How do you attach glow sticks to clothes?

The easiest way is to lay the clothes flat and tape the glow sticks down using heavy-duty clear packing tape. For a more secure hold, you can use safety pins or hand-sew small elastic loops onto the fabric.

Should I use chemical glow sticks or EL wire?

Chemical glow sticks are cheaper and brighter initially but are single-use. EL wire (electroluminescent wire) is reusable, flexible, and can be turned on and off, making it better for multiple wears.

Can you wash a stick figure costume?

No, you must remove all glow sticks, EL wires, battery packs, and tape before washing the black clothing.

AI-generated example

Glow Stick Costume

Light up the dark with a brilliant, easy-to-make glowing stick figure look.

The glow stick costume—often styled as a glowing stick figure—is a viral favorite for Halloween, talent shows, and dance routines. By attaching bright glow sticks or flexible LED wire to a solid black outfit, you create the illusion of a floating neon stick figure in the dark. It is an incredibly fun, high-visibility, and budget-friendly choice for all ages.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~30 min
Budget: $15–45

See yourself as Glow Stick →What you need Buy the Glow Stick costume

Try it on

See yourself as Glow Stick

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

Choose or drop a photo of yourselfJPG · PNG · HEIC

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.

Glow Stick costume — Example look · AI-generated

You as Glow Stick

Result

What you need for a Glow Stick costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Glow Stick costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.

Shop Glow Stick at Spirit ↗

Black long-sleeve shirt
A solid, matte black crewneck sweatshirt or long-sleeve t-shirt to act as the dark canvas.
DIY: Use any plain black long-sleeve shirt you already own.
Amazon
Black pants or leggings
Form-fitting black sweatpants, jeans, or leggings to blend completely into the dark background.
DIY: Any dark black pants will work.
Amazon
Industrial glow sticks or EL wire kit
A pack of 6-inch ultra-bright glow sticks with connectors, or a battery-powered flexible EL wire kit in a single neon color.
Amazon
Clear packing tape or safety pins
Heavy-duty clear packing tape, clear duct tape, or safety pins to secure the glowing elements to the fabric.
DIY: Use black safety pins or hand-stitch loops if using reusable EL wire.
Amazon
Glow glasses or glow necklaces
Circular glow necklaces or pre-made glow-in-the-dark glasses to form the stick figure's head.
DIY: Connect two standard glow necklaces into a circle and tape them to a black beanie.
Amazon
Black beanie or hood
A snug black knit beanie to conceal your hair and provide an anchor point for the circular head piece.
DIY: Use the hood of a black hoodie.
Amazon

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

How to put it together

1
Put on the black long-sleeve shirt and black pants so you can measure the placement of the lines.
2
Lay the clothing flat on a clean table or floor to begin attaching the lights.
3
If using glow sticks, crack and activate them right before your event. If using EL wire, test the battery pack first.
4
Arrange the glowing sticks or wire in straight lines down the center of the shirt sleeves, the torso, and down each pant leg to form a classic stick figure shape.
5
Secure the glow elements firmly to the fabric using strips of clear packing tape or by safety-pinning them from the inside.
6
Create a glowing circle for the head using a glow necklace or wire loop, and tape or pin it onto the front of the black beanie.
7
Put on the prepared clothing, turn on the battery packs or turn off the lights, and step into the dark to test your glowing silhouette.

Makeup & hair

Keep your hair completely hidden under the black beanie or hood. No makeup is required, but you can apply black face paint around your eyes if you want to blend into the dark even more.

Glow Stick for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: One person wears neon green glow sticks and the other wears hot pink to create a contrasting glowing duo.
group: Coordinate a group to form a full neon rainbow stick-figure dance crew.
kids: Perfect for trick-or-treating visibility; use extra tape to ensure the glow sticks stay secure while running.
Plus size: Use flexible EL wire instead of rigid glow sticks for a more comfortable, custom-fit stretch over the fabric.
pet: Attach lightweight, pet-safe LED strip lights to a black dog vest.

Tips

Activate chemical glow sticks at the very last minute, as they will only stay bright for 8 to 12 hours.
If using EL wire, tuck the small battery pack securely into your pants pocket or tape it to your waistband.
Wear this costume in pitch-black settings or outdoors at night for the best visual effect; it loses its impact in well-lit rooms.
Bring extra clear tape or safety pins with you to make quick repairs on the go if a glow stick comes loose.

Glow Stick costume FAQ

How do you attach glow sticks to clothes?: The easiest way is to lay the clothes flat and tape the glow sticks down using heavy-duty clear packing tape. For a more secure hold, you can use safety pins or hand-sew small elastic loops onto the fabric.
Should I use chemical glow sticks or EL wire?: Chemical glow sticks are cheaper and brighter initially but are single-use. EL wire (electroluminescent wire) is reusable, flexible, and can be turned on and off, making it better for multiple wears.
Can you wash a stick figure costume?: No, you must remove all glow sticks, EL wires, battery packs, and tape before washing the black clothing.

Did you know? The glowing stick figure costume became a global sensation in the early 2010s thanks to viral YouTube videos of families performing choreographed dances in the dark.