You don’t want to be that person at the costume party. You know, the one who’s scrawled some whiskers across their cheek to be a last minute black cat, or just turned up with a sheet over their head and declared it a costume. But we also aren’t ones for perusing overpriced, polyester outfits in a crowded shop, so we’ve rolled up our sleeves and unearthed some of the best vintage finds the web has to offer. From the antique and hauntingly beautiful (i.e. antique clown costumes! Headgear inspired by the Ziegfeld Follies!) to the charmingly retro (i.e. mid-century masks) we’ve got your back…
Creepy Antique Dress-Up
There’s something about a 100 year-old clown costume that would make you lose sleep at night as it waits in your closet in the days leading up to Halloween. We bet you’d start noticing strange happenings in the house, and echoes of laughter from the end of the hallway….
But they’re also kind of beautiful right?
This French brocante on Etsy has some fantastically ghostly antique get-ups. It’s “filled with treasures of a long time past, touched by whiffs of theatre dust, sprinkles of circus magic & fairy-tales”.
Discover the Etsy shop here.
Movie Muses
We think this “American Psycho” Patrick Batemen costume idea via Airows is pretty genius, mostly because it’s just so easy. You can find a bunch of transparent raincoats available on Amazon, and everyone has a suit and an old walkman lying around somewhere right?
Team up with your bestie this year and take on the Clueless look, available to shop them here.
We’re pretty sure you could figure out how to DIY this one, but if not, you can shop it here.
All you need is a stake and you’re Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Or splatter some red ink and you’re doing one of those cheerleader horror movies. This Etsy shop specializes in authentic vintage cheerleader costumes, just like the ones from the movies.
Ghosts of the Ziegfeld Follies
We went looking for some costume ideas inspired by our vintage muses from the Ziegfeld follies, the Russian ballet and early science-fiction films– and stumbled upon the most incredible Etsy shop, Fraise au Loup with some stunning creations. If you’re US-based, it’s unlikely these would make it in time for Halloween, but we highly recommend you take a look at the shop to make sure you have the most fabulous costume at your next costume party.
Shop here.
Simple but Effective Ouija masks
Shop it here.
Alternative Witches
Shop here.
Shop here.
Steampunk Showpieces
Shop these incredible glasses here.
Shop the corset.
Shop here.
The Rubber Masked Avengers?
We haven’t thought the entire thing through, but we’re sure there’s something to do with a group and friends and these vintage diving and apocalyptic masks. Also, we just have a thing for vintage diving masks. Shop vintage diving masks here and gas masks here.
Cyber Punk Sorceress
Inspired by how cyber-spooked Netflix’s Black Mirror had us this year…
Shop the electric tutu here.
And the LEG goggles here.
and because vintage masks are just that much creepier…
Heidi Henry Shop is pretty awesome for all your nostalgic needs.
Oh yeah, and the kids…
We almost forgot. We’re digging this Etsy shop dedicated to kick-ass superhero costumes.
And how awesome are these Ninja turtle costumes for her here.
The Mario brothers are also a relatively stress-free costume option…
And if all else fails, stick ’em in a pot and bob’s your uncle…
