Toga costumes are not so obvious a choice for Halloween but for simplicity you can't beat them. Since the days of John Belushi and the Animal House movie, these costumes have become associated with college Toga parties all over the world. But that's no reason not to consider as a viable choice for Halloween - maybe with a few twists.
Forget The Old Sheet Idea
Cardboard Halloween Decorations
White is the most common color for toga costumes because people commonly throw on an old sheet they have lying around the house. However, sheets aren't the best material to use as their shape is too square. You are better off with a long and narrow strip of fabric. Also, if you don't have old sheets lying around you'll find that it's usually cheaper to buy a piece of cloth from a store than it is to buy a new sheet. So, all in all, buying some cloth from a fabric store is a better option.
Go For A Length Of Fabric
Most instructions for making a toga recommend that you buy between 4 and 6 yards of fabric. Most people find that 4 yards is sufficient but obviously it will depend upon your size and how sure you want to be of covering your bits! Allow for 3 feet of cloth to wrap around your waist. If you're working with a toga that starts from the waist and goes over the shoulder, you'll need to wrap it around one and a half times and then have fabric to spare to throw over your shoulder. A good rule of thumb is to buy about 1 yard of fabric per foot of the wearer's height, taking 6 yards as the maximum.
To make the toga more suitable for Halloween you could choose an orange or black fabric or one of those patterns that comes out specifically at this time of year - a pumpkin or witch design for example.
Assembling Your Halloween Toga Costume
The next consideration for your toga costume is what you are going to wear underneath it. If, anything! Long t-shirts and shorts are usually a good idea, especially if, like me, you live in a colder climate. Also, you'll be free to revel as much as you like without fear of your costume falling off at an inopportune moment.
The Man's Toga Firstly, pin one end of the cloth securely around your waist. Then wrap it round least one more time, leaving the length hanging down to your knees. Pin the toga again at the waistline so that it stays in position. Throw the rest of the fabric over one of your shoulders and, apart from a few accessories, you're ready to go.
Complete your outfit with leather sandals, wrist bands made from cardboard, a corded belt around your waist in which to stash a plastic sword, a shield and a laurel leaf crown also easily made from a piece of cardboard.
The Woman's Toga Creating a toga costume for a woman is similar to that of a man's but begins under the armpits rather than the waist. Start by pinning the material just under the armpits ensuring that the cloth hangs down to the knees. Wrap your fabric around your body again and pin into place making sure the fabric is secure. Drape the remaining cloth over your shoulder and your toga is ready to acessorize.
Take advantage of your feminine shape by using small horizontal bands made from chain, leather or ribbon to accentuate your bust (using a criss-cross) and your waistline. Wear high-heeled shoes if you're comfortable in them.
Whether male or female, adding orange and black touches will ensure your toga costume has a Halloween flavor.