Ghosts Costumes
You feel yourself go quiet before you even put the costume on. There's a certain stillness that settles over your shoulders, a way of letting your arms hang loose and your steps go soft, like the floor might not hold your weight the way it used to. When you drift into a room, people notice the pause before they notice you: a chill, a flicker, a held breath. That's the moment you've been waiting for.
You don't have to say much. A low "boo" barely above a whisper does more than a shout ever could. You tilt your head slowly toward whoever's watching, let your sleeves sway even when you're standing still, and let the silence stretch just a beat too long. By the time someone laughs or jumps, you've already won.
For kids
For adults
Accessories and finishing touches
Why it is such a popular choice
A ghost costume lasts because it asks so little and gives back so much. There's no complicated backstory to memorise, no prop to keep track of all night. You just become still, pale and floaty, and the costume does the rest. It works for a school parade at nine in the morning and a party at nine at night, for a five year old and a grandparent, without ever feeling like it belongs to only one age group.
It also lets people play at being something other than themselves for a few hours: unbothered, a little mysterious, drifting above the usual rules of who talks to whom. Kids get to be spooky without being scary. Adults get to be dramatic without needing a whole stage. Everyone gets to float through the evening instead of just walking through it.
Who it suits
The shy child who doesn't love loud costumes often takes to this one fastest: a face covering or a soft veil gives them somewhere to hide while they get used to the attention, and the quiet, slow-moving style suits a kid who'd rather watch a room than command it. The performer in the family, the one who likes an audience, can lean the other way entirely, turning every doorway into an entrance with a swoop and a moan.
Younger children and toddlers do well in the simplest, softest versions, since there's nothing to trip over and nothing scary about a friendly, round-eyed face. Older kids and teens can take on a sharper, spookier look once they're not easily frightened by their own reflection. Adults find it flatters a laid back sense of humour, and it's an easy one for couples or families to do together, since a group of ghosts drifting down a street in matching pale layers reads instantly, without anyone needing to explain the joke. Anyone who loves animals can bring the family pet along too, since the same faceless, floaty look scales right down to a collar and a small cape.
Types of ghosts, and how to choose
- Classic sheet and hood style: the simplest version, all flowing fabric and a plain face or a hood with cut out eyes. Suits younger kids and anyone who wants the look to take two minutes to put on.
- Cute and friendly: rounded shapes, soft colours, sometimes a tutu or a plush finish. Suits toddlers, gentler kids and anyone dressing an infant who needs to be comfortable more than convincing.
- Glamorous or Victorian: a fitted gown or tailcoat, lace or velvet detailing, a more elegant silhouette. Suits teens and adults who want to look striking in photos rather than simply spooky, and it pairs well for a couple going as a haunted pair from another century.
- Spooky and faceless: a blank or shadowed face, dark or tattered layers, sometimes a glow in the dark or light up feature for after dark trick or treating. Suits older kids and adults who want a genuine chill rather than a cute one.
- Combination or novelty: a ghost paired with another idea entirely, like a ghost pirate or a ghost with a face mask style rather than a full outfit. Suits anyone who wants a twist on the usual look, or who only wants an accessory rather than a full costume.
- Accessory only: a wig, a poncho, a mask or a pair of shoes with a ghostly print, worn over ordinary clothes. Suits an adult who wants to join in at short notice, or a group where only one person wants the full effect.
If you're choosing for a child, let their own nerve be the guide: brave kids can handle the faceless, spookier styles, while younger or more sensitive ones are happier in something rounded and friendly. For adults, decide whether the evening calls for elegant or eerie, since the two versions send very different signals from across a room.
Playing the part
Move slower than you normally would. That's the whole trick. Let your hands drift rather than gesture, and take a beat before you turn to face someone, as though you're not quite tied to the same clock as everyone else. A slight glide instead of a walk goes a long way, especially if your hem is long enough to hide your feet.
For a voice, go quiet rather than growly. A drawn out "wellll hellooo" or a soft, breathy "boo" lands better than a shout, and it's kinder on your throat over a long evening. Try a small game with younger kids: freeze in place whenever someone looks directly at you, and only move again once their back is turned. It gets a laugh every single time and it's an easy bit to keep up without overdoing it.
Stay in character by picking one habit and repeating it rather than performing constantly: a tilt of the head, a little shiver, a habit of drifting up behind people rather than approaching from the front. One consistent gesture reads as commitment. Constant noise just reads as tired.
Finishing touches
- Pale or powdery makeup around the eyes to catch the light without needing anything elaborate
- Trailing sleeves or a hem with a little extra length, so movement looks like drifting rather than walking
- A light dusting of translucent powder or a subtle shimmer for a washed out, otherworldly finish
- Soft, quiet footwear, since bare feet or simple socks under a long hem sell the floating look better than anything with a heel
- One small prop, like a lantern or a set of chains, held loosely rather than swung about, for those who want a touch more drama