The ongoing popularity of monsters and demons made famous in numerous Hollywood movies have helped to make a vampire costume among the most beloved choices for Halloween and masquerade parties. Count Dracula, perhaps the world’s most famous official vampire, was such a suave and cunning character that dressing up in homage to his personality has been a favorite costume choice for children and adults of all ages. It’s easy to create a vampire costume without spending a lot of money and by using many items you may already have in your closets.
Black slacks, a black suitcoat or blazer and a white dress shirt form the basis of the vampire costume. If these items aren’t already part of your wardrobe, check out local thrift stores or weekend garage and rummage sales to pick up each item for a few dollars. Vintage suits with wide lapels are the most preferable to give the costume an authentic European look.
Find a remnant piece of either black velvet or satin fabric and another in the same size that is silk or cotton that is red or crimson in color. This piece of fabric should be long enough to go over your shoulders as a cape without being so long that your feet get tangled up in it while walking. Sew both pieces together so that one side is black and the other side is red for a more dramatic effect. Sew a length of black or red ribbon onto the top two corners of the fabric in order to allow you to tie your cape around your shoulders with the black side facing out.
Instead of wearing a traditional tie, use a length of broad red ribbon around your collar and either tie it or pin it into place with an old piece of jewelry such as an ornate broach and affix this right at the first button on the shirt.
Visit a local costume shop to find wax teeth, candy vampire teeth or prosthetic teeth featuring traditional vampire fangs to give your face a more authentic look so you will surprise other party guests when you smile and show off your fangs. Purchase a white face makeup or white powder to apply to your face, neck and hands in order to give your overall appearance the pallor of death. Rim your eyes with black eye shadow and rim the inside of your eyes red for an effective ghoulish look. Using a red lipstick liner, line your lips and create a few drops of blood coming down one side of your lips, as though you had just finished a blood cocktail.
Finish achieving your vampire costume look by giving your hair a temporary black dye job, accented by a streak of white. You can either slick your hair back or tease it so it looks as full and glamorous as possible. Wear black satin slippers to complete your vampire costume and practice saying “I vant to drink your blood!”
Watch a few old Dracula movies to get the feel of how the Count walked, talked and moved smoothly across the room and you are ready to try out your vampire costume at the party!