Buzz
Elevate your Halloween attire with this homemade nurse ensemble
Halloween offers the opportunity to embody any character you desire. Embracing a nurse's attire not only honors a challenging profession but also ensures a stylish appearance. To fashion your own nurse costume, procure a white dress with a collar, embellish it with crosses for a first aid motif, and fashion a nurse's cap from paper to perfect your look.
Procedure
Crafting the Attire
Start with a white dress featuring a collar as your foundation. Classic nurse uniforms employed a simple white dress as their base. Seek out a white dress with a petite collar that falls just above your knees. Preferably, opt for a dress or blouse with capped sleeves, though shirts with basic T-shirt sleeves will also suffice.
- Thrift stores often stock inexpensive white dresses.
- Select a short, low-cut dress for a seductive nurse costume.
- For a zombie nurse effect, splatter fake blood onto your white dress.
Attach red satin ribbon along the bottom edge using hot glue. Procure red satin ribbon approximately 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) wide. Cut one piece for the front and another for the back of your dress. Position the ribbon on the skirt and affix it with pea-sized hot glue dots spaced 1 in (2.5 cm) apart.
- Red satin ribbon is readily available at most craft supply outlets.
Adhere red satin ribbon to the sleeves using hot glue. Utilize the same ribbon used for the dress's hem. Cut pieces to encircle the bottom edges of the sleeves. Place the ribbon along the sleeve ends and secure with pea-sized drops of glue spaced 1 in (2.5 cm) apart. Allow the glue to dry before donning the dress.
Caution: Avoid placing the dress with hot glue in the dryer as it may reactivate the glue, resulting in a messy situation.
Cut out one large and one small circle from a scrap of white fabric. Employ a permanent marker to outline a 1 in (2.5 cm) circle and a 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) circle on the fabric scrap. If necessary, utilize the bottom of a cup or glass for tracing perfect circles. Employ sharp scissors to cut out the circles.
- Small quantities of fabric are typically available in the bargain section of fabric or craft supply stores.
Sketch a cross outline within the center of each circle. Utilize a permanent marker to draw a cross inside both circles. Ensure the cross is centered and does not touch the circle's edges. The white crosses symbolize first aid and nursing, serving as a quintessential aspect of the nurse's costume.
- White crosses are emblematic of first aid and nursing, serving as a pivotal component of the nurse's ensemble.
Apply red acrylic paint to the outer part of the circles. Using a small paintbrush, carefully fill in the area around the crosses with red acrylic paint while leaving the crosses themselves white. Apply a thin layer of paint for quick drying.
- You can purchase acrylic paint at most craft stores.
Attach the circles to the chest and left sleeve of your dress using glue or safety pins. Decide where you want to place the crosses—common locations include one side of the chest and the left sleeve. Secure the large circle to your chest and the smaller one to your sleeve using either safety pins or a hot glue gun.
- If the weather is chilly when you wear your nurse's costume, consider wearing white tights underneath your dress.
Crafting a Nurse's Cap
Create a 1 in (2.5 cm) fold at the bottom of a white piece of paper. Lay a standard sheet of white paper flat on a surface. Fold up one of the longer sides by 1 in (2.5 cm) to form a sturdy crease.
Draw two blue lines across the fold. With a blue marker, draw two thin lines horizontally across the fold. Start from the left edge of the fold and draw a straight line across the top. Draw another line beneath it, parallel to the first but closer to the bottom of the fold.
Pro Tip: Ensure your lines are straight by using a ruler.
Draw a red cross above the fold using a red pen. Enhance your nurse's cap by sketching a small, 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) cross just above the crease you made. Ensure the cross is centered for a symmetrical appearance on your head.
- The red cross will complement the crosses already on your dress.
Flip the paper over and fold the straight edges together at the center. Place the paper on the table with the folded section facing downwards. Fold the top edges of the paper inward until they meet in the middle.
- This will form a cone shape at the back of your cap.
Secure the paper pieces together at the center using tape. Use 1 or 2 strips of transparent tape to join the folded sections of paper at the rear of your hat. Maintain the cone shape to provide space for your head.
- Add additional tape to the rear of the paper cone for extra reinforcement.
Fold down the top of the cone to create a flat edge and tape it securely. Grasp the pointed end of the paper protruding from the top. Fold it downwards to form a straight edge at the cap's apex. Apply a piece of transparent tape to secure the fold in place.
- If you're aiming for a frightening costume, splatter fake blood on your nurse's cap.
Enhancing Your Look
Accessorize by draping a stethoscope around your neck for added authenticity. Stethoscopes are a common accessory for nurses to monitor a patient's heartbeat. To elevate the realism of your nurse costume, include a stethoscope around your neck. You can even use it to listen to heartbeats throughout the night.
- Second-hand stethoscopes can often be found at thrift stores.
Opt for white tights or stockings to keep warm. If you're wearing your costume on a chilly day, stay cozy by wearing white tights or stockings. Ensure they're plain white without any extra decorations to match your costume.
- For a more alluring look, consider wearing white fishnet stockings.
Complete your outfit with white heels or sneakers for authentic footwear. Modern nurses typically wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking. Finish off your costume by wearing white sneakers for comfort or white heels for a touch of allure.
Add a striking red lipstick to complement your costume. Since your costume already features red accents, enhance the look by coordinating your lipstick. Choose a vibrant red shade that complements your outfit. Keep your lipstick handy for touch-ups throughout the night.
- For a spooky or zombie nurse effect, smudge your lipstick for a less polished appearance.
Pro Tip: Maintain a subtle makeup look to allow the bold red lip to stand out.
Expert Advice
Materials Needed
- White dress
- Red satin ribbon
- White fabric scraps
- Red acrylic paint
- Scissors
- 1 white sheet of paper
- Blue marker
- Red marker
- Clear tape
- White tights or stockings
- Red lipstick
- Stethoscope (optional)
- White sneakers or red heels
- (For kids, consider cute little boots)
