Got your Halloween costume picked out yet? If you’re stuck for ideas, here are some simple costume ideas that will no doubt impress your more literary-minded friends.
Death (Sandman, Neil Gaiman)
When you think “Death” you might be picturing a long black robe and a sickle; but for Neil Gaiman’s cute goth chick version all you need is a black wig (bonus if your hair is already black), a black tank top, a black skirt or pants (more bonus points if the pants are leather), and an Ankh necklace. You’ll also need plenty of black eyeliner.
Holden Caulfield (The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger)
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Portraying J.D. Salinger’s moody protagonist is mostly about the attitude. All you need is a tweed jacket and a hunting hat and a proclivity for calling everyone and everything “phony.”
Miss Havisham (Great Expectations, Charles Dickens)
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To go as Charles Dickens’ creepy jilted bride, pick up a wedding dress and veil from the nearest thrift shop. If the dress isn’t in good shape, so much the better – you’ll want it to look old and tattered. Use baby powder to whiten your hair and face, or grab a can of temporary spray-on gray hair coloring from the local costume shop to complete the look.
Hogwarts Student (Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling)
Whether you decide to go as Harry, Hermione, Ron or some random Hufflepuff, the basic costume is the same. You’ll need a long, black robe – this is where sewing skills might come in handy, or check the thrift shop for an old graduation robe – a white button-down shirt and a striped tie in the appropriate colors for your House (red/gold for Gryffindor, yellow/black for Hufflepuff, blue/gray for Ravenclaw and green/black for Slytherin). Add a magic wand and you’re done.
