Couples Costumes From Classic Books

A couples costume works best when people get it from across the room. The trick is choosing a pair where each half makes the other obvious. Here is how to pick one, share the work fairly, and make sure each of you still looks right when you are standing apart.

Pairs that read instantly

The best pairs come from stories where two characters cannot really be told without each other. Three types tend to work well.

Hero and villain. Opposites are easy to read because the contrast does the talking. Think Peter Pan and Captain Hook, Dorothy and the Wicked Witch of the West, or Snow White and the Evil Queen. One costume is bright and the other is dark, and that alone tells the story.

Two halves of a duo. Some characters are hardly ever apart. Hansel and Gretel, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, and Alice and the Mad Hatter all fit here. These pairs are often matched in style, so they look good side by side.

Character and creature. One person plays the human, the other plays the animal or monster. Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Goldilocks and a Bear, Gretel and the Witch, or Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion are good examples. The creature costume gets the laughs, and the human costume gives it a reason to be there.

Before you settle, check that you both know the story. If one of you has never met the character, the costume will feel like a chore.

Balancing the effort

Couples costumes often go wrong when one person looks like a film extra and the other looks like they wore a scarf. A few ways to keep it fair:

• Trade complexity for comfort. If one costume is full and hot, such as a full animal suit, let the other person do more of the planning, shopping or carrying on the day.
• Pick one big piece each. A hat, a cloak, a pair of wings or a mask can carry a whole character. Build the rest from clothes you already own.
• Match the budget, not the look. Agree on a rough amount you are both happy to spend, then spend it where it shows most.
• Be honest about time. If one of you hates face paint or wigs, choose a character without them.

A quiet character can be as good as a loud one. Watson is a simple outfit, but next to Holmes it is instantly right.

Recognisable apart as well as together

You will not always stand next to each other. At a party you will wander off. At school you may be in different rooms. Each costume should pass a simple test: would a stranger know who this is if their partner were out of sight?

To check, look for one or two signature items that belong only to that character. That might be a hook, a red hood, a pair of striped stockings, a pointed hat or a basket. Then ask:

• Is the main colour right for the character?
• Is there one prop or accessory that gives it away?
• Does it still make sense without a sign or a label?

Be careful with pairs where one costume is only a background to the other. A wolf on its own looks like a wolf, which is fine. But a plain nightgown and cap may only make sense next to Red Riding Hood's basket, so add something that stands up alone.

It also helps to take a photo of each of you separately, then together. If both photos work, you are done.

Small touches that tie a pair together

You do not need to match exactly. A few shared details make a pair look planned.

• Use a shared colour, such as both wearing a touch of green or gold.
• Carry a prop from the story, like a lantern, a book or a small bag.
• Stay in character for a photo. A pose does more than any extra accessory.

If you are using face paint, do a small skin test first, and check the label on any make-up, wig or fabric item before you wear it for a long day.

Choosing for the occasion

For a school Book Week or World Book Day, comfort and ease matter most. Pick outfits you can move in, sit in and use the toilet in. A hero and villain pair, or a duo with simple pieces, is a good fit. For Halloween or a party, you can go bigger, and a character and creature pair often gets the best reaction.

If you are still undecided, pick the story you both like best and work out who wants to be which half. It usually sorts itself out.