Cryptid Costume
Bring West Virginia's legendary winged cryptid to life this Halloween.
Cryptids are legendary creatures whose existence is disputed by science, making them mysterious and spooky choices for Halloween. This guide focuses on the iconic Mothman, one of the most popular and recognizable cryptids in folklore. The look features a dark, shadowy silhouette, massive wings, and piercing, glowing red eyes.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $30–80
Try it on
See yourself as Cryptid
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 Cryptid costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Cryptid costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Black bodysuit or morphsuit
A full-body black spandex suit or a matching black long-sleeve shirt and leggings to create a shadowy base.
DIY: Wear a black long-sleeve shirt and black fitted jeans.
Large black fabric wings
Feathered or tattered fabric wings with elastic shoulder straps.
DIY: Cut wing shapes out of black felt or cardboard and attach elastic straps.
Glowing red goggles or glasses
Goggles or glasses with bright red LED lights to mimic Mothman's signature glowing eyes.
DIY: Attach red glow sticks or small red LED lights to the outer rims of dark sunglasses.
Faux fur collar or neck ruff
A fluffy black or dark grey faux fur collar to mimic the creature's fuzzy neck texture.
DIY: Safety pin a strip of black faux fur fabric around the collar of your shirt.
Antennae headband
A simple black headband with two feathery or wire antennae.
DIY: Wrap black pipe cleaners around a basic headband and fluff the ends.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Cryptid costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black bodysuit or matching black long-sleeve shirt and pants as your base layer.
- 2
Drape the black faux fur collar around your neck, securing it with safety pins or its built-in clasp.
- 3
Slip your arms through the elastic straps of the black wings, adjusting them so they sit comfortably on your back.
- 4
Place the antennae headband securely on your head, angling the antennae slightly forward.
- 5
Turn on the red LED goggles or glasses and place them over your eyes to complete the glowing-eye effect.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair hidden under a black hood or slicked back. If not using goggles, apply heavy black eyeshadow around your eyes and use red costume contact lenses for a piercing stare.
Cryptid for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair Mothman with a Point Pleasant bridge construction worker or a 1960s retro investigator.
- group
- Assemble a Cryptid squad with friends dressed as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Jersey Devil.
- kids
- A cozy, fuzzy black onesie with felt wings sewn to the arms and a red felt eye mask.
- Plus size
- Use a comfortable black oversized hoodie and black sweatpants as the base, attaching wings directly to the sleeves.
- pet
- A black dog harness fitted with small felt wings and a red-accented collar.
Tips
- Ensure your red LED glasses do not completely block your vision, especially if walking around in the dark.
- If wearing a full morphsuit, choose one with a removable hood so you can easily eat and drink.
- For outdoor events, layer thermal underwear beneath your black bodysuit to stay warm.
Cryptid costume FAQ
- How do I make the red eyes glow safely?
- Use commercially available LED cosplay glasses or attach battery-operated red micro LED string lights to the outer frame of dark sunglasses.
- What are some other easy cryptid costumes?
- Bigfoot (using a brown faux-fur suit and mask) and the Jersey Devil (using red horns, wings, and a horse mask) are popular alternatives.
- How can I make DIY Mothman wings?
- Cut wing shapes out of black poster board or felt, paint feather details with grey fabric paint, and hot glue elastic loops to wear them like a backpack.
Did you know? The legend of the Mothman began in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in 1966, and the town now hosts an annual Mothman Festival celebrating the cryptid.