How do you make a DIY fish costume without sewing?

You can easily make a no-sew version by using fabric glue or hot glue to attach felt scales directly to a plain hoodie or t-shirt.

What is the best base color for a fish costume?

Bright orange is the most popular choice for a classic goldfish look, but blue, yellow, or rainbow colors also work incredibly well.

How do you make the scales look shiny?

You can brush a thin layer of glitter glue over the felt scales, or mix in a few scales cut from metallic or sequined fabric.

Skip the store: Use a plain orange long-sleeve shirt from your closet. Cut scales out of old colorful t-shirts or construction paper. Draw eyes on white paper with a black marker and cut them out.

Dress your dog in a simple orange pet t-shirt with a few felt scales glued along the spine.

AI-generated example

Fish Costume

Make a splash with a vibrant, scale-covered aquatic look.

A classic fish costume is a playful, eye-catching choice for Halloween, school plays, or ocean-themed events. People love this look because it is highly customizable, comfortable, and easy to put together. The ensemble typically features a bright base outfit covered in colorful, overlapping felt scales, topped with a finned hood or headband.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~45 min
Budget: $20–60

See yourself as Fish →What you need Buy the Fish costume

Try it on

See yourself as Fish

One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.

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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.

Fish costume — Example look · AI-generated

You as Fish

Result

What you need for a Fish costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Fish costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.

Shop Fish at Spirit ↗

Orange hoodie or sweatshirt
Acts as the base of the fish body, providing a warm and comfortable canvas.
DIY: Use a plain orange long-sleeve shirt from your closet.
Amazon
Felt sheets
A mix of orange, yellow, and white felt sheets cut into semi-circles to mimic fish scales.
DIY: Cut scales out of old colorful t-shirts or construction paper.
Amazon
Googly eyes
Large plastic wiggle eyes to attach to the sides of the hood.
DIY: Draw eyes on white paper with a black marker and cut them out.
Amazon
Orange sweatpants
Matching pants to complete the solid-colored aquatic base.
DIY: Wear any orange or black leggings or jeans you already own.
Amazon
Fabric glue
A strong, flexible adhesive to secure the felt scales and eyes onto the hoodie.
DIY: Use safety pins or a hot glue gun if available.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Fish costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Lay the orange hoodie flat on a table and insert a piece of cardboard inside to prevent glue from seeping through.
2
Cut the felt sheets into dozens of 3-inch semi-circle scale shapes.
3
Starting at the bottom hem of the hoodie, glue a row of felt scales side-by-side, then glue the next row slightly overlapping the first.
4
Continue gluing overlapping rows of scales upward until the front of the hoodie is fully covered.
5
Glue two large googly eyes to the sides of the hood, and attach a felt fin shape to the top center of the hood.
6
Let the glue dry completely before putting on the hoodie and matching orange sweatpants.

Makeup & hair

Keep hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail or tucked entirely inside the hood. For makeup, apply shimmering blue or silver eyeshadow and add a touch of face glitter to the cheekbones to resemble glistening scales.

Fish for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: Pair up as a fish and a fisherman, complete with a yellow raincoat and a toy fishing rod.
group: Create a school of fish with friends, each wearing a different bright color like blue, yellow, and pink.
kids: Use a smaller toddler hoodie and attach soft felt scales for a cozy, stroller-friendly outfit.
Plus size: Opt for an oversized tunic or a stretchy orange dress decorated with scales for a comfortable, flexible fit.
pet: Dress your dog in a simple orange pet t-shirt with a few felt scales glued along the spine.

More ways people search for this costume

The most-searched variations of “Fish costume”, and how this look adapts to each.

Fish diy costume: Skip the store: Use a plain orange long-sleeve shirt from your closet. Cut scales out of old colorful t-shirts or construction paper. Draw eyes on white paper with a black marker and cut them out.
Dog fish costume: Dress your dog in a simple orange pet t-shirt with a few felt scales glued along the spine.

Tips

Wear comfortable sneakers in a neutral color like white or black to keep the focus on the vibrant outfit.
If wearing this outdoors in cold weather, the sweatshirt base easily accommodates warm layers underneath.
For photos, pose with your hands held flat against your sides like fins, or make a classic 'fish face' expression.

Fish costume FAQ

How do you make a DIY fish costume without sewing?: You can easily make a no-sew version by using fabric glue or hot glue to attach felt scales directly to a plain hoodie or t-shirt.
What is the best base color for a fish costume?: Bright orange is the most popular choice for a classic goldfish look, but blue, yellow, or rainbow colors also work incredibly well.
How do you make the scales look shiny?: You can brush a thin layer of glitter glue over the felt scales, or mix in a few scales cut from metallic or sequined fabric.

Did you know? The goldfish costume remains one of the most popular animal costumes due to its association with classic children's books like 'The Rainbow Fish' and beloved animated films.