's signature expressive cartoon eyes and thick black eyebrows.
DIY: Use thick white and black poster board or cardboard painted with acrylics.
Clear elastic straps
Heavy-duty clear elastic bands or nylon straps to wear the paperclip frame over your shoulders like a backpack.
DIY: Use gray ribbon or spare backpack straps secured with duct tape.
Yellow poster board
A sheet of bright yellow poster board to create a classic Microsoft Office help dialogue speech bubble.
DIY: Paint a piece of shipping cardboard bright yellow.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Clippy costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on your silver or gray base clothing layer.
- 2
Thread the thick bendable wire or wooden dowels through the center of the gray foam noodles to make them rigid yet shapeable.
- 3
Bend the connected foam noodles into the classic multi-loop spiral shape of a paperclip, securing the overlapping joints with silver duct tape.
- 4
Cut out two large oval eyes from the white craft foam, add large black circular pupils, and cut out two thick, curved black eyebrows.
- 5
Hot glue the eyes and eyebrows to the top loop of the paperclip frame, positioning them so they sit just above your head.
- 6
Attach the clear elastic straps to the back of the paperclip frame so you can wear the structure comfortably on your shoulders.
- 7
Write a classic prompt like 'It looks like you're trying to party! Would you like help?' on the yellow poster board, cut it into a speech bubble shape, and carry it as your prop.
Makeup & hair
Keep your hair simple or tucked back under a gray beanie. No complex makeup is required, but you can apply silver face paint or gray eyeshadow for a fun, metallic touch.
Clippy for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair Clippy with someone dressed as a classic blue Microsoft Word document or a retro Windows 98 desktop screen.
- group
- Create a retro tech group with Clippy, the Windows Solitaire deck, and the classic colorful Windows logo.
- kids
- Use a gray sweatshirt and attach a flat felt paperclip outline and felt eyes directly to the front for an easy, lightweight version.
- Plus size
- The shoulder-strap paperclip frame fits comfortably over any clothing size; use a loose gray sweatshirt and sweatpants as a comfortable base.
- pet
- Craft a mini paperclip out of gray pipe cleaners and attach it to a gray pet harness along with tiny felt eyes.
Tips
- Keep the paperclip frame lightweight so it is easy to wear and walk around in all night.
- Be mindful of your width when walking through doorways or crowded party spaces with the foam frame.
- Use strong double-sided tape or hot glue to ensure the heavy craft foam eyes stay securely attached to the foam noodle frame.
- Write your speech bubble text with a thick black permanent marker so it is highly legible in photos.
Clippy costume FAQ
- How do I make the paperclip shape hold its form?
- Inserting thick, bendable armature wire or heavy-duty wire coat hangers inside the hollow center of foam pool noodles or pipe insulation allows you to bend and lock the foam into the perfect paperclip spiral.
- Is this costume easy to walk around in?
- Yes. Because the paperclip frame is made of lightweight foam and worn with backpack-style shoulder straps, your hands remain completely free and the costume is very light.
- What should the yellow speech bubble say?
- The most iconic phrase is 'It looks like you're writing a letter. Would you like help?', but you can customize it for your event, such as 'It looks like you're trying to get a drink. Would you like help?'
Did you know? Clippy, officially named Clippit, made his debut in Microsoft Office 97 and was designed by illustrator Kevan J. Atteberry.