‘A little mix of classy and gore always works’: costume and makeup pros on how to win Halloween

For many of us, Halloween is the one time of year where we're given permission to go all out with our creative expression. Procrastinating until the last minute can be overwhelming, but with some inspiration and guidance from costume and makeup experts, it's possible to create a memorable look even on short notice.

For Frédérique Arguello, hair designer and Bafta and Critics' Choice winner for The Substance, rock icons are very fun. "There's great makeup and you can use wigs," she says. "There's David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust with a red mullet wig; Paul Stanley from Kiss with a star on the face. Ben Nye palettes are great for that." For her own costume, Arguello likes to go for historical glam looks like Cleopatra or Elvis. "You can add some fake blood to the makeup," she says, "A little mix of classy and gore always works."

For Machine Dazzle, Emmy- and Obie-award-winning costume designer, set designer, performance artist, and drag queen, messing around with cliche characters is a great way to turn things on their head. "How about instead of being a 'crazy cat lady' go as a 'crazy lady cat': dress like a cat and have a basket of dolls that are made to look like crazy ladies," Dazzle suggests. The key, she emphasizes, is transformation.

Mike Marino, makeup artist whose credits include The Batman (2022), A Different Man (2024) and Black Swan (2010), loves werewolves, vampires, Frankenstein – all the classic stuff. "What really interests me is to take something that we all know and change or redesign it," he says.

As for group costumes, Fleming recommends people gathering together in groups like a pizza pie, while Nguyen suggests going as Charli xcx and Billie Eilish last year. "It's sort of messy and gritty," Nguyen notes, referring to the duo's aesthetic.

For those who are procrastinating, Gottlieb recommends never underestimating what's in your own closet – you could go as Farrah Fawcett or an 80s workout dancer with a leotard and pair of tights. "Show us something we've never seen before," Dazzle advises, adding that the key is transformation.

When it comes to store-bought costumes, Gottlieb loves when people take them and make them something different – like a sexy nun covered in blood or cockroaches. Dazzle, on the other hand, advises against buying commercially recognizable characters, saying "they are boring." Instead, show us something we've never seen before.

For this year's Halloween parade theme of 'potluck', Fleming expects to see a sushi-themed costume, jars of ketchup, fruits, and a table set for tea. Gottlieb hopes to see more Glindas and Elphabas and the couple from the Coldplay concert. Marino is looking forward to seeing some crazy zombies with veins and flowers on their heads.

As for what they'll be wearing themselves, Arguello has thought about going as Jonathan Davis from Korn, while Dazzle plans to repeat her pigeon shit costume. Fleming doesn't wear a costume because she needs to be spotted easily in case anything goes wrong – but she does have purple hair and wears a hot pink leather jacket that she's had for 20 years.

Ultimately, the key to creating a memorable Halloween look is transformation, whether it's through makeup, costuming or performance. With a little creativity and inspiration, even the most procrastinating among us can craft a truly unforgettable costume.

omg i was thinking of going as frankenstein but then i saw that david bowie wig and i'm like totally sold on it now what do you guys think? should i get a red mullet wig or go for a more subtle look with just some fake blood and pale face paint? i also have an awesome idea for a group costume w/ my friends - we can be the cast of black swan but like, totally messed up in makeup and costumes

OMG, I'm so done with everyone going for the same old superheros and pop stars ! Can't we just get creative for once? Like, have you seen that pigeon poop costume by Machine Dazzle last year? It's all about transformation, right?! Don't be afraid to go full weirdo like a crazy cat lady or a sexy nun covered in blood . And don't even get me started on store-bought costumes... just take them and make them your own! I'm so excited for this year's potluck theme though... sushi-themed costumes are gonna be EVERYTHING

OMG I'm so inspired by these designers and artists! They're showing me that Halloween isn't just about throwing on something scary or basic... it's about transformation & taking things to the next level Like, I love how Machine Dazzle is all about subverting expectations & making characters weird in new ways And Mike Marino is a master of reinventing classic monsters - who knew werewolves could be so cool? The idea that we can go from zero to hero (or monster) with just some makeup and creativity is seriously mind-blowing

️ still gotta say, ppl dont realize how much theyre missin out on when they settle 4 a store-bought costume... i mean, come on, u got a leotard and tights from ur closet, wut's holding u back? just add some edginess and u got yoself a sick halloween look

omg u think ur gonna make a halloween costume at the last min? good luck w/ that lol, just get creative w/ what u already have in ur closet, like fawcett or workout dancer, it's def easier 2 do than messin w/ makeup n stuff. gotta say tho, ziggy stardust wig sounds kinda cool

omg u guys r gonna love this so like Frédérique Arguello says rock icons are super fun 2 create looks from but I'm not convinced ben nye palettes r that magical lol what if we take cliche characters and give them a dark twist instead of just being a 'crazy cat lady' as Machine Dazzle suggested? or maybe u could be like farrah fawcett with an 80s workout dancer vibe from ur own closet

I'm lowkey skeptical about store-bought costumes tho, especially if they r commercially recognizable cuz how boring are those instead why not get creative and turn them into something entirely new? got my eye on that 'potluck' theme tho sushi-themed costume or jars of ketchup sounds like a real trip but idk about the table set for tea...

Halloween is like, the one time of year where we're all just free to be whoever we want . I'm so done with people always saying they need 3 months notice for costumes... it's Halloween, fam! . Make something out of nothing and go wild! Just use some creativity, like that one guy who dresses up as a human pineapple . Or make a whole team of you guys dress up as the Avengers, but with a twist - like instead of Cap, Iron Man, and Thor, it's you with a mullet wig .

I'm low-key obsessed with the themes they're throwing out for this year's Halloween parade ️! A 'potluck' theme is so on point, I mean, who wouldn't want to see a sushi-themed costume or someone rocking a full table setting? The suggestions from these costume experts are giving me LIFE, like using Ben Nye palettes for historical glam looks or going as a 'crazy lady cat'. Transformation is key, you guys! Whether it's makeup, costuming or performance, get creative and take something familiar and turn it on its head.

omg I'm so down for halloween this year! but at the same time I'm also a bit tired of how it's just become all about being super specific with our costumes like "I'll go as Charli xcx" or something... i mean don't get me wrong, those are great references and all, but can't we mix things up a bit? like go for a "crazy lady cat" vibe instead of just copying someone's exact look? also, I'm so over the idea of buying costumes from stores and then just slapping on some makeup to make it more interesting... idk, man. can't we just get creative with what we have at home? like, i could totally rock that Farrah Fawcett look without breaking the bank

I'm so glad we finally have some real tips on how to procrastinate until the last minute for Halloween ‍. I mean, who needs planning or creativity when you just use wigs and Ben Nye palettes? It's not like that's a lazy way to get inspiration or anything... And what's up with Machine Dazzle suggesting people go as "crazy lady cat" instead of just "crazy cat lady"? Transformation, schmformation...

I love this time of year lol I'm actually really bad at making costumes last minute but it looks like some people are pros ! I mean, I would never go as a 'crazy cat lady' and just dress up as a cat , that sounds kinda weird but also kinda awesome?

I think the key to making a good costume is taking something familiar and changing it up like Mike Marino said. And yeah, using makeup and wigs can be so much fun ! I love that Frédérique Arguello likes to go for historical glam looks like Cleopatra or Elvis .

I also don't really have any good costume ideas but it's cool to see what other people are planning . Maybe this year I'll just stick with wearing my purple hair and hot pink leather jacket, that's always a winner !

I'm low-key fascinated by how people approach Halloween costumes, you know? It's all about taking something classic and turning it on its head . Like, I love that Frédérique Arguello does historical glam looks with a twist, adding fake blood for a touch of class and gore . And Machine Dazzle's idea to dress like a 'crazy lady cat' is so wild and creative .

I also think group costumes are a great way to go, especially if you can find people who share similar interests or aesthetics. Like, a pizza pie costume sounds adorable , and taking store-bought costumes and making them your own is a genius move .

Ultimately, it's all about transformation, whether through makeup, costuming, or performance. And I love that the experts are emphasizing creativity and originality over buying commercially recognizable characters . It's all about having fun and expressing yourself, which is what Halloween is all about .

I'm loving this year's halloween vibes ️. I think what's cool about this time of year is that everyone gets to let their hair down (pun intended) and express themselves in such an amazing way. From rock icons like Ziggy Stardust to historical glam looks like Cleopatra, there's just so much inspiration out there .

I'm also loving the idea of taking things you know and flipping them on their head. Like, who wouldn't want to go as a "crazy lady cat" instead of a "crazy cat lady"? It's all about transformation, right?

And can we talk about store-bought costumes for a sec? I'm all about taking those commercial costumes and making them something entirely new and unexpected. Like, turning a sexy nun into a sexy nun with blood everywhere... sounds like a win to me!

But hey, the most important thing is that people have fun and be creative. Whether you're going as a group or dressing up solo, it's all about having an unforgettable experience .

I'm so over how basic some people's Halloween costumes are ... like, David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust? How original. And don't even get me started on store-bought commercial costumes... they're just lazy . But at the same time, I love seeing people get creative and try to reinvent classic characters - like Machine Dazzle's idea of a "crazy lady cat" . That's what makes Halloween so amazing - it's all about transformation and pushing boundaries . So let's just say that if you're gonna do a costume, DO IT RIGHT ... or at least make it your own somehow .

omg u guys i had the craziest halloween idea last min so i was thinking of dressing up as my ex boyfriend aka ziggy stardust lol just add some fake blood and a mullet wig and im good to go but seriously tho i think what makes a halloween costume great is if u can transform into someone or something new like machine dazzle said we should totally take cliche characters and turn them on their head maybe dress up as a 'crazy cat lady' but instead of being all wholesome u could be wearing a mask and carrying a basket full of razor blades?

omg have you tried those new seasonal scones at the cafe downtown? i swear they're to die for anyway back to halloween costumes - i've been thinking of going as my grandma who's always dressed up in vintage outfits, but instead of just wearing her old clothes, i'd add some funny props like a fake mustache and a pair of oversized sunglasses... or maybe even a tiny fedora what do you guys think? should we try to create our own unique costumes this year?

I'm kinda low-key excited for this year's halloween, you know? I mean, the themes and ideas that are coming out are wild . The whole potluck thing is kinda genius - I love how it encourages people to think outside the box and get creative with their costumes. And the tips from these costume designers are super helpful too . Like, I never would've thought to use Ben Nye palettes or add fake blood to my makeup, but now I'm sold . What I'm most looking forward to is seeing all the different transformations that people come up with - it's like, one person can turn into a completely different character just by changing their look . Anyway, if you need me, I'll be over here crafting my own transformation...

Halloween is definitely one of those few times of the year where creativity goes wild ! I think what's cool about this holiday is that it allows us to transform into someone or something else for a day, and who doesn't love that? For example, if you're feeling down, dressing up as your favorite character from a movie or book can totally lift your mood. It's like getting a free pass to be whoever you want to be without any judgment .

I also love how costume designers like Frédérique Arguello and Machine Dazzle are all about pushing boundaries and making people see things in a new light. Like, why settle for just being a "crazy cat lady" when you can be a "crazy lady cat"? It's all about transformation, right? And makeup artist Mike Marino is always good for some inspiration with his love of classic monsters like werewolves and vampires .

For those who are struggling to come up with ideas, I think it's so easy to get caught up in buying costumes from stores or following popular trends. But honestly, that's just not as creative or fun . Why not dig through your closet and find something totally unexpected? Like, go as Farrah Fawcett or an 80s workout dancer – you'd be surprised at how cool those old-school outfits can look .

Anyway, I'm definitely looking forward to this year's Halloween parade theme of 'potluck' – who wouldn't want to see a sushi-themed costume ? And I love that Machine Dazzle is all about making people think outside the box when it comes to costumes. It's like, don't be afraid to get weird and wild, folks!

️ I'm all about that creative expression vibe this Halloween ! When it comes to last-minute costumes, I think it's all about embracing your inner weirdo . Like, why settle for something normal when you can go full-on bizarre? Machine Dazzle is a genius with her crazy character twists... who needs a 'crazy cat lady' when you could be a 'crazy lady cat'? And I'm loving the idea of taking store-bought costumes and making them your own - it's like, who says you can't be sexy nun covered in blood AND cockroaches? Ultimately, it's all about having fun with fashion and being willing to take risks... and not caring what anyone else thinks