Costumes That Start With M: 35 Ideas for Letter Parties
Mummy, mime, magician, mermaid, monster, mechanic and M&M-style candy are the easiest costumes that start with M. M is a lucky letter: you get a classic Halloween costume (the mummy), a zero-cost one (the mime) and loads of funny picks. Here are 35 ideas, with builds for the best ones.
Picked mummy but don't know where to get the wrap, or what to do if you hate face paint? The Costume Rack splits the mummy into pieces with where to find each one and a no-makeup version. Start my costume
Easy M costumes: mummy, mime, magician
These three are the holy trinity of fancy dress beginning with M. Pick one and you're done.
Mummy
The most recognizable M costume there is.
- Base: white or cream long-sleeve top and leggings.
- Wrap: white gauze bandage, strips torn from an old white sheet, or (for the chaos route) toilet paper.
- Wrap it on: start at your ankles and work up in overlapping layers. Tuck ends under or use a safety pin. Leave gaps so it looks aged.
- Head: a loose wrap around your head, face open.
- No-makeup version: skip the dark eye shadow. The wrap reads on its own.
Tip: tea-stain the strips the night before for that old, dusty look. Toilet paper looks great for exactly one hour, so use fabric if you're out all night.
Mime
Black and white striped top, black trousers, white gloves, suspenders if you have them, a beret. The famous white face is optional. The no-makeup version works if you commit to the silence and the "trapped in a box" moves.
Magician
A black blazer or suit jacket, white shirt, a bow tie, a top hat (card works), and a wand (a black pen with white tape on the end). Carry a deck of cards and do one bad trick all night.
M costumes from your closet
More costume ideas that start with M, all built from normal clothes:
- Mechanic: grey or navy boiler suit or overalls, a rag in your back pocket, a smudge on your cheek (optional).
- Marathon runner: running kit, a paper race number pinned to your top.
- Musician (rock star): black jeans, a band tee, sunglasses, a paper guitar.
- Model: your most dramatic outfit and a paper "runway" name badge. Strut.
- Mermaid: a green or blue skirt or leggings, a shell top drawn on a crop top or tee, messy wet-look hair.
- Monk: a brown dressing gown with a rope belt.
- Museum guard: a navy blazer, a lanyard and a stern "no touching" face.
- Mountaineer: puffer jacket, beanie, walking boots, a rope over your shoulder.
- Mailman / postman (UK) / postie: blue shirt, a bag full of "letters."
- Military officer: a smart jacket with paper medals.
- Marine biologist: a wetsuit top or a blue tee, goggles, a stuffed toy fish.
Mad Hatter
Big hat, a price tag or playing card tucked into the band, a loud blazer, a teacup. This one doubles as a book character; see dress as your favorite book character for more literary builds.
Funny M costumes
Funny costumes that start with M, ranked by how much commitment they need:
- Mood ring: a top that you change colors on (sticky notes) every hour.
- Meme: pick any classic meme and wear it as a sign. Everyone will fight about which one it is.
- Main character: sunglasses, a scarf in the wind, you narrate your own life out loud.
- M&M (generic candy): a single-color top with a white "m" on your chest. Group version below.
- Microwave: a cardboard box over your body with a door drawn on. You beep when done.
- Mosquito: black and grey clothes, paper wings, and a straw on your nose. Buzz in people's ears.
- Middle child: a sign that says "I'm fine." Stand between two people all night.
- Monday: pajamas, a coffee mug, a face that says "don't."
- Moneybags: a bag with paper dollar signs stuck on.
- Milkshake: a cup costume made from a bin (clean) with a pool noodle straw.
Scary costumes that start with M
- Mummy (see above)
- Monster: fuzzy hoodie in any color, paper teeth, googly eyes
- Medusa: a green top and toy snakes pinned to your hair or headband
- Mad scientist: lab coat, goggles, wild hair, "potions"
- Masked killer (generic): boiler suit and plain mask, school-appropriate version
- Moth: brown clothes, paper wings, fuzzy antennae
M group ideas
Group costumes that start with M are easy because so many M things come in sets.
| Group idea | Who's who | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| M&Ms (candy) | Each person in a different color | Cheap, instant, great photos |
| Monsters | Everyone makes their own fuzzy monster | No two look the same |
| Mummies | One full mummy, one "unraveling," one "mummy's boy/girl" | Built-in joke |
| Musicians / a band | Singer, drummer, guitarist, bassist | Everyone owns black jeans |
| Mermaids and a sailor | All mermaids, one confused sailor | Easy colors |
| Mafia (generic) | Pinstripes, fedoras, sunglasses | Great for guys and girls |
Couple costumes that start with M: magician and magician's assistant, mummy and mummy (ha), mermaid and marine biologist, mime and his invisible box (the box is your friend in a cardboard box).
In a big M group, three people claiming mummy is almost guaranteed, because it's the easiest one. Send your group one link on The Costume Rack and everyone claims a costume on your rail, so you can see "mummy: taken" before anyone buys gauze. Start my costume
One-prop M ideas
For last minute costumes that start with M:
- Mime: white gloves.
- Magician: a top hat or a wand.
- Marathon runner: a paper race number.
- Mermaid: shells in your hair.
- Mouse: paper ears on a headband.
- Mustache man: a drawn-on or paper mustache. (Say "mustache" and you're done.)
- Mountain climber: a coil of rope over your shoulder.
- Mob boss: sunglasses and a toothpick.
- Mirror: a piece of foil taped to your chest. Everyone who looks is "the costume."
- Medal winner: a foil medal. Wave to your fans.
More letters in this series: costumes that start with C and costumes that start with J.
Your mummy (or any M) sorted, one piece a day
Of all the costumes that start with M, the mummy is the one The Costume Rack builds for you: two minutes on your vibe, your closet and face paint, then it's split into pieces with where to find each one, a version from things you own, three put-together steps and a no-makeup version. The countdown gives you one piece a day, and one link lets your M squad claim costumes on the same rail.
FAQ
What are easy costumes that start with M?
Mummy, mime, magician, mechanic and marathon runner are the easiest costumes that start with M. Most are normal clothes plus one prop like white gloves, a top hat or a paper race number.
How do you make a mummy costume at home?
Wear white or cream clothes, then wrap strips of gauze, an old white sheet or toilet paper around yourself from the ankles up in overlapping layers. Tuck or pin the ends, and tea-stain the fabric the night before for an aged look.
What fancy dress begins with M for a group?
M&Ms (each person in a different color), monsters, a band of musicians, mummies and a mafia crew all work as group fancy dress beginning with M. Candy colors are the cheapest and look great in photos.
What scary costumes start with M?
Mummy, monster, Medusa, mad scientist and moth are scary costumes that start with M. The mummy is the most recognizable and needs only white clothes and fabric strips.
What are funny costumes that start with M for guys?
Mime, mob boss, mosquito, mustache man and Monday (pajamas, coffee, bad mood) are funny costumes that start with M for guys. They're quick, cheap and easy to act out.