Costumes That Start With C: Cowboy, Cat and 30 More
Costumes that start with C are the easy mode of letter parties: cowboy (or cowgirl), cat, clown, chef, cheerleader, cactus and construction worker all come together from normal clothes. If you got C, congrats, you won the letter lottery. Here's how to build the big three, plus 30 more ideas.
If you're stuck between cowboy, cat and clown and want the one your closet can actually pull off, The Costume Rack matches you from your vibe and what you own, then splits it into pieces. Start my costume
C costumes you already own the pieces for
Before we get into full builds, a quick closet check. If you own any of these, you already have a C costume:
| If you own... | You can be... |
|---|---|
| Jeans, a checked shirt, boots | Cowboy / cowgirl |
| All-black clothes | Cat |
| A mismatched loud outfit | Clown |
| A white shirt and an apron | Chef |
| A sports skirt or shorts and a tee | Cheerleader |
| A hi-vis vest | Construction worker |
| A green hoodie | Cactus, caterpillar or crocodile |
| A trench coat | Crime detective / CSI agent |
| A striped top | Convict (cartoon style) |
| A graduation gown | Choir singer |
Cowboy, cat and clown builds
These three are the headliners, and all three are costumes The Costume Rack builds piece by piece.
Cowboy or cowgirl costume
- Base: jeans (or a denim skirt) and a checked or flannel shirt.
- Boots: any boots. Actual cowboy boots are a bonus, not a requirement.
- Hat: a cowboy hat if you have one. No hat? A bandana around your neck does a lot of the work.
- Details: a belt with a big buckle, a paper sheriff's star, a toy lasso made from rope.
- No-makeup version: nothing needed. Maybe some freckles if you want.
Yeehaw is optional but strongly encouraged. Space cowgirl (silver and glitter) is the glam version.
Cat costume
The black cat is the most classic costume that starts with C and possibly the easiest costume ever.
- All black: top, leggings or jeans.
- Ears: a headband with paper or felt triangles, or two hair buns pulled high.
- Tail: a black sock stuffed and pinned on, or a black belt hanging from your back belt loop.
- Whiskers: eyeliner, or skip the makeup and let the ears carry it.
Clown costume
Not scary clown (that's below). Party clown.
- The loudest mismatched clothes you own: stripes with polka dots, big colors.
- Suspenders or a big bow tie.
- A red nose (a red pom-pom or a painted ping-pong ball).
- Colorful socks, big shoes.
- No-makeup version: skip the white face and just use the nose and one rosy cheek. It still reads as clown.
More costume ideas that start with C
Easy C costumes for any party
- Chef: white shirt, apron, a paper chef's hat, a wooden spoon.
- Cheerleader: a skirt or shorts, a school tee, pom-poms from shredded paper or plastic bags.
- Construction worker: hi-vis vest, jeans, a hard hat or yellow cap.
- Camper: flannel, a beanie, a sleeping bag over one shoulder.
- Crayon: a single-color outfit with a paper cone hat in the same color.
- Cyclist: Lycra or gym kit, a helmet, cycling gloves.
- Chess piece: all black or all white and a paper crown (king) or cross (queen).
- Caveman or cavewoman: a leopard print or brown top, a bone prop, messy hair.
- Cupid: a white or pink outfit, a paper bow and arrows, little wings.
- Captain: a white shirt, navy blazer and captain's hat.
Funny C ideas
Funny costumes that start with C work best when the name is the joke.
- Cactus: green hoodie with white tape "spines." Tell people not to hug you.
- Crazy cat lady: a robe, curlers and five stuffed cats pinned to you.
- Couch potato: a brown top with a paper TV remote, a cushion strapped to your back.
- Cereal killer: mini cereal boxes stuck to a shirt, each with a plastic knife through it. Groan-worthy, iconic.
- Crayon box: whole group, see below.
- Cheese: a yellow top with holes drawn on. Say "cheese" in every photo.
- Cookie: a brown top with paper chocolate chips. Offer everyone "cookies" (the website kind).
- Chaos: a normal outfit, but every item is wrong. One shoe, hat backwards, shirt inside out.
- Cloud: a white top covered in cotton balls or pillow stuffing.
- Clickbait: a sign that says "You won't BELIEVE what's under this sign." Under it: nothing.
Scary costumes that start with C
- Creepy clown: the party clown build, but with torn clothes and darker colors.
- Corpse bride / groom (generic): a thrifted white dress or suit, torn and greyed with tea.
- Cyclops: one giant paper eye on your forehead.
- Count (vampire): black cape, high collar. Technically a vampire, and yes, it counts as C.
- Creature from the swamp: old green clothes, leaves, torn strips.
C duo and group ideas
Couple costumes that start with C
- Cowboy and cow: one in denim and a hat, one in a black-and-white spotted top with ears.
- Cat and cat burglar: one black cat, one all-black thief with a "loot" bag.
- Cop and criminal (cartoon style): navy and a cap vs black-and-white stripes.
- Cookies and cream: one in black, one in white, both with paper cookie circles.
- Cupid and a crush: Cupid chases, the other runs.
Group costumes that start with C
- Crayon box: everyone as a different color crayon. Maybe the easiest group costume in existence.
- Circus: a ringmaster, a clown, a strong person, a lion tamer, an acrobat.
- Cowboys and cowgirls: the rodeo group, one person as the cow.
- Cats: a whole group of black cats, one person as the "crazy cat lady."
- Card deck: each person a different playing card.
This is where C groups crash: cowboy and cat are so easy that half the group picks one of them and nobody says anything until the pregame. With The Costume Rack, you send one link, everyone claims their costume on your rail, and the second someone takes cowboy, it shows as claimed. Start my costume
One-prop C costumes
Last minute costumes that start with C, for when you have ten minutes:
- Cowboy: a bandana.
- Cat: ears.
- Clown: a red nose.
- Chef: an apron and a wooden spoon.
- Cyclops: one paper eye.
- Crown wearer (as in "the crown"): a paper crown.
- Camera person: a phone on a selfie stick, filming everything.
- Candle: a paper flame on a headband.
- Cone: a paper cone on your head (traffic cone energy).
- Contact lens: a clear plastic lid taped to your shirt. So bad it's good.
For more letters, try costumes that start with T or costumes that start with A.
Cowboy, cat or clown, built in two minutes
Three of the best costumes that start with C are on The Costume Rack's sixteen: cowboy, black cat and party clown. Tell it your vibe, your closet and how you feel about face paint, and you get your match split into pieces, with where to find each one, a version from what you own, three put-together steps and a no-makeup version. Share one link and your friends claim theirs on the same rail, so you don't end up as three cowboys.
FAQ
What are easy costumes that start with C?
Cowboy, cat, clown, chef and cheerleader are the easiest costumes that start with C. They're built from jeans, black clothes, loud outfits or an apron, plus one small prop.
How do you make a cowboy costume at home?
Wear jeans, a checked or flannel shirt and boots, then add a hat or a bandana around your neck. A belt with a big buckle and a paper sheriff's star finish it.
What funny fancy dress begins with C?
Cactus, cereal killer, couch potato, crazy cat lady and clickbait are funny fancy dress ideas beginning with C. Pun costumes like these always get a reaction at letter parties.
What are good group costumes that start with C?
A crayon box (everyone a different color), a circus, a rodeo of cowboys and cowgirls, a group of black cats, or a card deck all work as group costumes that start with C.
What scary costumes start with C?
Creepy clown, corpse bride or groom, cyclops and a Count-style vampire are all scary costumes that start with C. The creepy clown is the easiest: take a party clown outfit and distress it.