As someone who has cherished the magic of Halloween since my childhood trick-or-treating days, I can confidently say this time of year brings out my creativity like nothing else! From going all out for costume parties in college to the unforgettable Halloween when our Cleopatra and Caesar costume went viral, dressing up has always been one of my favorite parts of fall. This may come as a shocker, but playing dress-up was my absolute favorite as a kid.
Whether I’m going for spooky-scary or recreating one of my favorite characters, I revel in the artistry of it all—especially when it comes to any sort of special effects makeup! In the spirit of my favorite holiday, I’ve compiled a list of my past Halloween costumes that will hopefully give you some creative costume ideas and inspire you to embrace spooky season the way I do. Let’s dive in and get ready to turn heads this Halloween!
31 Creative Halloween Costumes
This costume ideas list consists of all the ones I have worn over the last 10(ish) years, including looks I wore for Halloween photoshoots and Halloween parties. There’s also a mix of specialty-made costumes and DIY ones. Whether you’re looking for couples costume ideas, group costume ideas, friends costumes ideas, DIY Halloween costumes, scary Halloween costumes, or even pet Halloween costumes, I have something for everyone this Halloween.
Note: The following costumes were photographed and special effects edited by Rachel Giese Creative: Zombie Bride and Groom, Beetlejuice, Voldemort and Bellatrix, Skeleton 1, Star Wars-Dark Rey, Scarlet Witch, Ghost, Witch. Huge shout out to Rachel for always taking Halloween to the next level with me!
Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice is a Halloween CLASSIC, and this is one of my favorite makeup looks that I have done. The outfit for this one was fairly simple to put together. I just purchased a female Beetlejuice costume (linked below), added a green ombre wig, and had some fun with the makeup. For the face makeup I used white makeup and for the textured effects similar to Beetlejuice’s I tore up pieces of cotton balls and used liquid latex and green face makeup to blend it all in. Then I used purple eyeshadow for the rest. Everything is linked below!
Shop this female Beetlejuice costume:
I also created a simple DIY Lydia Deetz costume (see end of post) look to go along with this one for this fun reel. Shout out to Rachel Giese Creative for photoshopping me onto some fake Beetlejuice tombstones in these shots! I was actually sitting on a barstool and camera equipment bag. See the behind the scenes for the before here.
Skeleton
One of Rachel Giese Creative and I’s first true Halloween shoots! I absolutely loved doing this skeleton costume makeup, and I even included a few snaps from my first attempt at skeleton makeup 4 years prior in college. So wild to see how my makeup skills had improved during that time.
Shop this DIY skeleton costume:
Poison Ivy, The Joker, Batman and Harley Quinn
This Poison Ivy costume was on my list to do for YEARS and I am so glad I finally did it! And honestly, if we’re comparing costumes, this was definitely one of the easier ones to recreate. You just need a few staple basics (green tights, black body suit, fun red wig), and a few strands of faux leaves to tie everything together. And don’t worry, no super intricate makeup skills required! Swipe a little green on your lids, throw on some red lipstick, and you’re good. Everything you need for it is linked below.
Shop this Poison Ivy costume:
Scarlet Witch
When Wandavision aired, I just KNEW I had to recreate her look from it as a Scarlet Witch costume. I started planning early and got this custom suit off of Etsy, so if this is in your Halloween costume itinerary, I definitely recommend not waiting til the last minute! As for makeup and hair, it was actually really simple. Think: full face and a simple auburn wig. That’s all you need! Of course, Rachel Giese Creative shot and edited these photos to give me her powers. I love how they turned out!
Chucky and Bride of Chucky
We had too much fun with this classic duo costume! All DIY, down to the staples I glued to my face. And if you’re really trying to keep your costume budget-friendly, you could honestly probably find most of these pieces from thrift store hopping. (Except for the wig and faux knife, of course!) Either way, it was fun, easy, and is a classic for a reason.
Note: I used the staples linked below and cut them down more flat with wire-cutters before glueing.
Shop this DIY Chucky costume:
Star Wars – Dark Rey
Another fun shoot with Rachel Giese Creative! We actually shot this for May The 4th Be With You, but it would make a great Halloween costume as well. All you need is an all-black outfit, throw your hair up in a bun, find a cheap lightsaber off Amazon (or really any Halloween store), and find a spooky graveyard to take pictures in! This is another one of those simple looks that ended up being one of my favorites — even if we technically dressed up a little early.
Hocus Pocus
Is it even Halloween if you don’t watch Hocus Pocus at least once? We had so much fun putting together these costumes. Naturally, we were the Sanderson sisters, but we also couldn’t leave out Max and Billy! It was so simple, so fun, and something everyone was familiar with as soon as they saw us. We actually got a handful of these pieces of Spirit Halloween, so we didn’t have to do any months-in-advance digging.
Circus: Ringmaster, Jester and Lion
Circus costumes are such a great group costume idea! You can include a ringmaster, jester, clown, lion, acrobat, etc. The options are truly endless. I created this outfit back in 2019 when we attended a Halloween party as 16-Bit Bar, and it was such a fun experience. Not only was the outfit easy to find, but the makeup was equally easy to do. I wouldn’t change anything about it (and may even give it a modern revisit in the future!
Venom
Everyone who knows me knows I LOVE Marvel, so this Venom costume was on the bucket-list for years. First, let’s talk outfit. You can either buy a costume with the spider on the onesie, or, if you feel more like a DIY project, you can just buy a plain black onesie and iron on a spider print. It’s been a few years since I dressed up as Venom, so I can’t confidently tell you that this specific costume is on sale. I mention this to say: DIY may be the way to go — and equally as fun!
For makeup, I promise it’s not nearly as intimidating as it may look. Pull up a picture (or use the pictures above) as inspiration, trace the white outline first, and fill everything in as you go. It’s fun, easy to customize, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Ghost
This was such a fun shoot with Rachel Giese Creative! We shot these at a local haunted attraction, The Thirteenth Hour. The staff did my makeup and I even got to stick around to do some scaring afterwards! That said, you don’t need a professional makeup crew to pull this off. Grab your face paint, pull up a tutorial on YouTube or TikTok, and put together a spooky outfit. I recommend something long, black, lacy, and flowy, it just screams ghost.
Power Puff Girls
The Powerpuff Girls is SO nostalgic for me (and probably for many of you, too!). So it goes without saying that creating a group costume idea out of this feel-good show was a no-brainer. You don’t need all of the characters, but I can say it’s the perfect group costume for three (or more). All you need is a two piece outfit in the color of your character (AKA, Bubbles, Blossom, or Buttercup), and if you have some willing participants, a Mojo Jojo outfit, a Mayor sash, and a tiny top hat.
Kim Possible and Shego
I think as soon as I started watching Kim Possible as a kid, I knew I wanted to dress up as Shego one day for Halloween. (Who doesn’t, right?!) This Shego Halloween costume was such a fun, nostalgic throwback, and one that everyone recognizes as soon as you step into the room. All you need is a Shego costume, a pair of mismatch heeled boots, and a black wig. For makeup, I kept it simple with a darker lip look. Austin decided to skip the Ron Stoppable outfit and go with Where’s Waldo instead, but honestly, it fit perfectly.
Scooby Doo Characters – Daphne, Velma and Shaggy
Scooby Doo is such a good group costume idea for Halloween, especially for parties of 5! In this case, we picked the characters we most resembled, which was actually my favorite part of choosing this idea because we each perfectly fit out characters. I dressed up as Velma using a simple orange turtleneck, a velvet maroon skirt, thigh-high orange tights, and a pair of simple heels. And of course, you can’t forget the Scooby Snacks!
101 Dalmatians – Cruella Deville
One thing about me is I am always down to dress up as the villain. This Cruella Deville costume was such a fun look to recreate, and all a DIY. Just grab a simple black mini dress, find a pair of red elbow-length gloves, snag a couple pieces of costume jewelry, and find a faux cigarette holder. Oh, and of course, you can’t forget your faux fur jacket! This is what made the look (and made me still dream about it all these years later). The black and white wig? Not mandatory, but definitely fun. And of course, to finish out this look, I had Austin dress up as one of the Dalmatians. (It only makes sense, right?)
Vampire Diaries – Katherine Pierce and Elena Gilbert
If you’re a Vampire Diaries fan, do I even haver to explain this look to you? I couldn’t choose between an Elena Gilbert Halloween costume and a Katherine Pierce Halloween costume, so I did both! (Unfortunately, I couldn’t wear them both at the same time — if only I had a twin right about then.)
For Elena, we went full early 2000s’, with an over-the-hand long-sleeve v-neck (and a classic lacy tank, of course), paired with her iconic vervain locket. For Katherine, I kept it dark with black leggings, a black tank, and a faux leather jacket. Oh, and the fangs and faux blood, obviously. Simple, fun, instantly recognizable, and will have people fighting about Stefan vs. Damon all night.
Jigsaw from Saw
Want to play a game, anyone? This Saw Halloween look was SO fun to recreate, the only thing I was missing for this Jigsaw costume was a tricycle. The outfit? Extremely simple, think: white button-up, black blazer, black leggings, and black ankle boots. The makeup? Took me just a handful of minutes. Here’s a pro tip: color in a white circle on your cheek and just use the red to make the swirl into the white outline. (Much easier than having to intricately weave in swirly face paint on your cheeks!)
Witch
This was the year I binge watched American Horror Story, so I obviously had to recreate a modern witch look from Coven. Speaking of, it’s almost time for the Halloween-obsessed group’s annual Coven rewatch! (Stevie Nicks’ cameo is reason enough to rewatch yearly.) Keep it simple with a boho-inspired black dress, an iconic black hat, and if you want to kick it up a notch, a fun, skeleton wine glass. Simple, classic for a reason, and so fun to personalize if you want.
Pirate
This pirate costume was one of my earlier costumes, and still a favorite due to the fun makeup. I honestly don’t experiment much with glitter makeup either, so this was an exciting opportunity to do so! Here’s the perk to dressing up as a pirate on Halloween: there are SO many different costumes to choose from. The customization comes down to the hair, makeup, and accessories, which I had fun with by adding a flash, faux septum ring, and costume jewelry.
Deadpool and Spider-Man
This Deadpool and Spider-man costume is such a dynamic duo! The best part about these costumes is how we painted on the “masks” so we didn’t have to actually wear a mask all night. Again, trust me, not nearly as hard as you’d think. This is another one of those looks that is so popular that you can find plenty of different variations to choose from. Just finish it off with a pair of black ankle boots and a few themed accessories.
Darth Vader
Back to my college days! I was so proud of this DIY Darth Vader costume top I made. I took a simple black top and sewed bits of fabric and buttons to recreate his outfit. If you’re not feeling the DIY route, you can grab a top from Spirit Halloween (or any similar Halloween costume shop) and pair it with a black skirt, black boots, and a black cape. As I’ve said in my other looks: lightsaber isn’t a necessity, but it definitely added to the look.
Batman
Another college favorite! Batman and Catwoman is such a great duo costume. And honestly, you don’t even need to spend a ton of money on a costume. You could just wear an all-black outfit, grab some Batman-themed accessories from a costume store, and iron on fabric Batman logo. Even though it’s easy to recreate and takes just a few minutes, it’s a look people will instantly recognize, of course.
Iron Man
Had to dress up as my favorite superhero at least once! Loved how this Iron Man costume turned out. This one would be a little harder to DIY, but definitely not impossible for the creatives out there. To keep it easy and simple, I’d recommend swinging by Spirit Halloween (or something similar) and snagging a costume there. And fortunately, because a mask is included, you don’t even have to do anything crazy for makeup!
Zombie
Such an easy DIY! You can make a zombie costume out of anything really, such as old clothes or something you find at the thrift store. All you have to do is get some faux blood, toss it over your outfit (before you put it on, just in case you need a reminder!), and finish up with a few dramatic touches on your face to make it look like cuts, bruises, or scars.
Lydia Deetz
This Lydia Deetz costume was such a simple one to throw together last minute! I mainly dressed up as Lydia to go along with my Beetlejuice costume for a reel, and I already owned everything for it. But honestly, I think I’m adding this look to some of my future must-dos for Halloween. It’s so fun to wear and you’d be surprised at how many people will immediately know who it is! Don’t forget the Recently Deceased book; that’s what ties the whole Lydia Halloween costume together.
Last Minute Costume Ideas
Debating on whether you even want to dress up for Halloween? Been there. Suddenly it’s October 30th, you realize you do want to wear something to trick or treat in (or greet trick or treaters in, should I say!), and all the costume shops are closed. Fortunately, you don’t have to throw your Halloween party plans out the window; there are plenty of last-minute Halloween costume ideas you can toss together in less than a day. Here are a few ideas both from my list and that I’ve kept in my back pocket for myself:
- Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice
- Darth Vader
- Simple zombie
- Secret spy
- Black cat
- Whimsical fairy (if you have wings lying around!)
- Scarecrow with face paint
- Clown
- 1 of the 4 elements (Fire, water, air, or Earth)
- White Swan and/or Black Swan
- Strawberry Shortcake (and friends!)
- Tooth fairy
- Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Needles to say… you’ve got options. And luckily, a lot of these can recreated using closet staples and simple makeup palettes you probably already have!
Halloween Costume Ideas for Men and Couples
Some of these costumes were created as a couples costume idea; others were costumes Austin wore on his own and I just went along here! Either way, here are a handful of ideas for both men and women to pull inspiration from:
Zombie Bride and Groom
This zombie bride and groom couples costume is truly one of my favorites ever! We actually did this the year that we got married, so it was perfect timing and it was a complete DIY. Most of the items we bought from Amazon and were pretty inexpensive. Then we just took a pair of scissors to them and added fake blood (linked below) and white and black makeup. Shout out to Rachel Giese Creative for finding the perfect location for this shoot and making us look extra spooky. Find zombie bride and groom costume pieces to make your own version below!
Shop DIY zombie bride and groom costumes:
Cleopatra and Caesar
Honestly, this is the costume that’s still hard for us to top. And we definitely did not expect to go viral the way it did! Props all go to Austin for his costume idea on this one! It has been years now and I still get the meme sent to me a handful of times a year, and even more so around Halloween. As seen on Buzzfeed and many other places for all of eternity. Check out the original posts for this viral Cleopatra and Caesar costume on my Twitter and Instagram.
These ones truly were all DIY, and yes, I take serious credit for this costume designed by my creativity alone! For my Cleopatra costume, I just bought a simple white dress and actually cut the sleeves off, then added accessories and a staff. The wig I found was the perfect addition! Austin’s costume was two pieces of thin poster board stapled together, and we attached a Caesar dressing poster we had printed on to it. All he had to do complete it was add a green beanie!
Shop these DIY Cleopatra and Caesar costumes:
Voldemort and Bellatrix
I had ALWAYS wanted to dress up as Bellatrix Lestrange, and it turned out it was actually Austin as Voldemort that I was even more excited about! I spent about three or so hours transforming him into he-who-must-not-be-named using a professional grade bald cap, special effects makeup and a DIY nose prosthetic made of tissues, liquid latex, and tape that he could not breathe out of for this photoshoot with Rachel Giese Creative. Safe to say he opted to go with the mask that the costume came with when we wore the outfits again out to a Halloween party the following week.
Shop this DIY Bellatrix costume and DIY Voldemort costume:
X-Men: Mystique and Wolverine
One of my most challenging costumes to date when it comes to makeup. I am so proud of how this one turned out because I was really nervous about taking on such a task. For the facial scales, I pinned blue mesh (cut into the shape of my cheeks and forehead) onto a Styrofoam head I got at the craft store and drew them out with blue puff paint. After letting it dry, I cut them out and attached them to my already blue-painted face with liquid latex/special effects glue. I was still finding blue paint in my ears for a week after this, but it was so worth it.
For the hair, I used a red lace-front wig and slicked it back with instant freeze gel. I also used red makeup to fill in around the hairline so it blended well with my face.
Shop this DIY Mystique costume and DIY Wolverine costume:
Pennywise and Georgie From IT
Of course, Pennywise and Georgie is such a classic Halloween costume that we even dressed up the dogs to match us! We even passed out candy like this which was definitely a surprise each time we opened the door. And I know what you’re thinking… “The face makeup looks a little intricate.” But I promise, it’s much easier than you’d expect. I added faux contacts for a little while too, but it’s not make-or-break for the entire look; people will definitely still know who you are! Needless to say, I loved how these IT costumes turned out.
Freddy Krueger and Jason
Loved this Freddy Krueger costume so much I did it twice! The first year I created it as a couples costume with Jason. The second time I did it, I added some improved special effects makeup and, of course, a puppy costume to match. For the makeup, you just need some brown face paint (or honestly, eye shadow works too!), and for the outfit, just grab a simple sweater and some ripped up leggings. You don’t need the hands to complete the outfit, but I can personally say that it was a nice touch!
Austin Powers and Vanessa Powers
Grew up watching these movies (which I probably shouldn’t have been) so when I came across this Austin Powers costume for Austin, I knew we couldn’t pass it up. Of course, we didn’t have to complete the look with any makeup or face paint, so the process was as simple as it gets. And because, naturally, I wanted to match, I turned this into a couple’s costume idea by creating a Vanessa Powers look! You don’t even have to find this exact dress; just find silver, silver, and… more silver.
What Are You Dressing Up As This Halloween?
And there you have it! Some of my most creative Halloween costume ideas inspired by years of my passion for dressing up! From my early trick-or-treating escapades to the viral moments that have become part of my Halloween legacy, I hope these ideas spark your creativity and help you craft a memorable look this season.
If you want even more inspiration, follow me on Instagram @SierraintheCity! I can’t wait for you to see what I’m dressing up as this year. Also, don’t forget to share your costume creations with me in the comments—I can’t wait to see how you bring my costumes to life! Happy haunting, everyone!
Dog Halloween Costumes
BONUS: Because who doesn’t love dogs dressed up in costumes? Here are a few of Luke and Leia’s best dog Halloween costumes!
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