Looking for a way to mix your love for Old Hollywood with Halloween [1]? Well, look no further, as we've rounded up the best costumes for women from a few of the most iconic movies ever made. Whether you are looking for a '20s flapper-girl inspiration that eschews the traditional beaded dress or want a '40s style that could give Joan Crawford a run for her money, we've got the perfect costume for your tastes and needs. If you're looking for more modern Halloween inspiration, check out our roundup of the best pop culture costume ideas [2]!
Lorelei Lee From Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
- What to wear: A pink floor-length gown with matching long gloves. Deck yourself out with tons of fake diamond jewelry, including loads of bracelets worn over your gloves. Don't forget the red lipstick and Marilyn Monroe wig.
- How to act: Like a showgirl who has diamonds on the brain.
Princess Ann From Roman Holiday
- What to wear: A short-sleeved, buttoned white shirt tucked into a midi skirt. Tie a small scarf around your neck and pair the outfit with strappy sandals. To get the Audrey Hepburn hair, roll your hair up and pin all along the sides.
- How to act: Like an undercover princess.
Lisa Carol Fremont From Rear Window
- What to wear: A black-and-white dress with a full skirt. Top it off with a simple pearl choker and white gloves. Wear a platinum blond wig if you want to go full Grace Kelly.
- How to act: Like a cool and collected WASP.
Cora Smith From The Postman Always Rings Twice
- What to wear: White high-waisted shorts with a matching white crop top. Wrap your hair up into a piece of white cloth (or a small, thin towel) to finish off Lana Turner's iconic look.
- How to act: Like a love-starved housewife who is looking for a way to get rid of her husband.
Kitty Packard From Dinner at Eight
- What to wear: A glamorous white beaded gown paired with an oversize white marabou boa. Don't forget the blindingly white-blond wig. Cover your eyebrows with concealer and draw on pencil-thin brows to give your outfit the authentic Jean Harlow look.
- How to act: Like a brassy gold digger.
Tracy Lord From The Philadelphia Story
- What to wear: A sensible black blouse tucked into really high-waisted trousers. Fold the front of your hair back to get that '40s bangs look.
- How to act: Like a wealthy socialite who isn't afraid to wear trousers. Bonus: if there was ever a time to try your hand at the transatlantic accent, it's while you're dressed like Katharine Hepburn.
Gilda Farrell From Gilda
- What to wear: A satin red strapless dress with matching long gloves. Pin-curl your hair into the perfect Rita Hayworth 'do to complete the outfit.
- How to act: Like a smoldering femme fatale.
Margo From All About Eve
- What to wear: A glamorous off-the-shoulder dress with a sparkling broach. Both should be befitting of Bette Davis. Accessorize with a martini glass and a cigarette, which you can never put down.
- How to act: Like an over-the-top Broadway actress with a drinking problem.
Mayme Barry From The Saturday Night Kid
- What to wear: A knee-length dress with a drop waist and a wide collar. To finish off the Clara Bow look, get a curly bob wig and draw in your eyebrows as thinly as possible for '20s authenticity.
- How to act: Like a freewheeling flapper girl.
Mildred Pierce From Mildred Pierce
- What to wear: A faux-fur coat with Joan Crawford-worthy shoulder pads and a '40s-style dress. Pencil in your eyebrows nice and thick, and pile curled hair on top of your head to give yourself that real Crawford look.
- How to act: Like a mother who lets her bratty daughter walk all over her.
Marie "Slim" Browning From To Have and Have Not
- What to wear: A slinky midriff-baring black dress with over-the-top shoulder pads. Don't forget Lauren Bacall's red lipstick.
- How to act: Like a gravel-voiced beauty who speaks in double entendres.
Melanie Daniels From The Birds
- What to wear: A sensible green suit that's been torn apart around the edges, due to the birds. Keep your makeup minimal, but don't forget a Hitchcock-blond wig to finish off the look. Put fake birds on a couple of sticks and hold them next to you if you really want to drive the message home.
- How to act: Like you're being chased by birds. Duh!
The Girl From The Seven Year Itch
- What to wear: A white halter dress paired with white strappy shoes and underwear that you don't mind the whole world seeing. Run wire through the hem of your dress to create that constant windblown effect.
- How to act: Like a beautiful ditz who looks for unconventional ways to keep cool in the Summer.
Kitty Collins From The Killers
- What to wear: A black satin dress with a single black strap across your chest. Pair with black gloves and matching heels. Curl your hair into an Ava Gardner hairstyle for the full effect.
- How to act: Sexy, tough, and determined.
Tira From I'm No Angel
- What to wear: A sparkly, slinky gown; a white fur shrug; and oodles of blinging costume jewelry. Don't forget the dark purple or red lipstick and blond wig.
- How to act: Like a sexpot with the best one-liners in town. Basically, just act like Mae West.
Holly Golightly From Breakfast at Tiffany's
- What to wear: A black floor-length dress with matching gloves and a massive pearl-and-diamond statement necklace. Pair with an oversize black hat or tiny tiara, depending on your mood. Don't forget the oversize black sunglasses and long cigarette holder.
- How to act: Like a good-time girl who is hiding her secret country-bumpkin past.