By Rebecca Ceccatelli. Cover image artwork by Anano Esartia.
Halloween Style Icons: Music Legends to Inspire Your Not-So-Basic Costume
October is here — spooky season, spooky vibes. But has it ever felt more like spooky panic as you scroll for the perfect Halloween costume, trying to avoid anything too basic or repetitive? By the third week of the month, if you haven’t figured it out yet, online orders are too late and stores are mostly empty. What now?
Here’s a comforting thought: while most of us dress up in something out of the ordinary only once a year, some people make standing out their full-time job. Celebrities and musicians with unmistakable personal style could easily pass as Halloween-ready every day — no fake blood or plastic fangs required.
That’s why we’ve rounded up a few icons whose looks are already halfway between runway and costume party. Think of it as a ready-to-wear inspiration board straight from the closets of the bold, the punk, and the unapologetically different — perfect for last-minute costume inspiration.
Jack White: Inside the Dark, Stylish World of Rock’s Gothic Icon
Whether you know him for Seven Nation Army, Icky Thump, or his work with The White Stripes, Jack White is instantly recognizable. Imagine a Southern bluesman crashing a gothic carnival. Musician, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and co-founder of The White Stripes, he’s built an entire aesthetic empire on contrast: black and white, chaos and precision, vintage and avant-garde.
His signature look — stark monochrome with flashes of red, slicked-back hair, porcelain-pale skin, and a style that hints at both vaudeville and vampire chic — is eerie yet elegant. A black suit, crisp white shirt, dark curls, and a touch of melancholic flair are all you need for instant “Jack White effect.” And if you have a friend looking for a last-minute Halloween costume, Meg White, his musical partner, makes the perfect sidekick — together, you’ll recreate one of rock’s most iconic duos.
Chelsea Wolfe: The Gothic Muse Redefining Dark Elegance
Even without dramatic makeup or theatrical clothing, Chelsea Wolfe’s presence speaks volumes — as if she has emerged from another realm entirely. She is the personification of shadowy elegance. Blending gothic, doom, and folk influences, she carries an aura that lingers long after she’s gone. With her raven-black hair, ghostly pale skin, and wardrobe of flowing black layers, lace, and leather, Wolfe exudes haunting allure — perfectly at home in candlelit crypts or foggy forests. Her makeup is dramatic yet minimal: smoky eyes, dark lips, and an air of deliberate mystery.
If her everyday style feels too subtle or unrecognizable for Halloween — or if you crave a bolder challenge — take inspiration from her striking editorial looks. In Parker Day’s photos for The New Yorker, Wolfe appears as a gothic goddess: a white flared gown, golden hands crossed in a prayer-like gesture, red hair framed by black wing-like accents, and smoky eyes emphasizing her piercing blue gaze. It’s the perfect homage to a gothic diva — eerie, elegant, and unforgettable.
PJ Harvey: Every Era, a New Iconic Look
PJ Harvey is the ultimate chameleon of alternative rock, constantly reinventing both her music and her image. Each album unveils a new persona.
On Dry (1992), she was raw and tomboyish — oversized shirts, cropped hair, minimalist but fierce. To Bring You My Love (1995) leaned into gothic theatricality with flowing dark dresses and bold, almost Victorian makeup. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) brought a polished, urban edge: sleek lines, tailored jackets, subtle makeup. By Let England Shake (2011), her style had turned somber, evocative, almost spectral, with neutral tones and vintage-inspired silhouettes.
For Halloween, PJ Harvey offers endless inspiration. Pick an era and you instantly embody one of her many identities — grunge rebel, gothic siren, or ghostly folk muse.
Robert Smith: The Cure Frontman Who Made Melancholy Iconic
Impossible not to mention Robert Smith — the eternal outsider and likely inspiration for Edward Scissorhands. As the frontman of The Cure, he embodies the essence of English punk romanticism. For decades, Smith has cultivated a look that is instantly iconic: wild black hair in chaotic disarray, ghostly white face powder, smudged kohl eyeliner and lipstick, paired with dark, often oversized clothes that enhance his melancholic silhouette.
For Halloween, channeling Robert Smith is delightfully simple yet instantly recognizable. Black layers, teased messy hair, and that signature smudged makeup are all you need to summon his presence — with just the right touch of theatrical melancholy.
