6 Iconic TV and Movie Characters To Dress Up As for Halloween This Year

It’s well into October, which means it’s time to start firming up your costumes for Halloween. But choosing who or what you want to dress up as can be difficult, especially if you’re not sure where to start and have left it to the last minute like so many of us. If you’re looking for something classic but easy to create with what you have at home, you might consider choosing a popular TV or movie character. Here are some of the most popular film and television characters that are perfect for your next Halloween costume.

1. Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Dorothy Gale is a highly regarded film character and has been since her creation in the 1900 L. Frank Baum novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the subsequent film in 1939. Considering Dorothy has been around for well over a hundred years, it makes sense that this is one of the most renowned Halloween looks.

If you’re looking to dress as the small-town Kansas girl, you can either find a plain blue or gingham patterned dress in your closet or at the store, which you can wear over a white blouse. Add on white socks, red shoes, two braids in your hair and a little basket for Toto.

2. Cher, Clueless (1995)

“Ugh, as if!” Yes, the iconic Cher Horowitz in her famed yellow plaid outfit is one of the most popular movie costumes. Cher’s look keeps making a comeback year after year, mostly because of its timelessness, as Cher’s style is still popular today, but also because the outfit is easy to put together in a pinch.

If you want to fully capture Cher’s look, you can easily find a yellow plaid skirt and blazer either on Amazon or in a costume store. You can also opt to go a bit simpler, choosing a plain yellow skirt and top or blazer. Add on a pair of white knee-high socks and any pair of white or black shoes.

3. The Pink Ladies, Grease (1978)

If you’ve always wanted to be one of the Pink Ladies from Grease, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to finally do so. Dressing up as one of the Pink Ladies is one of the simplest costumes for the holiday, but also one of the most iconic. 

All you need is a pink jacket, a pair of black leggings, a pink neckerchief and a pair of sassy sunglasses. If you really want to add to the look, you can wear a pair of black heels. You can also purchase a Pink Ladies costume online or at a Halloween store.

4. Wednesday Addams, The Addams Family (1964), (1991) and Wednesday (2022)

Wednesday Addams is such a significant film and television character, making her debut in the 1964 sitcom and reappearing in a variety of projects, most recently the 2022 Netflix series, Wednesday. This character is one of the easiest to portray for Halloween, as all you need is any black dress or skirt and top, knee-high black socks or tights, and black shoes.

If you want to mimic Wednesday’s makeup look, try a paler foundation, eyeliner and black lipstick. Also, make sure you put your hair into two sleek braids. If you prefer, you can wear a black wig with two braids.

5. Holly Golightly, Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)

Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly is one of her most memorable characters. If you’re looking to dress as the Breakfast At Tiffany’s star, you can easily pull items from your closet to do so.

All you’ll need is a black knee-length or tea-length dress, long black gloves, a tiara and a statement necklace, most likely pearl or diamond. Make sure to add a cigarette holder to fully capture Holly’s aesthetic. While you may not have the accessories lying around, you can easily purchase them on Amazon or at your local costume shop!

6. Cruella de Vil, One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) 

The evil dog-napper is a simple and classic Halloween costume that you can create with a few simple pieces. If you want to dress like Cruella de Vil, you can pick pieces you have or find them easily online. Choose any black dress, red satin gloves, any white fur coat and a cigarette holder. Add Cruella’s iconic wig to really pull the look together.

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