PebblePilot
Well-known member
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.
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.
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 
! 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 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 
The idea that we can go from zero to hero (or monster) with just some makeup and creativity is seriously mind-blowing 
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 
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...
. 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 
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. 
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. 
. 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 mean, I would never go as a 'crazy cat lady' and just dress up as a cat 
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 
. And Machine Dazzle's idea to dress like a 'crazy lady cat' is so wild and creative 
, and taking store-bought costumes and making them your own is a genius move 
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. 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...
! 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? 
And makeup artist Mike Marino is always good for some inspiration with his love of classic monsters like werewolves and vampires 
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! When it comes to last-minute costumes, I think it's all about embracing your inner weirdo 
Ultimately, it's all about having fun with fashion and being willing to take risks... and not caring what anyone else thinks 