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Cosplay on a Dime: 10 Trending Characters You Can Create with Thrift Store Finds

Staying on budget can be a struggle for cosplayers. Everything like costumes, fabric, equipment and more can start to crank up the bill fast. So if you're looking for a more affordable option to cosplay on a dime, you've come to the right place. These 10 trending characters you can create with thrift store finds can help you keep on budget while still dressing up as a popular character.

10 Trending Characters You Can Create with Thrift Store Finds


Cosplay Ideas You Can Thrift

  1. Kiki from Studio Ghibli - A simple navy dress, red flats, and a big red bow are all you need for this cozy, recognizable look. Check your local thrift store’s dress rack and accessory bin—you might even spot a wicker bag to stand in for her delivery satchel.

  2. Jurassic Park - Channel your inner dino wrangler with khaki shorts, a button-up shirt, and boots. Add a thrifted wide-brim hat and a toy dinosaur for instant Dr. Grant or Ellie Sattler vibes.

  3. Wendy from Gravity Falls - Thrift a green flannel shirt, a white tank, jeans, and lace-up boots. Look for a trapper hat in the winterwear section to finish the look.

  4. Mystery Inc. from Scooby Doo - Each member of the gang has a color-coded wardrobe that’s easy to pull from thrift finds: orange turtleneck and red skirt for Velma, purple dress and green scarf for Daphne, teal shirt and brown pants for Shaggy. Fred just needs a white sweater, blue pants, and a red scarf.

  5. Resident Evil Heroes - Characters like Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Leon Kennedy, Ethan Winters and Chris Redfield can all be put together with simple clothing items you can find at a thrift shop.

  6. Kim Possible & Ron Stoppable - Kim’s look calls for green cargo pants and a black crop top or turtleneck—both commonly found at thrift stores. Ron’s loose khakis and red jersey-style shirt with white trim are equally easy to spot (or DIY). Bonus points if you thrift a stuffed naked mole rat for Rufus.

  7. Luffy from One Piece - Snag a red vest or sleeveless shirt, cutoff denim shorts, and sandals. Straw hats show up often in thrift stores, especially during summer months—just keep an eye on the accessories wall.

  8. Humanoid FNAF Animatronics - Build a closet cosplay with a color-coordinated base outfit for each character (purple for Bonnie, yellow for Chica, etc.). Thrifted suit pieces, suspenders, or vests can help nod to the animatronic style, and you can DIY or purchase headbands, ears, or gloves to finish the look.

  9. Casual Teen Titans - Go for subtle, streetwear-inspired versions of the Titans: Raven’s dark, goth inspired look, Starfire’s NASA top, or Beast Boy’s black-and-pink combo. A lot of these color-blocked looks can be pieced together with thrifted athletic or clubwear.

  10. Chainsaw Man - The characters from chainsaw man often just wear black dress pants and a white button up shirt. While horns, props and wigs would need to be purchased or made else where, the main pieces of clothing can easily be thrifted.


Conclusion

If you want simple costumes or need to stay on a budget, thrifting is your best bet. It's entirely possible to do both full characters or scaled back closet cosplays with thrifting parts for your costumes. You just have to be a little patient to find all the pieces sometimes.

Share Your Cosplay Tips and Stories!


Whether you're a seasoned cosplayer or just starting out, thrifting parts of your cosplays can open up endless possibilities for your costumes. We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with thrifting, so please leave a comment below sharing your favorite thing about them.


Got more tips or advice on thrifting cosplays? 

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