With October fast approaching and Halloween merchandise filling retail store shelves, it truly does feel like the season of the witch. So what better way to mark this mystical season that a collection of screen-worn witch costumes from cinema and television to inspire your costume creativity this fall. This year's Comic-Con and D23 conventions also teased Latverian Witches in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday movie, so it looks like witches will be all the rage once again this year.
Winifred Sanderson movie costumes worn by Bette Midler
in Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2
First up is a treasure trove of witch costumes from 1993's fantasy comedy Hocus Pocus and Disney+'s 2022 comedy horror sequel, Hocus Pocus 2.
Mary Vogt was the Costume Designer on the original film about the villainous child-hungry 'Sanderson Sisters', headed by Bette Midler's 'Winifred Sanderson'.
Mary Sanderson movie costumes worn by Kathy Najimy
in Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2
For the witchy sequel which sees the sinister trio resurrected, Salvador Pérez Jr. was responsible for updating the sisters cult classic looks, adding cloaks to their costumes.
Sarah Sanderson movie costumes worn by Sarah Jessica Parker
in Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2
For a more detailed looks at these outfits worn by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker, be sure to check them out when the Hocus Pocus movie costumes were exhibited at the D23 Expo 2011 and the Hocus Pocus 2 film costumes were temporarily on display at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum in March 2023.
Jadis the White Witch movie costumes worn by Tilda Swinton
in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Next up are two 'White Witch' costumes worn by Tilda Swinton in the 2005 movie adaptation of C.S. Lewis' classic children's fantasy, The Chronicle of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Isis Mussenden was the Costume Designer who created the evil witch's looks for the film and they were photographed on display at the D23 2011 Expo and at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida in 2010.
Wicked Witch of the West movie costume worn by Mila Kunis
in Oz The Great and Powerful
Before the Broadway musical Wicked made it to the big screen, 2013's Oz The Great and Powerful explored the origin stores of the witches of the Land of Oz.
In the film Mila Kunis played 'Theodora' who is tricked into becoming the infamous green-skinned, broom-riding 'Wicked Witch of the West'.
Glinda the Good Witch movie costume worn by Michelle Williams
in Oz The Great and Powerful
Michelle Williams played the wand-wielding 'Glinda the Good Witch of the South' and Gary Jones was the film's Costume Designer, working from initial character designs by Michael Kutsche.
Evanora movie costume worn by Rachel Weisz
in Oz The Great and Powerful
In the prequel movie to The Wizard of Oz, Rachel Weisz played Theodora's duplicitous and manipulative sister, 'Evanora the Wicked Witch of the East', who wears an enchanted necklace which hides her true hideous appearance.
This trio of costume were captured temporarily exhibited during the film's theatrical run at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre and fans of the movie can enjoy more screen-worn costumes from Oz The Great and Powerful on display.
Queen Narissa Hag movie costume worn by Susan Sarandon
in Enchanted
Witches are often depicted as old crones on the cinema screen, and one such example is this 'Hag' costume worn by Susan Sarandon in 2007's fairytale musical comedy, Enchanted.
In the film which parodied Disney's animated princess fairytales, the actress plays the evil sorceress 'Queen Narissa' and disguises herself in this costume to trick the naive 'Giselle'.
Mona May was the Costume Designer on this fantasy film and this garment was photographed on display at Disney's Hollywood Studios Park in September 2010.
Witch movie costume worn by Rinko Kikuchi
in 47 Ronin
As I said, witches are often depicted in different ways on the big screen and exist in many different cultures, like 'Mizuki the Witch' from the 2013 Samurai action fantasy, 47 Ronin.
This odd-eyed sorceress who used dark magic to serve the evil 'Lord Kira' in 18th century Japan, was played by Rinko Kikuchi.
Her poison-green silk kimono and the other costumes in the film were designed by Penny Rose, this outfit was photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood in October 2014.
The Witch movie costumes worn by Meryl Streep
in Into the Woods
In 2014's big screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's dark and twisted fairytale musical, Into the Woods, Meryl Streep played the 'Witch'.
In director Rob Marshall's film, she got to wear these two spectacular Oscar-nominated costumes designed by Colleen Atwood.
Fans of the musical can enjoy these other Into the Woods movie costumes on display at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood during the film's theatrical release.
Scarlet Witch movie costume worn by Elizabeth Olsen
in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
From witches from the musical stage to a hex-caster from the superhero world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, here's Elizabeth Olsen's 'Scarlet Witch' costume from 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
After losing her children in Disney+'s WandaVision television series, the powerful Avenger had been corrupted by The Darkhold spell book resulting in this edgier costume redesigned by Graham Churchyard.
Lady Leonora Lesso movie costume worn by Charlize Theron
in The School for Good and Evil
In the 2022 Netflix movie adaptation of Soman Chainani's 2013 novel, The School for Good and Evil, Charlize Theron played 'Lady Lesso' the witch Dean of The School for Evil.
Renée Ehrlich Kalfus was the Costume Designer on this fairytale fantasy movie and you can see more screen-used costumes from The School for Good and Evil temporarily on display at the FIDM Museum in March 2023.
Florence Zimmerman movie costume worn by Cate Blanchett
in The House with a Clock in its Walls
In director Eli Roth's 2018 film, The House with a Clock in its Walls, Cate Blanchett played the witch 'Florence Zimmerman'.
Marlene Stewart was Costume Designer on the film which adapted John Bellairs 1973 novel of the same name about a magical house with a world-ending clock hidden in its walls by an evil warlock.
If you like this look, be sure to check out more screen-worn costumes from the fantasy comedy-horror on display at L.A.'s FIDM Museum in February 2019.
Muriel movie costume worn by Famke Janssen
in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
In a different take on the Brothers Grimm German fairy tale, 'Hansel' and 'Gretel' were reimagined as Witch Hunters, rather than victims of child-eating witches, in the 2013 dark fantasy action film.
In the movie Famke Janssen plays the grand dark witch, 'Muriel', and wears this spectacular costume design by Marlene Stewart.
Horned Witch movie costume worn by Ingrid Bolsø Berdal
in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
As the Blood Moon approaches the 'Horned Witch' and 'Red-Haired Witch', members of Muriel's personal coven, face off against Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton's famed witch slayers in these red and black slightly futuristic looking costumes.
Red-Haired Witch movie costume worn by Joanna Kulig
in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Meanwhile in the film Zoë Bell played the dark 'Tall Witch' hunted down by the siblings early in the movie and she wears something more nature-inspired you'd expect in a Medieval fantasy film.
Tall Witch movie costume worn by Zoë Bell
in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
This quartet of screen-used witch costumes were photographed temporarily on display at the ArcLight Sherman Oaks and ArcLight Hollywood cinemas in January 2013.
Scáthach TV costume worn by Lady Gaga
in AHS: Roanoke
For the sixth season of FX's horror-anthology series, American Horror Story, Lady Gaga played an ancient and immortal bloodthirsty Scottish witch of the woods named 'Scáthach'.
Lou Eyrich was Costume Designer on this season of the show which incorporated the mystery of the 1590s Roanoke Colony disappearance in North Carolina, and this costume was photographed on display at the FIDM Museum in August 2017.
Sabrina Spellman TV costumes worn by Kiernan Shipka
in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
We've seen all manner of costumes worn by witches on the big and small screen, but this last trio of looks is worn by Kieran Shipka in Netflix's supernatural horror series, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which made its streaming debut in October 2018.
The show followed a half-human, half-witch teenager attending Baxter High, beginning her training and eduction in witchcraft and the dark arts.
Photographed at the FIDM Museum in August 2019, Angus Strathie was Costume Designer on this TV series adapted from the darker Archie comic book series of the same name, written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa with art by Robert Hack.
Be they good witch or powerful, evil grand witches, let's hope these costumes have cast a spell over you.
Right then, I'm off to make a potion/cocktail to make my evening more magical!
