Sure, you can make a simple ghost costume with a sheet, but you've actually got another great option: make a toga costume and DIY your way to an ancient Roman look in a matter of minutes. Use materials you have around the house to make simple togas for any party, play, or live-action role-play event.
While most imagine the toga to be white, other common colors used during Roman and Greek times include purple, off-white, black, gray, red stripes, or fabrics with ornate embroidery. Just like the design you choose, the choice is up to you.
Simple One-Shoulder Toga
This homemade toga costume is about as easy as it gets. Use a standard pillowcase to make a child's toga or a slim toga for a small adult. Embellish with a braided gold cord or belt to make it look more like a costume or channel your inner god or goddess. If you want a longer toga, try using a king-size or body pillowcase.
Rocking this toga is all about the accessories and hair. We like the idea of wearing it with strappy sandals and some bracelets. Show off the one-shoulder look with a Grecian updo or a pretty braided style.
Materials
- One twin-size pillowcase
- Black marker
- Ruler
- Sewing scissors
Instructions
- Lay the pillowcase flat with the open side closest to you and the short, closed seam away from you.
- Start on the upper left corner and measure down five inches for a child's toga or seven inches for a small adult toga. Place a mark here.
- Cut along the left seam from the top corner to the mark you made. This will be an arm hole.
- Measure and mark a spot along the closed short edge about two inches in from the left upper corner.
- Cut along the short closed edge seam from this mark to the opposite side of the pillowcase to make a large opening for your head and one shoulder.
- Slide the pillowcase on over your head and stick your right arm through the hole.
- Use rubber bands or hair ties to adjust the fit if you need to gather it a little.
Sari-Style Bedsheet Toga
Knowing how to make a toga out of a bedsheet can come in handy for Halloween or the odd college frat party. Grab the flat sheet from any sheet set and you can tie a toga in seconds. Throw on some sandals, and you've got the total look.
This is sort of a one-size-fits-all costume, but you can adjust the sizing with the type of sheet you use. Use a twin sheet for a slimmer figure and a queen or king sheet for more room to move.
Materials
- One twin-size bedsheet
- One safety pin or ornate brooch
Instructions
- Take the corner with the tag and hold it on your left hip so the tag is touching your body and the long side of the sheet is at your waist.
- Wrap that same edge around the front of your body, around your right hip, across your back, the around to your left hip so it overlaps the first corner.
- Secure the spot where the corner intersects with the wrapped sheet using a pin.
- Take the other corner of that long edge and toss it over your right shoulder.
- Tuck the corner of the sheet on your back into the waistline of the sheet to secure.
- Adjust draping as needed.
Two-Strap Bedsheet Toga
With two simple knots and a little imagination, you can turn a large flat sheet into a draped toga. Wear a matching t-shirt underneath to give a more layered look or wear a different colored tee to get a more authentic version.
We like to embellish this toga costume with leaves from our back yard tucked into the knots at the shoulders. If you don't have leaves handy, it's easy to find artificial ones at any craft store too.
Materials
You'll need one flat sheet. Choose a twin size for a child or small adult or a queen or king for a larger adult.
Instructions
- Take the two corners on one short side of the sheet and tie them together.
- Repeat Step 1 with the two corners on the other short side.
- Place your right arm through the hole on one short side, with the knot on top of your shoulder.
- Take the other tied section and pull the whole sheet across the front of your body, around your back, and back to the front of your body.
- Slip Your left arm in the hole with the knot on top of your shoulder.
- Adjust draped sheet as needed.
Tips for the Perfect DIY Toga Costume
No matter which style of homemade toga costume you choose, there are a few things you can do to make your look a total success. From what you wear under your toga to how to keep it from falling off, these are a few things you should keep in mind.
Word to the wise: Always wear something under your toga. This avoids the kind of wardrobe malfunction incident that people tend to remember.
- We like wearing a strapless leotard or bodysuit under the toga because it won't show under the sheet. If you can find one that's similar to your skin tone, that's ideal, but anything light-colored will work.
- If you need to be warmer, wear a solid-colored, long-sleeved shirt and leggings or sweatpants under the toga.
- Secure your toga with two safety pins or a brooch and a safety pin. Why? If one fails, you're still totally covered.
- It's not always easy to know what size of sheet to use for a toga, but we tend to think it's better to err on the side of a smaller sheet. Too much fabric can be hard to manage. If you're in doubt, do a test run with a couple of different sheet sizes to see what you like.
Try a Toga for an Easy, Last-Minute Costume
If you need a last-minute Halloween look, let a homemade toga costume be your go-to. You can go full Greek god or goddess or just stick with the history-inspired simple version. With a little creativity and some household linens, you'll be the life of any toga party.
