*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you!) if you make a purchase using any of these links.*
Introducing the cutest bark-ristas on the block! I fully acknowledge that I might be the most extra dog mom of all time, but I mean, seriously… how adorable are these DIY barista costumes for dogs?! I try to find new dog Halloween costumes every year, but the selection’s so limited for larger dogs. After seeing this adorable idea on Pinterest (c/o Barkley Doodles), though, I knew I had to put Nala and Nellie’s own spin on it. Probably my favorite thing about this golden retriever Halloween costume is that there’s no sewing required. They just pop over your pup’s head and tie around back as a normal apron would. Our girls really don’t seem to mind them either (probably because they love opportunities for extra attention), which can’t be said for most store-bought dog costumes– especially for larger breeds. Keep reading for the simple tutorial!
DIY Barista Dog Halloween Costume
DIY Dog Halloween Costume Materials
These no-sew DIY dog barista costumes are super easy and only require five materials! Here’s everything you’ll need to make your own no-sew dog Halloween costume–
- Small child’s apron– I chose pink, but you can also buy these aprons in Starbucks’ signature green, too! Full disclosure– the biggest downside of the pink is that you have to buy them in packs of six. Most other colors are available in one and two-packs.
- Small safety pins– Don’t worry– they’ll all be tucked away and shouldn’t cause any safety hazards.
- Iron-on coffee patch– I chose these unbranded coffee patches, but if you’re going full Starbucks barista, I found some iron-on Starbucks patches on Amazon.
- Felt squares– I cut one of these tiny felt squares in half to create their cute little name tags.
- White chalk pen– These are great!
DIY Golden Retriever Halloween Costume Tutorial
To make your own DIY barista dog Halloween costume, take a small child’s apron and slip it over your dog’s head. It may fit perfectly as-is or you may need to alter it a bit. Our girls are petite goldens (they’re about seventy pounds), so I wanted to take in the bottom and sides a bit to make the costume a little more comfortable for them. You can see the six spots where I used small safety pins below!
Please note that our goldens aren’t chewers. If you’re concerned about your dog ripping the costume to shreds and potentially swallowing a safety pin in the process, please consider sewing the costume instead!
Next, iron on your embroidered patch (I used this one). If you’ve never used iron-on patches before, here are the three basic steps–
- Run a warm iron over where the patch will be applied to “preheat” it.
- While the fabric is warm, position the patch where you want it, place a warm iron directly on top of it (don’t move the iron around, though), and press for thirty seconds.
- Remove the iron and apply pressure to the patch for an additional thirty seconds. I used my hand, but if the patch is too hot, use a book!
Finally, create your pup’s name tag! I created Nala and Nellie’s by cutting one of these little felt squares in half, writing their names with a chalk paint pen, and using another small safety pin to attach them to their aprons.
Confession– I may or may not have also purchased these pink disposable coffee cups to match. I was going to buy a few of these adorable StarBarks Coffee dog toys, but my brother gifted us a BarkBox subscription a few months back, and their toy bucket is literally overflowing.
Accessories aside, once their costumes are all done, pop the apron over your dog’s head and tie the string around their back. You’ll have an adorable little bark-rista ready to welcome party guests and/or Trick-or-Treaters come Halloween!
For more golden retriever Halloween costume ideas, check out last year’s Lion King Family Costume Tutorial! It’s perfect if you’re looking for Halloween costumes for dogs and their owners!
Thanks so much for reading, y’all! Also, please let me know if you have any questions about this DIY barista dog Halloween costume. I pretty much live for Halloween projects, and I’m more than happy to help!
Click to shop!
Just so you know, I was reimbursed for the cost of this tutorial as part of a sponsored social campaign with Ahalogy Partners. I loved this project so much that I decided to feature it my blog, as well, although I had no obligation to do so. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lifestyle photography by Catherine Rhodes.
