Last-Minute Literary Halloween Costume Inspiration from NYPL's Digital Collections

Some people plan out their Halloween costume and collect or create the components months in advance—and hats off to them! But there's nothing wrong with throwing something together at the last minute. Necessity being the mother of invention and all that. NYPL's Digital Collections, containing over 900,000 images, can be a useful and fun exploration tool to inspire your own last-minute costume (or get planning for next year for the Type A's in the crowd). Here are just a few literary costume ideas, found in our Digital Collections, to get your creative juices flowing. What will you find?

Frankenstein's creature

Mary Shelley's description of Frankenstein's creature is frightful, yet somewhat vague. Of "gigantic stature" with "lustrous black, and flowing" hair, a "shrivelled complexion," "straight black lips," and "watery eyes...the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set." Feel free to interpret that as you wish, but no one will fault you for dressing as the flat-headed, black suit-clad monster made familiar from movies and television.

Walt Whitman

A rumpled suit (or take your clean, crisp one and stomp on it a few times), a floppy hat, a white beard, and you're good to go as one of America's most esteemed poets. For a visual pun, walk around clutching "leaves of grass." 

Jane Austen

Luckily, Regency-style dresses like those worn by Jane Austen were typically simple and understated. Remember to fashion an Empire waist and fitted bodice and, finally, find a tea towel and ribbon to approximate a cap.

Peter Pan and Wendy, Michael, and John Darling

Peter Pan and the Darling children make a great group costume especially if you plan to be out late and want to just roll into bed when you get home. 

Zora Neale Hurston

Hurston could wear a hat like nobody's business. Add a simple dress and gloves for the full Harlem Renaissance look.

Jack London

First, do you have a wolf? Great. And a leather jacket? Excellent. You're well on your way to depicting novelist Jack London of White Fang and The Call of the Wild fame. 

The Tin Man

Many characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum lend themselves easily to a costume, but none utilize your recycling bin as well as the Tin Man. 

Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens

Twain was always looking to stand out and he did in the iconic white suit he began wearing in the years before his death. A simple white suit and white wig and you, too, can pull off a Mark Twain costume as effortlessly as Hal Holbrook.

Young Truman Capote

Have the white suit but not into Twain? Especially if you're diminutive in stature (or a child), a young Capote is within grasp. Gather up your friend Harper and you're off to the party!