This Halloween, dress up as a creative director 5 designers to dress up as for the scariest night of the year

Now that the spooky season is well and truly underway, it's time to think about what to wear to the inevitable Halloween party that will liven up our weekend. And dressing up for Halloween is always a hassle in 2026: the best kind of costume, after all, is not only the most homemade but also the most ironic. You can dress up as anything, especially when a tight budget sparks creativity — but if the Halloween in question is a party for fashion people, and given that brand creative directors have by now become full-blown celebrities, why not dress up as one of them?

We've put together a list of five famous designers to dress up as — all easy costumes, though depending on the character you choose, you'll probably need a wig or one of those hair color sprays. For the rest, dig through your drawers and get creative.

Here are five designers to dress up as for Halloween.

1. Jonathan Anderson

What you need: a blue crewneck sweater or a plaid shirt, a white t-shirt, Levi's 501s or any straight-fit jeans, a pair of Salomons, a canvas tote bag, cigarettes

Jonathan Anderson may well be the most stressed-out designer in fashion, but he also has enough self-awareness to know that his uniform has become instantly recognizable. So much so that, in the video made for Dior's collaboration with A24, several actors portrayed him wearing a version of the costume whose ingredients we've listed above. To complete your look, you'll need to keep your hands constantly in your pockets, draw some exhausted dark circles under your eyes with makeup, use a color spray for a quick (and temporary) blond look, and when you walk into a room, greet people the way he does at the end of every show — hunching your shoulders and doing a little side step.

2.      Alessandro Michele

What you need: a long beige trench coat, a brightly colored flannel shirt or wool sweater, a New York Yankees baseball cap, bootcut jeans, a pair of loafers (Gucci ones preferred), a statement necklace covered in gems and bracelets, oversized sunglasses, a chain-handle bag, a voluminous brunette wig, a fake beard

Among the most recognizable designers of all time, Alessandro Michele simply cannot be overlooked. Since his golden era at Gucci, Michele has not only established a precise and eccentric aesthetic for the house, but also a personal way of dressing in which ordinary vintage-wardrobe staples (flannel shirts, plaid blazers, trench coats, faded jeans) are mixed with more immediately precious pieces — vintage, refined jewelry, always subtly over the top — and of course the eternal loafer-and-jeans combo. Lately his looks have simplified, and we've seen contrasting basics and braided hair, though everything is still accompanied by jewelry and loafers. To complete the outfit, you might want to add a bag or bring along a friend who looks like Harry Styles or Jared Leto.

3.      Miuccia Prada

What you need: a Shetland wool crewneck sweater, a '50s/'60s tulip skirt or a pleated skirt, high heels (no excuses), very elegant vintage earrings and necklace, a stole draped over the shoulders or a silk pouch bag, natural or artificial hair worn brushed back without excessive formality

Dressing as Miuccia Prada is difficult for the simple reason that you really need to get the colors and the clothes right. The trickiest part of your look will usually be the jewelry, since the Signora is famously known for her collection of extraordinarily precious vintage pieces, including some stunning items from Van Cleef & Arpels. The jewelry paired with a sweater and skirt is something of the centerpiece of the look, though no one will recognize who you're supposed to be if you don't get the hair right. If heels prove uncomfortable, a nice pair of leather lace-ups will work just as well, and you can easily pair them with a long coat (bonus points if there's a beautiful brooch) or a classic leather jacket.

4.      Hedi Slimane

What you need: a very slim-fitting leather blouson or a pinstripe blazer equally slim, a slightly western-style shirt or a very understated crewneck tucked into the jeans, a western belt, skinny jeans, pointed black leather boots with a Cuban heel, a long thin scarf, cigarettes, and if you like, a wide-brimmed hat and a Rolls-Royce Corniche

This is simultaneously the easiest and the hardest costume. Easier because in recent years, in all his rare public sightings, Slimane has adhered very closely to a precise uniform. Harder because to dress like him you need to get the proportions exactly right, otherwise no one will know who you're supposed to be. There are possible variations on the costume listed above: during his Dior Homme era, Slimane's signature look was a blazer with a contrasting shirt and t-shirt underneath, worn with low-rise skinny jeans and slim white sneakers; but a leather jacket with a striped top underneath can also work. The beige scarf contrasting against the black-and-white look is essential, as is the belt — though a skinny tie is also acceptable. As for the hair, you'll need a mod cut, or one of those cap-with-wig combos to replicate his high forehead.

5.      Donatella Versace

What you need: a black leather outfit with gold accents, or a more or less long crystal-embellished cocktail dress (bonus points for a jungle print), multiple pieces of jewelry — strictly gold — platform heels or boots with a high heel regardless, a generously full blond wig, and makeup to match

Donatella Versace is a figure so deeply embedded in fashion iconography that we've had both a pop star doing her cosplay — Lady Gaga during the Artpop era — and an actress portraying her on the small screen, namely Penelope Cruz. Dressing as her for Halloween is practically a sure bet — everyone will recognize you — but the devil is in the details: beyond the blond hair, what really makes the costume work is more a certain attitude than any specific look, since Donatella herself has a personal style that never boils down to one precise uniform. Bonus points if you bleach your eyebrows.