Let's take a trip back in time for some vintage costume inspiration.
While pop culture costumes come and go, classic Halloween costumes are forever — and some costume ideas continue to stand the test of time even after decades of popularity. Yes, plenty of modern costumes are great, but you simply can't attend a Halloween party without seeing a few witches, zombies, black cats, and skeletons, and there's a reason for that: Certain spooky characters never go out of style. To give you some inspiration for your look this year, we rounded up some of the best vintage Halloween costumes from over the past century, and believe it or not, plenty of these outfits would still work just as well in 2022.
From vigilantes and vampires to flappers and fortune tellers, we've got vintage-inspired costumes for everyone in your family, from the oldest members to the youngest. And while many of these ensembles will look familiar to you (such as the classic clown or pirate costume), others are totally unique (including a life-sized candlestick and a human refrigerator). Whether you're willing to put together an elaborate look or want a costume you can throw together at the very last minute, we've got all the best Halloween costumes inspired by celebrants of the past.
1
Witch
There are countless ways to dress up as a witch for Halloween, but you can never go wrong with the classic pointy black hat and matching cloak.
2
Armless Sculpture and Devil
Dressing up as a devil may not be the most original costume out there, but this armless sculpture costume is seriously inventive.
3
Clown
Clowns don't have to be scary, and you can even make your clown costume cute like this celebrant did.
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4
Princess and Pirate
Kids have been dressing up as princesses and pirates for decades, and chances are, these classic kid costumes will always be in style.
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5
Cowgirl
As long as you have a flannel shirt and shorts on hand, then you just need a cowboy hat and Western boots to become a cowgirl — no horseback riding skills required.
6
Werewolf
Looking for a classic scary Halloween costume to wear this year? You'll be sure to freak out everyone while dressed as a werewolf.
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7
Little Bo Peep
Based on the traditional nursery rhyme (and made popular again by the Toy Story character), this costume is a clever idea for girls and women of all ages.
8
Bunny
The best thing about dressing your baby up as a bunny for Halloween? You can reuse this cute costume for Easter as well.
RELATED: 26 Baby Halloween Costumes That Are Too Cute to Handle
9
Robot
While a robot ensemble will take a little creativity and craftiness, it's sure to win you first place in your costume contest.
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10
Skeleton
Whether you go a spooky or sexy route, dressing up as skeleton couldn't be easier.
11
Ghosts
There's a reason why a ghost makes one of the best last-minute costume ideas of all time: It's just so easy (especially if you already have a long white gown or sheet around the house).
12
Charlie Chaplin
Ever since he rose to fame in the silent film era, Charlie Chaplin has remained one of the most recognizable figures in Hollywood history, and you can become him yourself with the help of a bowler hat, oversized suit, and toothbrush mustache.
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13
Bat and Ballerina
From creepy bats to pretty ballerinas, there are so many Halloween costumes for women that never seem to get old.
14
Candlestick
If you want to score major points for inventiveness, then throw on a long gold gown and craft some oversized candles to become a human candlestick.
15
Scarecrow
All you need is a pair of overalls, a plaid shirt, and a straw hat to become a scarecrow for the holiday.
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16
Elf
An elf may not be the most traditional Halloween costume, but it does have the benefit of being something you can wear again around Christmas.
17
Black Cat
You're guaranteed to be feline good on Halloween when you don a black leotard and pointy ears to become a black cat.
18
Prisoner and Annie Oakley
No one will want to mess with you and your bestie when you dress up as an escaped prisoner and legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley.
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19
Zorro
Also known as Don Diego de la Vega, Zorro has been around since the early twentieth century, and he remains one of the coolest masked vigilantes around.
RELATED: 32 Cool Halloween Costume Ideas for Boys That You Can Make at Home
20
Pirate
Got a white blouse and oversized hoops? Then you just need a tricorn hat to transform into a swashbuckling pirate.
Corinne Sullivan
Editor
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
