27 Witch Costume Ideas for Halloween from Classic to Pop Culture

I love Halloween. Dressing up is one of my favorite parts of it, even though somehow I’ve never dressed up as a witch. I guess that’s what happens when you just live as a witch year-round.

Most years, I have at least one Halloween costume, but if I alternative, then I do one spooky and another the next year that’s more sultry. Like everything, costumes wax and wane in popularity. What everyone is wearing one year usually won’t be the same the next, but there are some exceptions. And, one of those is the classic witch costume.

Witches are consistently among the most popular Halloween costumes, alongside vampires, the Addams Family, and cats. And, if you want to dress up as your favorite Greek Goddess or God, there are costumes for that too.

Since most actual witches look like everyone else, we get to turn to pop culture for Halloween costume ideas and inspiration. You could dress up as Elphaba from Wicked, channel one of the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus, or go for something a little more glamorous, like Elaine from The Love Witch.

Of course, there’s also the classic Halloween witch. And if that’s more your style, there are plenty of ways to get creative with it, from gothic and Victorian witches to forest witches dripping with moss.

Whether you’re looking for a DIY witch costume, an elaborate outfit inspired by a movie, or a simple last-minute Halloween costume you can put together with pieces already in your closet, here are some witch Halloween costume ideas to inspire you. Each includes a list of pieces you’ll need to put yours together.

Witch Costume Ideas from Movies and TV

Some of the most recognizable witches come from movies and television, and their costumes offer considerably more variety than the traditional pointed black hat. From the Sanderson sisters’ elaborate dresses to Nancy’s ’90s gothic wardrobe from The Craft, there’s plenty of inspiration to work with.

1. Winifred Sanderson Costume

If you’re a fan of Hocus Pocus, Winifred Sanderson’s almost whimsigoth green and purple dress and bright red hair make her one of the most recognizable witches you could dress up as for Halloween.

Her costume features an embroidered grown with dramatic sleeves, a corseted bodice and a distinctive hairstyle. If you’re looking for a group costume, get two friends to join you as her sisters, Sarah and Mary.

2. Sarah Sanderson Costume

Sarah Sanderson has a more romantic look than her sisters, with a flowing purple and burgundy dress, lace sleeves and a corseted bodice. For her Halloween costume, you’ll want long, wavy blonde hair and plenty of layered fabrics. The costumes by cosplayer Britni McNeil (aka britnithecat) never cease to impress me and she nails it with this Hocus Pocus one too.

3. Mary Sanderson Costume

Mary Sanderson’s costume is probably the easiest of the three to recognize by its hairstyle alone. Her hair is swept into a shape that almost resembles a witch’s hat. For her outfit, combine earthy colors, a red corset and a plaid skirt with plenty of mismatched fabrics. And, of course, you’ll need her vacuum cleaner.

4. Elaine Parks Costume from The Love Witch

If you love vintage fashion and blue eyeshadow, Elaine Parks from The Love Witch might be the Halloween costume for you. The film came out in 2016 but feels like it was released in the 1960s. Elaine has several outfits worth recreating, including her pale blue dress and matching hat, her pink Victorian-inspired look, and her red velvet dress.

5. Nancy Downs Costume from The Craft

Nancy Downs from The Craft is a great choice if you love ’90s gothic fashion. Between her black leather jackets, dark lipstick, chokers and schoolgirl-inspired wardrobe, there’s a lot to work with. This is also one of the easier DIY witch costumes to put together. You probably already have some of the pieces in your closet, and the rest can be found at a thrift store.

6. Elphaba Costume from Wicked

Elphaba from Wicked is a take on the traditional Wicked Witch of the West, featuring a dramatic black dress, pointed hat and, of course, green skin. If you want to recreate the movie version, look for a black dress with sculptural sleeves, ruffles or pleated details like Monstrous Feminine did here. Glinda makes an obvious pairing if you’re looking for a group costume idea.

7. The Wicked Witch of the West Costume

If you prefer the original Wizard of Oz version, go with Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the West costume. This version is fairly easy to recreate. You’ll need a long black dress, a pointed witch hat, green makeup and a broom. A crystal ball or winged monkey accessory would also be a fun addition.

If you don’t want to do the green makeup, you can take inspiration from Margarita Ponomareve‘s breathtaking self-portrait of a gothic witch in the haunted woods here.

8. Glinda the Good Witch Costume

For a witch costume that’s a little more glamorous, there’s Glinda. You could recreate Ariana Grande’s pink bubble gown from Wicked like Maker Mage did here or take inspiration from Billie Burke’s original Wizard of Oz costume. Either way, you’ll want an enormous pink dress, a sparkling crown and a wand.

9. Sabrina Spellman Costume

Sabrina Spellman’s wardrobe in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is full of vintage-inspired dresses, Peter Pan collars, mini skirts and an excellent collection of coats. For an instantly recognizable costume, go with her red coat, black headband and short blonde bob wig like Katerina did here.

11. Agatha Harkness Costume

Agatha Harkness from WandaVision and Agatha All Along is another excellent option if you want to play an evil witch. Her flowing purple and black clothing, elaborate coat and dark makeup are recognizable especially if another friend or partner goes at the Scarlet Witch.

12. Scarlet Witch Costume

For a dramatic Halloween look, recreate Marvel’s Wanda Maximoff’s red costume from the movie, complete with her distinctive crown, fitted bodice and flowing cape. For something a little more playful, you could go with the classic comic-book costume she wears during WandaVision’s Halloween episode.

14. Kiki Costume from Kiki’s Delivery Service

Kiki from Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service might be one of the easiest witch costumes on this list. (And, cutest.) All you really need is a dark blue dress, an oversized red bow, and a broom. Carry a stuffed black cat to represent Jiji, and you’re pretty much ready to go. This is also a great Halloween costume for toddlers or small children.

15. Samantha Costume from Bewitched

For something vintage, there’s Samantha Stephens from the television series Bewitched. Like Caroline here, You could wear one of her fabulous ’60s outfits, but for a Halloween party or her classic witch look. If you’re dressing up with a partner, they can go as Darrin Stephens.

16. Ursula Costume from The Little Mermaid

If you’re looking for an impressive witch Halloween costume, there’s Ursula, the Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid. Between her white hair, purple skin, tentacles and spectacular makeup, she’s practically made for Halloween. You can look to the incredible cosplayers like Petite Leon out there for inspiration on how make your own tentacles with stuffed black and purple fabric or look for a ready-to-wear Ursula costume like this one.

17. Madam Mim Costume

My favorite Disney witch is Madam Mim from Disney’s The Sword in the Stone. The wizard battle she has with Merlin is one of the most fun scenes in animation. Her Cheshire Cat-like pink and purple dress and messy purple hair make her particularly fun to recreate. And if you’re attending a Halloween party with someone dressed as Merlin, even better like Nana Bellamy and Zio Totoro did here.

18. Yennefer Costume from The Witcher

Yennefer of Vengerberg from The Witcher is a good choice if you want a pretty fantasy costume and offers lots of options from an almost elfin costume to one that reads more Medieval witch. You’ll also want a long, dark wig and violet eyes as you see Corneline Crea modeling here.

Witch Costumes Inspired by Folklore and Mythology

If you’d rather draw inspiration from mythology and folklore than movies, there are plenty of witches, sorceresses and magical figures to choose from. These three are especially interesting because each has distinct symbols that you can incorporate into your Halloween costume.

19. Baba Yaga Costume

Baba Yaga is one of the most fascinating figures in Slavic folklore. Depending on the story, she’s a dangerous witch, a supernatural helper or a fearsome figure who tests the people who encounter her.

She’s also famous for living in a hut that stands on chicken legs and traveling through the air in a mortar, using a pestle to propel herself forward and sweeping away her tracks with a broom. There are professional cosplayers have made incredible huts like Plant Pup’s here, but for a simple costume, create something evocative of her.

20. Circe Costume

In Homer’s Odyssey, Circe is a sorceress who lives on the island of Aeaea, where she uses magical herbs and potions to transform Odysseus’s men into pigs. For your Circe Halloween costume, you could recreate John Williams Waterhouse’s painting of Circe Offering the Cup like Cel of Wands did here. or the one of her creating the monster Scylla.

Classic Witch Halloween Costume Ideas

You don’t have to dress as a character from a movie to have an interesting witch costume. If you prefer to come up with your own look, start with an aesthetic, color palette or historical period and build your outfit from there.

21. Classic Witch Costume

You really can’t go wrong with a classic black witch costume. All you need is a black dress, a pointed witch hat and a broom. Of course, there’s plenty of room to get creative. You can go with a long, flowing dress for a more traditional look or something shorter and more fitted.

Add a cape, dramatic makeup and a few pieces of witchy jewelry, and you’re ready for Halloween. In this pretty photo, Marta (aka Lady Little Star) evokes the energy of the Hermit with her lantern and a cloak from Tudor Dressing.

22. Gothic Witch Costume

If you love gothic fashion, this is your opportunity to go all out. Think black velvet, lace, corsets, enormous hats and plenty of dramatic jewelry like Rehn Stillnight did here.

23. Forest Witch Costume

A forest or green witch costume is particularly appropriate if you love plants, herbs and the natural world. Look for earthy greens, brown leather, botanical embroidery and accessories inspired by the forest. A deep green velvet dress is a good starting point, but you could also create a look using layered fabrics that feels more of the woods.

If you’re feeling less whimsical, gather inspiration from Alegna Dekadens, who created a forest witch costume that includes skulls, horns, and a cloak.

24. Victorian Witch Costume

A Victorian witch costume is another opportunity to combine historical fashion with a little Halloween drama. Start with a high-necked dress, fitted bodice, long skirt and lace-up boots like the one here from Fern and Twig Market. Add a cameo necklace, lace gloves and a dramatic hat. You could go with traditional black, but deep burgundy, emerald green and dark purple would also work.

25. Scary Witch Costume

The classic scary witch costume isn’t that exciting. But a truly scary, haunted witch costume like this one by Artistic Nightmares? Here’s how to put that together.

26. Pinup Witch Costume

On the other side, there there’s the sultry witch costume like this pinup-inspired one by Miss Amber Louise. Start with a fitted black dress, a corset or a velvet bodysuit, then add whatever accessories suit your style. A dramatic witch hat, thigh-high boots and long gloves can make a relatively simple outfit feel much more elaborate. Tipsy Elves also makes it easy with this ready-to-wear costume.

27. Male Witch Costume

Most witch costumes and characters we see out there are women, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go as a witch if you’re a guy. After all a male witch is a witch.

Male witch costume can go in a lot of different directions, from dark and traditional to elaborate and theatrical. You could keep it simple with a black shirt, trousers, boots, and a long cloak, then add a pointed hat and a few magical-looking accessories like silver jewelry or antique-looking ones like Lando the Magnificent did here.

For something more dramatic, look for velvet, brocade, layered fabrics, or a long coat. Black, burgundy, forest green, navy, and purple all work. You could also take it in a more gothic, celestial, forest, or medieval direction.