HOW TO: Do a DIY iconic Halloween costume

Out of all the holidays we celebrate, Halloween is one of the most popular. Aside from the chance to prance around in potentially suggestive clothing, we get the chance to be somebody else. It’s the one day out of the year that we can leave ourselves behind and step into somebody else’s shoes. This year, instead of being a Playboy Bunny or anything else that involves a leotard and a pair of animal ears, why not be someone iconic?

Every single one of these ladies is instantly recognizable and easy to put together, plus you don’t lose an ounce of sex appeal.

Marilyn Monroe: Start with high heels and a white halter dress. Her iconic one was tight at the top and looser at the bottom, but anything white with a halter will do. Add pearl earrings, black winged eyeliner and a lot of red lipstick and you’ll be all set. To power up your costume, look for a blonde wig in a short, curly style. You could also use eyeliner to give yourself her trademark beauty mark.

Audrey Hepburn: Another famous actress, Audrey Hepburn is best known for her performance in the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” To imitate her look, first you need a little black dress. Hers was a sleeveless silk sheath, but again, anything will do. Pair it with elbow length silk gloves, heels, and pearl earrings, and don’t forget the most important part: a small crown tucked on top of your head. If you have long hair, pile it up into a bun the way she did for the movie and for an added bonus carry around an extended cigarette holder all night.

Sandra Dee: Also known as “Bad Sandy,” the Sandra Dee most people choose to channel from “Greaseis the one from the end. Clad in black leather from head to toe, Sandy is one of the best known figures from 80s movie history. Hers is another relatively easy costume to put together, simply because of the monochromatic element. All you need is a pair of tight black pants, a tight black t-shirt (preferably off the shoulder, similar to the one she wore in the movie), and a black leather jacket. The most important element of the costume is that it be tight (it’s rumored that Olivia Newton John had her pants sewn on in order to obtain the tight fit for “Grease”). To complete your look, add dark eye makeup and tease your hair as high as it will go.

Cruella de Vil: One of Disney’s most notorious villains is Cruella de Vil. Known for her multicolored hair and love of fur coats, she makes for an easy and instantly recognizable costume. Her hair is the most important part of the ensemble, so curl and tease yours as high as it will go and spray half of it black and half of it white to imitate her trademark ‘do. Next you’ll need a (fake) fur coat. As we all know, Cruella would have loved to see it made of Dalmatian fur, but any color of style will do. Once you have your hair and your coat, pile on the strands of pearls, add a pair of elbow length red gloves, don the stockings and heels and you’re all set. Bonus points if you can find a pair of guys to act as your henchmen for the night.

Smurfette: Take advantage of the opportunity to paint yourself blue and go all out as Smurfette, the only female Smurf in their gang. Her outfit itself is pretty simple — white dress, white heels, and white beanie. What makes Smurfette stand out is the fact that she is blue, so grab some bright blue body paint from a Halloween store and have fun going Smurf-tastic. Smurfette’s other defining feature is her long blond hair, so consider donning a blond wig as well.

These are just of few of the endless costume ideas that are out there. There is no shortage of iconic ladies from both history and the movie industry, and most of them have a signature look that is easy to replicate and more importantly, easy to recognizable. Stand out this Halloween — when else do you have a chance to paint yourself blue?

Photo credit: Google stock images
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