Devils Costumes
You pull the hood up, feel the little horns settle just above your ears, and something in your posture changes. Your chin lifts. Your walk slows into a strut. You catch your reflection in a dark window and can't help a slow grin, because tonight you're not sneaking anything, you're the reason people should be a little nervous.
You lean against a doorway instead of standing in it. You raise one eyebrow before you answer a question. When someone asks what you're supposed to be, you don't just say the word, you let the pause do some of the work first. By the time the porch light catches your face, everyone already knows.
For kids
For adults
Accessories and finishing touches
Why it is such a popular choice
It is one of the few costumes that lets you be a little bit bad without being unkind about it. There is no villain backstory to explain, no character to imitate exactly. You get horns, you get red, you get an attitude, and you fill in the rest yourself. That openness is what keeps it in heavy rotation every year: it works whether you want to be genuinely spooky, a bit funny, or just striking in a crowd of witches and skeletons.
It also scales easily from a five minute costume to a full transformation. A pair of horns and a pitchfork can carry a school day. A full red suit with wings and face paint can carry a stage. Both versions read instantly, which matters when you only have a few seconds to make an impression at a door or a party.
Who it suits
Younger kids who love the drama of pretending to be a little bit naughty take to it fast, especially toddlers and early elementary kids who just want to point their pitchfork and giggle. Slightly older kids who like a costume with a job to do, holding a prop, doing a signature pose, tend to gravitate toward the fuller outfits with capes or wings. Shy kids often do better with a simple version: horns and a shirt, nothing that needs performing. Kids who love animals can bring a matching look to a pet, which becomes its own small event at the door.
For teens and adults, it splits into two moods: sleek and a little dangerous, or bold and over the top with glitter, wings and face paint. It works well solo, but it is also a natural pick for couples, where one person plays devil and the other plays angel, and for families or friend groups who want everyone in red without matching exactly. Plus size options exist across most of these styles, so the look isn't limited to one body type.
Types of devils, and how to choose
- Classic red suit: a full jumpsuit or dress in red with horns, suits kids and adults who want an instantly recognizable costume with no guesswork.
- Cute and sweet: softer colors, smaller horns, rounded details, better for babies, toddlers and anyone who wants charming rather than fearsome.
- Glam and sparkling: sequins, shine and dressier cuts, suited to teens and adults heading to a party rather than trick or treating.
- Spooky and dramatic: darker makeup, glowing eye effects, skull details, best for older kids and adults who want something with real presence in low light.
- Rock and stage inspired: boots, face paint and bold shapes borrowed from performance costuming, good for anyone who wants to be loud and theatrical.
- Half and half: one side devil, one side angel, a clever pick for someone who likes a costume with a built in joke.
- Accessories only: horns, a pitchfork, a poncho or a scarf worn over everyday clothes, ideal for a school day, a quick costume, or layering over another outfit.
If you're choosing for a child, think about how long they'll actually wear it. A simple horns and shirt combination survives a whole school day better than a full suit. If you're choosing for an adult event, decide first whether you want cute, glamorous or genuinely spooky, since that choice shapes everything else you pick.
Playing the part
Stand a little taller than usual. Cross your arms and let a slow smile arrive before you speak. A low, calm voice does more than shouting, try something like "we've been expecting you" delivered flatly, or simply "did someone say my name?" when you walk into a room.
For kids, turn it into a small game: they get to grant one silly wish to anyone who says please, or they tap their pitchfork on the ground three times before handing out candy. It gives them something to do besides standing still, and it keeps the character fun rather than genuinely scary for younger trick or treaters.
Pace yourself. The character works best in short bursts, an entrance, a line, a pose for photos, rather than staying in voice all evening. Save the full performance for doorways, group photos and the moments people are actually watching.
Finishing touches
- Horns that sit securely and don't slip when you tilt your head
- A prop such as a pitchfork or wings to give your hands and silhouette something to do
- Red or black makeup around the eyes for evening light
- A pop of texture, sequins, a poncho, or a cape, to catch movement as you walk
- Boots or dark shoes that keep the line of the outfit unbroken