Bart SimpsonBart Simpson, Lara Croft & Wonder Woman
Shorts Costumes
Costume Wall has 254 shorts costume guides, and the garment does the naming, because cobalt chino shorts read as Bart Simpson before anyone sees the spiked hair. Lara Croft is the action pick in brown shorts and a tank top, Wonder Woman wears a star-spangled pair with a gold belt, and the sports builds run from boxing trunks to basketball shorts. Around those sit the cartoon kids, the beach looks and the trainers, so the page covers a full pair of shorts, a short-short and a printed pattern.
254 costume guides Editorial reviewed Oct 5, 2026
Which Shorts Costume Should I Pick?
Start with the version you can build from clothes you already own, then add the pieces that name the character.
Bart SimpsonDeep cobalt chino shorts, a burnt orange crew tee and a spiked-hair mask.
Lara CroftTurquoise tank top, brown shorts, holsters and hiking boots.
Wonder WomanGold tiara, red corset and blue star-spangled shorts.Shorts Costume Ideas by Character
Browse every shorts costume guide by character, then open the one you want for its kit list and its build notes.
254 Shorts costumes
Boxer
Boxing-ring look: a black athletic top, loose boxing trunks, laced gloves, hand wraps and lace-up sneakers.
Caveman
Stone-age brute in brown shorts: a brown faux fur vest, a brown wide belt, brown ankle boots and a faux bone necklace.
Derek Turnbow
Stranger Things newcomer in brown glasses: a long sleeve rainbow striped sweater, a blue puffer vest and gray cargo shorts.
Agnes Gru
Agnes Gru’s Despicable Me look: yellow-and-brown stripes, blue denim overalls, a high ponytail tied red, and white sneakers.
AJ Lee
Dress up like AJ Lee, WWE's three-time Divas Champion, in her Love Bites tee and butterfly title.
Alex Owens
Curly-banged welder by day and dancer by night: a gray off-shoulder sweatshirt, black dance shorts and red pointed pumps.
Alice from Resident Evil
Zombie-fighting heroine in a short wavy blonde wig: a red asymmetrical wrap dress, black knee-high riding boots and a silver toy pistol prop.
Allan
Barbie beach bro in a rainbow striped shirt over men’s blue shorts: red wig, ginger brow pencil and men’s slides.
Amy Pond
Brown bomber jacket and black shorts for time travel: a maroon tank top, long wavy auburn wig and brown cowgirl boots.
Andre Agassi
Neon-era tennis star look: blonde mullet wig, white and pink tennis polo, black drawstring shorts, white tennis shoes, pink headband and a tennis racket.
Andy
Toy Story cowboy-playing kid look: raglan t-shirt, cargo shorts, red cowboy hat, converse sneakers, plus a Jessie figure and a Buzz Lightyear figure.
Ashley O
Black Mirror pop-star look: a leather skirt, leather shiny shorts, a crop top bra, thigh high boots and a purple wig.
Balrog
Heavyweight boxer in blue trunks and white hand wraps: red boxing gloves, blue boxing tank top and brown boxing boots.
Bamm-Bamm Rubble
Super-strong club-swinging Stone Age toddler in a spotted costume set: short white wig, orange beanie, plastic caveman club.
Barley Lightfoot
Patch-covered denim vest and black converse for a blue-haired teenage elf: green cargo shorts, a blue beanie and elf ears.
Barnacle Boy
Retired superhero sidekick in blue rubber gloves: a sailor cap, swimming goggles and a cotton bandana.
Bart Simpson
Cobalt chino shorts over a yellow second skin: a burnt orange tee, a spiked-hair mask, slip-on skate shoes and a green skateboard.
Baywatch Lifeguard (Male)
Baywatch costume for men: red board shorts, navy quarter-zip top, whistle, fanny pack, aviator sunglasses and the inflatable rescue float.
Beavis
Black shorts and sprayed-up hair: a Metallica band tee, quarter socks, firme hold pomade and authentic canvas skate shoes.
Beefsquatch
Chuck taylor all-star sneakers and a furry sasquatch mask for a burger-show host: a yellow t-shirt, jean shorts and a toy cheeseburger.
Ben Hanscom
Layered brown wig and a solar system t-shirt: casual cargo shorts, crew socks, and fashion sneakers for a summer on the bike.
Bernard Mettle
Werewolf plaid flannel over men’s classic fit shorts: purple face body paint, a wolf head mask and claws.
Billie Eilish (”Bad Guy”)
Bad Guy music video pop look: teal ombre short wig, white dress shirt, white dress shorts, white socks and slippers, layered chains and fake blood.
Billie Eilish (Happier Than Ever)
Blond-fringe pop star singing into a corded phone in a music video: oversized black tee, red baggy shorts, thin gold necklace.Showing 1–24 of 254 Shorts costumes
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How to Put Together a Shorts Costume
Start with the pair of shorts, then add the top, the socks and one prop that tells everyone which character is wearing them.
Baywatch Lifeguard (Male)Red board shorts, navy quarter-zip top, a whistle and a rescue float.
Michael JordanSquad jersey, matching shorts, a sweatband and Air Jordan sneakers.
Bobby HillPale blue tee, teal knee-length shorts, crew socks and low-top sneakers.Choose the Shorts by Style and Era
The cut of the shorts dates a costume before the rest of the outfit does. Mickey Mouse and Pinocchio sit in classic wide shorts, so the shape has to stay roomy rather than slim. The 1990s and 2000s looks, such as Dora the Explorer or Doug Funnie, want flat-front chino shorts in a plain colour, while a modern pick such as John B from Outer Banks leans on a board short with a drawstring.
Colour does the next part of the work. Mickey Mouse is red with white buttons, Wonder Woman is blue with stars, and Harley Quinn splits red and blue across one pair. If you are building from clothing you already own, match the shorts to the character’s dominant colour first and worry about the exact trim second, because a plain pair in the right shade reads better than a patterned pair in the wrong one. Patterned shorts only work when the character actually wears a pattern.
Sports and Beach Shorts Costumes
Sports costumes are the easiest shorts builds because the shorts carry the whole look. A boxer needs loose trunks and laced gloves, a wrestler needs an athletic tank over compression leggings, and a basketball build such as Michael Jordan or Jalen Brunson needs a jersey over matching shorts and a pair of sneakers. A running look keeps the same format, since the shorts are short and the rest of the outfit is a plain top and a pair of trainers.
Beach and pool looks work the same way. The Baywatch lifeguard wears red board shorts with a navy quarter-zip top and a whistle, and the Pokémon Go trainers pair a hoodie with leggings or shorts and a cap. Add one prop, a rescue float, a ball or a whistle, and the sport is obvious from across a room. Keep the palette narrow, one bright accent against a neutral, so a group still looks deliberate in photos.
Cartoon and Animated Shorts Costumes
Cartoon characters wear shorts because a simple drawing keeps them cheap to copy. Charlie Brown is a yellow shirt with a zigzag stripe over black shorts, Bobby Hill is a pale blue tee and teal knee-length shorts, and Bart Simpson is a red tee and blue shorts. The trick is the flat, bright colour palette rather than the fabric. Keep the shapes simple and the colours blocked, because a cartoon reads from across a room or it does not read at all.
Kid characters and family picks run the same way on a smaller budget. Chuckie Finster is a purple shirt and green shorts, and the Peanuts kids share a plain tee and a pair of shorts. Buy the shorts in the right colour and add the hair or the hat, because those two details are what people recognise. If you cannot find an exact match, take a plain pair a shade off and let the hair carry the recognition instead.
Build the Look Around the Shorts
A shorts costume becomes a top-half problem once you own the right pair. Lara Croft needs a turquoise tank top and holsters, Wonder Woman needs a red corset and a gold belt, and Mickey Mouse needs a black compression top and round ears. Buy the top first, then match the shorts to it. A belt or a pair of socks in the character’s colour finishes the line and costs very little.
Choose shorts you will wear again, because a costume is only good value if it keeps working after the party. Solid athletic shorts and board shorts cover the sports, the beach and most of the cartoon looks, so two pairs, one dark and one bright, carry several costumes on this page across a whole season without a second order. Keep a plain pair in each of the two shades the page repeats most, red and blue, and half these characters can be built at short notice.
Shorts Costume FAQ
What is the easiest shorts costume to put together?
A sports or cartoon look, because the shorts are the whole outfit. A boxer needs trunks and gloves, the Baywatch lifeguard adds a board shirt and a whistle, and Charlie Brown is a yellow shirt over black shorts. All three use plain pieces you can buy anywhere.
Do shorts costumes work for a group?
Yes, they are the easiest group theme. The Captain Planet planeteers, the Pokémon Go trainers and the Splatoon Inklings all share a simple top-and-shorts build, so each person only needs the right colour to read as part of the set.
What kind of shorts should I buy for a costume?
Match the character’s cut and colour first. Mickey Mouse and Pinocchio need roomy classic shorts, the sports builds need loose trunks, and a modern look such as John B calls for board shorts with a drawstring. Fabric matters less than the shade.
Can I wear a shorts costume to a cold-weather party?
Add leggings under the shorts, which is what the wrestler and trainer builds already do. A pair of opaque tights keeps the silhouette while adding warmth, and boots or knee socks cover the rest of the leg, so the costume still reads correctly.
Which shorts costume is best for a kid?
A cartoon character, because the clothing is ordinary. Bobby Hill, Charlie Brown and Chuckie Finster all come down to a plain tee, a pair of shorts and one hair or hat detail, so nothing needs to be ordered in advance.
How do I keep the shorts looking right all night?
Choose a fabric that holds its shape and avoid anything too tight. Elastic-waist athletic shorts stay comfortable, while a belt keeps chino shorts in place. Take a spare pair of socks if the costume runs long.
Choose Your Shorts Costume
Pick the shorts first, because the cut and the colour name the character faster than any top. Mickey Mouse needs red shorts with white buttons, Wonder Woman needs a star-spangled blue pair, and Lara Croft needs plain brown shorts with a tank top. Build the top half around whichever pair you choose and the rest of the costume falls into place.
