How to Dress Like Harry Potter

Last Updated: August 8, 2024

Forget bulky, sticky costumes made from cardboard and face paint. Dressing like Harry Potter will keep you in comfort, and still be instantly recognizable. Just keep an eye out for someone dressed as Lord Volde– oops, He Who Must Not Be Named!

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Dressing Like Harry Potter

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1
Put on black trousers and a white shirt. If you can, use slacks and a collared, button-up shirt. The Hogwarts dress code requires everyone to look smashing.
- Wear a burgundy cardigan (red sweater) in cold weather.
Harry Potter doesn't wear this all the time in the films, but it's required for all Hogwarts students in the books. Besides, a shirt and trousers aren't too wizardly by themselves. There are several ways to track one of these down:

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3
Look in graduation stores that sell academic gowns. Ask whether they have old ones they will sell cheaply for costume purposes.
- Thrift stores, charity stores, and costume shops might stock these.
- If you know any professors, judges, or lawyers, ask to borrow their robes. (Note – lawyers in the United States don't wear robes.)
- Wear a long, black coat back-to-front, or a long black skirt over your shoulders.
A pointy black hat isn't necessary for Harry Potter, but it is easily recognized as a wizarding hat. The main use for a hat like this is to hide long hair, if you have it.
5
Make a pair of "broken" glasses. Find a pair of round glasses with black frames at a used clothing store or drugstore. Put a piece of clear sellotape (scotch tape) over the middle of the glasses, like Harry does when his glasses break.
- Toy stores sell fake glasses along with a nose and mustache. Cut off the extra bits, and they're the perfect shape.
- If you have your own glasses, you can make the rims black with puffy paint. For a quicker costume, cut out empty circles from black construction paper and tape them over the rims.
6
Make a red and gold scarf. If you're lucky, you can find a scarf with red and gold stripes at a clothing store, or have someone knit or sew it for you. Otherwise, you'll need to start with a plain red scarf. There are a couple ways you can add the golden or yellow stripes:
- Wrap a yellow ribbon around the scarf in a spiral. Staple or sew it in place.
- Cut yellow felt or construction paper into rectangles. Lay these out on the scarf. Staple or sew them on.
- Paint the fabric with fabric paint.
7
Make a red and gold tie. Find a red tie from a thrift shop – you probably don't want to paint on your own or your family's. You can make this the same way you did the scarf, but fabric paint will look best.
- In the films, the Gryffindor ties are red with diagonal gold stripes. Draw a thin gold line. Skip 3 cm (1.2 in), then draw two thick lines with a thin gap in between. Skip another 3 cm (1.2 in), and repeat with a new thin line.
8
Draw the lightning bolt scar. Draw the famous lightning bolt running down your forehead. Use red lip liner, lipstick, or a nontoxic, washable marker.
- The scar is sometimes shown and described as running down the middle of his forehead, or running down the right side. ^{[1]
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Method 2

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Turn a stick into a wand . Find a strong stick from any tree, about 11 inches (28 cm) long. ^{[3]
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Research source} Decorate it however you like with paint, or make spiral patterns with puffy paint or a hot glue gun. Harry Potter's wand looks pretty simple in the films, but your version doesn't have to be.
- You can use a thick wooden dowel from a hardware shop instead.
- For a quick and easy wand, tape together a few pencils, twigs, or chopsticks. Tape brown or black construction paper over them.
Carry around your own Hedwig perched on your arm or shoulder. (Tie her on with a bit of string if you need to.) Look in the toy section of department or charity stores.
Make a quill . Any feather with a stiff base can be made into a quill. For an easier version, tape a feather from a craft shop onto a pen or pencil. Craft shops might also have fake parchment or scrolls to write on with your quill.
4
Get a broom. Harry the Quidditch player has to have a broom to fly around on. Choose a wooden one with real bristles for the best look.
- To complete the look, carry the Golden Snitch as well. Paint a table tennis ball gold and glue on wings from yellow construction paper.
- Try convincing your friends to play Quidditch with you.

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Can I do the same thing with accessories if I'm in a different house?

Community Answer

Yes, of course! The only difference would be the robes, everything else is fine.

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Can girls dress like Harry or make their own characters with his wand and glasses?

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Absolutely. Opposite-gender cosplay is known as "crossplay", and is quite popular. Your OC could have any Harry-esque elements you'd like.

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Can I be a Harry Potter if I am a girl?

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Of course, you can. Gender bend the character and make it super cool.

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If you're really serious about it, embroider the Hogwarts logo into the robe.

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If you are a girl, put your hair into a slightly messy ponytail or a bob.

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If you are playing the character for Halloween or a fancy dress party, point at people and say, "Expelliarmus!", "Expecto Patronum!", or another similar Harry Potter phrase.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you’re going trick-or-treating, point your wand at the person giving you treats, as if you were casting a spell, and say, “Trick or Treat!.". Feel free to do wand motions.
In the books, they wear plain black robes (See Chapter 5 in the Philosopher's Stone). You can just get a plain black robe to be a true Hogwarts student.
To make a golden snitch without clay, get a wooden ball and paint it gold, Then use hot glue or guerilla glue to glue the feathers to the ball.
If you can't find a stick from a tree to use as a wand, try using a round chopstick instead. A square chopstick will work as well.
If you want to dress like a Quidditch player, get a red robe with leather gloves.You'll also need an old broom and a Snitch.

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Warnings

Make sure you use washable marker or makeup for the scar. Permanent marker can take a long time to wear off.

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Things You'll Need

Black slacks
White collared shirt
Glasses
Clear tape
Black robe, coat, or long skirt
Red scarf
Red tie
Golden or yellow fabric paint, ribbon, felt, or construction paper.
Lip liner, lipstick, or washable marker (for the lightning scar)

Optional Props:

Stuffed white owl
Stick (for a wand)
Broom
Feather (for a quill)

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