Halloween costume ideas for an adult woman that definitely do not include the word 'sexy' anything, come in a packet, or use polyester..

[AuntLucy]

I am going to a friends house for a halloween supper whilst our respective children roam the neighbourhood demanding sweets-with-menaces from the neighbours. We're all 40s/50s.

It's dress-up. I'm perfectly happy to dress up and don't mind spending a bit of money on something that can be reused, but really can't see myself leaving the house in one of Smiffy's finest. It's a bonafide real-deal social occasion (whoop whoop!) and these have been few and far between during the pandemic years so I'd like to look nice (so dinosaur costumes, teletubbies etc are out). Any ideas? Something spookyish?

I can go big on the make up to compensate for demureness in the costume. Average height, lightish build, quite handy with a needle so could do minor adjustments. Am quite body-confident but at 40+, my catsuit wearing days are done..

Do your worst

Lab coat, fake glasses, ‘soot’ smudged on your face, oversized testube, hair gelled crazily = mad scientist

Probably need below shoulder length hair, but an old-school vampire’s victim in a Victorian-style nightgown, pale makeup, red marks on neck.

Morticia Adams, slinky Black dress and a wig?

I assembled an excellent witch's costume one year by trawling a few charity shops.

I'm not sure 'mad scientist' fits the 'look nice' criteria?
Glamorous witch? All in black, but kind of elegant goth?
Ghost? All in white, with whispy, drapy garments?
Cat? Black leggings and poloneck, ears on headband, dramatic make-up.
Or I think steam punk costumes are fabulous, and can have a slightly goth/ Halloween crossover vibe.

Go full dia de los muertos ? Alternatively dress up as a marie curie, complete with glow stick radium?

Any black dress and witch face paint.
Victorian style dress/top and doll style make up. Ribbon in hair.
White dress and zombie make up for zombie bride. You could be zombie anything though really.
Colourful outfit and clown make up.

YouTube has loads of good make up tutorials for Halloween.

Ghost
Any normal clothes and white and black makeup with red blood makeup in appropriate places to make you look dead.

Lots of great ideas already! Agree that trawling charity shops/EBay is really worth doing, particularly with a few weeks to go. It’s usually easy to find trailing black elegant witch/goth clothes - net and velvet look good, and you can distress fabric if wanted. I’ve done that, and it’s also more sustainable. Agree that makeup is key…and a wig!

If you want to look good.... Cleopatra a la Elizabeth Taylor...cheap wigs work for this and asps are always an icebreaker. Nice and not at all naughty.... an angel. Costumes for both can be fashioned from sheets. Good excuse to buy some silk ones. If you don't mind spending a bit,how about being a Fairy? Look at ballet dresses. There are some really beautiful ones. For a laugh,go as Grayson Perry or Rue Paul.

I would go androgyny. Mans suit , white shirt, gelled hair, slick of lipstick.

Velma or Daphne from scooby do. I’ve done both over the years.

Velma!

Zombie pink lady from grease. You probably only need a pink jacket from Amazon

How about zombie Marge Simpson? Green face and body paint instead of yellow. You still get big eyelashes, hair and a dress with necklace so look nice-ish.

Corpse bride?

Black cat. Buy yourself a nice new black roll neck and black trousers. Buy tail, ears and do fabulous cat make up with jewels.

mummy? just wrap a lot of white fabric around white tshirt & leggings

That cat make-up is wonderful!

malenificent

Pirate. I got a great costume about 8 years ago (😱 didn't think it was that long until I really thought about it there) it was for dressing up working in a nursery, so it was not sexy, and I didn't need to go mad with make up, but you could and then any boots you have will do.

I know it's not meant to be celebrity dress up but if you want to look nice I'd go full on stevie nicks inspired by one of her witchiest, most ethereal outfits.

But that's because I wish I had her entire 70s wardrobe tbh.

Order a cheap wedding dress and slash it up add fake blood and get vampire teeth

Ooooh, my favorite topic. Some past costumes of mine:

Witch - black dress, bucket load of make up
Black widow (not avenger!) - black dress, black veil (lace table cloth) and a bunch of dead flowers.
Cruella - any combination of black and white clothes and take a (toy) dog, bonus points if it’s a Dalmatian. Red lipstick. If you have one, a fake fur stole.
Dr Labotomy - surgical scrubs with loads of fake blood and black stuff splashed over.
Nurse Ratchet - similar to above but nurse costume (not sexy nurse).

Other easy ones:
Blues brothers - black trousers, white shirt, black jacket, trilby and sunglasses.
Gallagher brother - works well for short hair, bring it all forward over forehead, baggy top and jeans. Round sunglasses and an attitude.
Suzy Quattro - Rock chick look.
Mary Queen of Scots - sombre dress, rosary (set of beads) and a white powder on face to look pale.
Posh spice - black mini dress, sleek bob and strike a pose.
Baby spice - candy coloured/shiney dress, hair in pigtails, lollipop.

How could I have forgotten!

Madonna, like a virgin era - off shoulder top, vests, bra strap showing, beads, a few crosses and excellent hair and make up.
John McEnroe - tennis shorts, head band, racket and an attitude.