Every year millions of us look forward to October 31 to celebrate Halloween. Besides creating a new identity for a night, my favorite part of Halloween is creating DIY costumes—so I’ve perused the Getty Museum’s and Getty Research Institute’s open-content collections for inspiration for potential aliases, and added a few handy how-tos.

1. Feeling ancestral?

Young, Chubby Girl Dressed Like A Picture of Her Great-Grandmother, 1865, Oscar Gustave Rejlander. J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.

Young, Chubby Girl Dressed Like A Picture of Her Great-Grandmother, 1865, Oscar Gustave Rejlander. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 84.XM.845.2. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

Have any old photographs or paintings of your relatives? Take a note from this “young chubby girl”—she is dressed just like a painting of her great-grandmother.

What you’ll need:

  • Old photograph or painting to carry around the whole night
  • Vintage clothing (or rummage through their actual belongings)

2. Feeling biblical?

Saint Jerome Extracting a Thorn from a Lion's Paw, second quarter of 15th century, Master of the Murano Gradual. The J. Paul Getty Museum

Saint Jerome Extracting a Thorn from a Lion’s Paw, 1425–50, Master of the Murano Gradual. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Ms. 106, recto. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

Sexy cats are so 2005. Here’s a fresh spin on an old classic—a biblical lion! For this costume, simply insert thorn into paw.

Pro tip: This look can be transformed into a couples’ costume if someone else becomes Saint Jerome.

What you’ll need:

  • Thorns
  • Whiskers
  • Fur coat
  • Tweezers (required)

3. Feeling funny?

Harlequin playing a small flute, 1860s, E. Lamy. The J. Paul Getty Museum

Harlequin Playing a Small Flute (GIF-ified), 1860s, E. Lamy. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 84.XC.873.2042. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

If you’re feeling funny, transform yourself into a 1860s-style Harlequin. However, do not get confused with Harley Quinn, she will be played out this year.

What you’ll need:

  • Creepy clown makeup
  • An obnoxiously striped onesie
  • Flute (optional)

4. Feeling royal?

Portrait of Louis XIV, after 1701, After Hyacinthe Rigaud. The J. Paul Getty Museum

Portrait of Louis XIV, after 1701, after Hyacinthe Rigaud. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 70.PA.1. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

A classic Louis XIV look is always appreciated. Make sure your hair and legs are on point before attempting this one.

What you’ll need:

  • Giant wig (or a ton of hairspray and curlers if you have luscious locks)
  • Tights and dancing shoes
  • Courtiers (optional but recommended)

5. Feeling fancy?

Pair of Girandoles, about 1730, Unknown maker. The J. Paul Getty Museum.

One from a Pair of Girandoles, about 1730, French. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 75.DF.53.1. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

Inanimate objects are a quirky alternative to a traditional character costume. A classy DIY girandole (branched candlestick) will turn heads at any function you attend.

What you’ll need:

  • Glitter
  • Shards of glass and mirror affixed to and hanging from your person
  • A friend to shine light on you when you want to show off your illuminating qualities

Here’s another girandole worthy of consideration.

6. Feeling friendly?

Pair of Candelabra, 1779 - 1782, Robert-Joseph Auguste. The J. Paul Getty Museum.

Pair of Candelabra, 1779–82, Robert-Joseph Auguste. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 84.DG.42. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

If you love the decorative arts but want to match with a friend, you two could transform into a pair of candelabra.

What you’ll need:

  • Full-body aluminum foil suit
  • Arms raised the whole night (sorry!)
  • Flames shooting out of hands

More delightful candelabra here.

7. Feeling sinful?

Detail of Adam and Eve Eating the Forbidden Fruit, early 1460s, Willem Vrelant. The J. Paul Getty Museum.

Adam and Eve Eating the Forbidden Fruit (detail), early 1460s, Willem Vrelant. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Ms. Ludwig IX 8, fol. 137. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

If you and a significant other are feeling a bit sinful, Adam and Eve would be a perfect couples’ costume. Only leaves required.

Pro tip: If you have a third wheel, s/he can dress as a snake! Tree of Knowledge optional.

What you’ll need:

  • Two fig leaves (that’s it!)

8. Feeling festive?

Schembart Buch, 16th Century, Unknown maker. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles.

Detail of a watercolor of a Schembartlaüfer (Schembart runner) from the Schembart Buch, 1500s, German. The Getty Research Institute, 2009.M.38, f. 22v. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

If you’re feeling festive, take a look into our collections of festival art. This outfit comes from a German Renaissance festival known as the Schembart Carnival. (The so-called Schembart Buch is bursting with great costume ideas—page through it here.)

What you’ll need:

  • Full-bodied two-toned suit
  • Yellow kitchen gloves
  • Coordinating, mixed-‘n’-matched shoes
  • A dozen roses to pin onto yourself
  • Creepy mask (any will do)
  • Flaming artichoke (required)

9. Feeling blue?

[Portrait of Charles Fletcher L­­­ummis], 1897, Aemilian Scholl and Charles F. Lummis. The J. Paul Getty Museum.

Portrait of Charles Fletcher L­­­ummis, 1897, Aemilian Scholl and Charles F. Lummis. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 84.XM.211.62. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

If you’re feeling a little blue this season, you could dress as a cyanotype—one of the earliest forms of photography!

What you’ll need:

  • Cyan-colored face paint (or regular blue will do)
  • Blue-and-white outfit
  • Frozen expression

10. Feeling classic?

[Amateurs playing ghost scene], 1887, W.S. Hobson. The J. Paul Getty Museum

Amateurs Playing Ghost Scene, 1887, W.S. Hobson. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 84.XA.757.4.13. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program

If you don’t love any of my recommendations, you could always dress as a Halloween classic…a ghost!

What you’ll need:

  • White sheet
  • Yourself, set to 30% opacity

Find thousands more visual inspirations and download beautiful hi-res images via our Open Content Program right here.

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