What do you need for a DIY Elephant and Piggie costume?

You need a solid grey outfit and round glasses for Gerald, a solid pink outfit for Piggie, and felt sheets to make the ears, trunk, and snout to attach to headbands.

Is this costume suitable for teachers?

Yes, it is incredibly popular for school book character days because it is comfortable, recognizable, and highly budget-friendly.

How do you make the elephant trunk?

Cut a long, curved trunk shape out of grey felt, double it for thickness, and attach it to the center of the headband so it drapes slightly over the brow.

AI-generated example

Elephant and Piggie Costume

Bring the beloved Mo Willems storybook duo to life.

Elephant and Piggie (Gerald and Piggie) from Mo Willems' beloved children's book series are a favorite choice for teachers, parents, and kids alike. This classic literary costume is highly recognizable, incredibly comfortable, and perfect for pairs. The look consists of simple solid-colored clothing topped with custom character headbands and minimalist felt details.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~45 min
Budget: $15–40

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Elephant and Piggie costume — Example look · AI-generated

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What you need for a Elephant and Piggie costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Elephant and Piggie costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.

Shop Elephant and Piggie at Spirit ↗

Grey long-sleeve shirt and pants
Solid medium-grey crewneck sweatshirt or long-sleeve t-shirt and matching grey sweatpants for Gerald.
DIY: Use any solid grey clothing you already own.
Amazon
Pink long-sleeve shirt and pants
Solid bright pink long-sleeve t-shirt or sweatshirt and matching pink pants or leggings for Piggie.
DIY: Use a solid pink dress or a pink t-shirt.
Amazon
Grey and pink felt sheets
Stiff felt sheets in heather grey, light pink, and black to construct the ears, snout, and trunk.
DIY: Cut shapes out of sturdy cardboard and paint them.
Amazon
Two plain headbands
One grey headband and one pink headband to serve as the base for the character ears.
DIY: Attach the felt ears directly to grey and pink baseball caps.
Amazon
Wire rim glasses
Round, black wire-rimmed costume glasses without lenses for Gerald the elephant.
DIY: Bend black pipe cleaners into round glasses frames.
Amazon
Pink tutu (Optional)
A playful pink tulle tutu to add a whimsical touch to Piggie's outfit.
DIY: Tie strips of pink tulle around an elastic band.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Elephant and Piggie costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Put on the solid grey outfit for Gerald, or the solid pink outfit for Piggie.
2
Cut two large, floppy grey felt ears and a long grey felt trunk for Gerald. Glue the ears to the grey headband, and attach the trunk to the center of the headband so it hangs down over the forehead.
3
Cut two small, pointed pink felt ears and a round pink snout for Piggie. Glue the ears to the pink headband, and draw two black nostrils on the snout with a marker before attaching it to the headband.
4
If dressing as Gerald, put on the round black wire-rimmed glasses.
5
If dressing as Piggie, layer the pink tutu over the pink pants or leggings.
6
Wear comfortable sneakers that match your character's color scheme.

Makeup & hair

Keep hair simple and pulled back under the headbands. For Piggie, use pink face paint to add a small pink circle on the tip of the nose and light pink blush on the cheeks.

Elephant and Piggie for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: One person dresses as Gerald in grey with glasses and floppy ears, while the other dresses as Piggie in pink with pointed ears and a snout.
group: Add characters like the Pigeon or the Duckling from Mo Willems' other books to make a literary group theme.
kids: Perfect for school dress-up days using comfortable, solid-colored cotton pajamas as the base.
Plus size: Use oversized, cozy fleece crewnecks and matching joggers for a comfortable, size-inclusive fit.
pet: A grey dog sweater with attached felt elephant ears makes an adorable Gerald companion.

Tips

Use stiff felt rather than soft felt so the elephant ears and pig ears stand up properly on the headbands.
If wearing this in a classroom or for a book parade, carry one of the Elephant & Piggie books as a fun, thematic prop.
Keep the makeup minimal and focus on the iconic headpieces for instant recognition.

Elephant and Piggie costume FAQ

What do you need for a DIY Elephant and Piggie costume?: You need a solid grey outfit and round glasses for Gerald, a solid pink outfit for Piggie, and felt sheets to make the ears, trunk, and snout to attach to headbands.
Is this costume suitable for teachers?: Yes, it is incredibly popular for school book character days because it is comfortable, recognizable, and highly budget-friendly.
How do you make the elephant trunk?: Cut a long, curved trunk shape out of grey felt, double it for thickness, and attach it to the center of the headband so it drapes slightly over the brow.

Did you know? Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie series consists of 25 books, all written entirely in speech bubbles, making them incredibly popular for early readers and theatrical classroom read-alouds.