How to Make a Morticia Addams Costume

Morticia Addams is one of the classic Halloween costumes almost everyone, everywhere recognizes. She began as a part of the Addams Family cartoon series in the "New Yorker," evolved into the 60s TV series and finally into the series of movies in the 1990s. The vision of Morticia in her black gown and spooky makeup has remained constant over the decades.

Things You'll Need

• Long black dress
• Dark necklace
• Black wig or hair dye
• Pale base makeup
• Red or black lipstick
• Black eyeliner
• Gray eye shadow

Instructions

1. Begin with a long black dress as the main part of the costume. Choose a form-fitting dress that is tight at the waist and flared at the hem. The sleeves should be flared, or plan to cut out the existing sleeves to add black net sleeves in their place.

2. Use corset lingerie under the dress for the most authentic effect for your costume. Cut the front of the dress so that it is very low cut, if it isn't that way already. Find a dark-colored necklace to wear with the dress.

3. Buy a long, straight black wig, or, if you have long straight hair, dye it black with a temporary dye.

4. Apply a very pale base makeup, preferably one with gray undertones. Use either a pale base color several shades lighter than your skin color, or choose a white crème makeup that is usually sold around Halloween.

5. Wear either a bright red or a dark red lipstick or even black lipstick if you wish. Use black eyeliner applied heavily on the top and bottom lids. Use a deep gray eye shadow above the eye all the way to the eyebrow. Draw in dark eyebrows if you don't have them.