Every Halloween brings with it handfuls of candy corn, jack O’ lanterns on doorsteps, and, of course, a score of traditional Halloween costumes. Some of these costumes definitely possess a certain timeless quality — the skeleton, the fairy, the ghost, etc. — but personally, I’ve always appreciated costumes that are unique, clever, and unexpected. And if you’re someone who’s hoping to go outside of the box with your costume this Halloween, allow me to point you in the direction of the nearest bookshelf.
Being an English major and a devoted bookworm, I’m all for dressing up as your favorite obscure literary character. While it’s perhaps more common these days to dress up as a TV character or stick to something more traditional, I believe that books hold great potential when it comes to looking for Halloween inspiration. Literature, classic or contemporary, has given us an amazing array of strong, independent heroines, just as it’s given us some of the world’s scariest villainesses.
So this Halloween, why not skip the cat ears and bedsheets? Be creative! Think outside the box!
And — even better – promote literacy while doing so!
Here are 13 costume ideas that celebrate and recognize the women of literature:
1. Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Okay, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is my favorite novel, so I’m a little biased — but there’s no disputing the fact that Jane Eyre is one of the most influential female protagonists in English literature. With her quiet strength, independent nature, and honest heart, Jane shows us all not only what it means to love, but also what it means to stay true to yourself and your convictions.
Dressing up as Jane Eyre wouldn’t be that difficult — in the book, we’re told that Jane dresses very modestly, often in blacks or dark grays, and Brontë repeatedly describes her as “plain”. So to dress up as Jane, keep your makeup natural and to a minimum, and pin your hair back in some sort of plain updo, like a simple bun. If your hair is short, that’s okay — any style works, so long as it’s reasonably simple. For the actual costume, find a modest black or gray dress, preferably with a longer, full skirt and long sleeves. You could also try a skirt and top in the same moody colors. The novel is set in the early 19th century, so keep that in mind when thinking about the style of your costume — try to look for things with subtle Victorian details. If you’re looking to add accessories, try a long black cape or an old-fashioned bonnet, or carry a book tucked under your arm — Jane loves to read.
2. Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Hawthorne’s tale of adultery, revenge, and passion in 17th century Massachusetts features one of literature’s most infamous symbols — the scarlet “A”, which Hester Prynne is forced to wear as a mark of her sin. While this costume idea could be seen as a tad bit controversial by some people, I personally think that Hester handles her situation as a social outcast with admirable grit and courage — making her a truly costume-worthy heroine.
To dress up like Hester, look for pieces that have a modest, 17th century feel to them — think Puritan. Any plain black dress or skirt and top could work well for this, as could anything with a stiff white collar and cuffs. To really capture the Puritan feel, a simple updo would work best for a hairstyle, maybe with some sort of plain bonnet. However, the centerpiece of this costume is of course the iconic scarlet letter itself — in the novel, Hester is a seamstress, so she personalizes the letter in order to make the embroidery prettier. So, when creating your letter, make sure it’s ornate, curlicued, and blindingly scarlet.
3. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
One of Jane Austen’s most celebrated heroines, the witty Lizzy Bennet carries herself with a sense of independence and intelligence that sets her apart from other characters in the novel. Indeed, some of the novel’s best scenes involve the witty exchanges between Lizzy and the brooding, complex Mr. Darcy — giving the entire work a delightfully comic air. And yet, part of what makes Lizzy so revolutionary as a heroine is how she changes throughout the story — she makes mistakes, acknowledges her faults, and learns from them.
Dressing up as Lizzy could be done in a number of ways, depending on how you interpret the story. But if you’re looking to stay true to the time period of the novel — the early 19th century — look for longer, elegant dresses that evoke the styles of that era. Personally, I’d recommend a dress or top and skirt that has classic feminine details without being too fussy or over-the-top. Paired with an updo, some accessories like gloves, and a book in hand, you’ll be all set to really bring the costume to life — and rattling off some witty remarks wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.
4. Jo March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women tells the classic tale of four very different sisters growing up during the Civil War, and the fiery tomboy Jo March — who’s based on Alcott herself — has always been my favorite character. Bookish, creative, and independent, Jo follows her heart and forges her own path in life, even when the odds seem against her. And by staying true to herself and working hard, she ends up fulfilling her literary dreams, showing us all what it means to be truly strong.
Because the novel is set during the Civil War, any full-skirted dress or gown would be a great choice for a Jo March costume. Of course, you could always try to find some sort of replica costume dress from the era, but a simple dress or skirt and top with subtle details from the time period, like buttons or lace, would capture the look just as nicely. Plus, Jo is described as a tomboy, so don’t feel the need to act or dress particularly prim and proper — kick up your heels and run in your skirts. Or put a new twist on the costume by dressing up as Jo dressed up as a character in one of the plays she puts on with her sisters — many a bookworm would be charmed by this great literary reference. Wear your hair down, whether it’s short or long — fans of the book will know the famous story about Jo and her hair. And for good measure, carry around writing supplies or bury your nose in a book or two — Jo lives for her books.
5. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Yet another famous literary bookworm, Hermione Granger remains one of the most beloved Harry Potter characters — as well as one of the most popular Halloween costumes. This is definitely understandable, seeing as her academic brilliance, fortitude, and compassionate heart prove her to be one of the series’ strongest female characters. Because while Hermione is famous for being the brightest witch at Hogwarts, she has one of the brightest hearts, too.
Dressing up like Hermione offers a wide array of fun options. First of all, you can always do the classic Hogwarts uniform — wear a plain white button-up tucked into black or gray dress pants or a skirt in the same color, and find a tie in the Gryffindor colors, scarlet and gold. And if you don’t have costume Gryffindor robes, that’s okay — any long black robe will do. You could also dress up in normal or “muggle” clothes, the style of which you can interpret however you’d like. If possible, try to make your hair a bit frizzier or curlier than usual — Hermione is often described as having frizzy hair. Whichever route you choose to take with this costume, accessories will add lots of fun detail to your look — you could carry around a wand, wear a time-turner necklace, carry a book (or books) under your arm, or wear a button that says “S.P.E.W.”, which is the organization Hermione sets up to free the house-elves.
6. Ophelia from Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Ever since reading Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the quiet, thoughtful, and tragic Ophelia has always been a stand-out character for me. Although many people in my high school English classes were quick to cast her as a weakling, I actually really connected with Ophelia. I think she represents a score of important themes concerning love, innocence, and symbolism, and the famous “mad scene”, during which Ophelia distributes flowers amongst her family and friends, will always be striking to me, as will the complex love that exists between Ophelia and Hamlet. In any case, Ophelia would be an amazing, truly unique choice for a costume — especially if you happen to be fond of flowers.
To dress up as Ophelia, you don’t necessarily have to go out and find a full-fledged Shakespearean gown — although if you want to, go for it! Any sort of light, flowy dress will do — think delicate and feminine, or even look for something with floral accents. Pale colors would be especially fitting, as is the case for makeup. But the bulk of this costume, at least how I envision it, consists of flowers — make a flower crown out of ribbons, flowers, leaves, and twigs or twine, and wear it in your hair. Or, if you want to go all out, drape yourself in flowers — find ways to hang them off of your dress or pin them in your hair. It’ll give you a truly ethereal appearance. And make sure you carry around some sort of bouquet — if you want to act the part, hand them out to people as they go by. Maybe even sing little songs to yourself under your breath.
7. Anna Karenina from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The titular heroine of Tolstoy’s famous Russian epic, Anna Karenina stands as a fascinating portrait of a married woman in late 19th century Russia who breaks the rules of her society for love. With her impetuous air and fiercely romantic attitude towards life, Anna stands out as an extremely complex character — and indeed, Tolstoy’s tragic story has a lot to teach us about social pressures, family, relationships, and the consequences of our choices. That said, Anna offers great potential for a haunting literary costume.
Again, it might be a bit difficult to find a period gown that matches the era of novel, but dressing up as Anna can be done just as easily with any kind of nice dress or long skirt, especially if it has lavish details or comes in a sensual fabric like silk, faux fur, or velvet. You could also try accessorizing with a nice hat or muff, or any sort of cape. Think Russian tea or a grand ballroom. The way I imagine it, darker-toned colors, a fanciful updo, and striking makeup would fit the look best — all in all, the goal is dramatic and romantic.
8. Nancy Drew from the Nancy Drew mystery series by Carolyn Keene
If you’re feeling in the mood for a costume that’s a little bit retro, look no further than everyone’s favorite girl detective, Nancy Drew. As a kid, I always liked reading my mom’s old copies of the Nancy Drew stories — they always satisfied my craving for a little mystery in life, and I always liked looking at all of the pictures. Although they’re definitely children’s novels, Nancy has a delightful sense of intelligence and confidence that makes her a great heroine — and dressing up like this resourceful detective would be almost like bringing one of those fun mystery stories to life.
To dress up as Nancy Drew, look for classic, elegant pieces that can pair well together to create a polished, almost preppy look — try a collared shirt, sweater, and plaid skirt with tights, or try an old-fashioned belted or A-line dress for a more formal version. Personally, I always imagined Nancy’s hair the way it looks in the illustrations — curled outwards at the ends, and very neat. Maybe add a cute clip or headband for good measure — and if you’re really looking to stress the detective theme, go ahead and carry around a magnifying glass and a notepad for clues.
9. Miss Havisham from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Although the haunting Miss Havisham doesn’t really count as a heroine, dressing up like her for Halloween would be super fun — especially if you’re wanting a costume that’s a little ghostly. The famously vengeful Miss Havisham is known for wallowing in her tattered, faded wedding gown ever since being jilted at the altar — and Dickens’ descriptions of her crazed appearance and mannerisms are some of the novel’s most vivid.
If you’re into the idea of the typical ghost-bride costume, dressing up like Miss Havisham would be like the literary interpretation of that. The ultimate goal is pale and ghostly — a standard bride’s costume will do nicely, especially if you can find one with Victorian details like lace or intricate patterns. If you can’t find one, no worries — a white top and full skirt would probably work just fine. To give the costume that special Dickensian twist, try to make the fabric look as old as you can, and make sure the veil and edges of the gown look rumpled and tattered, as if they’ve been worn for years. As for makeup and hair, try to look ghostly-pale and tired, and see if you can make your hair look slightly messy. Personally, I feel like this would be a really fun literary take on the whole bridal costume cliche — it would definitely capture the ghostly Halloween feel that so many people delight in.
10. Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The quirky Luna Lovegood is one of my all-time favorite Harry Potter characters — so much so that I dressed up as her for Halloween several years in a row. Although she’s often described as kooky and odd, I really admire Luna for her unapologetic individuality — she knows who she is and what she believes in, and she doesn’t let conventionality or the opinions of others take that away from her. And on top of that, Luna displays a sense of wisdom and compassion that I think really fits the series’ core themes of love, acceptance, and courage — making her a heroine worthy of recognition.
Because of Luna’s quirky style, there are a lot of possibilities for this costume — when I dressed up as Luna, I wore corduroy pants, an owl sweater, and a Ravenclaw robe, and I accessorized with a pair of Spectrespecs, which I ordered online, and some of Luna’s jewelry, which I found on Etsy. If you’re looking to really stress the theme, you could try finding some of these things online or making them yourself — in the book, it’s suggested that Luna’s dirigible plum earrings and Butterbeer cork necklace are handmade. But, in any case, you can still capture Luna’s look by choosing colorful, patterned clothing and anything with a whimsical, quirky vibe — try animal prints or crazy florals, and don’t be afraid to pile on unique jewelry. However you go about it, putting together a Luna costume is sure to be just as much fun as actually wearing it.
11. Daisy Buchanan or Jordan Baker from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Because The Great Gatsby’s Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker are both such important figures in the novel, I decided to group them together here — and either character would make for an amazing costume. Although neither is necessarily a heroine, the beautiful Daisy Buchanan is famous for tormenting the heart of the wealthy Jay Gatsby, while Jordan Baker is representative of the independent women of the Roaring 20s. Both women emulate everything that came in and out of the Jazz Age, for better or for worse — making them fascinating Halloween inspirations.
The 1920s flapper costume is already a popular choice, and adding a Gatsby flair would make the look all the more exciting. To do so, try to find dresses that capture the revolutionary 1920s style — anything drop-waisted or loose-fitting would be ideal, as would anything with showy, sparkly embellishments like jewels, fringe, or feathers. I would also recommend fishnet tights, gloves, or strands of costume pearls, especially if you’re going for an extravagant party look. Now, because it’s the 20s, a Daisy or Jordan costume naturally calls for bobbed hair — this is convenient if you have short hair already, like me, but if not, any sort of updo or faux bob will work just as well. A fun headband, cloche hat, or bejewelled headpiece would also be a fun addition to this costume — you’ll look like you came straight from one of Gatsby’s parties.
12. Bellatrix Lestrange or Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
As I said earlier, literature has given us some of the scariest villains of all time — and these two famously evil Harry Potter characters definitely fit into that category. In the series, the cruel and vengeful Bellatrix Lestrange is one of Lord Voldemort’s most loyal Death Eater supporters, while the Ministry of Magic’s pink-loving Dolores Umbridge unleashes a reign of terror during her time at Hogwarts. Whichever witch you choose, both of these women would give your Halloween costume a truly terrifying twist — and both would also be deeply appreciated by many a devoted Harry Potter fan.
To dress up like Bellatrix, limit your color scheme to all things dark — go for dresses or tops and skirts in moody blacks and grays, and try to incorporate creepy details like lace, leather, or embellishments. Your makeup should be dark and thick — and, if possible, try to tease or curl your hair to give it some volume. If you wanted to be really detailed, you could also try painting a fake Dark Mark tattoo on your forearm, or go around blasting dark spells at passersby. For Umbridge, your main goal should be pink — part of what makes Umbridge so poisonous is how sugary-sweet she looks on the outside. Look for matching skirts and sweaters in soft fabrics like tweed, and make sure anything you choose is a shade of pink. Curl your hair neatly, and see if you can find old-fashioned brooches or jewelry that have cat emblems on them. All you’ll need is a cruel smile and a wand, and then you’ll be ready to go about establishing order.
13. Lady Macbeth from Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Finally, if you’re looking to dress up as an iconic literary woman, Shakespeare’s famous Lady Macbeth might be the one for you. Ambitious, regal, and ruthless, Lady Macbeth is the mastermind behind the murder that shapes the play’s entire plotline — unveiling a plethora of important themes concerning power, gender, cruelty, and guilt. Personally, I think playing Lady Macbeth would be extremely fun — she has some great lines throughout the piece, and has such a powerful presence in the storyline. Plus, if you’re one of those people who likes blood on Halloween, you might really enjoy dressing up as Shakespeare’s famous Queen of Scotland.
To capture the look of Lady Macbeth, find any sort of long dress or top and skirt that has subtly Shakespearean elements. You could also look for a costume dress from the period, but anything that has an elegant, dark, and regal feel would be absolutely perfect. Since Lady Macbeth becomes the Queen of Scotland, style your hair around a crown, and don’t shy away from lavish jewels or embellishments. Feel free to play around with ideas and be creative when putting your costume together — anything goes! But remember — the centerpoint of this costume is going to be your hands. One of the most famous Lady Macbeth scenes involves her trying to wash off her “bloody” hands — and this is where the blood part comes in. Try to make your hands look bloody all night long, and if you really want to stay in character, keep scrubbing at them and muttering, “Out damned spot!” under your breath. A couple of bloodstains on your dress wouldn’t hurt either.
So there you have it — 13 iconic literary costume ideas for the bookworm in all of us.
Remember — there are tons of other great books with costume-worthy heroines and villainesses, too — so whoever you choose to dress up as this year, be creative and have fun!
Happy Halloween, from one bookworm to another.