The juice is loose again — just in time for Halloween. Grab your Handbook for the Recently Deceased, pull up a chair in the Neitherworld waiting room, and browse these Beetlejuice costume ideas while you wait.
The Handbook for the Recently Deceased Couple's Costume
This Halloween, drop into the Beetlejuice world with a couple’s costume that stands out. The Handbook for the Recently Deceased has an iconic cover art featuring a retro couple staring into the sun. Go for a subtle nod to the original film with this debonair couple's costume.
Pink Lady
With her back to the viewer, there are only three main components of this costume you need to hit.
- A fitted pink blazer
- A matching pink pillbox hat
- A short, brunette pin-curl wig
Blue Gentleman
For the gentleman, there are also three main components you’ll need to find.
- A cerulean blue blazer
- A light blue button-down
- A matching cerulean blue felt hat
Since you only get a snapshot of the entire costume, there’s a lot of room to play around! Add a funky tie, some pretty pearls, or other accessories to bring this one to life.
Juno the Case Worker Costume
Juno is the iconic case worker from the original film that has all the tailoring of a working woman. Her costume is deliciously retro and should be easy to thrift pieces for.
There are many important points to hit when creating your Juno costume, including:
- A gray wool/tweed blazer
- A white blouse with a ruffle collar
- A double string of long costume pearls and matching pearl earrings
- A long cigarette ala Lucky Strikes or Virginia Slims
- Red lipstick
- Blue eyeshadow
- Heavily blushed cheeks
- Red fingernails
- A faux slit across the neck
Juno’s Wound
The most difficult part of this costume is recreating Juno’s neck wound. Thankfully, you can layer darker red paints with lighter reds and purples to add depth to the slice. Or, if you’re running low on time, you can place a really thin dark red choker in its place.
Related: Here's the Perfect Halloween Costume for Your Zodiac Sign
Open-Heart Surgery Ghost Costume
A Beetlejuice deep-cut costume is the open-heart surgery ghost. While recreating that anatomical heart-in-chest look is better left to the professional cosplayers of the world, you can nail the general outfit with only a few components:
- A bald cap
- A surgical hairnet
- A white hospital gown
- An old hardback book
- A bloody stain where the heart is
To replicate the heart wound, pour fake blood onto the hospital gown approximately where the heart would be. Let it seep from the inside outwards and dry before wearing it.
Delores Costume
For all of the character’s controversy, Delores was a visual standout in the newly released sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Brought to life by Italian powerhouse Monica Bellucci, Delores is a character with simple but memorable makeup.
To bring your Delores to life, you need:
- A long black wig
- An off-the-shoulder, floor-length black dress
- Faux-stitch makeup
Delores’ Makeup
While you can rely on a basic goth-inspired black dress for the costume’s base, you’ll want to focus most of your attention on the makeup.
- Apply a white foundation base and a translucent setting powder.
- Fill in your brows with a black pomade or pencil.
- Apply a liberal amount of black eyeshadow across the lid and under the water line, smudging it out with a blending brush.
- Using a fine brush, apply a little dab of water to the lower edges of the smudged eyeshadow. Let the water run down the cheeks to create fake tear streaks.
- Apply a medium-red lipstick.
- Using black eyeliner or black body paint and a fine brush, draw a line from the edge of your left temple, between the eyebrows, down the nose, and through the lips.
- Once dry, use the same material to draw horizontal lines down the line. These will be your staples.
- Using a silver eyeliner or body paint, go back over the black “staples” you applied to give them a metallic sheen.
Related: Easy, Creepy DIY Ghost Costumes to Haunt Your Imagination
Sandworm Costume
The best, budget Beetlejuice costume on the block is the Sandworm. Thanks to its repeating black and white pattern, you can dig through your closet or borrow/thrift items for a Sandworm-inspired getup.
For example, these black and white striped leggings paired with this off-the-shoulder striped top will work in a pinch!
Top things off with this simple but spooky Sandworm-inspired lip:
@nikkietutorials Beetlejuice lips let’s see… #fyp #foryou @Hello Adri original sound - nikkietutorials
- Apply a bright blue lipliner.
- Apply a black lipstick over the top.
- Tightly purse your lips and dab on a white eyeshadow using a medium-sized eyeshadow brush.
- Release your lips and watch the stripes unveil!
Want a fun twist on the cat lady ghost from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice? Check out Juno Birch’s makeup tutorial for a glamorous take on the character.
Beetlejuice & Lydia Couple's Costume
We’re finishing off our list of Beetlejuice costumes with a couple’s costume perfect for the graveyard — Beetlejuice and Lydia.
Lydia Deetz is by far the easiest of the two, with her all-red, lacy bride ensemble. Throw on the gothiest outfit you own with a pale foundation and dark circles around the eyes and you’re practically ready to go! All that’s left is Lydia’s iconic hairdo, which is easy to source from any Halloween store.
However, Beetlejuice is where the hours of planning and testing really come into play. His most iconic outfit is — of course — the black and white striped suit paired with his wild green wig. Thankfully, you can find these online and in Halloween stores.
Beetlejuice Makeup
However, the Beetlejuice makeup is much harder to replicate than, say, Delores’. If you’re new to SFX, then stick with these major makeup points:
- Apply white face paint across the entire face and neck, making sure to leave only a thin layer behind.
- Black out the eyebrows with eyeshadow or an eyebrow pencil.
- Define large raccoon circles around the eye socket with dark purple eyeshadow. Add black to the creases for extra depth.
- Stipple on a light stubble across the upper lip and around the chin/cheeks using a stippling sponge and black crème makeup.
- Set the stubble with a setting powder and gently brush away the excess.
- Create the facial mold using various shades of green body paint or cream makeup. Apply them to the corner of the mouth, along the hairline and neck using the darker shades to add shadow and the lighter to add highlights. Let dry.
- Add your wig, and you’re ready to go!
It’s Showtime!
Now that you’ve got your costumes at the ready, it’s time to take your places. Whether it’s the weeks leading up to Halloween or a costume party to ring in Halloween in June, these Beetlejuice costumes are ready to be set loose.
