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

Superman

A DIY Superman costume needs a blue long-sleeved top, blue leggings or trousers, a red cape and red shorts worn on the outside. Add a yellow belt, red boots or socks and a curl of black hair on your forehead. You can make it for about $15 in under an hour, with no sewing. Everything except the chest shield is plain clothing you can wear again.

TIME: 45 min
COST: about $15
SKILL: Easy

What you need

A blue long-sleeved top or fitted blue tee
Blue leggings, joggers or jeans
Red fabric, an old red sheet or a red tablecloth for the cape
Red shorts or red swim trunks to wear over the blue
A yellow belt, or yellow ribbon or tape
Red socks or boots, and a bit of felt-tip pen
Yellow and red craft foam or felt for the chest shield
Hair gel, for the forehead curl

How to make it

1
Put on the blue top and blue trousers. Lay the red cape fabric flat and trim it so it reaches your knees.
2
Cut a diamond about 18 cm wide from yellow foam or felt. Draw a rough letter S on it in red felt-tip, in your own hand rather than copying a logo.
3
Stick the diamond to the middle of the chest with double-sided tape or fabric glue.
4
Pin the cape to the shoulders of the top with two safety pins, at the back of the collar.
5
Pull the red shorts on over the blue trousers, then tie the yellow belt at the waist.
6
Pull the red socks over the trousers and tuck your trouser legs in so they look like boots, or wear red boots.
7
Use a dab of hair gel to shape a single curl of hair onto your forehead.
8
Stand with your hands on your hips and your chest out.

Make it better

Pad the shoulders of the top with a sock or two if you want a bigger shape.
A cape that is too long drags. Keep it above the ankle.
Safety-pin the shorts to the trousers at the sides so they stay put.

Questions

How do I make a Superman costume from clothes I already own?

Wear a blue top and blue trousers, pull a pair of red shorts over the top and tie a red sheet at your shoulders as a cape. The yellow belt and chest shield are the only extra parts.

Can I make the chest shield without sewing?

Yes. Cut it from foam or felt and stick it on with double-sided tape or fabric glue. Draw your own S so it stays a homemade nod.

Is this an official Superman costume?

No. It is a homemade, unofficial costume built from everyday clothes and craft supplies. It is not affiliated with DC or Warner Bros.

Does it work for fancy dress at a party?

It does. It is a good last-minute fancy dress idea because most of the pieces are plain clothes you can wear again.

Unofficial. Superman and the DC names belong to their respective owners, and we are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by them. The names are used only to describe this homemade parody costume.

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 monitor See how it works