Ghosted Costume
The scariest thing in modern dating is now a Halloween costume.
The Ghosted costume is a hilarious, modern pun that brings everyone's favorite dating nightmare to life. Perfect for parties, this look combines a classic white ghost aesthetic with a series of desperate, unanswered text messages. It is incredibly easy to put together, making it a favorite for last-minute DIYers and comedy lovers alike.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $15–45
Try it on
See yourself as Ghosted
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 Ghosted costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Ghosted costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
White hooded dress or poncho
A simple, solid white hooded dress, tunic, or poncho with a jagged, tattered hemline.
DIY: Cut a jagged hem into an oversized white hoodie or a classic bedsheet.
Blue felt sheets
Bright blue felt sheets to cut out the shape of outgoing smartphone text bubbles.
DIY: Use blue construction paper or blue fabric paint directly on the fabric.
Gray felt sheets
Light gray felt sheets to represent incoming text bubbles or typing indicators.
DIY: Use gray paper or gray fabric markers.
Black fabric marker
A thick black permanent or fabric marker to write the unanswered messages onto the felt bubbles.
DIY: Use a standard black permanent marker.
Fabric glue
Heavy-duty fabric glue or double-sided tape to securely attach the felt text bubbles to the white dress.
DIY: Use safety pins to temporarily attach the bubbles.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Ghosted costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Lay the white hooded dress or poncho flat on a clean, hard surface.
- 2
Cut out several rounded rectangular 'text bubble' shapes from the blue and gray felt sheets, making some larger than others.
- 3
Use the black fabric marker to write desperate, unanswered texts on the blue bubbles, such as 'Hey!', 'Are we still on for tonight?', '???', and 'R U OK!?'.
- 4
Arrange the text bubbles vertically down the front of the dress to mimic a one-sided smartphone conversation.
- 5
Apply fabric glue to the back of each felt bubble and press them firmly onto the dress, allowing them to dry completely.
- 6
Put on the dress, pull the hood up, and pair it with black leggings and white sneakers to complete the comfortable look.
Makeup & hair
Keep your makeup simple with a pale, 'ghostly' complexion and dark under-eye circles to look exhausted from waiting for a response. Style your hair in messy, casual waves or tuck it completely into the hood.
Ghosted for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person dresses as the ghosted text chain, while the other wears a giant smartphone cardboard cutout showing 'No Signal' or a blank screen.
- group
- Dress as different dating app nightmares: one 'Ghosted', one 'Catfish' (with a fish mask), and one 'Breadcrumber' (carrying a bag of breadcrumbs).
- kids
- A kid-friendly version can feature funny, unanswered parent texts like 'Did you clean your room?' followed by '???'.
- Plus size
- Opt for an oversized white hooded sweatshirt or poncho, which offers a comfortable, breezy fit while leaving plenty of room for text bubbles.
- pet
- Put a simple white sheet over your dog with a single felt text bubble that says 'Woof?' followed by 'Read 10:14 PM'.
More ways people search for this costume
The most-searched variations of “Ghosted costume”, and how this look adapts to each.
Ghosted costume diy
- Skip the store: Cut a jagged hem into an oversized white hoodie or a classic bedsheet. Use blue construction paper or blue fabric paint directly on the fabric. Use gray paper or gray fabric markers.
Tips
- If you are using fabric glue, make sure to place a piece of cardboard inside the dress while gluing so the adhesive doesn't bleed through to the back.
- Carry a smartphone as a prop and occasionally stare at it with a dramatic, exaggerated expression of despair for photos.
- Wear warm layers underneath if you are heading outdoors, as thin polyester costume dresses can get chilly.
Ghosted costume FAQ
- What do the text messages on the Ghosted costume say?
- They typically show a one-sided conversation with messages like 'Hey!', 'Are you there?', '???', 'R U OK!?', and 'Guess not...' to show you've been ignored.
- How do I make a DIY Ghosted costume quickly?
- Simply take an old white T-shirt or sheet, draw blue text bubbles directly onto it with fabric markers, and write your own funny, unanswered messages.
- Is the Ghosted costume comfortable for a party?
- Yes, because it is essentially a loose white dress, poncho, or oversized hoodie, it is highly breathable, comfortable, and easy to move around in.
Did you know? The 'Ghosted' costume went viral in 2018 when major retailers turned the painful millennial dating phenomenon of unreturned text messages into a literal Halloween outfit.