To start, you’ll need 10 black garbage bags with drawstrings like black shoelaces or black rope or black ribbon for the witch dress. Items from the hardware store or drugstore like the painter’s tape and electrical tape shown above can be suitable.  Shiny black electrical tape can be used just for trimming a black shirt or sweater to look like Halloween, but other tape can be fun too, especially if the colors are orange and black (see image).

The type of tape available at the hardware store can be extremely festive and help anyone get into the Halloween “spirit”. A orange and black polka dot ribbon worn in the hair or tied around an arm can be “cool” enough for a party when someone doesn’t feel like dressing up. Some people even create witch dress costumes by twisting the black trash bags into ropes or braiding them into belts. This way the bags can be re-used as real trash bags.

But a black trash bag witch dress costume is not meant to be worn next to skin. I recommend using a green turtleneck or t-shirt under the witch dress garbage bag costume to separate skin from plastic. Green leggings or tights can also serve this purpose and prevent unnecessary exposure from ripped or torn garbage bag fringe. Wear horizontal striped tights like from the Wizard of Oz or a dark slip beneath the witch skirt. Colder Trick or Treat areas will have more need for layers like this.

Many Halloween costume makers, such as Martha Stewart, have a quick and cheap way to make a witch dress costume out of black plastic trash bags. Care must be taken that the most fireproof bags possible should be used. Materials used in packaged childrens’ Halloween costumes are limited by federal standards for fireproof fabrics and finishes.

Using a dollar store box of black trash bags to make a costume is indeed economical. But these materials were not designed to be worn next to skin and should be tested for allergic reaction against a child’s skin before Halloween night. Even thrift store green clothing purchased for one night of wear under the black plastic is better than extended direct contact with skin.

For the witch dress bodice, trim the seam closure off the bottom of one bag and turn it inside out. This makes the witch dress from the shoulders and armhole to the neck and waist. Reinforce neckline area in a “collar’ formation using black matte painter’s tape. This tape has a matte finish and a narrow band effect. Striping the skirt with the tape can make a slinky looking shiny effect.

Use one black trash bag each for the sleeves. Trim the straight hem or sleeves of a black witch dress costume, use shiny plastic PVC electrical tape. This tape also looks good on hats and can reinforce a staff or broom carry handle.

Make armholes by separating likely edges of the bag sides and cutting or tearing them open. Lay each bag flat, working from one folded side and the bottom edge corner. About seven inches for an adult, 5 inches for a child should do it. For sleeves, cut the bottom of the trash bag the length of this “sleeve” measurement from either corner edge. Open mouth of bag is the sleeve cuff, cut sleeve diameter will attach to the main trunk bag section.

Duct tape sleeves to main bag. Match sleeve bag corners to sleeve areas of main trunk section bag. Close undersides of jointures of sleeves to trunk bag sections, using duct tape to fasten both sections inside out.You can use pins to work section by section. Leave a small section unfastened for armhole  ventilation.

Use seven inch strips of tape as there will be curvatures. Overlap edge until seam is fastened all the sleeve around. Turn “garment” inside out. Use black matte tape or shiny tape on outside facing of the sleeve seams to cover duct tape showthrough and create a trim.