What Actually Makes Scary Halloween Costumes Work
Halloween is more fun with a costume that actually lands, and a strong scary look comes down to shape: full-body coverage with no visible face, proportions that read slightly off from across a room, or a mask that holds one expression while the head moves. Build that look with a robe, a full bodysuit or the right makeup.
Every costume goes through over 30 measurement checks, so the fit holds up all night and not just in the photo. Scary is the easy part. Scary at 1 a.m., still in one piece and comfortable enough that you forget you are wearing it, is the part we work on.
Our Scary Halloween Costume Picks
Four picks that use shape, coverage and detail to do the scary work.
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The plainest look in the range is one of the most effective: our Mens Black Morphsuit is a full-body, full-face suit in matte black, 4-way stretch and sized by height from M to XXL. The prop skull in the photo is styling, not included. |
A full-length hooded robe does a similar job to a bodysuit: our Grim Reaper Horror Robe comes with wide sleeves, gloves and a removable Velcro face cover, sized M to XXL. The scythe in the photo is a styling prop, not included. |
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Makeup and detail carry this one instead of a hidden face: our Zombie Corpse Bride Costume is a complete set with a long black dress, jewelled choker and floral veil headband, sized 8-10 through 28-30. The face makeup in the photo is styling, not included. |
For something that keeps working after dark, our Glow Skeleton Bodysuit is a fitted skeleton print with a genuine glow-in-the-dark finish on the bones. Face uncovered, sized US 4-6 to 16-18. The wig in the photo is styling, not included. |
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Shop Scary Halloween Costumes by Theme
- Halloween Morphsuits. A full bodysuit with no visible face. The missing face is what does the work.
- Zombie costumes and skeleton costumes. Proportions that read slightly wrong from across the room.
- Masks. One expression, held all night, over whatever you are already wearing.
- Wigs. Change the shape of your head and you look off from across the room before anyone works out why.
- Movies and TV costumes, for when the reference needs to land instantly.
Not Looking for Scary?
- Funny costumes if you would rather get a laugh than a flinch.
- Adult inflatable costumes, which change your silhouette instead of hiding it.
- 1980s and 1990s costumes for a themed party.
- All Halloween costumes if you want to start again from the top.
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Inflatable Skeleton T-Rex: a giant inflatable skeleton dinosaur with a built-in fan that keeps it upright all night (takes 4 AA batteries, not included). One size fits most adults up to 6ft. Big, silly and easy to wear all night. |
Alien Piggyback Costume: a ride-on illusion suit that looks like a green alien is carrying you. Comedy over scares, one size fits 5ft 4in to 6ft 4in. |
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Shopping for Someone Else
- Kids Halloween costumes, sized and built differently from the adult range.
- Couples costumes and group and family costumes, for when the costume has to work next to someone else's.
Scary Halloween Costume Questions
What are the scariest Halloween costumes for adults?
Full-body suits, hooded robes, and skeleton or zombie costumes lead the list, especially with the face covered or made up rather than left bare. A mask worn over any of them adds another layer and reads as one costume, not two.
What should I wear to a Halloween party as an adult?
Something you can stand in for five hours in a warm room. Check you can see, drink, and sit down in it before you commit. If the party has a theme, a strong silhouette beats an accurate one.
Are full-body costumes hot to wear?
Warmer than a t-shirt, cooler than you would think. Our Mens Black Morphsuit breathes enough to see and drink through without lifting the hood; a robe or dress breathes even more since it is not skin-tight. Either way, size up if you run hot in a packed room.
What if I do not want to wear a mask?
Makeup is a real option: face paint or stage makeup gets a scary look with nothing covering your face at all, the idea behind our Zombie Corpse Bride Costume above. If makeup is not for you either, work on the silhouette instead: dark full-coverage clothing, a wig that changes your head shape, and one detail that is slightly off from a distance. The wigs page is where to start.
