Make an Easy Minion Costume from Despicable Me
DIY Yellow Minion Costume from Despicable Me 2
One of the favorite costume characters of Despicable Me fans is dressing up like one of the silly minions. Pulling together a basic minion costume is easy, especially if you already own a pair of denim overalls and goggles.
The minions have been a popular Halloween costume since these silly yellow pill-shaped incoherently-babbling scene-stealing sidekicks first debut in 2010. Fortunately they are back crazier than ever in Despicable Me 2.
I've pulled together a Do it Yourself costume version, so you can assemble your own yellow minion costume. The hardest decision may be whether to be a one-eyed or a two-eyed minion. There are even new options for girls.
Minions from Despicable Me 2 on Facebook
Meet the Minions on Video
In case you don't know the minions you can meet Gru's "cousins" in this clip from Illumination Entertainment introducing the Minions.
Make a Yellow Minion Costume
I've always found it more fun to make or put together costumes than to go out and buy a pre-made option. These versions are more fun for the kids to do to, since they can help in creating their own costume.
Pulling together a basic yellow Minion Costume (these are the good guys, not to be confused with the new purple evil minions is pretty easy, you just need to assemble the costume pieces listed below.
Start with a pair of denim overalls. Be sure to add in the "G" logo for Gru that identifies all of these good minions. Look at the picture to the right or large minion picture below to see what the Gru "G" looks like.
Wearing a yellow shirt and yellow beanie or swim cap will help cut down on the amount of yellow face paint you need to apply (or you could even get by without any face paint and just let the yellow top and cap work). You will want to get dressed (except for the gloves) and get your shoes on before doing your face paint.
For the final touches, put on your goggles and pull on your gloves and get your grin on.
Minions from Despicable Me 2 on Facebook
Visit The Costume Detective
- The Costume Detective - DIY Costume Ideas
A website for finding the Best DIY Costumes, Crafts and Halloween Fun with information on DIY costumes and crafts previously prominently featured as part of the Best of Halloween and Make Your Own Halloween Costumes on Squidoo.
Adopt a Bunch of Minions
We've adopted a bunch of minions for our home. These silly toys can often be found riding in the back of the car, peering out the window.
Gru's Mischievous SideKicks
Despicable Me Minions from Despicable Me on Facebook
Vote on Your Favorite Minion Look
Supplies Needed to Make a Basic Minion Costume
Starting from top to bottom here are a list of the items needed to convert yourself into a fun-loving minion, some of the items (like the overalls or yellow shirt) you might even have at home.
- Bald Cap or Skullcap
- Yellow Face Paint
- Alternatively Minion Mask
- Goggles - One Eyed or Two
- Yellow Turtleneck Top
- Blue Overalls
- Black Mittens
- Black Boots
Yellow Beanie, Swim Cap or Bald Cap
If you want to make yourself look bald like the minions, then you need to start at the top, with a bald cap. Even better, use a yellow beanie or swim cap and a great part of your head is already yellow.
Make a Cute Minion Beanie Hat
Marie LeBaron, founder and managing editor of Make and Takes, shows an easy and cute way to customize a yellow knit hat, snow hat or beanie and turn it into a minion head with paper towel roll goggles.
- Last Minute Despicable Me Minion Costume - Make and Takes
We are only days away from Halloween and it’s crunch time people! But have I got the perfect idea for you. It’s quick and easy, and oh so cute… Minions!!
Yellow Face Paint
The yellow minions are all yellow, so you will need to cover your head and your skin in yellow face paint. Starting with a yellow cap or beanie and wearing a long sleeved turtle neck top means there is less face paint needed.
Minion Face Masks
The official Despicable Me Masks make it easy to become a one-eyed or a two-eyed minion.
Minion Goggles
Getting a two-eyed goggles is much easier than getting a one-eyed version.
Print out Minion Goggles
The Despicable Me website has printable minion goggles, both in a one-eyed and a two-eyed version. Just download, print, and assemble and you'll have a your own pair of minion goggles.
This may be the best option for getting a one-eyed pair of minion goggles.
- Despicable Me | Just Add Goggles PDF File
Downloadable and printable PDF File to make your own minion goggles.
Yellow Shirt
Blue Overalls
Don't forget to put the "G" Gru symbol on the overalls.
Gru's "G" Logo
Some of the websites where I was able to find Gru's "G" logo. You can draw it on the overalls, or if you want to reuse the overalls for something else, create one out of felt to temporarily attach to your overalls.
- Despicable Me | Brands of the World | Download vector logos and logotypes
Brands of the World is the world's largest library of brand logos in vector format available to download for free. - Gru's G Logo from Despicable Me
"Light bulb!" Gru, Despicable Me (2010) via Chris Streger - Gru and Vector Badges Preview
Computer-generated preview of embroidered patches of Gru's and Vector's logos from Despicable Me by NeitherSparky.
Kid Minions at the Despicable 2 Movie Premiere
Official Minion Costumes on Guests at the Despicable Me 2 red carpet movie premiere Sydney, Australia
Image by Eva Rinaldi. Used under a Creative Commons License
Key Minion Phrases
You may want to watch a few minion video clips to get some of their key phrases down. Here are some of the minions favorite words and phrases (listed alphabetically):
- Bee-do Bee-do
- Banana!
- Butt!
- Papoi?
- Potato
- Tttthhhppppbbbtttt! (or blowing a raspberry)
- *Whaaat?*
Minion Face Shirts Make Ultra Easy Costumes
Throw on a Minion Face shirt and you have an instant Minion costume. The hardest part is picking a favorite expression (and that they only come in kids and teen sizes).
Minion Costume Made for Girls, Tweens and Women
For Despicable Me 2, they have released officially licensed minion costumes for girls and for women. I am glad that they've recognized that girls like the minions too and want a costume of their own (that isn't Agnes or Margo).
This officially licensed Despicable Me 2 costume comes with the dress which is fashioned to look like a minion outfit with yellow top, and denim overalls only in skirt form.
It also has the black stretch-knit gloves, a yellow headband, minion goggles and a pair of black knee-hi stockings.
When I asked my 11-year-old what she thought of this version, she didn't think it was age appropriate. (The skirt was too short). She did, however, like the version for younger girls.
Now I am off to work on a DIY version, that is more appropriate. Check back for updates.
Female Minion Costume available on Amazon and eBay.
Female Minion Costume on Amazon
Minion Costumes for Kids on eBay
If you'd rather get a pre-made minion costume, they are available on Amazon and also on eBay.
More on Despicable Me 2 - the Latest Minion Adventure
The fun-loving mischievous minions have reappeared in Despicable Me 2.
- Despicable Me 2 Movie | Official Site for the Despicable Me 2 Film
Despicable Me 2 starring Steve Carell as Gru is back with new outrageous characters including the lovable minions and his girls. - Despicable Me | Facebook
Follow Despicable Me's Minions on Facebook. - Despicable Me 2 | YouTube
Find the Minions on YouTube. - Despicable Me 2 | Twitter
Follow the Minions on Twitter. - Despicable Me 2 Behind the Goggles
Have more fun with the Despicable Me 2 Minions by going behind the goggles. - The Minions - Despicable Me Wiki
Minions are small, yellow, cylinder-shaped, creatures that have one or two eyes and are one of the most notable characters in Despicable Me.
What do you think about the Despicable Me Minions?
Comment on the Despicable Me Minions
Kirsti A. Dyer (author) from Northern California on October 30, 2013:
@KandH: Thank you.
KandH on October 30, 2013:
Awesome, I love the Minions and I love this lens!!
Kirsti A. Dyer (author) from Northern California on September 17, 2013:
@Nicoinstitches: hehehe
Nico from Ottawa, ON on September 17, 2013:
minion chuckle: hehehe
Kirsti A. Dyer (author) from Northern California on August 18, 2013:
@Dianna206: Me too!
Dianna206 on August 17, 2013:
I LOVE MINIONS!!!!
Kirsti A. Dyer (author) from Northern California on August 05, 2013:
@ChristyZ: The minions work well for lots of different ages. They seem to be quite popular with college students too. Must be the rebelliousness.
ChristyZ on August 05, 2013:
I love this! What an excellent costume lens. Plenty of fun and terrific costume suggestions!