2023 Halloween Costume Contest
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Dory Costume

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24 votes
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Dory Costume

Dory swimming through the hallway

More views: (click to enlarge)
Photo #1 - Dory swimming through the hallway Photo #2 - Dory and friends looking for nemo Photo #3 - Just keep swimming Photo #4 - Dory Photo #5 - Making of Dory - Step 1: Creating the balloon structure Photo #6 - Making of Dory- Step 2: Paper Mache Photo #7 - Making of Dory- Step 4: Making the body Photo #8 - Making of Dory- Step 5: Painting on the markings Photo #9 - Making of Dory- Step 6: Attaching the fins Photo #10 - Making of Dory- Step 3: Popping the balloons
Costume type:  Costumes for Women
Categories:Halloween Costumes, Movie and TV Show Costumes

This homemade costume for women entered our 2013 Halloween Costume Contest.

A word from Sarah, the 'Dory' costume creator:

I'm wearing the costume, inspired from Pixar's Finding Nemo. Dory has always been my favorite animated character, and I decided to become her for Halloween.

How to make Dory instructions:

Head:

  1. Using balloons create the underlying structure of Dory's face. I used a combination of regular balloons and long balloons and taped them together to a large piece of cardboard.
  2. Use paper mache to coat the balloons. I used a paste of boiled water with flour and strips of newspaper. Typically you want to get 10-15 layers of paper over the balloons. It is best if you can allow a few days of drying time between each layer.
  3. Allow a week or more for the paper mache to completely dry.
  4. Pop the balloons from the back and remove the debris
  5. Paint Dory's face using a photo as a guide. I used acrylics and found a metallic paint that helped bring more of a sheen to Dory's face.
  6. Optional: Apply a spray sealant over the dry and complete head to better preserve it.

Body:

  1. Obtain the following: blue fabric, yellow fabric, black fabric paint
  2. Cut 4 large tear drop shaped pieces of fabric out of the blue fabric. Cut out a small hole in the middle to make an arm hole.
  3. Sew 2 pieces together outsides facing in. Do the same with the other two pieces.
  4. After sewing inside out, flip right-side-out and stuff with pillow stuffing (just a bit so there is still flexibility)
  5. Cut a strip of fabric to connect the two pieces together in the back and another strip to connect in the front
  6. Finish stuffing as desired
  7. Using fabric paint and a picture as a guide, paint the traditional Blue Tang markings
  8. Make fins and attach to body
  9. Optional: add magnets so fins can be tacked to Dory's body or to your arms by wearing bracelets with magnets attached

Rating: 4.1 of 5. Votes: 24

24 votes

Comments

#1 comment by Dory May 23, 2014

Is this for sale in a smaller size by any chance?

#2 comment by Marina November 26, 2014

This is both an amazing costume and an inspiration!

#3 comment by Margie September 27, 2015

HI. Love the costume. Making it for work. What did you use for the eyes. Thank you

#4 comment by Lexie October 4, 2015

If you are looking to sell this costume, I would love to purchase it.

#5 comment by Sarah October 4, 2015

The entire head (including eyes) were made out of paper mache and then painted.

Unfortunately, this costume is not for sale. In the future, I may consider making replicas in requested sizes. Thanks for your interest!

#6 comment by Carrie October 13, 2015

Do you have any pictures of making the nemo/Marlin mask with balloons? Thank you for sharing this tutorial!

#7 comment by Margie October 19, 2015

HI. What did you use to attach body to head. Thank you

#8 comment by dylan September 24, 2016

Wow it looks amazing

#9 comment by michele November 3, 2016

I would love to know how the head was attached since our hospital is doing Dory and Nemo for our Christmas parade float.

#10 comment by Sarah November 3, 2016

The head had elastic straps that allowed me to put it on first like wearing a backpack on your front. Then I put on the body and tucked it into the head.

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