I love Halloween!
You can wear something dramatic, ridiculous, glamorous, creepy, or completely over-the-top and it will work! And if you’re going to spend the time putting a costume together, you might as well wear something that makes people look twice.
That’s exactly what I wanted this list to be about.
Not just the same witch dress, cat ears, and last-minute devil horns we see every October. I wanted to find Halloween costumes for women that actually make people’s heads turns.
Some of these costumes are gorgeous and glamorous. Some are nostalgic characters you probably haven’t thought about dressing up as in years. A few are wonderfully weird!
And honestly, I think that’s half the fun of Halloween. Your costume doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated or expensive to turn heads. It can be a great wig, dramatic makeup, the right accessories, or taking a character everyone knows and putting your own spin on it.
So whether you’re planning your costume months in advance or you’ve somehow found yourself searching for ideas a week before Halloween (which, same), I’ve rounded up 29 head-turning Halloween costumes for women that are actually worth stealing inspiration from.
1. Cruella de Vil Costume
Cruella is always a good excuse to go completely over the top. The half-black, half-white hair paired with faux fur, red gloves, pearls and a little black dress makes this glamorous, dramatic and very easy to recognize.
2. Captain Jack Costume
This is the kind of pirate costume that looks like you actually planned it weeks in advance. The structured black corset, billowy white blouse, layered skirt, gold coins and boots make the whole outfit feel incredibly detailed.
3. Pirate Costume
This is the kind of pirate costume that looks like you actually planned it weeks in advance. The structured black corset, billowy white blouse, layered skirt, gold coins and boots make the whole outfit feel incredibly detailed.
4. Judy Hopps Costume
I love this one if you want something a little darker and more dramatic. The brown corset, flowing black dress, layered gold jewelry and tall boots create a gorgeous medieval fantasy adventurer look.
5. Woody Costume
For a slightly more subtle version, this female version of Woody look is adorable. A cropped yellow shirt, cow-print vest, denim mini skirt, cowboy hat and red bandana are all you really need to recreate it.
6. Jessie Costume
A Jessie costume is perfect if you want something nostalgic but still really cute. The cowboy hat, yellow-and-white shirt, denim shorts and cow-print leg warmers give the classic Toy Story look a fun party-ready twist.
7. Pink Cheshire Cat Costume
This is such a fun, girly take on the Cheshire Cat. The purple corset, hot pink tutu, striped gloves and fluffy accessories make it colorful, playful and instantly recognizable.
8. Cheshire Cat Costume
This Cheshire Cat look is ridiculously fun. The furry blue-and-grey dress, striped leg warmers, fluffy gloves and cat ears turn the character into a playful costume that’s definitely going to stand out.
9. Purple Fairy Costume
If you don’t want to dress as a specific character, go full fantasy fairy instead. A sparkly purple mini dress, matching gloves and huge iridescent wings make this one impossible to miss.
10. Bloom Costume
This Bloom-inspired Winx Club costume is so fun and nostalgic. The bright orange sequins, blue arm warmers and oversized fairy wings give you that perfect early-2000s magical-girl look.
11. Flora Costume
For something softer, Flora is SUCH a cute choice. The pink hair and colorful flower-covered outfit make this costume feminine, whimsical and a little different from the fairy costumes you normally see.
12. Princess Jasmine Costume
You really can’t go wrong with Jasmine. The turquoise two-piece, gold details and statement jewelry create a gorgeous costume that feels glamorous while still being immediately recognizable.
13. Another Jasmine costume
Just wanted to showcase another costume of the same type. I think there are so many ways you can go with this.
14. Esmeralda Costume
Esmeralda is SUCH a gorgeous costume idea. The white off-the-shoulder blouse, teal corset, purple skirt and gold jewelry create a colorful look that feels dramatic without needing loads of accessories.
15. Tinker Bell Costume
This is such a pretty, grown-up take on Tinker Bell. A silky green mini dress, delicate fairy wings and a messy updo keep it simple, but still make the character instantly recognizable.
16. Rapunzel Costume
This might be one of the prettiest costumes in the entire roundup. A purple corset dress and ridiculously long blonde braid covered in tiny flowers instantly give you that dreamy Rapunzel look.
Here’s another option is you want the classic outfit:
17. White Slit Maxi Dress with Sneakers
Okay, THIS is how you mix romantic and sporty. The flowy white dress is giving soft girl, but then she pairs it with sneakers?? Genius.
The thigh slit adds just the right amount of edge, and the whole thing looks like she’s off exploring Rome but still comfy.
Omg, she’s pulling this off with so much ease it’s unfair.
18. Belle Costume
Sometimes you just have to go FULL princess. The huge golden ball gown is the entire moment here, and adding long gloves and a few roses makes this Belle costume feel properly over-the-top and magical.
19. Merida Costume
Merida is perfect if you want a princess costume that feels a little more adventurous. The enormous curly red hair, medieval-style blue dress and bow are the details that really make this one work.
20. White Queen Costume
This one is pure drama in the BEST way. A flowing white gown, white hair and an oversized silver crown create this gorgeous fantasy look that feels somewhere between a queen, an ice goddess and a fairytale character.
21. Daphne Costume
Such a cute costume that’s also incredibly easy to recreate. A purple or pink dress, lavender headband, green bag and bright red wig give you that classic Daphne look without needing an elaborate costume.
Here’s a reference for the perfect makeup look to go with this outfit!
22. Lola from Shark Tale
If you want something glamorous rather than scary, Lola from Shark tale is perfect. Long red hair, dramatic purple eye makeup and a sparkly red dress are really all you need to make the character instantly recognizable.
23. Celia Mae Costume from Monsters Inc
One of my favorite characters from Monsters Inc.
This Celia costume is ridiculously creative. The purple snake hair is obviously the star of the whole look, and paired with the shimmery green dress and purple gloves, it turns into such a fun Monsters, Inc. costume.
24. The Bride From Kill Bill
One of those costumes that’s ridiculously simple but still makes a huge impact. The iconic yellow-and-black tracksuit, blonde wig and katana are basically all you need—and it looks seriously cool in photos.
25. Raven Costume
This Raven costume is such a good choice if you want something dark without doing the usual witch or vampire look. The purple cape, black bodysuit, red gems and forehead jewel make it unmistakably Raven.
26. Lara Croft Costume
Simple, cool and instantly recognizable. An all-black outfit, combat boots, thigh holsters and a messy ponytail are really all you need to turn yourself into Lara Croft for the night.
27. Chucky Costume
A creepy costume that you can put together with surprisingly normal clothes. Grab some denim overalls, a rainbow striped shirt and add the scars and fake knife, and suddenly you’re a very convincing Chucky.
28. The Mask Costume
Okay, this one is SO good. The bright yellow suit and hat paired with green face paint make this impossible to miss, and I love that it’s a costume you don’t see nearly as often as the usual Halloween characters.
29. Joker Costume
Probably one of the easiest costumes here to recognize immediately. The red suit, yellow vest and green hair do most of the work, while the simple clown makeup pulls the entire Joker look together.
30. Glam Cheshire Cat Costume
This is such a fun way to do a Cheshire Cat costume without wearing an actual cat costume. The bright pink makeup, tiny nose, whiskers and oversized pink coat make the whole thing feel a little chaotic and incredibly cool.
