Halloween is coming up, and it will look a lot differently this year. Last year, I was working on Halloween so I did not do anything. This year it is the same situation but either way I would not go anywhere. I work at a Halloween store so it is acceptable to dress up all season long. These are some costume ideas that I have for the week of Halloween, while still staying safe with my mask at work. You can use these ideas to go trick or treating with your younger sibling(s), have a socially distance hang out with your friend or have some content for your Instagram. Most costumes are easy to customize, which is what makes Halloween fun: being able to create something. Before working at a Halloween store, I never went into one because my mom would always sew my costumes. Or when I became older I would DIY my costume with items I had laying around (i.e grandma, cowgirl, 80’s girl, cheetah, etc).
1: Mean Girls‘ Regina George On Prom Night
I thought of this idea before I started my job because I was thinking of wearing a face shield.The face shield reminded me of the head brace that Regina had to wear after getting hit by a bus. I went to Michael’s Craft Store and saw a floral vine that I could use for around the headpiece. I then collected two paper towel rolls, wrapped in black Scotch Tape, for the support beam. I wore a pink cardigan and topped it off with a belt. Of course, adding a blonde wig is preferable but I did not have that.
What you will need:
Pink dress/shirt/cardigan
Paper towel rolls
Black tape
Floral vine
Face shield
Blonde wig
2: Billie Elish at the Grammys
This was an iconic look and easy to think of because she was already wearing a Gucci mask. For this look I bought a plain black reusable mask from Michael’s and green glitter puffy paint. Then I painted the Gucci logo on the mask and added her neon green to the roots of my hair.
What you will need:
Green glitter puffy paint
Neon green hair wax
(Optional) Small black glasses, gold hoop earrings, black shirt, and a green long sleeve
3. Sally from Nightmare before Christmas
This was a fun look to create because I used face paint for the first time. For her red hair, I used a red beanie and attached red yarn to the inside, with tape. Then, with eyeliner, I drew on her long lashes. Or you can wear falsies, to create the same dramatic look. I bought three felt pieces of fabric in the colors blue, yellow, and pink. With the blue square and a sharpie, I drew large dots. With the pink, I added swirls, and with the remaining I used that for my sleeves. On a black shirt, I attached the fabric with black tape to look like stiches. With a blue mask you can paint on or sew her stiches and draw on red lips.
What you will need:
Red yarn
Red beanie
Three pieces of felt fabric: blue, yellow, and pink
Black tape
Black sharpie
Blue face paint
Blue mask
Red and black paint
When I saw Woody’s costume and his bandana wrapped around his neck, it reminded me of the bandanas people have worn these last few months. I remember in the begining of the pandemic, when people did not know how long this would last, when they made DIY bandana masks. While it might be safer to wear a mask underneath, I still think it is a cool idea that can be encorprated.
What you will need
A mask (doesn’t matter what color because it will be going underneath)
Red bandana
Cowboy hat
Yellow long sleeve flannel
Black and white vest (you can either use cow print fabric or upcycle a white vest and use sharpie
Light jeans
Cowboy boots
As I was browsing the shelves of the Halloween store I work for, I saw a Bob Ross costume and noticed his huge beard. It gave me an idea that instead of a beard, you can wear a matching brown mask to imiitate a beard. His costume is pretty simple besides needing to buy an afro. Paint those happy little trees, safely.
What you will need
White collared shirt
Light jeans
Paint pallete
Brown afro
Brown mask to match afro
6) Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland
I actually found inspiration from a costume performer who drew the Queen’s heart-shaped lips on a mask. I thought this was a great idea and led me to think of more mouths you can paint on (such as Sally’s). With her heart-shaped lips, high-up blue eyeshadow, and red hair, this look can come together easily. Add pops of red wherever you feel comfortable. You could even omit the black shirt and go for a dress underneath your white collared shirt and some red legggings. Get creative and mix together a new look!
What you will need
Black shirt
White collared shirt
White mask
Red paint for lips
Red wig or red hair spray
Blue eyeshadow
Some pop of red, either a skirt, pants, or leggings
(Optional) tiny crown
A ninja is one of those costumes that already comes with a mask, so it is easy to encoporate in. Looking at the costumes in a box, the idea of a ninja seems simple. The whole idea of a ninja is to not be seen and remain low-key. While the ninja sword is optional, because I know when someone buys something they would like to reuse it, I think it puts the costume together. Some ninja costumes I have seen are all black, while some add a touch of color with a red ribbon. All your preference.
What you will need
Black body suit or black shirt and black pants
Red sash
Black mask
(Optional) colored ribbon
(Optional) sword
Now this is another easy one because doctors regularly wear a mask. So if you need something last minute, you can be a healthcare hereo! Maybe add a cape for empahsis on the heroe part.
What you will need:
Lab coat
Medical mask
Medical gloves
(Optional) stheroscope
I never thought of mummys as cute, until I saw a costume with a dress, head piece, and knee high socks – all wrapped in fabric scraps. In most costumes where people are mummies, they only show the eyes. So it gave me the idea to do the same with this costume. Adding a white mask and toilet paper or fabric scraps will help it perfectly blend in with your costume. You can add some dark circles or blood for added effects.
What you will need:
White shirt
White pants or skirt
White mask
Toilet paper or other white wrapping
Clear tape
(Optional) if you wear a skirt, wear white knee high socks and wrap toilet paper around that
(Optional) eyeshaodw under the eyes and blood on the wrap
If all else fails and you find yourself needing something last minute there are a ton of halloween mask options (not to be confused with face masks). Just be sure to wear a regular mask underneath to guarantee you are keeping safe.
Happy Halloween!!