3 Literary Inspired Halloween Costumes

Megan: What I love most about Halloween (aside from the peanut butter cups) is that it affords us opportunities as adults to play dress-up! I love the whimsy of donning a costume and embracing an entire persona. My favorite costumes are the ones made of items from my own closet; they feel more authentic (and less flammable) than the pre-packaged costumes from Halloween shops. This year I found inspiration right on my book shelf and created three costumes of some of my favorite women in literature: Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's, Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby. I pulled the main pieces from my wardrobe and picked up a few accessories from a costume shop to complete the looks. Happy Halloween!

Holly Golightly

Megan: The Givenchy outfit Audrey Hepburn is wearing in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of the most iconic costumes of film, which made recreating the look fairly simple: all it requires is a classic little black dress, black elbow-length gloves, pearls, and sunnies. I tucked a tiara into my top knot to recreate her bejeweled updo, and you could certainly carry a danish in a little paper bag for authenticity and snacking purposes, darling.

Dress: Kate Spade, similar Erin Fetherston frocks here and here | Necklaces: J.Crew, pearls and similar crystals | Bracelet: Banana Republic, similar J.Crew version here and here | Shoes: C.Wonder, similar Ted Baker version here | Sunnies: Ray-Ban, but Audrey Hepburn really wore these Oliver Goldsmith's

Alice in Wonderland

Megan: Alice has always been my favorite heroine in the Disney oeuvre because she isn't a princess and her story didn't involve finding a prince. Plus, her outfit is three easy pieces, so she makes for a quick costume. I layered a short sleeve button up shirt under a simple blue dress, and I found a seller on eBay who makes custom pinafores, and - ta da! - we have Alice. I completed the look with a black satin ribbon headband, some ruffly white socks, black round toe pumps, and a teacup which makes for a convenient drinking vessel for any party you might find down a rabbit hole.

Dress: Forever21, though these ASOS styles here and here will do, too | Shirt: Loft, similar Gap version here | Pinafore: Custom ebay order | Shoes: Ann Taylor, similar J.Crew version here

Daisy Buchanan

Megan: Daisy Buchanan is an incredibly identifiable character in her own right, but she also represents the Roaring Twenties era, so there are lots of fun period elements you can pull from and incorporate into your own rendition of Daisy. I paired this gold beaded Sue Wong cocktail dress with art deco inspired jewelry and topped it off with a flapper-esque headband. And to really pull together the costume, I tucked this Great Gatsby clutch under my arm for a night of large parties (because they're so intimate, of course).

Dress: Sue Wong, similar style here | Necklace: J.Crew, similar here | Bracelet: J.Crew, similar here | Shoes: Ann Taylor, similar J.Crew version here | Bag: Kate Spade

All images on this post are by photographer Kristin Lance.