Halloween accessories: 6 pieces that turn a dress into a costume
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year – 31 October, two weeks from now. If you moved to Tallinn recently, here is the local reality: nobody will knock on your door for sweets, but your office, your co-working space and half the bars in the Old Town will throw a party, and the invitation will say something vague like „costumes welcome“. You have a black dress in the wardrobe and no plan. Good news: you do not need a full costume. One accessory turns a black dress into a costume; two accessories turn it into a character.
We are the Kostüümirent team, and every late October we see the same pattern: dresses get booked early, headpieces, gloves and wings go in the last week. The reason is simple – an accessory is small, needs far less fitting than a dress and still works when the party theme is announced on Thursday. Below are the six pieces we recommend most, plus three ready-made combinations that all work with the same black dress.
The rule before everything else: one head, one hand, one body
A Halloween look starts to feel cheap the moment there are too many accessories. Our rule of thumb: choose up to three zones – head (headpiece, hat, wig), hands (gloves) and body (wings, belt, shoulder piece) – and let only one of them be big. If the wings are on, keep the head calm; if there is a crown on your head, one pair of long gloves is enough. Everything else – make-up, nails, lipstick – is the free extra you already know how to do.
Second rule: the accessory has to live with the dress, not fight it. A black dress is the ideal canvas. If what you own is red, gold or silver instead, have a look at our winter party dress trends post first – it explains which textures work together.
1. Headpiece: a crown, a beret or a fur hat
The head is the first place people look and the only zone that stays visible when you are standing at the bar or sitting at a dinner table. That is why we suggest starting here.
The Emerald Crown headband is a baroque-style band covered in emerald stones and gold beads. With a black dress it gives an instant „evil queen“ feeling without anything else; the elastic band keeps it in place on the dance floor. The Paris After Dark hat is a black quilted beret with crystals – the quietest option if the evening is more dinner than costume party: half Paris, half vampire. The Angelina hat is a voluminous faux-fur hat that turns a black dress into a winter queen or a Russian aristocrat in one move – and keeps you warm if the party spills into a courtyard.
Emerald Crown headband 
Paris After Dark hat 
Angelina hat
Pictured (from left): Emerald Crown headband, Paris After Dark hat, Angelina hat.
2. Gloves: long and crystal-covered, or fingerless and leather-look
Gloves are the accessory most people never think of for Halloween, which is exactly why they work. Long gloves make any dress an evening dress; fingerless gloves add a rock-and-roll, slightly dangerous finish.
The So Glam gloves are long black satin-look gloves covered in shimmering crystals – the base of a gothic femme fatale or witch look, with a short or a long dress. The Wild Ride gloves are black glossy leather-look fingerless gloves with straps, buckles and studs: biker, rock star or „the evil version of yourself“. The Red Rebel gloves are bright red fingerless gloves with a heart-shaped cut-out – a little devil or a queen of hearts, as long as the dress is black and the lipstick matches the red.
So Glam gloves 
Wild Ride gloves 
Red Rebel gloves
Pictured (from left): So Glam gloves, Wild Ride gloves, Red Rebel gloves.
3. Wings, a wig and a belt: when you want to be noticed
These three are the „big“ accessories – each one carries a look on its own. Pick one, not all of them.
The Sweetest Angel wings are large white multi-layered feather wings. With a white dress you are an angel, with a black dress a fallen angel – and the second one is always more interesting on Halloween. The Spaced Out Buns wig is a silver metallic straight wig with two buns; with sequins or metallics you get a space character, with a black dress something from the future. The Holo belt is a high-waisted glossy holographic belt that shapes the waist and catches every light – on a plain black dress it is the fastest way to look „futuristic“ without a single other detail.
Sweetest Angel wings 
Spaced Out Buns wig 
Holo belt
Pictured (from left): Sweetest Angel wings, Spaced Out Buns wig, Holo belt.
4. Hats: pearls or cowboy
A hat is the headpiece's easier sister: no hairstyle needed, on and off in five seconds, and it works for men too. The Pearl Brim hat is a black wide-brim hat with rich pearls and silver details – a widow, a witch or simply a very elegant guest, depending on how dark you go with the make-up. The Cowgirl Noir hat and the Cowgirl Tan hat are black and brown cowboy hats with a silver-decorated band – the easiest couple's costume when your partner „doesn't do costumes“: one hat each, and that is all you need. More ideas for two are in our couples costume post.
Pearl Brim hat 
Cowgirl Noir hat 
Cowgirl Tan hat
Pictured (from left): Pearl Brim hat, Cowgirl Noir hat, Cowgirl Tan hat.
Three ready-made combinations with one black dress
If you would rather not think about it, take one of these three. Each row is one character, all of them work with the same black dress, and every accessory is available to rent in the shop.
Character | Accessories | Best for |
Evil queen | Emerald Crown headband + So Glam gloves | An office party where costumes are „encouraged“ – elegant even without a theme |
Fallen angel | Sweetest Angel wings + dark make-up | A costume party or a club night where you want to be noticed in the photos |
Rock star after midnight | Wild Ride gloves + Cowgirl Noir hat | A party with friends, a concert, or a couple's look with your partner |
Checklist: accessories on the night
Try the whole outfit with your coat on. Wings and a big headpiece come off before you step outside, or the coat stays open – late October in Tallinn usually means 5–8 degrees and wind.
Taxis and wings. Get in sideways, or carry the wings and put them on at the venue. The same goes for an Angelina-sized hat in a car.
Hairpins and clips. A headband and a wig stay put much better when your hair is pinned underneath. Bring your own pins; do not count on the venue.
Gloves and your phone. Touchscreens do not work with long gloves – they do with fingerless ones. Choose accordingly if you plan to take photos all night.
Return. The standard rental period is up to 3 days, so a Saturday party fits comfortably. Cleaning is on us – return the accessories exactly as they are after the party.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent an accessory without renting a dress?
Yes. Headpieces, gloves, wings, wigs and hats are listed as separate products in the shop and can be rented on their own if you already have the dress. The price on the product page is for a 3-day rental period.
Can I try a headpiece or a wig on first?
Yes. Fittings take place at our showroom in Tallinn (Krulli 2b, room 412) by prior arrangement – book a time via Instagram or e-mail. In Halloween week we recommend booking early.
How quickly can I get the accessory?
From the showroom by arrangement, or by courier and parcel locker anywhere in Estonia. We usually ship items the day before the event; details are on the delivery page.
Do I need to clean the gloves or wings before returning them?
No. Kostüümirent takes care of cleaning. Return the items as they are after the party.
What if the party is cancelled?
A booking can be cancelled up to 72 hours before the rental period starts. The full terms are on the rental terms page, and other questions are answered in the FAQ.
Where to start
Browse the accessories, headwear and wigs in the shop, choose your zone and come and try things on – or order straight to your door. If you are not sure a headpiece suits your dress, send us a photo of the dress on Instagram and we will tell you what works.
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