Red is the easiest colour to build a costume around. It is bold, it photographs well, and one red piece, whether a cloak, a dress or a jumpsuit, already tells people who you are.
These are 23 characters who are recognizable in red, for men and women, kids and adults. Each pick lists the key pieces, and the button under it opens the full guide with a shopping list. Prefer the dark side? See our all-black Halloween costumes, or go softer with pink Halloween costumes.
23 costumes that are red
1. Little Red Riding Hood
The red hooded cape is the whole costume. Wear it over a white blouse, a red skirt and a black corset belt, and carry a basket.
What you will need:
- Red hooded cape, red skirt, white blouse, black corset belt, net stockings, basket
2. Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff)
A red bustier and a long red leather trench coat over black leather pants and black boots. Red fingerless gloves finish the comic look.
What you will need:
- Red bustier, red leather trench coat, black leather pants, black boots, red fingerless gloves
3. Deadpool
The red-and-black bodysuit and full hood do most of the work. A utility belt, leg holsters, a pair of ninja swords and a toy pistol sell it.
What you will need:
- Deadpool bodysuit, hood, utility belt, gloves, leg holsters, ninja swords, toy pistol
4. Miss Scarlet (Clue)
The red dress is a cocktail dress, with red heels, red opera gloves, a red boa and a red headpiece. Pick a toy knife or a noose-rope tie as the weapon.
What you will need:
- Red cocktail dress, red heels, red gloves, red boa, red headpiece, toy knife
5. Jessica Rabbit
A sparkling red gown, long purple gloves and red heels, with a long wavy red wig. Purple eyeshadow and red lipstick complete the look.
What you will need:
- Sparkling red gown, purple gloves, red heels, gold earrings, long red wig, purple eyeshadow, red lipstick
6. Queen of Hearts
A red maxi skirt under a black puff-sleeve blouse, with a gold corset and gold sleeves. A white collar and a heart-shaped wig make it the Queen.
What you will need:
- Red maxi skirt, black puff-sleeve blouse, gold corset and sleeves, white collar, red heart-shaped wig
7. Carmen Sandiego
A knee-length red trench coat and a matching red fedora over black basics. The yellow scarf is what makes it Carmen.
What you will need:
- Red trench coat, red fedora, black sweater and pants, yellow scarf, black gloves, black boots
8. The Handmaid (The Handmaid's Tale)
A long red cloak with a white winged bonnet, worn with plain black boots. It is simple and instantly recognizable.
What you will need:
- Red cloak, white cloak hat, black boots
9. Money Heist (La Casa de Papel)
A red hooded jumpsuit over a grey undershirt, with the Salvador Dalí mask. Black boots and a toy rifle round out the robber crew.
What you will need:
- Red hooded jumpsuit, grey undershirt, Salvador Dalí mask, boots, toy rifle
10. Ken Masters (Street Fighter)
A red sleeveless karate gi with matching pants, a long black belt and black fingerless gloves. A short blond spiky wig is the finishing touch.
What you will need:
- Red sleeveless karate gi, long black belt, black fingerless gloves, short blond spiky wig
11. Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly)
An all-red suit with a red balaclava, red gloves and red knee-high boots, plus a blue sleeveless hoodie with a spider logo over the top.
What you will need:
- Red bodysuit, blue sleeveless spider hoodie, red balaclava, red gloves, red knee-high boots, black web belt
12. Red Ranger (Power Rangers)
Red tights with a white belt, white gloves and white boots, topped with the Red Ranger helmet. A sword replica adds the finishing touch.
What you will need:
- Red tights, white belt, white gloves, white boots, red helmet, sword replica
13. Elmo
The easiest red costume on the list: a red sweatshirt, red joggers and red sneakers. Add a cap, or buy the plush full-body set for toddlers.
What you will need:
- Red sweatshirt, red joggers, red sneakers, cap, toddler plush costume set
14. Ladybug (Miraculous)
A red leotard dotted with black spots, red shoes and a red eye mask. A blue wig, a red ribbon and a yo-yo make it Ladybug.
What you will need:
- Red leotard, black dots, red shoes, red eye mask, red ribbon, blue wig, earrings and yo-yo
15. Mushu (Mulan)
A red long-sleeve shirt, red sweatpants and red sneakers with yellow felt for the belly, a red tail and a Mushu hat.
What you will need:
- Red shirt, red sweatpants, red sneakers, yellow felt belly, red tail, Mushu hat
16. Among Us Crewmate
A red jumpsuit with red sneakers and gloves, an astronaut helmet painted red, and a red square backpack.
What you will need:
- Red jumpsuit, red sneakers, red gloves, astronaut helmet, red backpack
17. Melisandre (Game of Thrones)
A dark red gown with a red cloak and scarf, dark red boots, a long dark red wig and the red jewelled necklace.
What you will need:
- Dark red gown, red cloak, red scarf, red boots, dark red wig, red necklace
18. Ming the Merciless (Flash Gordon)
A red medieval tunic and red silk pants under a flowing red robe, with red boots, a bald cap and a fake beard and mustache.
What you will need:
- Red tunic, red silk pants, red robe, red boots, bald cap, fake beard
19. Imperial Guard (Star Wars)
A red tunic, red leather pants, red boots and red gloves with the Imperial Guard helmet and a force pike.
What you will need:
- Red tunic, red leather pants, red boots, red gloves, helmet, force pike
20. Red Death (Phantom of the Opera)
A red robe with puff sleeves over a red shirt and red harem pants, with red shoes, a red hat and a white skull mask.
What you will need:
- Red robe, red shirt, red harem pants, red shoes, red hat, skull mask
21. Ada Wong (Resident Evil)
A red dress with a black choker, black tights and heels, a leg holster and her short wig.
What you will need:
- Red dress, black choker, black tights, black heels, leg holster, short wig
22. Chili Pepper
A full red pepper jumpsuit, or a red onesie or sweatpants with a red pepper hat and a green stem.
What you will need:
- Red pepper jumpsuit, red onesie, red pepper hat
23. Mayor Pauline (Super Mario)
A red tank top under a red pantsuit with heels, a brooch, gold bangles and teardrop earrings.
What you will need:
- Red tank top, red pantsuit, heels, brooch, gold bangles, earrings
Wearing red? Make it stand out
A red costume works best with one strong red shade used everywhere, so the outfit looks planned instead of mismatched. Keep the rest neutral (black, white or gold) and let the red pieces do the talking. If you want a red dress, Ada Wong and Mayor Pauline are two more ideas.
Want more ideas? Browse the full character lists, or start from a franchise you like.
Want a different colour? Try Black, Pink, Orange, Blue, Green, Purple, Yellow, White, Gold, Silver, Black & White, Rainbow, Neon, Brown.
