Light Up Costume
Stand out in the dark with a vibrant, glowing LED costume.
A light-up costume is the ultimate way to make an impact at night events, Halloween parties, or music festivals. This guide focuses on the popular LED stick figure and glowing neon aesthetic, which uses flexible light strips attached to dark clothing. The result is a high-visibility, futuristic look that turns heads the moment the lights go down.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~60 min
- Budget
- $25–75
Try it on
See yourself as Light Up
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.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Light Up costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Light Up costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Black hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants
A matching set of solid black, heavyweight cotton fleece to serve as a dark canvas that makes the lights pop.
DIY: Use any matching dark long-sleeve shirt and pants you already own.
EL wire or LED strip light kit
A flexible, battery-powered electroluminescent (EL) wire kit, preferably 9ft to 15ft in length, with a portable battery pack.
Clear fishing line or safety pins
Used to secure the flexible light wire along the seams of your clothing without damaging the electronics.
DIY: Use clear packing tape or black zip ties for a quicker, temporary hold.
LED neon glasses
Shutter-style or futuristic visor glasses lined with matching glowing EL wire.
Battery pack holder or belt
A small pouch, fanny pack, or pocket to securely hold the battery controller while moving.
DIY: Slip the battery pack directly into your hoodie pocket.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Light Up costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Lay the black hoodie and sweatpants completely flat on a large table or the floor.
- 2
Map out the path of the EL wire, starting from the waist (where the battery pack will sit) and running up the spine, arms, and legs to create a stick-figure outline.
- 3
Secure the wire to the fabric at 3-inch intervals using safety pins, clear thread, or small black zip ties.
- 4
Ensure there is enough slack at the joints (elbows, knees, and armpits) so you can bend your limbs comfortably.
- 5
Run the end of the wire up to the hood to outline the face, or keep it focused on the torso and limbs.
- 6
Place the battery pack into your pocket or secure it to a waist belt, then plug in the wire connector.
- 7
Put on the outfit, slip on the glowing glasses, turn on the battery pack, and test the light modes.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair pulled back or tucked into the hood of the sweatshirt so it does not block the glowing outline of the collar or face. If face paint is desired, use UV-reactive or glow-in-the-dark neon face paint under a blacklight.
Light Up for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Create a 'Red vs. Blue' dynamic by building matching stick-figure suits in contrasting neon colors.
- group
- Assemble a glowing dance crew with each member wearing a different bright color of EL wire.
- kids
- Use a pre-made LED stick figure jumpsuit or attach glow sticks to a black outfit for a quick, kid-friendly version.
- Plus size
- Use a loose-fitting black tracksuit to ensure maximum comfort and easy routing of the flexible light wires.
- pet
- Attach a lightweight, battery-operated LED collar or a glowing safety vest to your dog's harness.
Tips
- Always bring extra AA or AAA batteries, as EL wire controllers can drain power after a few hours of continuous use.
- Test your range of motion before heading out; make sure you can sit, bend, and dance without pulling the wires loose.
- Keep the battery pack dry, as most budget-friendly EL wire kits are not fully waterproof.
- For the best photos, have someone take pictures without a flash in a dimly lit setting to capture the glow.
Light Up costume FAQ
- How do you attach lights to a costume?
- The best way to attach EL wire or LED strips is by hand-sewing them with clear nylon thread, using safety pins, or securing them with black zip ties threaded through the fabric.
- Are light-up costumes safe to wear?
- Yes, battery-powered EL wire and LED strips run on low voltage (typically 3V to 12V) and generate virtually no heat, making them safe to wear against clothing.
- Can I wash a costume with lights on it?
- No, you should not wash the costume with the electronics attached. Use safety pins or velcro to make the light strips easily removable before washing the fabric.
Did you know? The viral trend of LED stick figure costumes took off in 2013 when a video of a toddler wearing a custom 'Glowy Zoey' suit went viral, racking up millions of views overnight.