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40 Vintage Halloween Costumes That Could Still Be Worn Today

Hello, nostalgia! These vintage Halloween costumes might make you long for the past.

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Children Dressed For Halloween walking down a sidewalk in jersey city, nj
Bettmann/Getty Images

With Halloween around the corner, we’ve got you covered on finding the best Halloween costumes in town. While we love the fun and creative modern costumes we have these days, a trip down spooky memory lane with these vintage Halloween costumes brings us back to a simpler time. Take some inspiration from these vintage looks if you’re looking for a group costume, a classic look, or a scary Halloween costume.

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headless woman
Courtesy Bruce Mitchell/Reminisce

Headless woman (1910)

“That Washington-Irving type headless girl is actually my mother, Helene Winans, being escorted by friends in Mohegan Heights, Tuckahoe, New York, in 1910,” says Bruce Mitchell of Greenfield, Indiana. Consider dressing up as a couple of lovers who lost their heads, or take a look at these Halloween costume ideas for couples.

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All kinds of characters (1987)

Sporting a variety of family Halloween costumes, this family trick or treats on State Street in Chicago in 1987. Two dressed up as bears, one as Kermit the Frog, and one as a superhero.

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fireman
Courtesy Judy Farmer/Reminisce

Fireman (1913)

“At age 3, Edwin Leech had his picture taken while playing fireman in 1913,” says daughter Judy Farmer of Mansfield, Ohio. With a coat that long and boots that high, young Edwin didn’t even need suspenders! Check out these easy Halloween costumes to keep exploring your options.

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Portable shower (1988)

Groups of people march down the street at the annual New York Village Halloween parade. The person in the center is dressed up as Jason from Friday the 13th and his friend on the right is dressed up as a portable shower in reference to the film, Psycho. Find out the most popular Halloween costume from the year you were born.

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wizard and co
Courtesy Katrina Syska/Reminisce

Wizard and co. (1921)

“This is my most favorite picture of my father; Lester Warren Bartley! He is with his sister Helen and younger brother Clarence (Bud). It was taken about 1921 or 1922 in front of their house in Swissvale, Pennsylvania, on Halloween,” says Katrina Syska. Have young ones ready to go out on this spooky evening? These baby costume ideas will have your little one set.

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Cowboys and clowns (1940s)

A group of children poses for a picture at a Halloween party in the 40s. Some appear to be cowboys and one young boy is a clown. Make the look complete using one of these Halloween makeup ideas to elevate your clown or cowboy look.

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hats and masks
Courtesy Phyllis Guth/Reminisce

Hats and masks (1940)

Friends Sandy, Phyllis Guth, Betty, and Molly, enthusiastic trick-or-treaters, get set for their school Halloween party in the 1940s. If you prefer to not wear a mask, pick an easy Halloween face paint option instead.

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Costume party (1930)

A group of young adults poses in front of a car on their way to a Halloween costume party. Even though it just looks like they’re dressed up for a nice event, wearing clothes from the ’30s would be a great costume today. Opt for one of these work-appropriate Halloween costumes if you’ll be in the office on Halloween.

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WONDERful kids
Courtesy June Anderson/Reminisce

WONDERful kids (1947)

“In 1947, I went to Green Street School. Mrs. Dunklee, our teacher, thought it would be great fun for us to make costumes from Wonder Bread wrappers for the Halloween parade. We scoured our neighborhoods, begging people to save the dotted wrappers for us. Mother sewed, stapled, and pleated the one-of-a-kind costumes, and we thought up slogans for our signs. Marilyn Brooks and I were the heels,” says June Anderson of Brattleboro, Vermont. Check out more of these punny Halloween costumes

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Dusty Anderson in Halloween cat costume
De Carvalho Collection/Getty Images

Cat (1948)

Take a page out of actress/model Dusty Anderson’s Halloween book as she sports a classic cat Halloween costume from the late 1940s. Replicate the original and get inspired by the vintage look with your own interpretation of a cat on Halloween.

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Masks galore (1965)

School children participate in a parade sporting all different kinds of fun masks.

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flowers
Courtesy Deborah Pack/Reminisce

Flowers (1950)

“Growing up, my mother made costumes for my six brothers and sisters. Houses in the country were too far apart for trick or treating, so we dressed up and went to our elementary school for the annual Halloween party,” says Deborah Pack. On Halloween evening, Deborah dressed as a flower (right). Looking to craft instead of buy this year? Check out these DIY Halloween costumes for kids.

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Chilly parade (1986)

The cold weather didn’t stop these kids from dressing up. Two witches, a flapper, and a masked man line up for their school parade.

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nurse
Courtesy Ralph Carroll/Reminisce

Nurse (1950)

Joyce didn’t go on to become a nurse, writes Ralph Carroll of Mabank, Texas. But back in the 1950s, at least her doll got good treatment. Once you’re done rocking your nurse look, watch one of the best Halloween movies for kids to end your night on a spooky note.

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_bride-groom-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Linda Arensmeier Rud/Reminisce

Bride and groom (1950)

“In 1950, when I was three years old, I was the bride and my sister Earleen, 6, was the groom in this Halloween photo taken in Redmond, Oregon,” writes Linda Arensmeier Rud of Juneau, Alaska. “We won first place in a local costume contest. My mother, Tonie Arensmeier, made the outfits, and we played with them until they were in shreds.”

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_bunny-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Dolores Sabia/Reminisce

Bunny (1950)

Hopping back to Halloween 1950, here’s a photo of a vintage Halloween costume—an adorable bunny—from Dolores Sabia of Carlstadt, New Jersey. “My dad worked for the Passaic Rubber Co. and made the carrot by dyeing and shaping some rubber,” she writes. Keep up the Halloween spirit by reading these Halloween memes that will have everyone laughing.

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_ghosts-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Patricia Kasbohm Sohley/Reminisce

Ghosts (1954)

“In 1954, we lived on 42nd Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My mother must have had some old sheets to spare, as she made me and my older brother, Ken, ghost costumes for Halloween,” writes Patricia Kasbohm Sohley of Fishers, Indiana. “All went well until my brother donned his costume—I hadn’t seen him put the costume on, so I refused to pose next to him for a photograph until I made sure that it was really him under that sheet. After taking a peek under it, I was satisfied and posed alongside him. Let the trick-or-treating begin!” Nothing screams vintage Halloween costumes like wearing a classic sheet ghost costume.

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_bandit-ghoul-cowpoke-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Ron Holley/Reminisce

A bandit, a ghoul, and a cowpoke (1956)

A seafaring bandit, a bloodsucking ghoul, and a cowpoke were ready to head out in search of Halloween loot in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1956. “I’m the vampire in the middle, my brother Terry is the pirate, and our cousin Jeff Alexander is the cowboy,” says Ron Holley of Chandler, Arizona. “We were sometimes disappointed we couldn’t wear more than the masks when the weather got too cold.”  To get a cohesive look you’re going to need to wear one of these group Halloween costumes.

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zorro and gypsies
Courtesy Ursula Harper/Reminisce

Zorro and gypsies (1957)

“Standing in front of our 1956 Nash Rambler are our four children,” writes Ursula Harper of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. “The picture was taken in 1957 as they were headed to a Halloween party wearing their Zorro and gypsy costumes.”

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_cowboy-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Olga Wolfe/Reminisce

Cowboy (1957)

Two-year-old Steve was a straight shooter in this vintage Halloween photo from 1957, courtesy of Olga Wolfe of Albany, Wisconsin. Back then, many little buckaroos dreamed of being just like Roy Rogers. Vintage Halloween costumes are only as interesting as the vintage candies that need to come back.

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_roman-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Heather Anderson/Reminisce

Roman centurion (1960)

“My brother is six years younger than I am and has always enjoyed dressing up. I was his costume designer when we were young,” writes Heather Anderson of Buffalo, New York. “In 1960, at age eight, my brother was a Roman centurion. We made the kilt and cape from an old red tablecloth and the helmet from gold-painted paper-mâché. The dagger was real, but my father would let him hold it only while we took the photos.”

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boys dressed as pirates help their sister get ready for halloween
Harold M. Lambert/Getty Images

Pirate trio (1961)

A group ensemble can be quite tricky to coordinate but no need to fear this vintage costume from the 1960s is perfect to recreate. A pirate look for you and your friends can be made and used for years to come. Add some DIY fake blood to add to your pirate look.

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_pharaoh-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Heather Anderson/Reminisce

Pharaoh (1962)

In 1962, when Heather Anderson’s brother was 10, he dressed as a pharaoh. A T-shirt, a couple of dish towels, miscellaneous bits of jewelry, and some creative bending of metal rods created the vintage Halloween look. DIY looks are the best, don’t forget to add one of these DIY adult Halloween costumes to your outfit roster this year.

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robot
Courtesy Peggy Oels/Reminisce

Robot (1963)

When your dad is a service technician for IBM, it stands to reason that all those electronics could be used to make a blinking robot costume for Halloween. Sure enough, Peggy Oels of Glendale, Arizona, wore the uncomfortable suit that her dad and mom made in 1963. “I couldn’t sit down,” Peggy says. “And the battery pack for the lights worked loose and whacked me on top of my head.”

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stallion
Courtesy Bruce Thompson/Reminisce

Stallion (1964)

“As an amateur photographer, I took hundreds of slides of my family through the 1960s and 1970s. In this picture taken in 1964, my two children dressed up as a stallion.” No matter who you choose to dress up as, these Halloween quotes will get you ready for a spooky night.

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frankenstein costume
Courtesy Eric Hill/Reminisce

 Frankenstein’s monster, a skeleton, a clown, a princess, and an Egyptian (1964)

“This was a Halloween my siblings and I will never forget. My father, Henry Allen Hill, took us out trick or treating in 1964. He was such a big man and played the role of Frankenstein’s monster perfectly. So much so that kids fell off the front porch of my Uncle Bill’s house in St. Ann, Missouri, just at the sight of him answering the door,” says Eric Hill.

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Dara Gunnell
Courtesy Dara Gunnell/Reminisce

Two sophisticated ladies (1965)

Nothing is more hysterical than spotting two little girls dressed up as grown-up ladies. As you can see, all it takes are a set of pearls, a silk blouse, and a wig to throw the look together! You can tell the girls are really getting into character with their demure smirks. After mastering this look, see if you can master these Halloween riddles.

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raggedy anne and little red riding hood
Courtesy Charlie VanderMeer/Reminisce

Raggedy Anne and Little Red Riding Hood (1965)

“My wife, Bette, sewed all three of these Halloween costumes for our children, Lori as Raggedy Ann, Jeff as Raggedy Andy, and Linda as Little Red Riding Hood,” says Charlie VanderMeer of Grand Rapids, Michigan. “The picture was taken in 1965 as they prepared to go trick-or-treating.”

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Karen, Evart and Janice dressed up
Courtesy Karen Withers/Reminisce

A queen, a ghost, and a doll (1966)

You can tell that these three siblings loved trick-or-treating on Halloween! Karen dressed up like royalty for the night; her little brother, Evart, was a scary ghost; and her sister Janice dressed up as a doll. Looking to go a more conventional route? Opt for one of the many DIY Disney costumes!

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vampira and dracula
Courtesy Dotty Bouchet/Reminisce

Vampira and Dracula (1966)

“We were headed out for a Halloween party in this picture taken at our home in Middletown, New Jersey, in October 1966,” says Dotty Bouchet of Ocala, Florida. “I was playing the part of Vampira, and my husband, Ed, was Dracula.”

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_astronaut-princess-baseball-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Cheryl Michalek/Reminisce

An astronaut, a princess, and a ghostly baseball player (1969)

“We wore winter clothing to go trick-or-treating in Milwaukee on this cold October afternoon in 1969,” says Reminisce art director Cheryl Michalek. “My brother Chris’ snowsuit doubled as a space suit after my mom, Judy, put a NASA sticker on it. One of Mom’s nighties served as a princess dress for me, and our friend Bruce Alberts layered up as a ghoulish ballplayer. I remember how those masks mashed our noses, and the eyeholes never seemed to line up right!” Don’t forget to dress up your pup in one of these Halloween dog costumes.

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tigers
Courtesy Sue Jernigan/Reminisce

Tigers (1972)

Sue Jernigan, now of Prattville, Alabama, was living on Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines in 1972 when she helped a seamstress make these fierce costumes for her sons, Garth, Glenn, and Ray.

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_milk-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Lisa O'Brien/Reminisce

Milk carton (late 1970s)

“Being a single mom, and raising my daughter, Erin, on a very tight budget, I needed to be creative with her Halloween costumes,” writes Lisa O’Brien of Campbell Hall, New York. “Our town of Hicksville, New York, had a children’s Halloween party, and almost every year, Erin would win the prize for most original costume. It rained the year she dressed up as the milk container, but she stayed nice and dry inside her cardboard carton. I fashioned the costumes so that she could wear a coat underneath and stay warm while she collected her goodies trick-or-treating.You know this costume is very vintage Halloween since cartons are far and few between today.

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Bill Herzog's son, Don, in a two-headed ghost costume
Courtesy Bill Herzog/Reminisce

A two-headed ghost

Now this ghost is smart! He knew that scaring people with two heads was better than one. Bill Herzog’s son Don dressed up as a hilarious two-headed ghost one Halloween.

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_flower-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy Lisa O'Brien/Reminisce

Flower power (late 1970s)

Another example of Lisa O’Brien’s creative, budget-friendly costumes for her daughter, Erin. The simplicity of a flower is a vintage Halloween costume that is both easy and simple! Having a Halloween party to flaunt your vintage costume? Play one of these Halloween party games.

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Witches Boo
Courtesy Carolyn Heep/Reminisce

Witches BOO (1978)

While living in Del Rio, Texas, Carolyn Heep’s mom, Opal Phillips, was a talented seamstress who sewed all the clothes for her daughter and granddaughters. In 1978, she made a Halloween costume for Carolyn’s daughter Sandy. Combine all your favorite things about Halloween to pull off this witch costume.

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_clowns-brilliant-vintage-halloween-costumes
Courtesy B.J. Redden/Reminisce

Clowns (1979)

“These two happy clowns, who surprised me on Halloween 1979, are my grandsons Matthew and Eric Redden, ages 7 and 5, respectively,” says B.J. Redden of Holyoke, Massachusetts. “As you can see, Matt got into the Halloween spirit by losing a couple of teeth right before the holiday.” Before ending the night, read one of many Halloween books for kids.

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ghoul
Courtesy Lynn Anderson/Reminisce

Grim Reaper (mid-1980s)

Lynn Anderson’s teenage son needed a last-minute Halloween costume. Her solution: seven yards of black cotton cut and sewn into a hooded gown. “It was worn for several years by several different family members,” says Anderson. “Sometimes as a ghoul, a monk, or whatever the imagination designed it to be.” 

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Child dressed as a skeleton for Halloween, holding a woman's hand and walking down Armitage Avenue near Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, October 1987.
Chicago History Museum/Getty Images

Skeleton (1987)

You know a costume is spooktacular when you can feel it in your bones. Ah! There are so many skeleton puns ready to be used with this vintage Halloween costume.

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View of a woman in a Carnival costume, as she smiles and dances along 6th Avenue during New York's annual Village Halloween Parade, New York, New York, October 31, 1988.
Scott McPartland/Getty Images

Carnival (1988)

This show-stopping vintage Carnival costume can be still be worn today. All you need are your favorite accessories, feathers, sparkles, and more.

Reminisce
Originally Published in Reminisce