How to Look Like a Dead Schoolgirl With a Fancy Dress for Halloween

Halloween provides an excuse to dress up as a dead schoolgirl.

Bring out your inner zombie by creating a dead schoolgirl costume out of an old dress that will never be worn again. Find an old, formal occasion dress or bridesmaid gown that can be ruined, ripped, shredded and otherwise damaged to use as the foundation for your costume. Because the plaid skirt and white shirt of the classic schoolgirl uniform are not involved, carry a prop to give the dress a schoolgirl feel. A journal or book satchel will work well with the costume.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Fancy dress
• Old tea bags or coffee grounds
• White kneesocks
• Black Mary Jane shoes
• School books
• Book satchel
• Teasing comb
• Volumizing
• Hairspray
• Wax hair texturizing product
• 2 ponytail holders
• Leaves
• Baby powder
• Spray-on hair color
• Fair foundation
• Blue, black and brown eyeshadow

Instructions

Dress

1. Shred the bottom hem of the dress into tatters using the scissors. If the dress is long, cut it to just above the knee, leaving bits of fabric hanging down. The more shredded the material is, the better the dress will look. Use your hands to tear the fabric for a natural, frayed look.

2. Work your way up the dress with the scissors and make holes and cuts in the fabric, as well as fraying areas around the bodice and sleeves of the dress. If the dress has an underpinning, such as lace or tulle, make holes in the main layer of fabric so that the under layer is visible.

3. Take the dress outside and put it on the ground. Step on the dress, grinding it into the dirt with your feet, then drag it across rocks or gravel, to give it a naturally distressed look. Stain areas of the dress through the use of used tea bags and coffee grinds. The dress should look like you crawled out of the grave by digging your way out.

4. Put the dress on and complete the look with classic school girl style by adding white kneesocks and black Mary Jane shoes. Stain and tear the socks a bit, and scuff the shoes up if you desire. Carry books around with you as props.

Hair

1. Flip your hair upside down and tease it from the roots, using a teasing comb. Flip your hair back and spray the roots with a volumizing spray and hair spray.

2. Apply wax texturizer to random chunks of your hair and twist. This will give your hair a grimy appearance. If your hair is long, pull the hair into two sloppy, uneven ponytails on either side of your head. Pull strands of hair out of the ponytails to create a messy look. Apply baby powder to your hair to suggest the appearance of dust. Short hair can be teased up, with baby powder worked into the hair for an added touch of grime.

3. Accent your hair with spray-on hair color such as black and brown. Put leaves or small sticks in your hair to enhance the from-the-grave look. Spray hairspray over your hair when finished to secure the hairdo.

Makeup

1. Apply a light foundation over your face to set a base for the powder. Use baby powder to blot over any visible skin including the back of your neck. Wipe makeup concealer over your lips to make them pale.

2. Create dark circles under your eyes and around your nose. Combine dark blue and dark brown eyeshadow and brush around your eyes, under your cheekbones and around the creases in your nose.

3. Apply various spots and strokes of black, brown and blue eyeshadow around your arms and legs to make the areas look dirty and bruised.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply face moisturizer under the Halloween makeup to make removal easier.

• Do a skin test prior to applying makeup to test for any allergic reaction.

• Apply makeup in a well-lit area to avoid missing any areas.

• Add any additional makeup props, such as scars or bullet wounds, to the face and body.

References

• 365 Halloween: Zombie Costume: How to Make a Zombie Costume with Makeup
• You Tube: Dead/Undead Makeup