Herbie the Love Bug Costume
Bring Disney's favorite racing Beetle to life with classic retro style.
Herbie the Love Bug is one of Disney's most beloved classic characters, famous for his pearl white paint, racing stripes, and signature number 53. This costume is a popular choice for Disney fans, retro car enthusiasts, and DIYers who want a creative, nostalgic look. The outfit translates the iconic 1963 Volkswagen Beetle into a wearable, stylish ensemble featuring red, white, and blue racing details.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $25–60
Try it on
See yourself as Herbie the Love Bug
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 Herbie the Love Bug costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Herbie the Love Bug costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Pearl white dress or jumpsuit
A solid pearl white or off-white A-line dress, t-shirt, or jumpsuit to mimic Herbie's car body color.
DIY: Use a plain white t-shirt and white pants or a white skirt from your closet.
Herbie number 53 patch or decal
A circular white patch with a black border and the number '53' printed in the center.
DIY: Cut a circle out of white felt, paint a black border and the number '53' with black fabric paint, and pin it to your chest.
Red, white, and blue striped ribbon
Wide grosgrain ribbon featuring vertical red, white, and blue stripes to replicate the racing stripes.
DIY: Use red and blue fabric markers or colored tape to draw stripes directly onto a white fabric sash.
Yellow license plate accessory
A small replica of a yellow-on-black 1963 California license plate with 'OFP 857' lettering.
DIY: Print the license plate design onto heavy cardstock, laminate it, and wear it as a belt buckle or bag accessory.
Silver metallic belt or accessories
A shiny silver belt or silver jewelry to represent Herbie's chrome bumpers and hubcaps.
DIY: Wrap a standard belt in aluminum foil for a quick metallic chrome finish.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Herbie the Love Bug costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the pearl white dress, jumpsuit, or t-shirt and pants combination as your base layer.
- 2
Attach the '53' racing number patch securely to the front center of your chest using fabric glue, safety pins, or by ironing it on.
- 3
Drape the red, white, and blue striped ribbon vertically down the right side of your outfit, securing it at the shoulder and waist to mimic Herbie's off-center racing stripe.
- 4
Fasten the silver metallic belt around your waist to represent the chrome bumper.
- 5
Attach the yellow California license plate prop to your belt or carry it as a fun accessory.
- 6
Finish the look with clean white sneakers or silver metallic shoes.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup clean and retro with a classic red lip. Style hair in a neat 1960s-inspired ponytail, or wear a white baseball cap featuring a small '53' logo.
Herbie the Love Bug for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair Herbie with a 1960s race car driver wearing a vintage white racing suit, helmet, and goggles.
- group
- Have friends dress as other famous movie cars or pit crew members in matching white jumpsuits.
- kids
- A white t-shirt with a felt '53' circle and striped suspenders makes an easy, comfortable kids' version.
- Plus size
- A white knit swing dress or a white utility jumpsuit provides a comfortable, flattering base for the stripes and patches.
- pet
- A white dog harness decorated with red, white, and blue fabric paint stripes and a small '53' tag.
Tips
- Make sure the '53' decal is placed on the left side of your chest or dead center for the most authentic look.
- If wearing this to an outdoor event, bring a white cardigan or denim jacket and apply extra stripes to the sleeve.
- Use fabric-safe double-sided tape to attach the racing stripes if you want to reuse the white clothing afterward.
- Carry a vintage-style checkered flag as a fun photo prop.
Did you know? The original Herbie was a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, and the production team chose it after hosting a casting call of various cars to see which one crew members naturally patted and treated like a person.