Medieval Costume Ideas for Kids

For the knight route, the core outfit is a tunic and a foam sword. A tunic is just a long, loose shirt — a solid-color oversized t-shirt belted with a rope or fabric sash looks medieval enough for elementary school. Add a foam sword and a shield (cardboard covered in aluminum foil works great) and your kid is a knight. If you want to buy a knight costume, Amazon has tunic-and-armor sets with a foam chest plate, tabard, and helmet in the $15-25 range. These look impressive and hold up well for a school day. Just make sure the helmet allows eating and doesn't cover the face — some schools restrict full face coverings. For the princess route, any long formal-looking dress works. Floor-length is ideal, but a midi-length dress your kid already owns can pass. Add a crown or tiara and the look is complete. Amazon has medieval-style princess dresses for $15-20, but a thrift store formal dress with a crown achieves the same effect for less. A DIY crown is the most versatile medieval accessory. Cut a strip of gold poster board, cut triangular points along the top edge, wrap it into a circle, and tape or staple it closed. It takes five minutes and it works for kings, queens, princes, and princesses. Wizard is the sleeper pick: a dark bathrobe, a stick from the yard as a wand, and a pointed hat made from rolled construction paper. Simple, comfortable, and very recognizable.

Medieval costumes are some of the most satisfying to DIY because the materials are simple and the results are impressive. For a knight: take a large solid-color t-shirt (gray, brown, or dark blue) and belt it at the waist with a rope, strip of fabric, or an actual belt. This creates the tunic shape. Cut a cross or shield emblem from felt or construction paper and safety-pin it to the chest. Cut a shield shape from a cardboard box, cover it in aluminum foil, and add a construction-paper emblem. A wrapping paper tube or pool noodle becomes a sword. For a princess or queen: any long dress or skirt works as the base. Cut a crown from gold poster board — measure your kid's head, add an inch, and cut triangular points along the top edge. A sheer curtain or piece of tulle safety-pinned to the back of the crown becomes a flowing veil. For a wizard: a dark bathrobe is the robe. Roll black construction paper into a cone for a pointed hat and secure with tape. A stick from the yard, wrapped in tape or ribbon, is the wand. A couple of cardboard stars glued to the robe complete the look.