Halloween costumes are becoming increasingly ambitious, with fashion lovers raising the bar year after year. But rather than choosing an obvious character or familiar look, there is another way to make a statement: recreate an iconic archival runway outfit. From Chanel’s rocket-inspired tweeds to Hussein Chalayan’s innovative transformable dresses, the fashion archives offer endless possibilities for creative DIY costumes.
One particularly recognizable option is Shalom Harlow’s unforgettable Alexander McQueen moment, when she stood on a rotating platform as two robotic arms spray-painted her white dress. Recreating the look does not require much: a white bedsheet, a tan belt, and green and black spray paint can get the idea across. Another relatively simple choice is the lace-masked nurse look from Marc Jacobs’s spring 2008 Louis Vuitton collection, which one model is reportedly encouraging her friends to recreate.
Ceramicist and content creator Naomi Vizcaino, however, has taken on a considerably more challenging project. She has spent the past week recreating Alexander McQueen’s fall 1999 coiled aluminum corset, originally designed by Shaun Leane. His work recently returned to the runway during Sean McGirr’s spring 2027 farewell collection for the house.
Vizcaino says she wanted to attempt something completely outside her usual wardrobe. She began by making a duct-tape dress form at home to ensure the corset would fit her shape. She then attached circular pieces of irrigation tubing, sourced from a hardware store, using hot glue. After adding a zipper with more adhesive to avoid damaging her sewing machine, she spray-painted the entire bodice silver. It is an inventive, hands-on approach that would likely have appealed to McQueen himself.
Set designer Laura Hughes has also found inspiration in the more unconventional corners of fashion history. For Halloween, she once recreated Maison Margiela’s spring 2009 wig dress by sewing inexpensive hairpieces onto a jacket and styling it with drugstore tights and heels. Her goal was to choose something obscure enough for dedicated fashion followers to recognize, while still creating a striking visual for anyone unfamiliar with the original reference. Since Hughes already had blonde hair, she also managed to save money on one of the wigs. She even completed the look with a suitably hairy Halloween candy bag.
Of course, the easiest route is to get hold of the actual runway pieces. Stylist Karla Welch did exactly that when she created a Devil Wears Prada-inspired costume for fellow stylist Erica Cloud’s villain-themed birthday celebration. Welch paired a red Prada spring 2009 runway look—featuring a crinkled bra top, shrug and skirt—with matching devil horns.
The outfit was purchased more than a decade ago from Sielian Vintage, making it a convenient last-minute costume. Welch sourced the horns through Postmates from Spirit Halloween and brought the look together with pieces already in her wardrobe. As she points out, recreating an iconic devil-inspired outfit is considerably easier when you already own vintage Prada.
There is no shortage of further inspiration in the runway archives. Among the looks Vizcaino and Hughes have admired on others are Maison Margiela’s spring 2006 top featuring flowers wrapped in packaging and a couple who recreated Rick Owens’s spring 2016 human-backpack look.
And for those still searching for a costume idea, Mugler’s robot couture could be another possibility. With a little creativity, some Crisco and a trip to the hardware store, even the most unusual runway fantasy might be within reach.
