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Halloween Costume Guide

Fashion

With Halloween approaching, Minnie Muse was naturally inspired by the October holiday’s notoriously extravagant archetype and penchant for costuming. The tradition of concealing oneself through a borrowed appearance – for however brief it may be – is a prominent theme relating to identity and self-presentation. Accordingly, we selected some of our favorite costume categories and personality types, pairing them with runway looks that best evoke their respective category and overall Halloween spirit. The ensuing costume guide takes an uncharacteristically analytical approach to the otherwise kitschy, trick-or-treating holiday, one that is as equally fashion forward as it is frightening.


Posted October 6th, 2019 By Colby Mugrabi

To begin the Minnie Muse Halloween flow-chart, we first considered some of the principal categories associated with Halloween costumery: Characters, Animals and Classic ensembles. The following layer of our guide further examines these themes, breaking them into sub-groups such as: Blast From the Past, Film, Fantasy, Safari, Bird, Freaky and Festive. Our proposed costume ideas – if you’re looking to the below as a true ‘guide’ – were therefore birthed from these labels and then suitably linked to their respective runway manifestations, all while striving to broadly address the multi-faceted function of a costume.

To highlight a few essentials that ooze of Halloween spirit, Gareth Pugh’s Fall/Winter 2006 runway show took a classic clown costume to new heights, while Jeremy Scott’s Spring/Summer 2020 Moschino collection included a very literal approach to Day of the Dead formalwear – ie. a black gown painted atop with a white skeleton. Meanwhile, if looking for a more purist approach, John Galliano’s Spring/Summer 2004 Dior couture show included high-fashion-gauze-wrapped-models strutting the runway like mummies, while Comme des Garçons’ Spring/Summer 2012 all white collection read like a parade of avant-garde ghosts.

In short, these runway manifestations of traditional costumes reserved mainly for Halloween festivities delineate designer’s ironic, oftentimes far-reaching sources of inspiration. It is evident that tradition is tightly wound to creativity, forging the production and design of garments that denote themes of nostalgia, identity and transformation.

Happy Halloween and happy costuming. We hope our guide can aid in answering some of the holiday’s scariest questions!

Mmhalloweenguide 4
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References
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Flapper

Ralph Lauren, Spring/Summer 2012

Flapper   ralph laren spring 2012

Flapper

Louis Vuitton, Spring/Summer 2011

Flapper   louis vuitton ss 2011

Flapper

Alberta Ferretti, Pre-Fall 2012

Flapper   alberta ferretti pre fall 2012

Flapper

Gucci, Spring/Summer 2012

Flapper   gucci spring 2012 look 2

Mermaid

Thom Browne, Spring/Summer 2019

 tho0203

Mermaid

Givenchy, Spring/Summer 1998

Mermaid  alexander mcqueen for givenchy  spring summer 1998

Mermaid

Rodarte, Spring/Summer 2015

Mermaid  rodarte spring 2015

Goddess

Valentino, Spring/Summer 2016 Couture

Greek goddess   valentino spring 2016 couture

Goddess

Givenchy, Spring/Summer 1997

Greek goddess   alexander mcqueen   givenchy spring 1997

Goddess

Chanel, Resort 2018

Greek goddess   chanel resort 2018

Tiger

Zadig & Voltaire, Fall/Winter 2018

Tiger   zadig   voltaire fall 2018

Giraffe

Burberry, Fall/Winter 2013

Giraffe   burberry fall 2013

Zebra

Tom Ford, Fall/Winter 2013

Zebra   tom ford fall 2013

Cheetah

Guy Laroche, Spring/Summer 1994

Guy laroche ss 1994

Hippie

Chloe, Spring/Summer 2019

Hippie  chloe s s 2019

Hippie

Viktor & Rolf, Spring/Summer 2019

Hippie  viktor rolf spring 2019

Hippie

Anna Sui, Fall/Winter 2015

Hippie  anna sui fall 2015

Robot

Balenciaga, Spring/Summer 2007

Robot   balenciaga spring 2007

Robot

Givenchy, Autumn/Winter 1999

Robot   alexander mcqueen at givenchy paris autumn winter 1999

Robot

Thierry Mugler, Fall/Winter 1995

Robot  thierry mugler fall 1995

Pirate

Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring/Summer 2010

Pirate  jean paul gaultier spring 2010

Pirate

Vivienne Westwood, Fall/Winter 1981

Pirate   vivienne westwood s  pirate  collection  1981

Pirate

John Galliano, Fall/Winter 2001

Pirate  john galliano f w 2001

Sailor

Chanel, Pre-Fall 2018

Sailor  chanel prefall 2018

Sailor

Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring/Summer 1997

Sailor  jean paul gaultier spring 1997 ready to wear

Sailor

Christian Dior, Spring/Summer 2011

Sailor  christian dior spring 2011 ready to wear

Hannibal Lecter

Gareth Pugh, Fall/Winter 2016

Hannibal lecter  gareth pugh fall 2016 ready to wear

The Shining Twins

Undercover, Spring/Summer 2018

The shining twins  undercover spring 2018 ready to wear

Wednesday Addams

Prada, Fall/Winter 2019

Wednesday addams  prada fall 2019 ready to wear

Cruella de Vil

Balenciaga, Spring/Summer 2020

Cruella de ville   balenciaga spring 2020

Parrot

Alexander McQueen, Spring/Summer 2008

Parrot   alexander mcqueen s spring summer 2008

Peacock

Prada, Spring/Summer 2005

Peacock   prada spring 2005

Flamingo

Schiaparelli, Fall/Winter 2018

Flamingo   schiaparelli animal fantasia f w 2018 19

Skeleton

JC de Castelbajac, Fall/Winter 2011

Skeleton  jc de castelbajac fall 2011

Skeleton

Iris van Herpen, Spring/Summer 2019

Skeleton  iris van herpen spring 2019

Skeleton

Moschino, Spring/Summer 2020

Moschino   look 32

Clown

Maison Margiela, Fall/Winter 2015

Fall  winter 2015 19 maison margiela

Clown

Dior, Fall/Winter 2011 Couture

Clown   christian dior fall 2011 couture

Clown

Gareth Pugh, Fall/Winter 2006

Clown   gareth pugh  fall 2006

Pumpkin

Molly Goddard, Fall/Winter 2018

Pumpkin  molly goddard fall 2018 ready to wear

Pumpkin

Giorgio Armani, Spring/Summer 2017

Pumpkin  giorgio armani ss 2017

Pumpkin

Lanvin, Spring/Summer 2009

Pumpkin  lanvin spring 2009 ready to wear

Ghost

Comme des Garçons, Spring/Summer 2012

Ghost  comme des garc  ons spring 2012

Ghost

John Galliano, Fall/Winter 2009

Ghost  john galliano fall 2009

Ghost

Ann Demeulemeester, Spring/Summer 2019

Ghost  ann demeulemeester spring 2019

Mummy

The Blonds, Fall/Winter 2013

Mummy  the blonds fall 2013

Mummy

Dior, Spring/Summer 2004 Couture

Mummy  christian dior spring 2004

Mummy

Balmain, Spring/Summer 2019

Mummy  balmain ss 2019

Witch

Tom Ford, Spring/Summer 2019

Witch  tom ford spring 2019 ready to wear

Witch

Martine Sitbon, Fall/Winter 1993

Witch  martine sitbon 1993

Witch

Saint Laurent, Spring/Summer 2013

Witch  saint laurent spring 2013 ready to wear

Devil

Thierry Mugler, Fall/Winter 1988

Devil  thierry mugler f w 1988

Devil

Gucci, Fall/Winter 2018

Devil  gucci fall 2018

Devil

Alexander McQueen, Fall/Winter 1998

Devil  alexander mcqueen fall 1998 ready to wear

Scarecrow

Junya Watanabe, Spring/Summer 2014

Scarecrow   junya watanabe spring 2014

Scarecrow

Dior, Spring/Summer 2020

Scarecrow   dior spring 2020 look 2

Scarecrow

Moschino, Fall/Winter 2000

Scarecrow   moschino fall 2000

Scarecrow

Donna Karan, Spring/Summer 2014

Scarecrow   donna karan spring 2014
References
Flapper   ralph laren spring 2012

Flapper

Ralph Lauren, Spring/Summer 2012

1 of 58

Flapper   louis vuitton ss 2011

Flapper

Louis Vuitton, Spring/Summer 2011

2 of 58

Flapper   alberta ferretti pre fall 2012

Flapper

Alberta Ferretti, Pre-Fall 2012

3 of 58

Flapper   gucci spring 2012 look 2

Flapper

Gucci, Spring/Summer 2012

4 of 58

 tho0203

Mermaid

Thom Browne, Spring/Summer 2019

5 of 58

Mermaid  alexander mcqueen for givenchy  spring summer 1998

Mermaid

Givenchy, Spring/Summer 1998

6 of 58

Mermaid  rodarte spring 2015

Mermaid

Rodarte, Spring/Summer 2015

7 of 58

Greek goddess   valentino spring 2016 couture

Goddess

Valentino, Spring/Summer 2016 Couture

8 of 58

Greek goddess   alexander mcqueen   givenchy spring 1997

Goddess

Givenchy, Spring/Summer 1997

9 of 58

Greek goddess   chanel resort 2018

Goddess

Chanel, Resort 2018

10 of 58

Tiger   zadig   voltaire fall 2018

Tiger

Zadig & Voltaire, Fall/Winter 2018

11 of 58

Giraffe   burberry fall 2013

Giraffe

Burberry, Fall/Winter 2013

12 of 58

Zebra   tom ford fall 2013

Zebra

Tom Ford, Fall/Winter 2013

13 of 58

Guy laroche ss 1994

Cheetah

Guy Laroche, Spring/Summer 1994

14 of 58

Hippie  chloe s s 2019

Hippie

Chloe, Spring/Summer 2019

15 of 58

Hippie  viktor rolf spring 2019

Hippie

Viktor & Rolf, Spring/Summer 2019

16 of 58

Hippie  anna sui fall 2015

Hippie

Anna Sui, Fall/Winter 2015

17 of 58

Robot   balenciaga spring 2007

Robot

Balenciaga, Spring/Summer 2007

18 of 58

Robot   alexander mcqueen at givenchy paris autumn winter 1999

Robot

Givenchy, Autumn/Winter 1999

19 of 58

Robot  thierry mugler fall 1995

Robot

Thierry Mugler, Fall/Winter 1995

20 of 58

Pirate  jean paul gaultier spring 2010

Pirate

Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring/Summer 2010

21 of 58

Pirate   vivienne westwood s  pirate  collection  1981

Pirate

Vivienne Westwood, Fall/Winter 1981

22 of 58

Pirate  john galliano f w 2001

Pirate

John Galliano, Fall/Winter 2001

23 of 58

Sailor  chanel prefall 2018

Sailor

Chanel, Pre-Fall 2018

24 of 58

Sailor  jean paul gaultier spring 1997 ready to wear

Sailor

Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring/Summer 1997

25 of 58

Sailor  christian dior spring 2011 ready to wear

Sailor

Christian Dior, Spring/Summer 2011

26 of 58

Hannibal lecter  gareth pugh fall 2016 ready to wear

Hannibal Lecter

Gareth Pugh, Fall/Winter 2016

27 of 58

The shining twins  undercover spring 2018 ready to wear

The Shining Twins

Undercover, Spring/Summer 2018

28 of 58

Wednesday addams  prada fall 2019 ready to wear

Wednesday Addams

Prada, Fall/Winter 2019

29 of 58

Cruella de ville   balenciaga spring 2020

Cruella de Vil

Balenciaga, Spring/Summer 2020

30 of 58

Parrot   alexander mcqueen s spring summer 2008

Parrot

Alexander McQueen, Spring/Summer 2008

31 of 58

Peacock   prada spring 2005

Peacock

Prada, Spring/Summer 2005

32 of 58

Flamingo   schiaparelli animal fantasia f w 2018 19

Flamingo

Schiaparelli, Fall/Winter 2018

33 of 58

Skeleton  jc de castelbajac fall 2011

Skeleton

JC de Castelbajac, Fall/Winter 2011

34 of 58

Skeleton  iris van herpen spring 2019

Skeleton

Iris van Herpen, Spring/Summer 2019

35 of 58

Moschino   look 32

Skeleton

Moschino, Spring/Summer 2020

36 of 58

Fall  winter 2015 19 maison margiela

Clown

Maison Margiela, Fall/Winter 2015

37 of 58

Clown   christian dior fall 2011 couture

Clown

Dior, Fall/Winter 2011 Couture

38 of 58

Clown   gareth pugh  fall 2006

Clown

Gareth Pugh, Fall/Winter 2006

39 of 58

Pumpkin  molly goddard fall 2018 ready to wear

Pumpkin

Molly Goddard, Fall/Winter 2018

40 of 58

Pumpkin  giorgio armani ss 2017

Pumpkin

Giorgio Armani, Spring/Summer 2017

41 of 58

Pumpkin  lanvin spring 2009 ready to wear

Pumpkin

Lanvin, Spring/Summer 2009

42 of 58

Ghost  comme des garc  ons spring 2012

Ghost

Comme des Garçons, Spring/Summer 2012

43 of 58

Ghost  john galliano fall 2009

Ghost

John Galliano, Fall/Winter 2009

44 of 58

Ghost  ann demeulemeester spring 2019

Ghost

Ann Demeulemeester, Spring/Summer 2019

45 of 58

Mummy  the blonds fall 2013

Mummy

The Blonds, Fall/Winter 2013

46 of 58

Mummy  christian dior spring 2004

Mummy

Dior, Spring/Summer 2004 Couture

47 of 58

Mummy  balmain ss 2019

Mummy

Balmain, Spring/Summer 2019

48 of 58

Witch  tom ford spring 2019 ready to wear

Witch

Tom Ford, Spring/Summer 2019

49 of 58

Witch  martine sitbon 1993

Witch

Martine Sitbon, Fall/Winter 1993

50 of 58

Witch  saint laurent spring 2013 ready to wear

Witch

Saint Laurent, Spring/Summer 2013

51 of 58

Devil  thierry mugler f w 1988

Devil

Thierry Mugler, Fall/Winter 1988

52 of 58

Devil  gucci fall 2018

Devil

Gucci, Fall/Winter 2018

53 of 58

Devil  alexander mcqueen fall 1998 ready to wear

Devil

Alexander McQueen, Fall/Winter 1998

54 of 58

Scarecrow   junya watanabe spring 2014

Scarecrow

Junya Watanabe, Spring/Summer 2014

55 of 58

Scarecrow   dior spring 2020 look 2

Scarecrow

Dior, Spring/Summer 2020

56 of 58

Scarecrow   moschino fall 2000

Scarecrow

Moschino, Fall/Winter 2000

57 of 58

Scarecrow   donna karan spring 2014

Scarecrow

Donna Karan, Spring/Summer 2014

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