A Richard Simmons Halloween Costume
A Richard Simmons Halloween CostumeIf Halloween is about dressing up and becoming a character, nobody embodied this more than the late Richard Simmons.
Richard Simmons was a fitness guru who gained fame for his flamboyant style, never-ending energy, over-the-top personality, and genuine compassion for helping people love themselves.
It was only fitting for me to pay tribute to this man who was a voice of my overweight childhood in the 1990s. Albeit I didn’t understand the concept of weight loss and just thought his Sweatin’ to the Oldies videos were frivolous entertainment. They didn’t call him The Court Jester for nothing!
So in all its glory, here is my Richard Simmons Halloween costume and what I went through to put it together.
Blood, Sweat, and Sparkles
To be Richard Simmons for Halloween, you need to start with a cutoff tank top, a pair of striped dolphin shorts, chunky white cross-trainers, and incredible curly hair.
From there, everything needs to be bedazzled to the hills so you can shine like the star that you are!
And contrary to popular legend, Richard Simmons never wore a headband, so keep that out of your costume. (You don’t want to ruin your hair!) Though a pair of sweatbands on your wrists are totally acceptable!
Working It All Out
Like all of my past thrifted Halloween costumes, I started shopping early and took my time to find the right pieces.
This Richard Simmons costume took the longest to find, but each piece felt like it was placed on the thrift store shelf just for me.
The shorts were found first, and while they weren’t striped, I knew some fabric paint and press-on jewels could jazz them up.
Next came the “Legendary” tank top that I had to elbow a few people out of my way for. All I needed to do was cut off the sleeves and add some sparkle to make it work.
I planned to wrestle my natural hair into a Richard-esque afro, but the thrift store had other plans for me when I came across the most perfect wig for half price (about $5). The cashier was excited for me, and I hope this costume is everything I described it as!
Lastly, I lost hope of finding chunky white sneakers to fit my large feet, and after trying many pairs on with no luck, I came across these in the men’s section. The sizing looked about right for me, and then I put my foot in them, and it was like a Cinderella moment. The best part came when I went to the register and learned they were half-off, making them only $3! I definitely did a little dance as I walked out of the store.
Missing Richard Simmons
My best advice for pulling off this Richard Simmons Halloween costume (or any thrifted costume!) is to start thrifting early and take your time, just like I did. And make sure you buy a big bag of jewels and some heavy-duty craft glue. You truly can’t have enough when it comes to Richard Simmons!
I hope, like Richard, this costume puts a smile on your face and inspires you to take action! If you loved it, please be sure to pin it as inspiration for next year or share it with a friend who would get a kick out of it.
