Lamp Costume
Brighten up any Halloween party with this brilliant, glowing DIY look.
The lamp costume is a classic, humorous choice for those who want a quirky, lighthearted outfit. Perfect for parties or group themes, this look typically features a wearable lampshade hat paired with a metallic gold or brass-toned outfit to mimic a lamp base. It is highly customizable, ranging from a simple vintage table lamp to the iconic leg lamp from A Christmas Story.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $20–60
Try it on
See yourself as Lamp
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 Lamp costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Lamp costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Lampshade Hat
A lightweight, medium-sized white or cream fabric lampshade with the internal wire frame modified to fit comfortably on your head.
DIY: Use a clean, lightweight plastic bucket or poster board rolled into a cone shape, decorated with fabric.
Gold or Brass Outfit
A metallic gold dress, gold bodysuit, or a matching gold shirt and pants combo to represent the metallic lamp base.
DIY: Spray paint an old t-shirt and pants with metallic gold fabric paint.
Battery-Operated LED Puck Light
A lightweight, battery-powered LED light stick-on puck to place inside the lampshade for a real glowing effect.
DIY: Secure a small, lightweight flashlight or glow sticks inside the top of the shade.
Gold Ribbon or Fringe
Decorative gold trim or tassel fringe to hot-glue along the bottom rim of the lampshade.
DIY: Cut strips of yellow construction paper or gold tinsel and tape them to the rim.
Light Pull Chain
A classic beaded metal pull chain attached to the inside of the lampshade, hanging down near your shoulder.
DIY: Use a piece of metallic yarn or string with a gold bead tied to the end.
Headband or Chin Strap
An elastic strap or a sturdy plastic headband hot-glued inside the lampshade frame to keep it secure on your head.
DIY: Tie a length of ribbon to the wire frame inside the shade to tie under your chin.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Lamp costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Prepare the lampshade by removing any sharp metal inner brackets, leaving just enough of the wire frame to attach to a headband or elastic strap.
- 2
Securely hot-glue the wire frame of the lampshade to a sturdy headband or attach an elastic chin strap so the shade sits comfortably on top of your head.
- 3
Mount the battery-operated LED puck light to the inside top of the lampshade using strong double-sided tape or hot glue, ensuring you can still access the power switch.
- 4
Decorate the bottom rim of the lampshade by hot-gluing gold tassel fringe or ribbon all the way around.
- 5
Attach the beaded metal pull chain to the inner wire frame so it hangs down playfully beside your face.
- 6
Put on your metallic gold outfit to serve as the lamp's base.
- 7
Place the lampshade hat on your head, switch on the LED light, and let your look shine.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair flat or tied back in a low bun so the lampshade fits securely on your head. For makeup, apply a bright, glowing highlighter on your cheekbones and gold glitter eyeshadow to match the metallic theme.
Lamp for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up as a Lamp and a Moth, with your partner wearing fuzzy antennae, wings, and a brown outfit.
- group
- Go as a living room set, with friends dressing as a sofa, a television, and a rug.
- kids
- Use a small, lightweight paper lampshade and a yellow t-shirt for a comfortable, kid-friendly version.
- Plus size
- A metallic gold tunic or a loose-fitting gold velvet dress provides a comfortable and stylish lamp base.
- pet
- A small dog can wear a lightweight, soft plastic recovery collar (cone) decorated to look like a mini lampshade.
Tips
- Ensure the lampshade is lightweight so it does not strain your neck throughout the night.
- Bring extra batteries for your LED light to keep your costume glowing during long evening events.
- Leave a small gap in the top of the shade or use a breathable fabric so heat from your head can escape.
- If you plan to dance, make sure your chin strap is securely fastened to prevent the shade from tipping over.
Lamp costume FAQ
- How do you make a lampshade stay on your head?
- The easiest way is to hot-glue the metal wire frame inside the lampshade to a thick, sturdy plastic headband, or tie an elastic ribbon strap to the frame that secures under your chin.
- What is the best light source to use inside the costume?
- A lightweight, battery-powered LED puck light or a stick-on tap light works best because they stay cool and are easy to turn on and off.
- How can I turn this into the leg lamp from A Christmas Story?
- Instead of a gold outfit, wear a black skirt, fishnet stockings, and a single black high heel, then wear the fringed lampshade around your torso or on your head.
Did you know? The concept of the 'human lamp' costume gained massive pop culture status thanks to the iconic leg lamp from the 1983 classic holiday film 'A Christmas Story'.