Are you having more trouble with the rapidly approaching Halloween costume idea deadline than with studying for your midterms? Did you and your friends have a spooky ensemble locked and loaded but heard other sibs with the same idea? Are you scared you’ll be labeled as unoriginal due to a lack of time? Worry not, valued reader. I’ve collected a multitude of movies to awaken that Victor Frankenstein spirit inside of all of us, so that you can craft the costume(s) of your delightful nightmares.
For a blood-chilling vampiric look, call out to some iconic blood-suckers, such as Lestat de Lioncourt from “Interview With a Vampire” (1994). He’s adorned with delectable 18th-century flair, and with the rising popularity in the new, and objectively better, TV show adaptation, you’re sure to be recognized with Lioncourts’ stark blonde locks. Pirouette your way to the Munger Mash, and pull motivation from the soon-to-be cult classic, “Abigail” (2024). The main character (and an absolute diva might I add) is dressed in classic ballerina attire paired with the classic tutu, tights and, of course, fangs.
Katherine Newton, on a streak of starring in campy horror-esque films of 2024, took on the role of Lisa in “Lisa Frankenstein”. Throughout the 101 minutes, Lisa appears in a multitude of flashy outfits appropriate to the films 1980s setting. Thrift an all-black dress with lace, tease your hair into a Chappell Roan lion mane, add a red lip, large black hat and an ax, and you’ve completed the look of Ms. Frankenstein herself.
Into the 80s black dress you’ve thrifted but you don’t identify as a redhead and don’t wanna buy a wig or dye your hair? No worries! For blondes, channel your inner Sabrina Carpenter with a fresh blow-out and curtain bangs, suddenly you’re Madeline Ashton from Death Becomes Her, 1992. For brunettes, connect the present with the past, the retro with the modern, pull out the hairspray and gel, clump those bangs and magically morph into the recognizable Lydia Deetz, from “Beetlejuice” (1988) and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (2024).
If you’re still at a loss, go for an easy, funny and timeless look, such as Cher from “Clueless” (1995) which really only calls for plaid and a blowout. If you’ve still got some cowboy attire after last-years Western Barbie and Ken wave you can transform into Western McFly from “Back to The Future III” which released in 1990 and is totally not a Billy the Kid rip off, in fact he’s mentioned in admiration! The possibilities are at your fingertips brought to you from the silver-screen, endless inspirations begging to be borrowed and referenced after sitting aimlessly on the shelves of the Criterion Collection, all you’ve gotta do is open up your Letterboxd.
Contact the editors responsible for this story: Norah Catlin, Anabelle Meyers
