by Lynda Mc Donald

Created on: July 26, 2009

Harry Potter costumes are very easy to find both online and off, but if you decide to make your own here are some ideas.

Don't forget to include you're wand with every costume!

The Hogwarts school uniform is probably the most well known of all the Harry Potter outfits. The most noticeable part of the uniform is the tie colour which is usually red with thin yellow stripes, as most fans tend to dress as part of the Griffindor House. If you decide to opt for another house green is Slytherin's colour, Yellow is for Huffelpuff and Purple is Ravenclaw's. A pair of black trousers (or a skirt) is a must while a basic black v-neck jumper is required over a white shirt and your chosen tie, this is all covered by a pair of black robes, which most students tend to wear open over their uniform. If you want to be really realistic the robes are also lined with your chosen house colour and the crest is on the left breast of the robes. If you're making this costume for a small child an adult-sized black shirt should do the trick, unfortunately it will be harder to find an equivalent for an adult, but a long black coat should suffice.

If you're attempting to impersonate Harry, a pink lightning bolt scar on the forehead and some round glasses will achieve this. If you're going for a young Harry put some tape around the middle of the glasses.

The Griffindor Quidditch Robes are a little more difficult if you're trying to be precise. The team usually wears the robes closed. The robes are bright red all over and a yellow lining, but you can change the colour to suit your house of preference. It would be really difficult to try and pass off normal clothes as a Quidditch uniform, but making one would not be impossible, if you can sew. There is an easy to follow pattern here. Since the robes tend to move, you should be wearing tight white pants tucked into black or brown knee-high boots with knee-pads of the same colour. Dark fingerless gloves (preferably leather) and a pair of dark coloured goggles should complete the outfit, just don't forget a broom!

Making a Dementor Costume is actually relatively easy. All you need is to be covered in long, flowing, shapeless black material, make sure some of it is ripped and ragged at the ends. Wearing a really long black dress with a large piece of black material thrown over you to form a hood is the easiest option. Paint your face if you want it to really sink into the shadows, and try to keep your hands invisible, unless you have skeleton gloves.

Dressing as a Death Eater is pretty much the same as the Dementor's costume, except your face is hidden behind a silver mask. Making your own mask takes a while but looks great if you follow this tutorial.

These are the most popular Harry Potter costumes and I hope you have fun trying them out!

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