HAUTE HALLOWEEN

Halloween is here! Like many of us, we are often so busy with our daily schedules that we wait until the last minute for holiday celebrations, but have no fear! We’ve discovered some easy, elegant Halloween costumes and make-up techniques for you to choose from your very own closet this Halloween. Check out our top picks below and comment on your favorite options. We’d love to see what you came up with from your closet this Halloween. Forgo the cheap Halloween store picks and opt for a Haute Halloween holiday this year.

 FREE PEOPLE’S BLACK MAGIC WITCH

For an effortless, classic “Witch” outfit, try pulling out your favorite black dress, paired with tall black boots or booties and a “Witch” hat or Boho floppy hat. Accent with a broom and play up your make-up with false eyelashes, bright red lips, and black nail polish. We love Free People’s Allyson dress paired with the Clipperton black floppy hat for an elegant, wickedly-fashionable “Black Witch.”

DIY MARY POPPINS COSTUME

Actress Lauren Conrad brought back the “practically perfect” iconic Mary Poppins outfit during 2012’s Halloween, and made the character popular not just for children. Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram blew up with followers and fans dressing as the popular nanny. This year, “Step in Time” and bring Mary Poppins back again by pairing a white button-down long sleeved blouse with a midi black skirt, and accessorize with a bright red belt and bow tie, and black booties. Grab an umbrella, flat black hat, and oversized handbag to finish the look. Pull your hair into a bun and grab your favorite red lipstick, and you are sure to have a “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” Haute Halloween.

WICKED MASQUERADE AND LEATHER

Even if you don’t have a suitable costume this Halloween, just the right accessories can enhance a basic black outfit. Start with your favorite black leather leggings or skinny jeans, add a black tank and black leather jacket, and pair with tall black boots. Next, add “bloody” red nail polish and red lips. Enhance your look by adding glistening “Blood Red” ruby and red jewelry, and finish off your wicked look with an elegant Masquerade mask. We love Etsy’s elegant Venetian black wire mask, and their collection of Masquerade masks online, or shop at your local theatrical costume supply for a collection of elegant masks to enhance your “wicked masquerade.”

THE ROARING 20’s FLAPPER

Go “Great Gatsby” style, kick up your heels and get ready to shimmy the night away this Halloween in an easy, elegant, throwback to the roaring 20’s. We love the Milly fringe dress from Revolve , the fringe strapless mini dress from Express, or the lace fringe ivory dress from the Piperlime Collection. Since fringe is trending for Fall Fashion 2014, your dress will be perfectly in style even after Halloween. Or, grab your favorite sheath dress from your closet, and accessorize with strappy heels, a string or two of pearls, red lipstick, and a chic bob or low wavy bun. Point the way to the “speakeasy” and get ready for a rollicking great Halloween night.

CHRISTIAN DIOR’S CIRCUS CLOWN

With “American Horror Story: Freak Show” all the rage this season, take a tip from designer Christian Dior and go as a circus clown this Halloween. Grab your favorite white, flowy blouse, and pair with cropped black harem pants. Accessorize with white or black gloves, a black floppy hat or fedora, a black tie around your neckline, and black or white booties. For a different clown look, you can pair the blouse with white or black shorts, and over-the-knee long contrasting socks. Add suspenders if you have them. For a Harlequin Halloween How-to, try pale foundation, red lips, heavy eyeliner, and paint on “Harlequin eyes” for a dramatic look. Follow the Pinkstylist’s “how-to” Harlequin Halloween make-up tutorial on Youtube for an in-depth, yet easy make-up session.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND’S “MAD HATTER”

Take a walk “down the rabbit hole” this Halloween, and join the “Mad Tea Party” as the “Mad Hatter” from Lewis Carroll’s classic “Alice in Wonderland.” As a throwback to the 19th century Victorian culture, the “Steampunk” trend has made it fashionable to bring out your top hats and coat tails once again. For inspiration, check out Clockwork Couture or Steampunk Emporium to spark your imagination. The key to your “Mad Hatter” look is lots of layers. Grab your favorite knee-length “A-line” skirt, and layer a shorter skirt on top. Pair with a fitted tank top and layer a button down top, finishing with a peacoat or even a long plaid shirt. Complete the look with a top hat, or floppy hat and you are on your way to a curiously “maddening” great Halloween.

BONNIE & CLYDE COUPLES COSTUME

If you are looking for a classy “couples” costume that you can quickly throw together for that last minute Halloween invite, take a cue from Julianne Hough and Ryan Seacrest and go as “Bonnie and Clyde.”  For your man, grab a grey suit and tie from the closet and accessorize with a toy gun and fedora. For you, grab your favorite pencil skirt and blouse. Accessorize with a chic scarf, strappy heels, and “Newsboys” cap. Complete your look by arranging your hair in a short, straight bob to achieve that perfect 30’s hairstyle. For history and style inspiration, check out the real Bonnie & Clyde.

VAMPIRESS

“Vamp” up your look this Halloween with a wickedly wonderful “Vampiress” costume. From the ever popular “Vampire Diaries,” to the “Twilight” trilogy, to the recent film “Dracula Untold,” vampires are among us this Halloween and you’ll stay right in style. Start with your favorite all black dress and try adding a big sash for style. Accessorize your look by teasing your hair at the top, and adding a black netting hairpiece for a faux “vampire collar.” Play up your make-up with a pale foundation and pale lips for that “underworld” effect, dark navy and black “winged” eyeshadow, and finish with dramatic black eyeliner and mascara. Grab a pair of faux “vampire” teeth, and you are ready to ravage the night!

ETHEREAL SPIRIT

When all else fails, one of the easiest Haute Halloween costumes is the Ethereal Spirit. Head to the fabric store before your Halloween event, and grab 7 layers of white tulle fabric, 140 inches long and 108 inches wide. Gather the sheets together around the neck with a loose tie to make a billowing “hood.” Accessorize the look with white face paint and black eye shadowing around the eyes for that “ghostly” look. You can also add a little dark shading at your cheekbones for a “hollowed” skeleton appearance.  Add bright red or black lipstick and you are ready to scare up a storm this Halloween.

Don’t let Halloween give you a fright this year, choose from one of our favorite “last-minute” Haute Halloween costume ideas that you can put together right from your closet. Think out-of-the-box from the cliche characters and icons that most others will decidedly be wearing, and go for a classier Haute Couture Halloween costume. By thinking creatively, you might just win that Halloween costume contest. Share with us your photos on what YOU decided to be this Halloween. We’d love to see your creativity, staying haute, stylish, and trendy this Halloween. Happy Haunting!