How to Dress Like Tonks From Harry Potter

Nymphadora Tonks, the mischievous metamorphmagus and hip older friend of Harry et al appeared in three Harry Potter books and four of the movies. Tonks hated to be called by her first name: A nymph is a stage in an insect's journey toward metamorphosis. But she could morph at will into various disguises -- no incantations or wand required. Her hair color changed frequently, based on her whim and, at times, her strong emotions. She entertained Harry and his friends with her animal faces. Morph yourself into Tonks using items from your home, second-hand stores and simple craft materials.

Depending on whether you make a simple costume or an elaborate wizard costume, you'll need either basic or intermediate crafting skills. Either way, have fun dressing up as the Death Eaters' formidable foe.

Hair and Makeup Magic

Because you won't be able to repeatedly color your hair at the event, use wigs. Or, color your hair bubble-gum pink, Tonks' favorite in the Potter books. While she often wore shoulder-length hair, straight and parted on the side, she also appeared in short spiky tresses. When she was depressed over her initially unrequited love of Lupin, her hair turned mousy brown. One of her disguises was as an old woman with gray hair worn in tight curls and topped with a purple hat. Check costume aisles at discount and thrift stores for inexpensive wigs.

Study Tonk's face before applying makeup; she favored a pale foundation with dark eyebrows.

Color your hair, following the manufacturer's instructions, or put on the pink wig, and place other wigs in your handbag.

Apply ivory or cream foundation.

Apply black eyeliner, thickening the line slightly at the outer edges of the lids. Add mascara.

Brush eyelids with brown shadow, sweeping upward and outward just beyond the eyes. Softly brush a light brown under the eyes, close to the lids.

Use the eyebrow pencil to create dark brown, thick eyebrows that slant upwards until near the outside corner of the eyes, where they arch, before thinning and continuing downward, stopping above where the eyeshadow sweeps outward.

Apply brown lipstick liner lightly -- not like in the '80s -- and sweep on the pastel pink or rose frost lipstick.

Morphing Makeup and Props

To add whiskers and a cat nose, you'll need just a touch of makeup. To morph a pig snout, use paper to create one. Search costume aisles at discount and second-hand stores for other masks representing Tonks' playful animal morphs, such as a duck bill.

Cat Face

Duck into a restroom at the event to morph your cat face. Practice first at home, so you create the face quickly. Using the eyebrow or eyeliner pencil, dot the skin above your upper lip and draw whiskers, extending from the dots to the apples of the cheeks. Dab black eyeliner on the tip of your nose, and smudge it so that it covers the top and outsides of the nostrils. When you're ready to morph again, slink into the restroom and scrub off the whiskers and markings.

Pig Snout

To make your own pig snout, use scissors, clear tape and pink construction paper to create a cylinder that is a bit longer and wider than your nose. Set the cylinder on top of the paper, and trace a slightly larger circle around it. Cut out the circle. Snip two oval shapes -- more tall than wide -- in the center of the circle to make the pig's nostrils and your breathing holes. Glue the circle to one of the open ends of the cylinder. Staple a piece of yarn to each side of the other end of the snout, and tie it behind the head.

Clothes

Two of Tonks' favorite things in her closet -- her patched jeans and Weird Sisters T-shirt -- are inexpensively and easily put together. Creating one of Tonks' more Gothoutfits takes more time and clothing, but you'll look your best for any wizard wars you may encounter.

Tonks' Signature Jeans and T-Shirt

Using scissors, remove the hems from the jeans and fray the bottom edges. Cut fabric scraps into squares, circles and a heart or two. Hand-sew the patches onto the jeans, or adhere them with fabric glue, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Slip the cardboard inside the shirt to prevent the writing from leaking through to the back. Write "The Weird Sisters" on the front of the T-shirt, using the pink and black permanent markers. Let the letters dry and remove the cardboard after they dry.

Step into a pair of pink or purple ballet slippers or other comfy, soft flats.

Warrior Wizard Costume

Create Tonks-style gauchos from the black, billowy pants by cutting them a couple of inches below the knees.

Create a choker necklace by cutting the ribbon long enough to tie around your neck loosely. Cut each end of the ribbon so that it is narrow for easy tying. Hand-sew bells to the front of the choker.

Slip into the pair of black tights or fishnets, and then the gauchos. Add the jacket and tug on the boots.

Don't forget your wand! So others can see it, carry it in a hip pocket of the jeans or protruding from your handbag. In the movies, Tonks' wand is a honey color with darker-colored strips. It is slender and pointed with a clunky, shield-shaped handle. Purchase one, or carry a dowel that you've stained to recreate the pattern.