Get Your Figure Skates On With This Fun DIY Tonya Harding Costume

Tools and materials:

• White long-sleeved turtle neck
• Gold sequined trim
• Gold frills
• Bodysuit as a guide
• Velcro
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Thread
• Needle
• Gold paint
• Glitter
• Paintbrush
• Cardboard

1. Make the bodysuit

So, I bought an oversized turtleneck, and I made sure it was extra long. Like that, I could easily transform it into a bodysuit. If you happen to have a white bodysuit or prefer to invest in one, feel free to skip this step. To start, lay your existing bodysuit over the turtleneck as shown. 

Tip: If you don’t have a bodysuit, you can use your underwear as a guide. 

Cut the bottom to form the bodysuit. Be sure to follow the guidelines of the existing bodysuit. Also, cut the front layers a little more. 

Hem the raw edges of the bottom with your sewing machine. Fold the raw edge inward and sew accordingly. A zigzag stitch will suffice. 

Now, to attach the open crotch area, it would be best to use snaps, but I used velcro instead. 

2. Make the pleats

For the skirt part of the Tonya Harding costume, I’m going to make some pleats on another piece of white fabric. This is the pattern I used (pictured above). It’s 2 inches wide and 9 inches to the tip.

Then, measure one inch upward from the tip, draw a line across and connect the outer point to the tip. Either side of the longer lines will measure at 8 inches. 

Now cut it out and use it as your template. Next, pin it to your folded fabric and cut. 

This is what it should look like. 

3. Add the pleats

Measure the center of your bodysuit, as shown. 

Then, measure two inches up and connect the dots. This will be a general guideline on how to lay your pleats. 

Now, lay out your pleats to see how everything will form together. 

Stitch each pleat into place with a zigzag stitch. I made the dire mistake of hot gluing them on, and it’s not a good idea since the bodysuit is a stretch material; the glue basically took the stretch away. So, don’t repeat my mistake! 

4. Add the gold trim

Stitch the gold trim around the edges of the pleats. Again, don’t hot glue it!

Also, sew the gold embellishment around the bodysuit with a very loose stitch. 

This is the pattern you should follow, so it mimics the real Tonya Harding costume. 

5. Modify the sleeves

Cut the sleeves to make short sleeves.

6. Add the gold frills

For this part, you can hot glue the frills to the trim of the sleeve. It's ok if this section shrinks a little. Also, add cardboard in between. 

7. Paint the Tonya Harding costume

Mix some gold paint with glitter and follow the design of her memorable figure skating outfit. I free-handed this part, but you can use a stencil. 

Tonya Harding costume tutorial

Add a pair of skates, a fake cigarette, plus a bad attitude, and you’re good to go! This has to be one of my favorite Tonya Harding figure skating costumes and the most iconic look from the movie I, Tonya. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and happy Halloween!