Sanrio Costume
Bring the adorable world of Hello Kitty and friends to life.
Sanrio costumes are a massive hit for fans of Japanese kawaii culture, offering a sweet, nostalgic, and instantly recognizable look. Whether you choose the classic Hello Kitty, the sweet My Melody, or the mischievous Kuromi, these outfits rely on distinct pastel or gothic-cute color palettes and signature hair accessories. This guide focuses on the iconic Hello Kitty look, with easy adaptations for her famous friends.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $25–75
Try it on
See yourself as Sanrio
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 Sanrio costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Sanrio costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
White dress or overalls
A simple white A-line dress, or a white t-shirt paired with blue denim overalls for the classic Hello Kitty look.
DIY: Use any plain white dress or white shirt and blue jeans from your closet.
Red hair bow
An oversized, bright red plush or satin hair bow worn over the left ear.
DIY: Cut a bow shape out of red felt or cardboard and secure it to a headband.
White cat ears
A white headband featuring soft, pointed white cat ears.
DIY: Cut ear shapes out of white felt, stiffen them with cardboard, and glue them to a plain white headband.
Yellow nose and whiskers face paint
Yellow face paint for a small button nose, and black face paint or eyeliner for three simple whiskers on each cheek.
DIY: Use a yellow lipstick or eyeshadow for the nose, and a standard black liquid eyeliner for the whiskers.
Red shoes
Bright red Mary Janes, flats, or red canvas sneakers.
DIY: Wear any red shoes you own, or add red ribbon laces to white sneakers.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Sanrio costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the white dress, or layer the white t-shirt underneath the blue denim overalls.
- 2
Place the white cat ears headband securely on your head.
- 3
Clip the oversized red bow onto the headband, positioning it just in front of the left ear.
- 4
Using face paint or makeup, draw a small, neat yellow oval directly on the tip of your nose.
- 5
Draw three thin, parallel black whisker lines on each cheek using black eyeliner.
- 6
Put on your red shoes and pair them with white ankle socks to complete the clean, cute aesthetic.
Makeup & hair
Keep your hair simple, either down in straight locks or styled in cute pigtails. Apply minimal, clean makeup, focusing entirely on the painted yellow button nose and the three black whiskers drawn on each cheek.
Sanrio for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair Hello Kitty with Dear Daniel (wearing a blue sweater vest) or My Melody with Kuromi for a pastel-meets-goth duo.
- group
- Gather friends to dress as the core Sanrio lineup: Hello Kitty (red/white), My Melody (pink/white), Kuromi (black/purple), and Cinnamoroll (blue/white).
- kids
- A cozy, fleece Sanrio character kigurumi or one-piece pajama onesie is perfect, warm, and incredibly easy for kids.
- Plus size
- A flared skater dress in white paired with a red cardigan offers a comfortable, flattering, and highly adjustable fit.
- pet
- A simple red collar with a small yellow bell and a lightweight red bow headpiece fits cats and small dogs perfectly.
Tips
- If dressing up in cold weather, swap the dress for a cozy white fleece hoodie and layer red leggings underneath.
- Keep the whiskers symmetrical by marking light guide dots with a nude eyeliner pencil before drawing them in black.
- For the best photos, pose with your hands held up like cute paws near your cheeks.
- If you want an ultra-easy option, look for an official Sanrio character kigurumi (fleece onesie) which serves as a complete costume.
Sanrio costume FAQ
- How do I dress up as My Melody instead of Hello Kitty?
- Swap the red bow for a pink hood or pink bunny ears headband, wear a pink and white dress, and carry a small toy flower or basket.
- What is the easiest DIY Sanrio costume?
- The easiest DIY is wearing a white hoodie, pinning a large red felt bow to the hood, and drawing three black whiskers on your cheeks with eyeliner.
- Can adults wear Sanrio costumes?
- Yes, Sanrio costumes are incredibly popular for adults, especially in the form of cozy kigurumi onesies, retro 90s overalls looks, or lolita-style fashion.
Did you know? Hello Kitty was created in 1974 and her first product was a small vinyl coin purse, where she was depicted sitting between a bottle of milk and a goldfish bowl.