Scary Good: How Hollywood’s Most Talented Costume Designers Bring Horror Films to Life

Later this month, Vogue World: Hollywood will take place on the iconic Paramount Pictures Studio lot in Los Angeles. The show will celebrate the rich conversation between film and fashion, while featuring the work of renowned Hollywood costume designers such as Colleen Atwood, Ruth E. Carter, Arianne Phillips, and more. In anticipation of the grand event (and in honor of spooky season) we couldn’t help but think of the role costume design has played in horror films over the years. Sure, more glamorous or historically-accurate fashion may come to mind when you think of costuming for the big screen, but for those who have leaned into more macabre creations, the end results have been just as thrilling.

If you think about it, strong costumes are a must for a well-executed scary movie (though a great score and special effects will help, too). For years, costumers have been creating spooky serial killers—from Ghostface to Michael Myers—and conjuring up original designs that remain seared into our brains (and promt some of us to look under the bed each night). Take the hockey mask-wearing Jason, or Freddy Krueger in his striped Christmas sweater and knives-for-fingers. Both came to fruition thanks to a costume designer.