D.W. Read Costume
Channel your inner sassy little sister with this classic cartoon look.
D.W. Read from the PBS animated series Arthur is a nostalgic and hilarious costume choice. Instantly recognizable to anyone who grew up in the '90s or 2000s, her look captures the ultimate sassy little sister energy. The outfit is simple, comfortable, and consists of a pink jumper dress layered over a white long-sleeve shirt, paired with her signature aardvark ears.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $25–60
Try it on
See yourself as D.W. Read
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a D.W. Read costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete D.W. Read costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Pink jumper dress
A sleeveless, pink A-line or flare jumper dress that sits above the knee.
DIY: Use a plain pink tank dress or dye a sleeveless white dress pink.
White long-sleeve shirt
A plain, crewneck white long-sleeve t-shirt to layer underneath the dress.
DIY: Use any plain white long-sleeve tee from your closet.
White tights
Opaque white tights or full-length pantyhose.
DIY: White leggings or high white socks can work in a pinch.
Aardvark ears headband
A brown headband featuring rounded, slightly pointed animal ears to mimic D.W.'s aardvark features.
DIY: Cut ear shapes out of brown felt, line the inner ear with pink felt, and glue them to a plain headband.
Blue flat shoes
Teal or light blue Mary Jane flats or simple slip-on canvas shoes.
DIY: Paint an old pair of canvas slip-ons with blue fabric paint.
Brown bob wig
A short, chin-length brown wig with straight-cut bangs.
DIY: Style your own brown hair into a short bob or tuck it under to mimic the length.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made D.W. Read costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the plain white long-sleeve shirt as your base layer.
- 2
Layer the pink sleeveless jumper dress directly over the white shirt.
- 3
Pull on the opaque white tights, ensuring they are smooth and pulled up fully.
- 4
Slip into the blue or teal Mary Jane flats or canvas shoes.
- 5
Place the short brown bob wig on your head, adjusting the bangs so they sit just above your eyebrows.
- 6
Slide the brown animal ears headband onto your head, positioning it just behind the wig's bangs.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup minimal and natural. If you are styling your own hair instead of using a wig, part it down the middle and style it into a neat, chin-length bob with straight bangs.
D.W. Read for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Arthur Read wearing a yellow sweater, white collared shirt, blue jeans, and round glasses.
- group
- Form the ultimate Elwood City crew with friends dressed as Arthur, Buster, Francine, and Muffy.
- kids
- Perfect for toddlers; use a pink cotton pinafore dress, white turtleneck, white tights, and a soft felt ear headband.
- Plus size
- Look for a stretchy pink skater dress or an overall-style jumper dress for a comfortable, flexible fit.
- pet
- Dress a small dog in a pink pet tee paired with a mini felt-ear headband.
Tips
- Opt for a soft cotton or jersey pink dress to stay comfortable and cool during long parties or events.
- If you cannot find exact aardvark ears, brown bear ears or mouse ears work perfectly as a substitute.
- Carry a library card or a toy microphone as a fun prop to reference classic episodes of the show.
D.W. Read costume FAQ
- What kind of animal is D.W. Read?
- D.W. Read is an anthropomorphic aardvark, which is why her ears are rounded and sit on the top of her head.
- How do I make DIY D.W. ears?
- Cut two rounded triangle shapes out of brown felt, line the inside with light pink felt, and hot glue them to a plain brown headband.
- What shoes does D.W. wear?
- D.W. wears simple blue or teal flat shoes, which can be replicated with Mary Janes or canvas slip-ons.
Did you know? D.W. stands for Dora Winifred, a detail that is revealed early on in the Arthur television series.