Spooky Season, Styled
Quick answer: To dress for Halloween without a costume, pick a spooky color mood: rust and black for pumpkin-perfect, burgundy and black lace for vampire chic, or velvet and metallics for a witchy party look. Each look below uses pieces you can wear again.
You don't need a costume to get into the Halloween spirit. The looks below borrow the season's moods (pumpkin, vampire, and witch) through color, texture, and a little drama. Each one is made from pieces you can wear again long after October.
Spooky Harvest: Pumpkin-Perfect
Rust, cinnamon, and burnt orange are the colors of the season, and they look best with black.
- Wear it as a sweater look. Pair an Eterne rust crewneck sweater with a black leather midi skirt from Yigal Azrouel. Add ankle boots from Dear Frances and a black bag from Nili Lotan.
- Wear it as a dress. A rust corduroy shirt dress from Veronica Beard works for the office, a pumpkin patch, or dinner. Add a black leather jacket from Nili Lotan.
- Wear it with flares. Rust corduroy flared pants from Veronica Beard, a black lace top from DÔEN, and a leather jacket make an easy fall outfit. Add an orange woven belt bag from Clare V for a playful pop.
- Finish with gold. An Emerson Stone station necklace, EF Collection moon earrings, and a Jenny Bird ring add light to the deeper colors.
Vampire Chic: Dark Romance
Burgundy, black lace, and leather make the moodiest outfits of the season.
- Burgundy satin set. A Sablyn satin top and skirt in deep burgundy is a ready-made evening look. Add a Chie Mihara platform sandal and silver hoops from Chan Luu.
- Lace and leather. A black lace camisole from Zadig & Voltaire with a leather mini from Citizens is easy to dress up or down. Add burgundy ankle boots from Dear Frances.
- The lace dress. An asymmetric burgundy lace dress from A.L.C. needs very little. Add a Nili Lotan clutch and a drop pendant from Emerson Stone.
- Sheer on top, sleek below. Wear a sheer black lace blouse from DÔEN with a leather midi skirt from Enza Costa and platform sandals. Add gold drop earrings from Chan Luu.
Witching Hour: Spellbound Wardrobe
For parties and holiday evenings, add metallics, velvet, paisley, and sequins.
- Olive satin and lace. A Cami NYC olive lace-trimmed camisole with matching satin pants, finished with gold platform sandals from Chie Mihara.
- Black on black. A one-shoulder satin top from Cami NYC with a sparkling tulle skirt from Loyd/Ford. Add an Ulla Johnson bag.
- Pattern and velvet. A paisley bow blouse from La Prestic Ouiston or a sequin jacket from L'Agence looks rich with black velvet pants from L'Agence.
- Sequins and soft color. A black one-shoulder top from Enza Costa with a lavender sequin skirt from Staud. Add a gold drawstring pouch from Isabel Marant.
- Jewelry with a story. Colorful stone necklaces from Chan Luu add a little magic to black and neutral outfits.
How to Wear Halloween Colors Year-Round
- Choose one mood. Pick rust, burgundy, or black lace and build around it.
- Mix a soft piece with a hard one. Lace or satin looks modern with leather, corduroy, or boots.
- Treat black as the base. Black keeps bold colors like rust and burgundy wearable.
- Keep jewelry simple or sparkly, not both. A station necklace or a bold stone piece is enough.
- Think beyond October. Rust, burgundy, and velvet are all holiday and winter colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I wear for Halloween if I don't want a costume? Choose a Halloween mood through color and texture. Rust and black suit a pumpkin look, burgundy and black lace suit vampire chic, and velvet or metallics suit a witchy party look. They're regular outfits you can wear again.
What colors work for a Halloween-inspired outfit? Rust, burgundy, black, and olive. Black works as the base, and gold jewelry or a pop of orange keeps the look from feeling heavy.
How do you wear black lace without looking too dressy? Pair it with leather, corduroy, or boots. A lace top with a leather skirt or jacket looks relaxed enough for dinner or a party.
Shop the Spooky Season Edit
Ready to shop Halloween-inspired looks? Browse the full edit online, or stop by Romi Boutique at 624 Emerson Street in Palo Alto to try them on in person.
