Skip to main content

Becoming a Halloween Monster: Ghost

 ðŸ‘» BOO! Who you gonna call now? Ghosts are such a cliché part of Halloween, but it is a classic "easy" costume. 

I got a rock!

What is a Ghost?

A ghost is an ethereal representation of a dead person's spirit. It often is considered a soul stuck on "this side" and unable to pass peacefully. 

Tell-Tale Features

  • Colorless/White/Grey
  • Transparent

Common Themes

  • Formless
  • Glowing
  • Victorian/Historical
  • Tattered
  • Chains/Imprisoned
  • Cold
  • Prankster
  • Grave
  • Death
Since we have not made CGI costumes accessible to the common man or reality, being a see-through being is going to require some serious trickery. You can think "x-ray" or at least partial x-ray with make-up. 

 Lighting effects can make a big impression since a slight "glow" is often associated with a ghost-like appearance. The cause of death for your ghost can also serve as inspiration. However, unlike zombies, ghosts are bloodless and don't show gore in the same way. You could think in terms of "black and white television" when doing any injuries...if you are even going for that "pale" ghost stuff. 

Inspiration References

  • Ghostbusters (Film Series/TV Series)
  • Ghost Hunters (TV Series)
  • Ghosts (TV Series)
  • Phasmaphobia (Video Game)
  • Haunted Mansion (Film/Theme Park Ride)
  • Casper the Friendly Ghost (Animated Series/Film)
  • 6th Sense (Film)
  • Christmas Carol (Book/Films)
  • Luigi's Mansion (Video Game)
  • Star Wars (Films...fight me on this one. LOL.) 

Where to Start

If you are going beyond the sheet with eye holes, this could become a more make-up heavy costume. You may be able to find a make-up kit or two, but likely you'll be looking at a historically inspired costume of some kind most likely in a white or silvery color.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Costume Design: Guiding Principles

Part of designing costumes is finding a way to pick from many solutions. Limiting these choices can be the art of design.  I have some of my own "Guiding Principles" or Design Principles when it comes to costume design. Some of these constraints are based on non-mutable factors. (Or currently difficult to change.) The fun ones are a bit on the arbitrary side. These are self-imposed limitations for the costume that as a designer I decide to apply to any given costume.  The point of these principles is to help you make a final decision if you are paralyzed by many choices. I may get hung up on some pretty silly things, so at the very least, this helps me move forward and kind of imply that I had a plan all along.  Immutable Design Principles We might run into some touchy subjects here but whatever, here we go! Immutable principles are either constraints your life situation has you in at any given time or core beliefs about what you wear. This can mean things like religious beli
Post a Comment
Read more

Costume Fabric Cheat Sheet: How to Pick Fabric for your Costume

 In the previous post , I laid out how to describe different aspects of fabric when trying to find a good fabric for your costume. This post will go over ways to apply those terms and actually pick out a fabric for your costume. I will attempt to teach by examples.  4 Avenues of Research Cheat! I mean...look at other cosplays. You can often find images of photoshoots which make for better references than illustrations. If you are lucky, the costume maker may have posted a journal about how they made their costume or at least list the materials they used.  Check for Suggestions in Sewing Patterns Sewing patterns will list suggested fabrics to use for the costume. Pop those terms into a search engine and see the results.  Historical, Cultural, or Real Life Examples With a search engine or books, you can find out about how clothes were made back in the day or what materials are used around the world. You can also check the tags on your clothes to see what it's made of.  Narrow down to
Post a Comment
Read more

Hakama Series - Hibakama (Scarlet Hakama)

The bright red hakama with a white kimono is a common sight in both anime and video game characters. Shrine maidens or Miko also wear this combination of colors when they work at Shinto shrines. Honestly, there is a LOT of history and cultural significance wrapped up in this one.  Anime/Games: Inuyasha, Genshin Impact, Sailor Moon,  So let's talk Design. Design Considerations Cultural Significance This is one I'd pay attention to if I was creating a character of my own. I assume that already created characters have had this research done and have taken their artistic license.  Some of the research taught me a few things: The color is technically scarlet or vermillion, not "red". 🤷 Miko are not part of the Shinto clergy. Sometimes they are just seasonal workers.  Generally, Miko are young women in their teens or early 20s. After a certain age, they wear different colors.  This was based on Heian nobility colors and fashions.  Color Like I said earlier, the color is ve
Post a Comment
Read more