How do you walk in a mermaid costume?

Look for a tail skirt made of stretchy fabric that flares out into a wider bell shape at the bottom, or one with a slit in the back, which allows your legs to move freely.

How do you make a DIY mermaid top?

Take a purple or nude strapless bra or crop top and use hot glue to attach two large, lightweight plastic scallop shells to the front, then fill in any gaps with small faux pearls or sequins.

What makeup do you need for a mermaid look?

You will need shimmering teal, blue, and purple eyeshadows, a fishnet stocking to use as a scale stencil, cosmetic face glue, and chunky holographic body glitter.

Opt for a walkable, flared tulle skirt instead of a tight tail skirt so they can run and trick-or-treat safely.

Skip the store: Cut a scale pattern into felt pieces and fabric-glue them onto a green maxi skirt. Hot-glue two large plastic scallop shells onto a purple strapless bralette. Glue a small plastic starfish to a metal alligator hair clip.

AI-generated example

Mermaid Costume

Bring the ocean's magic to life with shimmering scales and shells.

The mermaid is a timeless, enchanting costume choice perfect for anyone looking to channel mystical, aquatic vibes. This classic look centers around a shimmering, scale-patterned tail skirt paired with a seashell-embellished top. With the right accessories and sparkling makeup, you can easily transform into a captivating sea maiden.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~45 min
Budget: $30–90

See yourself as Mermaid →What you need Buy the Mermaid costume

Try it on

See yourself as Mermaid

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.

Mermaid costume — Example look · AI-generated

You as Mermaid

Result

What you need for a Mermaid costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Mermaid costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.

Shop Mermaid at Spirit ↗

Mermaid tail skirt
A long, form-fitting maxi skirt with a green or turquoise scale pattern that flares out at the bottom like a fin.
DIY: Cut a scale pattern into felt pieces and fabric-glue them onto a green maxi skirt.
Amazon
Seashell top
A purple or metallic crop top, corset, or bralette decorated with faux seashells.
DIY: Hot-glue two large plastic scallop shells onto a purple strapless bralette.
Amazon
Starfish hair clip
A hair accessory featuring a small faux starfish or seashell decorated with pearls.
DIY: Glue a small plastic starfish to a metal alligator hair clip.
Amazon
Fishnet tights
Nude or light blue fishnet tights worn underneath the skirt for comfort and texture.
Amazon
Body glitter
Chunky, cosmetic-grade body glitter in teal, silver, or blue to apply to your collarbones and face.
Amazon

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

How to put it together

1
Put on the fishnet tights first to provide a comfortable base layer under your skirt.
2
Slide into the scale-patterned mermaid tail skirt, pulling it up to your waist and ensuring the flared fin hem sits nicely at your ankles.
3
Put on the seashell top, adjusting it for a secure and comfortable fit.
4
Style your hair in loose, beachy waves and secure one side with the starfish hair clip.
5
Apply shimmering teal or purple eyeshadow, then use a fishnet stencil to brush scale patterns onto your cheekbones.
6
Dab cosmetic-grade body glitter onto your collarbones, shoulders, and temples to catch the light.

Makeup & hair

Create beachy, textured waves using a sea salt spray or curling wand. For makeup, use a fishnet stocking as a stencil over your temples and cheekbones, brushing on shimmering teal and purple eyeshadow to create realistic scales, then finish with chunky face glitter.

Mermaid for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: Pair up with a sailor, a pirate, or a deep-sea diver for a classic nautical duo.
group: Gather a group to go as a colorful pod of mermaids, each choosing a different signature color like pink, blue, or gold.
kids: Opt for a walkable, flared tulle skirt instead of a tight tail skirt so they can run and trick-or-treat safely.
Plus size: Look for high-waisted, stretchy mermaid skirts with an elastic waistband for a comfortable, curve-hugging fit.
pet: Dress your dog in a lightweight, hook-and-loop fastened plush mermaid tail harness.

More ways people search for this costume

The most-searched variations of “Mermaid costume”, and how this look adapts to each.

Mermaid costume kids: Opt for a walkable, flared tulle skirt instead of a tight tail skirt so they can run and trick-or-treat safely.
Diy costume mermaid: Skip the store: Cut a scale pattern into felt pieces and fabric-glue them onto a green maxi skirt. Hot-glue two large plastic scallop shells onto a purple strapless bralette. Glue a small plastic starfish to a metal alligator hair clip.

Tips

Choose a walkable tail skirt that flares out at or above the knees so you can take normal strides and climb stairs safely.
Wear comfortable flats or sandals in a neutral or metallic shade, as your feet will be mostly hidden by the skirt's fin hem.
If dressing up for a cold outdoor event, layer a nude long-sleeve bodysuit under your seashell top to stay warm without ruining the look.
Use a setting spray over your face glitter and scale makeup to prevent it from smudging or rubbing off throughout the night.

Mermaid costume FAQ

How do you walk in a mermaid costume?: Look for a tail skirt made of stretchy fabric that flares out into a wider bell shape at the bottom, or one with a slit in the back, which allows your legs to move freely.
How do you make a DIY mermaid top?: Take a purple or nude strapless bra or crop top and use hot glue to attach two large, lightweight plastic scallop shells to the front, then fill in any gaps with small faux pearls or sequins.
What makeup do you need for a mermaid look?: You will need shimmering teal, blue, and purple eyeshadows, a fishnet stocking to use as a scale stencil, cosmetic face glue, and chunky holographic body glitter.

Did you know? The modern depiction of mermaids with green tails and long flowing hair was heavily popularized by Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale 'The Little Mermaid' and its subsequent adaptations.