6 Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

 

The post was originally published on Oct 20, 2019. Edited: Oct 19, 2023

If you’re reading this post, that means Halloween is just around the corner and you’re probably feeling short on time. No Fear!

Here are 6 last-minute Halloween costume ideas that are easy to throw together with minimal effort.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a small commission. I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you!

#1 Hippie Style: A Free-Spirited Guide

 

Hippies are known for their free-spirited fashion sense, and there are many different ways to rock the hippie look. Whether you prefer a classic tie-dye and bell-bottom combo, a flowing dress with round glasses, or a blue wig and DIY flower stickers, there’s a hippie look out there for everyone.

Here are a few cultural references to help you channel your inner hippie:

• Tie-dye and bell-bottoms: This iconic look was popularized in the 1960s and 1970s, and it’s still a great way to show off your hippie pride today.

 

 

• Round glasses: John Lennon and Janis Joplin were both known for their signature round glasses, and this style is still a popular choice for hippies today.

 

• Flower power: Hippies are all about peace and love, and flowers are a symbol of both. Add some flower power to your look with a flower crown, floral headband, or even just a few flowers tucked into your hair.

• Peace signs: The peace sign is another iconic hippie symbol. You can find peace signs on everything from jewelry to clothing to accessories.

Putting it all together:

Once you’ve chosen your key pieces, it’s time to put together your hippie look.

• Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Hippies are all about self-expression, so don’t be afraid to mix and match different patterns, colors, and textures.
• Accessorize. Accessories are a great way to add personality to your look. Try adding a headband, scarf, necklace, or earrings.
• Keep it comfortable. Hippies are all about being comfortable in their own skin, so choose clothes that you feel good in.

Here’s how I did my hippie look:

• Outfit: A flowing white dress with a large watercolor flower print.
• Hair: Pulled back with a braided gold headband.
• Accessories: Feather earrings and leather strappy flat sandals.
• Makeup: Natural, with a pink heart drawn under the outer corner of the eye and above the cheeks, outlined in brown eyeliner.

This look is both stylish and comfortable, and it’s perfect for any occasion. So let your inner hippie shine and rock your own unique style!

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#2 Frida Kahlo: A Style Icon for the Ages

 

Frida Kahlo: A Style Icon for the Ages

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist known for her vibrant self-portraits and distinctive style. Her signature look included unibrows, bright lipstick, traditional Mexican clothing, and elaborate hairstyles.

Here are a few tips to help you achieve her look:

Makeup:

• Start with a foundation 1-2 shades lighter than your face and apply full coverage.
• Draw on unibrows using a brow pencil or eyeliner (using the darkest color of your hair as a starting place)
• Apply bright red lipstick to your lips.
• Add a touch of blush to your cheeks to give yourself a healthy glow.

Hair:

Frida Kahlo was known for her elaborate hairstyles, which often featured braids, flowers, and ribbons. To recreate one of her hairstyles, you can follow a tutorial from YouTube or online.

If you’re short on time, you can simply braid your hair and tie it back with a colorful ribbon. You can also add a few artificial flowers to your hair for extra flair.

Costume:

Frida Kahlo often wore traditional Mexican clothing, such as long flowing dresses, rebozos (shawls), and huipiles (blouses). You can find these items at many Mexican clothing stores or online retailers.

If you don’t have access to traditional Mexican clothing, you can create a similar look by pairing a long dress or skirt with a colorful scarf or shawl. You can also add a few pieces of jewelry, such as a beaded necklace or earrings.

 

 

Costume Essentials:

• Light foundation and concealer
• Black brow pencil or eyeliner
• Bright red lipstick
• Blush
• Flower crown or headband
• Hair ties, bobby pins, and other hair accessories
• Long flowing dress or skirt
• Colorful scarf or shawl
• Beaded necklace and earrings
• Frida Kahlo-inspired jewelry

Putting it all together:

Once you’ve gathered all of your supplies, it’s time to put together your Frida Kahlo costume.

Here are a few tips:

• Don’t be afraid to mix and match different patterns and colors. Frida Kahlo was known for her bold and eclectic style.
• Pay attention to the details. Frida Kahlo often wore unique jewelry and accessories, so be sure to add some of your own personal touches to your costume.
• Have fun! Frida Kahlo was a vibrant and expressive person, so let your own personality shine through in your costume.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating a stunning and iconic Frida Kahlo costume.

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#3 Maleficent: A Dark and Dramatic Halloween Costume

 

Maleficent is a classic Disney villain known for her dark and dramatic style. Her signature look includes horns, red lipstick, and a black cape.

If you’re looking for a last-minute Halloween costume that is both stylish and iconic, consider dressing up as Maleficent. Here are a few tips to help you achieve the look:

As far as last minute Halloween costumes go, this one is easy… grab a black cape (or robe) and call it good!

I stumbled upon becoming Maleficent when I was working as the lead makeup artist and makeup director for the Amelia Erhardt Theater Haunted House production.

Costume Essentials:

• Black cape or robe (your little black dress or black suit would be perfect!)
• Horns
• Red lipstick
• Eyeliner
• Beauty Blender Liner Designer
• Black eyeshadow

Makeup:

1. Apply foundation evenly to your face and neck.
2. Use eyeliner to create a dramatic wing on each eye. You can use the Beauty Blender Liner Designer to help you achieve a sharp and precise wing.
3. Accentuate your cheekbones and brow bones. Maleficent has a very pronounced facial structure, so use contour and highlighter to accentuate your own cheekbones and brow bones
4. Go dark with your eyeshadow. Maleficent’s signature look includes dark, smoky eyes. Use black or dark brown eyeshadow to create a dramatic smoky eye look.
5. Don’t forget the red lipstick. Maleficent’s red lips are one of her most iconic features. Be sure to apply a bold red lipstick and  overline your lips with red lipstick.

Hair:

Maleficent has long, flowing hair. If you have long hair, you can simply style it down in waves or curls. If you have short hair, you can wear a wig or hair extensions.

Accessories:

To complete your Maleficent costume, add a pair of horns and a black cape or robe. You can also add other accessories, such as a staff, necklace, or bracelet.

Tips:

• • If you don’t have horns, you can make your own using paper mache or cardboard.
  • If you don’t have a black cape or robe, you can use a black blanket or sheet.
  • To make your costume look more realistic, you can add some fake blood or dirt to your face and clothes.

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#4 Boo Bee (for the mom jokes)

 

 

This is one of my all time favorite Halloween costumes, but it wasn’t my idea. My college bestie and sorority sister for life Audra came up with it, that creative girlie!

Back to the costume. We bought yellow t-shirts from American Apparel and because Audra was a minor in Theatre (with an emphasis in costume design), and she embroidered Boo patches to wear on our shirts. We applied some yellow eye makeup, and lots of glitter and highlighter so we could shine bright like the queen bees we are!

Costume Essentials:

•  Choose a comfy yellow shirt. The Boo Bee costume is all about flaunting your curves, so choose a yellow shirt that makes you feel confident.

• Accessorize with bee-themed items. A bee antennae headband, bee wings, and bee jewelry are all great ways to add extra flair to your costume. We made custom boo patches!

 

• Don’t forget the glitter! Glitter is essential for any Boo Bee costume. Use cosmetic grade, biodegradeable glitter on your eyes, cheeks, and brow bones to create a sparkling and glamorous look.

• Glitter glue (so it doesn’t fall off!)

 

 

Instructions:

1. Put on your yellow shirt.
2. Attach the Boo swag/patches to your shirt.
3. Apply glitter glue to your cheeks and brow bones and apply glitter.

Tips:

• For a more dramatic look, you can add black eyeliner and mascara.
• You can also add other accessories, such as a bee antennae headband or bee wings.
• To make your costume more durable, you can sew the Boo patches to your shirt instead of using adhesive.

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#5 80s Chick: A Last-Minute Costume Guide

 

The 80s were a wild time, and the fashion was even wilder. The brighter and bolder, the better!

That’s why I love creating 80s-inspired costumes. You can literally grab any old neon eyeshadow palette and glitter-bomb your eyelids. Tease your hair until it’s defying gravity, and throw on some clashing colors and patterns. You’re good to go!

For this look, I used the brightest eyeshadows I could find, some glitter eyeliner, and a bright pink lipstick with glitter gloss on top. I teased my hair until it was so big, I could barely fit through a doorway. And I finished the look off with a pair of neon yellow stilettos and the biggest, most obnoxious earrings I could find.

I channeled my inner Cher for this look, and I felt like a total rockstar. The 80s were all about having fun and expressing yourself, and that’s exactly what I did with this costume.

Here are some additional tips for creating a fun and interesting 80s costume:

• Don’t be afraid to mix and match different patterns and colors. The brighter and bolder, the better!
• Accessorize with fun and funky items, like scrunchies, leg warmers, and fanny packs.
• Don’t forget the hair! Big, teased hair was a must-have in the 80s.
• And most importantly, have fun and be yourself!

The 80s were all about letting loose and expressing yourself, so don’t be afraid to go all out with your costume.

Here are some of the different iconic looks of the 80s besides big hair:

• Bright colors and bold patterns: The 80s were all about neon colors and bold patterns. Celebrities like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Prince were known for their vibrant and eclectic style.

• Shoulder pads: Shoulder pads were a major trend in the 80s. They were worn by women of all ages and styles, from power suits to casual wear. Celebrities like Joan Collins, Sigourney Weaver, and Bianca Jagger were all known for their shoulder pad-enhanced looks.

• Leg warmers: Leg warmers were a popular accessory for both men and women in the 80s. They were worn for both style and warmth. Celebrities like Jane Fonda, Olivia Newton-John, and Michael Jackson were all known for their leg warmer-wearing looks.

• Ripped jeans: Ripped jeans were a popular trend for both men and women in the 80s. They were often worn with high-waisted jeans and a crop top. Celebrities like Brooke Shields, Madonna, and River Phoenix were all known for their ripped jeans looks.

• Lace: Lace was a popular fabric in the 80s. It was often used on dresses, skirts, and blouses. Celebrities like Princess Diana, Sarah Jessica Parker, and John Travolta were all known for their lace-wearing looks.

Other iconic 80s looks include:

• Headbands: Headbands were a popular accessory for women in the 80s. They were worn in a variety of styles, from simple alice bands to elaborate turbans. Celebrities like Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Grace Jones were all known for their headband-wearing looks.
• Big earrings: Big earrings were a popular accessory for women in the 80s. They were often worn in bold colors and geometric shapes. Celebrities like Cyndi Lauper, Joan Collins, and Debbie Harry were all known for their big earring-wearing looks.
• Neon makeup: Neon makeup was a popular trend in the 80s. It was often worn on the eyes and lips. Celebrities like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Prince were all known for their neon makeup looks.

When choosing an 80s look to recreate, it’s important to consider your own personal style. Choose a look that you feel comfortable and confident in. And don’t be afraid to mix and match different elements of different looks to create your own unique style.

Here’s a great starting place:

Costume Essentials:

• Bright eyeshadow
• Glitter
• A-line shirt
• High-waisted leggings
• Neon hoop earrings
• Pink blush
• Dry shampoo

Instructions:

1. Apply bright eyeshadow to your eyelids and blend it up into your crease.
2. Add glitter to your eyes and cheeks.
3. Put on your A-line shirt and high-waisted leggings.
4. Put on your neon hoop earrings.
5. Apply pink blush to your cheeks.
6. Tease your hair and spray it with dry shampoo.

Tips:

• For a more dramatic look, you can add black eyeliner and mascara.
• You can also add other accessories, such as a scrunchie, leg warmers, and a fanny pack.
• To make your costume more durable, you can iron-on glitter to your shirt.

 

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#6 Spider Woman (for the super lazy who only wants to use eyeliner)

 

 

I hate to be anti-climactic but for this look, my makeup was the costume. I believe I wore a black shirt and black leggings but outside of that, I was just a “spider.” I think this is the easiest of all last minute Halloween costumes, so if that sounds like something you need, here you go!

Since the makeup is everything, you’re going to go bold. Liquid black eyeliner, glitter glue, and black glitter. Ok, this was seriously a last minute effort – I had like 30 minutes to get my daughter and myself ready for a Halloween party and well, I didn’t have anything ready. So I busted out my Kat Von D tattoo liner and essentially drew a cobweb on my face and also a cute little spider. 

I could’ve done something easier like a cat, mouse, or ladybug – but considering I am a makeup artist, I did need to show that I’m capable of drawing something a little more complex on my face, with my squirmy daughter in my lap.

Costume Essentials:

• Bright Purple Lipstick
• Eyeliner

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Well, there you have it!

I would LOVE to know what you decided to be this year for Halloween and as always, I’m here for you! Have any questions or hang ups on how to do your makeup for Halloween, make sure to ask me FREE here.

Stay Beautiful,

Natalie