Why 'The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' Is the Perfect Last-Minute Halloween Costume Inspiration
Crafting the perfect Halloween costume all comes down to timing: You need a reference that’s recognizable, yet fresh—news cycle permitting—on October 31. (Admit it: A Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande couples costume might not feel as on point as it did a few weeks ago.) When it’s down to the wire, Halloween procrastinators can always rely on a handful of zeitgeist-y television shows with very specific aesthetics, like Riverdale or Stranger Things. And this year there’s another program to add to the list, and it drops right in the nick of time.
On Friday, October 26, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina premieres on Netflix, and it brings with it plenty of witchy fashion you’ll want to jump on for Halloween. The show is a dark reimagining of the comics series of the same name: Sabrina Spellman must choose between her mortal friends and her family of witches on her sixteenth birthday—and events move in a sinister, satanic direction from there (it exists in the same universe as Riverdale, after all.)
In many ways it feels like a continuation of a costume trend started by its sister program on the CW. Every character has a distinct way of dressing, based on their looks in the comics, that’s integral to their development. Sabrina’s known to don a preppy red peacoat and a black headband; her witching rivals, the Weird Sisters, have coordinating long-sleeve tea dresses with lace Peter Pan collars. Throughout the series, you’ll see plenty of high-neck dresses, moody colors, and velvet—a vibe that really lends itself to Halloween.
On the whole, Sabrina and her coven stick to a handful of style signatures. We talked to the cast of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and they broke down their character’s costumes, their evolution, and the best ways to re-create them on Halloween. Read on.
Sabrina Spellman
When she’s in the mortal world at Baxter High, Sabrina has an understated preppy look—think Blair Waldorf’s polish but without the colorful tights and pearls. “She actually gets ready in the morning—which is admirable, because she’s got so much going on in her life!” Kiernan Shipka says. “She definitely takes time to put an outfit together.”
Her wardrobe is made up of a lot of pieces you likely own already, and probably not what you’d expect from a witch in training (you can put down the pointed hat, sorry): easy crewneck sweaters, button-front corduroy skirts, and oxford loafers. Each look is completed with two finishing details—a thick black headband, which she wears at all times to neatly pull back her hair, and a red cape coat, just like in the comics.
There’s a small detail that’s crucial for getting a Sabrina costume right, according to Shipka: her golden locket. “In the first season, in every single scene, I wear the locket that Harvey [her boyfriend] gives me,” the actress explains. The necklace is a sentimental reminder of her ties to the mortal world. Try as Sabrina might to act and dress like a typical teenager, though, she can’t escape her witchy side—and her fashion reflects that.
At the Dark Baptism, a ceremony where Sabrina is expected to officially join her coven and leave the mortal world forever, she wears a white slip with lace detailing…and that’s it. It’s one of the earliest scenes where Sabrina ventures outside of her demure, straightforward style to something darker, with an almost nineties-rocker edge.
“As you see Sabrina sort of leaning toward one side or the other, you can definitely see her clothing choices and her hair and makeup change,” Shipka says. (The biggest shift won’t come until later in season, during a scene in which Sabrina and the witches hit a nightclub in outfits Shipka describes as “insane.” “It’s a lot of leather,” she teases.)
The Weird Sisters
Riverdale has Cheryl Blossom. Scream Queens had Chanel Oberlin. And on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the title of unapologetic style maven is shared by the Weird Sisters, three witches from the Church of Night.
Prudence, Agatha, and Dorcas are inseparable on the show, and that bond is reflected in their matching campy, goth-glam outfits and makeup. In most episodes, they wear velvet dresses with long sleeves and contrasting lace collars, with black tights and heavy makeup—almost like an ultra-gothic take on The Shining’s twins. Can you think of a better group getup?
The whole squad can wear the same dress, either with bibbed high necks like the Sisters or with a crewneck you can just add a detachable lace collar to. Tie your hair into a severely low bun and paint on a dramatic smokey eye to match their OTT makeup. Swipe on a coat of black lipstick and gather your two closest friends, and you can head out to start hexing.
Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda
What’s a witch in training without her teachers in the occult? Sabrina lives with her Aunt Zelda and Aunt Hilda, two older sorceresses and warring sisters with opposing style. Aunt Zelda is a stringent follower of the Church of Night—all in for witches and no sympathy for Sabrina’s mortal friends—with a buttoned-up wardrobe to match. Aunt Hilda is her lighthearted counterpart: She’s cheerful, mortal-friendly, and leans toward the colors that Zelda despises.
All it takes to arrange an Aunt Hilda costume are clashing patterns and several pieces of statement jewelry. She’s the most upbeat of the bunch at Spellman Family Mortuary, and her joie de vivre comes across in her boldly colorful clothing and jangling necklaces.
“I think Hilda dresses a bit like me in that she will put each individual item on with joy, not thinking about the end effect,” says Lucy Davis. “[There is] no regard for the end look, thinking it will all go because they’re beautiful.”
Meanwhile, Aunt Zelda, played by Miranda Otto, is dark-spirited with an austere flair. She wears only navy and black, in vintage-inspired, conservative silhouettes. “Zelda’s into severe, dark, tailored, strong,” Otto says. “She definitely wears her clothes from a time before synthetics were invented. She’s a lady.”
Madam Satan
Is “dark glamour” your desired Halloween vibe? Look no further than Madam Satan, the witch tasked with swaying Sabrina toward the Church of Night, for your last-minute costume. She’s the most cunning character on the show, and she has a sharp, sexy wardrobe to match. (Read: lots of tight-fitted dresses and even more heels.)
“There’s some seriously fine tailoring,” Michelle Gomez, who plays her, says of her wardrobe. “She’s all angles and poise.”
Copying the look for yourself is simple: All you need is a V-neck dress that’s fitted to the body, voluminous curls, and a belt to cinch at the waist. Definitely don’t forget the spiky heels—she’s never seen without them.
“Madame Satan can run across a bumpy graveyard in Jimmy Choos with absolutely no problem whatsoever,” Gomez says. “She sleeps in her Jimmy Choos. I think she’s even had a bath in her Jimmy Choos. She just wouldn’t be seen without a perfectly poised ankle.”
Related Stories:
How to Make Your Own Riverdale-Inspired Halloween Costume
These Are the Most-Searched Halloween Costumes for 2018, According to Google