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Party City / Tipsy Elves
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Dressing up for Halloween as an adult—one with a job, and responsibilities, and some kind of a need to adhere to a dress code during most hours of the day—is easier said than done.
Search for Halloween costumes in women’s sizes and it can seem as though super-short, super-cropped, super-revealing getups are all that’s out there. But whether your ensemble shows your midriff is one fear you needn’t have this Halloween. We tracked down some women’s costumes that are by turns cute, scary, and stylish—without showing a ton of skin.
A pumpkin poncho to hearken back to your childhood
This pumpkin poncho might just look like the one you had as a kid, only bigger.
Remember that cute pumpkin costume you had as a kid? Return to your roots with this updated version for adults in the form of a low-key pumpkin poncho. The one-size-fits-all garment fits anyone from sizes of 4 and 14—and is also ideal for anyone who is pregnant, according to one reviewer. Slide it on over a long-sleeve tee and a pair of jeans or leggings, and you’ve got yourself an easy, wear-anywhere costume. Get the Adult Pumpkin Poncho on Amazon for $19.16
A sailor costume that’s ship-shape
This dress looks effortlessly cute without exposing too much.
Take to the stormy seas—or your neighborhood block party—with this sweet vintage-style sailor dress. It comes with a matching cap and is available in women’s sizes small to extra large, which most reviewers say fit as expected. One reviewer writes that the dress looks more expensive than it is, due to its thick, “slinky” material, and the cut offers up an “office-safe kind of sexy.” If that sounds like what you’re looking for, this outfit is for you. Get the Dreamgirl Women’s All Aboard Costume on Amazon for $29.57 to $33.90
A pirate costume to feel like a true buccaneer
Avoid the plank with this super-accurate pirate costume.
In this pirate ensemble, you’ll feel more than equipped to search out buried treasure, get into some swashbuckling adventures, and even let out a hearty “Arrr” or two. Reviewers say the dress is well-made and has nice details—like a studded belt buckle, head scarf and leathery vest—that make it seem extra-legit. If you decide to go the extra mile and and add an eye patch and parrot on your shoulder, you’ll have some pirate-y je ne sais quois that can’t be beat. The dress comes in women’s sizes small to 3X but can run a little small, according to reviewers. Get the California Costumes Queen of the Seas Costume on Amazon for $29.99 Get the California Costumes Queen of the Seas Plus Size Costume on Amazon for $36.42
A skeleton outfit to bring death to life
This jumpsuit is a little spooky without being too scary.
If you want to go for a bare-bones look—but not a bare-skinned one—this skeleton jumpsuit is a great way to achieve it. It’s not skin tight like some skeleton costumes can be, but it still looks anatomically correct (well, as anatomically correct as you need to be on Halloween) and convincingly spooky when paired with a skeleton mask. It’s made of a cozy sweatshirt-like material that will keep you comfy and warm whether you’re barhopping or trick-or-treating with the kids. The jumpsuit comes in women’s sizes XS to XXL and runs large, according to reviewers. Get the Tipsy Elves Women’s Skeleton Halloween Costume for $89.95
A deer poncho that will help you feel like Bambi
This poncho is the perfect complement to a deer makeup look.
Scrolling through Pinterest at this time of year is a surefire way to encounter a lot of deer-inspired makeup looks. If you aspire to achieve some doe-eyed glam, this deer poncho is a great way to complement it. The design features white spots around the arms, a tuft of fur on the chest, and a hood with horns (which isn’t technically accurate if you’re going as a doe, but still adds a nice accent to the look). It’s available in one size, which should fit anyone between size 4 and 14. Get the Fun World Halloween Poncho on Amazon for $25.04
A glamorous gown to look like a polished witch
This dress will make anyone ready to cast some spells in an instant.
With its bell sleeves and royal purple trim, this dress is an excellent way to stir up some sorcery. Reviewers say they’ve used it for a classic witch look, as well as a costume for Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. The dress comes in women’s sizes small to XL, which reviewers say is true to size and feels comfortable. Get the California Costumes Glamour Witch Costume on Amazon for $29.22
Butterfly wings to fulfill your fairy fantasies
Whether they're for a fairy or butterfly costume, these wings will serve you well.
Going to a fairy-themed party? An entomology convention? A Kacey Musgraves concert? Or, you know, just dressing up for Halloween? At any of the above events, these gorgeous butterfly wings—designed as an easy-to-wear cape—make the look. Wear them as a cape over a dress or jeans and a tee, or tie around your waist make a wing-patterned maxi skirt. Reviewers say that, other than a tendency to pick up some serious static cling, they’re great quality and make it easy to put a costume together. The cape comes in one size and a whopping 25 colors and patterns. Get HITOP Butterfly Wings for Women on Amazon for $14.99
A nurse costume to keep you in great health and spirits
No need to go to nursing school to look the part of a medical professional.
Any actual registered nurse will tell you that, in order to achieve the most accurate (and comfortable) nurse “costume,” all you need is a pair of scrubs and some orthopedic clogs. But if you want something a little more fetching—that doesn’t involve a red-and-white bustier—try this vintage-style nurse uniform. The dress has bright red buttons up and down the front and comes with an apron and headpiece. Some reviewers say the V-neck is plunging (so you may prefer to add a camisole), but the skirt reaches most people’s knees and the fabric it’s made of is thick and opaque, for a white dress. It comes in women’s sizes small to large, which according to shoppers runs true to size. Get the Costume Culture Women’s Classic Nurse Costume on Amazon for $34.44 to $42.99
A Scoops Ahoy costume that takes you back to your first summer job
Your first job might not have had such a great uniform, but you can pretend.
Stranger Things released a well-received third season earlier this year, so you can expect to see a lot of Hawkins, Indiana-inspired costumes this Halloween. Top among them will be the Scoops Ahoy uniforms worn by Robin and Steve for their summer job serving up ice cream at the Starcourt Mall, with their nautically-striped blue shirts, red kerchiefs, and sailor caps.
This Robin-inspired costume comes in two sizes, small/medium and large/extra-large. Reviewers say it runs small, but the romper and cap feel high-quality and less scratchy than some costumes can be. If a romper is still out of your comfort level, either on account of modesty or the chilly late-October weather, wear tights underneath. Get the Party City Stranger Things Robin Costume on Amazon for $49.99 to $59.99
Eleven’s makeover outfit in Stranger Things to remind you of your first trip to the mall
Eleven's '80s makeover makes for an instantly iconic Halloween costume.
Another cool Stranger Things costume to try out? Eleven’s extra-’80s romper from her makeover sequence. Sure, it looks retro, but it also looks enough like real clothes that you’ll feel confident wearing it out in public. The costume includes the blue socks in the picture, but you can throw on tights instead to give yourself some more coverage. Reviewers say the romper, available in women’s sizes small/medium and large/extra-large, is true to size. Get the Stranger Things Eleven Mall Costume from Amazon for $39.99 to $54.99
A Beanie Baby onesie to become a lifesize collector’s item
Going as a Beanie Baby helps ensure your costume is creative and comfortable.
One costume ‘90s babies (and Gen-Z ‘90s enthusiasts) can appreciate? This super-simple Beanie Baby getup. Just get any kind of adult-sized animal onesie—there are many to choose from—then print out a TY tag, cut it into a heart, and wear it around your neck. Sure, Beanie Babies never quite panned out as a priceless collectible, but this costume will make you feel like one all the same. The onesies are available in sizes small to XL, which reviewers say are true to size. Get the Abenka Unicorn Women’s Onesie on Amazon for $19.99 to $29.99 Get the Silver Lilly Plush Cow Onesie on Amazon for $29.99
Wednesday Addams for a smile-free costume
Hate smiling? This is the ensemble for you.
The Wednesday Addams ensemble has long been the costume of choice for Peter Pan collar enthusiasts (that and actual Peter Pan costumes). It’s a great option if you’re looking for a costume that veers on the demure side, because it’s not much different from outfits many people wear to school and work on the daily. With braids, black tights, and black lipstick (if you’re feeling bold), you’ll be the spitting image of the Addams Family’s dour daughter. Reviewers say the dress, available in women’s sizes XS to XXL, is true to size and made of high-quality material that looks and feels great. If you opt for a navy blue dress instead of black, you can go as storybook character Madeline instead (just add a red scarf and yellow hat). Get the Aphratti Women’s Long Sleeve Dress on Amazon for $24.99 to $28.99
Belle from Beauty and the Beast to fulfill your Disney Princess dreams
All you need to complete this Belle look is a book (and maybe a Beast).
Break out a blue midi dress, apron, and a novel to become the most bookish of Disney princesses, Belle. Because Belle’s dress is calf-length, it shouldn’t be a problem to wear to an office or any other conservative environment on a costume day, even one that’s a little more conservative. The dress is available in one size, which reviewers say fits women between sizes 4 and 12. Get the Adult Blue Belle Costume on Amazon for $49.99
Elsa and Anna from Frozen for a dynamic duo that’s extra-cool
Sisters or BFFs will love these costumes.
Two other modest Disney-inspired costume choices are Elsa and Anna, the sisters in Frozen. Elsa is the blonde one who sings “Let It Go” and Anna is the brunette who sings “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?” (But, if you’re dressing up as one or the other, you probably already know this.) The Elsa costume, comes in women’s sizes small to XL, fits as expected and looks almost identical to the animated costume. The Anna costume, also available in women’s sizes small to XL, can run large, according to some reviewers. One reviewer, a pediatrician, said she wore it to work to impress the kids she treats. Get the Disguise Womens Elsa Costume on Amazon for $64.37 Get the Disguise Women’s Anna Costume on Amazon for $28.39 to $34.80
A ‘50s-style dress to look like you’re from a bygone era
The retro-chic vibes are strong with this dress.
This knee-length, A-line dress comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, like pale blue, red-and-white polka dots, and more. In it, you could be any character, person, or idea from a few decades ago—a Stepford wife, Betty Draper from Mad Men, Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy, or Julianne Moore’s character in The Hours (that last one might be slightly less popular than the others, but you get the idea). Plus, if your style skews retro anyway, you may find that you break out the dress for regular, non-dress-up days, as many Amazon reviewers say they’ve done. The dress comes in women’s sizes small to XXL, and shoppers say it is true to size. Get the Gown Town Vintage Stretchy Dress on Amazon for $32.98 to $35.99
A full-skirted Wonder Woman dress that’s super-cute, not super-skimpy
The stars on this skirt aren't quite true to the most recent iteration of Wonder Woman, but they're so cute we'll let it slide.
This Wonder Woman costume comes with a headband, arm cuffs, and a knee-length dress with a delightfully starred skirt—in fact, the skirt part is so cute, we’d forgive you if you wanted to throw a sweater over it and wear it on days that aren’t Halloween. It’s available in women’s sizes small to extra-large. One reviewer says it runs on the large side, but it’s so comfortable and such a classic look, it’s going to be a Halloween staple of hers for years to come. The dress comes in women’s sizes small to XL. Reviewers say it runs large. Get the Rubie’s Wonder Woman Dress on Amazon for $35.96
Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s for vintage glamour
This Holly Golightly look is so cute and easy to assemble, you'll never want to take it off.
Audrey Hepburn’s outfit in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s is iconic, elegant, and easy to put together. All you need is a black gown, tiara, sunglasses, coffee, and a croissant. (The croissant is, and I cannot emphasize this enough, absolutely necessary to pull the whole look together.) In this costume, you’ll look and feel classy enough to run New York City society. The dress comes in women’s sizes small to XXXL and fits as expected, according to reviewers. Get the Gardenwed Rockabilly Cocktail Dress on Amazon for $18.59 to $28.59 Get the Breakfast at Tiffany’s Accessory Set on Amazon for $21.99 Get the Oversized Cateye Sunglasses on Amazon for $13.99
A Mary Poppins costume that’s supercalifragilousticexpialidocius (of course)
England's finest stern nanny is a great option for a costume that keeps you covered up.
If you decide to float in as Mary Poppins for Halloween this year, any costume you choose—from her standard Edwardian-era nannying outfit or her fancier gown—will keep you covered up and looking sweet, no spoonful of sugar required. The classic Mary Poppins dress comes in women’s sizes XS to XL, and the frilly white gown comes in women’s sizes XXS to XXXXL and can also be made to measure. Both fit as expected, according to reviewers, and are high quality for multiple wears. Get the California Costumes Mary Poppins Costume on Amazon for $36.59 to $39.59 Get the Cosplay DIY Mary Poppins Costume on Amazon for $119 to $124