creative book-inspired halloween costumes for grown-ups
it's not too late to pull together a great costume!
My kids think I’m crazy for being a little obsessed with Halloween this year. In the past few years, I let it fall by the wayside as my kids got older and less interested in trick-or-treating and dressing up. But this year, I decided to go all out in hopes of rekindling some of the holiday spirit we used to love as a family. Our porch is decked out with giant fuzzy black spiders, pumpkins, ghosts, and hanging witch’s hats. I’m not going overboard—we haven’t gone as far as putting giant inflatable zombies in the yard—but we’re definitely more decorated than most of the neighbors, and I’m proud of it! :)
I know only about a week is left until the big night, but I wanted to share some fun, relatively easy book character costume ideas. Plus, most of the Halloween parties I know of are falling on the weekend after Halloween, giving you even more time to get a creative costume together.
These are primarily adult costumes because, well, this isn’t a parenting newsletter—and we’re all adults here, I think. We will start with a few cute children’s book-inspired ideas but then transition to more grown-up options towards the end. And, honestly, a lot of the ideas are based more on the movie renditions of the characters.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
This is the cutest couple’s costume!
Dress; Trunchbull sweatshirt; belt; joggers…
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Max costume; here is a really cute family/group costume idea
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (I dressed up like this one year and I literally pulled my costume together the day of Halloween!)

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Here are the DIY instructions for this adorable thing.
Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
A colorful, oversized hat and a mad personality.
Full costume; you could also grab an Alice outfit on Amazon and turn this into a couples’ costume; and here’s a page of groups and families dressing up like a bunch of the characters from the book (lots of inspiration for DIY here)
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
if you have a baby, this is the easiest costume to pull off (or even a baby doll, which might be pretty funny)
Arietty Clock from The Borrowers by Mary Norton
red dress; boots; don’t forget a knapsack and/or rope roped through a belt around your dress; here’s more inspiration:)
The White Witch from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
An all-white, wintery ensemble with a crown and wand.
White dress; cloak to keep warm, another one; make your own ice crystal crown; if you want to go all out
Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Lewis Carroll
A bratty, spoiled look with a red velvet dress and golden accessories.
Nancy Drew of Nancy Drew
I’d go with the classic Nancy Drew look: plaid skirt; cardigan or this sweater; magnifying glass
The Other Mother from Coraline by Neil Gaiman
instructions on how to create this costume; dress; button glasses or these ones; wig; red pumps
Patrick Bateman of American Psycho by Brett Ellis Easton
A sleek suit, slicked-back hair, and a blood-splattered transparent raincoat. Bonus points for carrying a prop axe.
Transparent vinyl raincoat over a suit and tie; red food coloring in corn syrup makes the best fake blood; axe
Molly Minnions, Neuromancer by William Gibson
If you’re looking for a “sexy” costume that has an edge to it and is pretty dang unique, here she is. Don’t forget the razor nails.
Boots; choker; and you’ll need a holster and a black wig, etc.
Sissy Hankshaw from Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
Vintage cowgirl outfit :) with a cowgirl hat, and don’t forget the giant thumbs
I hope this sparked some fun ideas and inspiration if you’re still working on your Halloween costume!
That’s all for now—I’m hitting send asap so that in case you decide on one of these costumes, you’ll have time to order, create, or borrow everything you need.
xxoo Nicolle