Cursed Cam
The Red Zebra Halter: a DIY Halloween costume made from cardboard, worn by Wren, AI-generated model

AI-generated picture to show the idea. Yours will look handmade.

The Red Zebra Halter

A red-and-black zebra-print halter top is the look behind one of this year's biggest horror-film costume searches, and you can draw one yourself in twenty minutes. Fabric markers on a plain halter top or old vest, plain black shorts and boots, and a small amount of fake blood is all it takes. About $8 and no sewing.

TIME
30 min
COST
about $8
SKILL
Easy

What you need

  • A plain white or cream halter top or vest
  • Red and black fabric markers
  • Black shorts or a black skirt
  • Black boots
  • A sheet of cardboard to slide inside the top while you draw
  • Fake blood or red lip liner
  • Optional: a hair tie and a bit of dark eye makeup

How to make it

  1. 1

    Lay the top flat on a table with the sheet of cardboard inside, so the colour does not bleed through to the back.

  2. 2

    Draw wavy zebra stripes with the black marker, keeping them uneven and a little wild.

  3. 3

    Go back and fill every other stripe, or the gaps between them, with the red marker. Let it dry for ten minutes.

  4. 4

    Put on the black shorts and boots.

  5. 5

    Add a small smear of fake blood on your lip or a knuckle, so the cheerful outfit has something wrong with it.

  6. 6

    Style your hair in a neat, low ponytail. Normal is the point.

Make it better

  • Draw the stripes with the top flat, not on you. They will be neater.
  • Let the marker dry fully before you wear it, so it does not rub off.
  • Keep the rest of the outfit very plain and let the pattern do the talking.

Questions

Is this the Nikki costume from Obsession?

It is a homemade nod to the zebra-print top made famous by the character in this year's horror film. It is not an official costume.

Do fabric markers wash out?

Most are permanent once dry, which is what you want. Check the packet, and wash the top inside out the first time.

Can I make it without a halter top?

Yes. A plain white vest or even a cut-down tee works. Just keep the colours red and black.

Inspired by a character in a 2026 horror film. Not made, sponsored or endorsed by the film's makers.

Wear it in front of your own haunted CCTV

Upload four photos of your house and Cursed Cam turns them into a night-time security monitor where something is very wrong. Put it on the TV by the door.

Make my monitorSee how it works

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