10 women's Halloween costume ideas from the cinema screen in recent times...

With store shelves stacked with Halloween candy and decorations, you can't help but start to get in the spooky season spirit. The other day I shared some costume ideas for men from films from the past year and today it's time for some women's costume inspiration from the big screen.

Shug Avery costume

from The Color Purple

If you're looking for something empowering and eye-catching this Halloween, maybe take inspiration from 2023's vivid musical reinterpretation of The Color Purple and Taraji P. Henson's 1920s independent jazz singer  'Shug Avery' in her bold and shimmering red dress, gloves and feathered headdress.

Francine Jamison-Tanchuck was Costume Designer on the film and this outfit paid homage to Aggie Guerard Rodgers designs from the original 1985 movie.

Captain Monica Rambeau costume

from The Marvels

If you're feeling more like you want to be a superhero this year, then the black and white super-suit worn by Teyonah Parris as 'Monica Rambeau' in 2023's The Marvels will help you shine brightly.

Lindsay Pugh was Costume Designer on this underrated MCU entry directed by Nia DaCosta and you can check out more heroic costumes from The Marvels. 

Dar-Benn costume

from The Marvels

For something more villainous Zawe Ashton's Kree Supremor 'Dar-Benn' from The Marvels may help you show off your evil side this Halloween.

As above Lindsay Pugh designed this sci-fi comic book outfit from the movie that followed the events of the first Captain Marvel film, WandaVision and the Ms. Marvel TV series.

Navarro costume

from Alien: Romulus

For more out-of-this-world futuristic looks, then maybe take some fashion inspiration from Aileen Wu's hauler pilot 'Navarro' in 2024's science fiction horror sequel, Alien: Romulus.

To complete this cool leather trousers and jacket look designed by Carlos Rosario, just add an alien "facehugger" to your face for the ultimate accessory and be sure to take a look at more screen-worn costumes from the latest Alien film on display.

Dr. Volumnia Gaul costume

from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

You could always be inspired by the outlandish fashion of The Capitol of Panem, channeling your inner mad scientist with this costume worn by Viola Davis as the cruel gamesmaker 'Dr. Volumnia Gaul' in 2023's The Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

Make sure you check out the other screen-worn costumes from the movie, including those worn by Rachel Zegler and Hunter Schafer, designed by Trish Summerville.

Bella Baxter costume

from Poor Things

Academy Award winner Emma Stone brought another iconic character to the big screen in 2023 with the introduction of 'Bella Baxter' in Poor Things.

Her take on a Victorian woman resurrected with an infantile brain in the tradition of Frankenstein's Monster was made all the more eccentric with the help of Holly Waddington's Oscar-winning costume designs. Massive sleeves should all the rage this Halloween.

Ariel costume

from The Little Mermaid

For a more fairytale princess outfit, look no further than Halle Bailey's 'Ariel' costume from Disney's 2023 reimagining of The Little Mermaid.

Costume design legend Colleen Atwood was responsible for the looks of Rob Marshall's live-action adaptation based on the beloved 1989 musical fantasy animated feature. 

Priscilla Presley costume

from Priscilla

If you want to dress like a style icon this Halloween, then maybe you could take inspiration from 'Priscilla Presley'.

Cailee Spaeny played the infamous wife of Elvis in the 2023 biopic and Stacey Battat was Costume Designer on the film, some sure to checkout more costumes from Priscilla on display.

Empress Joséphine costume

from Napoleon

For another icon from history, maybe the regal attire worn by Vanessa Kirby as the 'Empress Josephine Bonaparte' in Ridley Scott's 2023 Napoleon biopic will rule this Halloween.

Janty Yates and David Crossman were the Oscar-nominated Costume Designers on the historical epic.

Barbie cowgirl costume

from Barbie

Not only did Greta Gerwig's big screen summer 2023 Barbie movie deliver $1.4 billion at the global box office, but the film starring Margot Robbie as Mattel's titular doll come to life also delivered many Oscar-nominated looks (designed by Jacqueline Durran) and lots of Halloween costume inspiration.

Which Barbie will you be? Cowgirl Barbie, Rollerblade Barbie, Physicist Barbie, Judge Barbie, Mermaid Barbie, President Barbie or even Weird Barbie, the possibilities are endless.

Don't see anything to inspire you here? Maybe you should check out previous women's Halloween costume ideas from television and cinema from years past.

10 men's Halloween costume ideas from the big screen from recent times...

At the weekend we received our first invite to a Halloween party, so of course I immediately thought "what am I going to wear?!?". As luck would have it I was able to turn to some recent movie exhibits I've encountered to provide some inspiration that could work.

Dojo Mojo Casa House Ken costume

from Barbie

Ryan Gosling wasn't just 'Ken' in 2023's blockbuster Barbie movie, he was more than "Kenough" in the role, even earning himself an Academy Award Supporting Actor nomination.

Jacqueline Duran was the Oscar-nominated Costume Designer on director Greta Gerwig's film, but I'm not sure I have the abs to pull off Ken's "Dojo Mojo Casa House" costume (plus Palm Springs can still be super hot in October so I'm uncertain all that faux fur would work).

Napoleon Bonaparte costume

from Napoleon

After a summer of Paris Olympics, maybe a little something French is in order, like Napoleon Bonaparte.

Joaquin Phoenix wore this Napoleon costume in director Ridley Scott's historical epic and Janty Yates and David Crossman were the Oscar-nominated Costume Designers on the film.

Willy Wonka costume

from Wonka

With something with a bit more whimsy, there's a young 'Willy Wonka' from 2023's Wonka, played by Timothée Chalamet.

Lindy Hemming was the Costume Designer on this musical fantasy comedy, which depicts the early days of Roald Dahl's character as a chocolatier.

Phil Knight costume 

from Air

In 2023's biographical sports drama, Air, which tells the story of the partnership between basketball rookie Michael Jordan and athletic apparel brand Nike, Ben Affleck played the company's co-founder Phil Knight.

This sporty 1980s ensemble would make for a fun Halloween look, and Charlese Antoinette Jones was the Costume Designer responsible for helping the film step back in time fashion wise, so be sur to check out more screen-worn Air costumes on display.

David Von Erich costume

from The Iron Claw

For another sporty look, what about this flamboyant wrestling costume worn by Harris Dickinson in 2023's biopic about the Von Erich brothers, The Iron Claw.

Jennifer Starzyk was Costume Designer on the film, so be sure to enjoy more of her flashy pro-wrestler costumes from the movie on display.

Oliver Quick Midsummer Night's Dream Party costume

from Saltburn

In writer-director Emerald Fennell's 2023 dark psychological comedy, Saltburn, Barry Koeghan plays the cuckoo in the nest character, 'Oliver Twist', who ingratiates his way into an wealthy and eccentric English aristocratic family by deceit and slowly eliminates them one by one to claim their fortune and family estate.

This leafy embroidered white outfit he wears for the Midsummer Night's Dream Party would be a great Halloween costume if you added the deer antlers he sports in the film, designed by Sophie Canale.

Dr. Godwin Baxter costume

from Poor Things

If mad scientist is more your thing, then maybe the Frankenstein-inspired 'Dr. Godwin Baxter' from 2023's Poor Things is for you, especially if you recreated Willem Dafoe's character's scarred face from the movie.

Be sure to check out more of Holly Waddington's Oscar-winning Poor Things costumes on display for more inspiration.

Prince Eric costume

from The Little Mermaid

If you want to be a real charmer this year, then maybe this 'Prince Eric' costume worn by Jonah Hauer-King in Disney's live-action version of The Little Mermaid is for you.

Colleen Atwood was Costume Designer on the reimagined 2023 movie, and for more regal looks be sure to check out these Prince Charming costumes from the big and small screen.

Drax spacesuit

from Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

For a more out-of-this-world look, then maybe one of the colourful spacesuits worn in 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, like this red one worn by Dave Bautista's 'Drax', evoking 2001: A Space Odyssey's astronaut 'Dave Bowman'.

Judianna Makovsky was the Costume Designer on this third installment in James Gunn's MCU GOTG trilogy.

Andy costume

from Alien: Romulus

For another futuristic, yet easier to recreate look, maybe it's the Weyland-Yutani Corporation jumpsuit worn by David Jonsson as the android 'Andy' in 2024's Alien: Romulus on display.

Carlos Rosario was the Costume Designer on the movie responsible for evoking the fashion of the original Alien and Aliens franchise movies.

There's some great looks here, I'm still not entirely convinced about a party costume for this year, so I think I'll peruse through my archives of previous men's Halloween costume ideas for more even inspiration.