14 Goth Halloween Costume Ideas to Show Off Your Dark Side

Halloween is the perfect time to showcase your dark side by way of a goth Halloween costume, whether it's with moody makeup or gothic-inspired clothing and accessories. While you can invent your own goth Halloween costume idea, such as a gothic fairy with a latex bodysuit or a gothic princess in a jet-black dress, there are also many pop culture costumes that can apply.

Take Wednesday Addams, for example, who wears a black skater-style dress with a sharply pointed collar and braids. Just add smoky eyeshadow and a surprising twist with black lipstick, and you've pulled off the vibe with ease. Edward Scissorhands, on the other hand, can be achieved with a pile of messy, knotty dark hair; blade-adorned gloves; and plenty of leather in the form of chokers and belts. Even Snow White's classic look can be updated with a gothic twist. Choose to emphasize navy blue, black, and red rather than bright yellow and pile on fingerless leather gloves, combat boots, and fishnet tights.

Other ideas include a bohemian gothic fairy in a floaty dress with dramatic bell sleeves, long pendant necklaces, and Western leather boots and an edgy skeleton with plenty of black face paint and a pinstripe catsuit. You can even go for a broken-doll look with subtle Barbiecore elements that speak to the current zeitgeist (such as pink hair), but add black makeup that evokes the look of cracked porcelain.

Ahead, scroll through for a batch of ideas, then shop some essentials you'll need to have on hand to get most of these looks.