When it comes to Halloween, there are those who plan their costumes months in advance, and there are those who leave their decision-making for the night before the spooky holiday. Even those who plan, however, can get caught unprepared—whether you’re invited to an additional party or your office decides to wear costumes to work—with no costume on hand. In fact, it’s likely we’ve all been there: It's two nights before Halloween, and you're invited to a last-minute party. It's too late to run to the costume store, so you're forced to make do what you have in your wardrobe. There's one item we all have hanging in our closets that is not only an everyday wardrobe staple but also conveniently lends itself to many a costume: a black dress.
Little inspiration is needed to quickly transform into some of the most iconic women and characters of our day. Whether you're hoping to look feminine and feisty à la Victoria Beckham, queen of posh, channel your inner witch per Wednesday Addams, or become a veritable fashion icon like the Olsen sisters, your black dress is a versatile Halloween superpower.
Scroll through to find 10 easy Halloween costumes with black dresses, from starlets to literary characters, singers and more—and never be caught unprepared for Halloween again.
