Halloween: A Circus Ringleader, mermaid and more

Life is really just a series of costumes, and Halloween is never just one.

The main costume this year was a Circus Ringleader. Of course inspired by The Greatest Showman but really solidified when my friend (and coworker) Sydney and I saw Cirque Italia.

*We did Halloween right after a wedding, so the “quick change” happened in the bathroom of the Aurora McDonald’s.*

The costume concept is simple and the items needed are minimal but there are a few key things to keep in mind when recreating this look.

Things needed:

Black leotard

Tux jacket with tails

Top Hat

Fishnets

Boots

Optional: stuffed lion, cane or crop

Quality keeps it from shakin’. I kid you not ladies, do not buy a fast fashion body suit for this number.

Buy an actual dancer’s leptard. They’re thick, and they’re meant to hold everything in place, but don’t be surprised if you’re spending more than 30 bucks for this item.

For that legs-for-days look, grab a high hip cut.

My jacket is taken from a junior’s Mad Hatter costume. I cut off the attached vest and added Swarovski Crystals, of course. I found the full outfit for less than $5 at Goodwill.

Keep the fishnets classy by going for a small hole design with the back seam. If you want to ensure they don’t rip through the night, this is another great item to find at a dance supply store.

For Friday’s work party, the Ring Leader look was a bit extra. A quick Goodwill run resulted in this shimmering mermaid look.

For , again, only five bucks I picked this aqua metallic leotard, and a matching maxi skirt.

I used fishnets and tons of bright aqua and blue eyeshadow to create scales on my face. A star fish in my hair and tons of Bumble and Bumble sea spray finished the look.

If you’d like a link to the YouTube tutorial I followed for the mermaid makeup, just leave me a comment.

Happy Halloween!