7 Iconic Witches and How to Get the Look for Your Halloween Party
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Forget the ghouls, ghosts, swamp creatures and things that lurk under the bed of all the scary otherworldly monsters found in books, books, movies and TV - witches are the most disturbing by a mile.
Over the decades, witches have played a central role in the horror film or television genre and come in all sorts of spine-tingling shapes or sizes.
The witch's unfortunate spiritual presence, coupled with a distorted look that can have even the toughest of us cowering under the covers, makes witches a formidable supernatural force.
With October 31st fast approaching, here we explore seven of the world's most iconic witches and think about how you can achieve the look for your Halloween party.
Witch - In the forest
Okay, maybe it's a Disney musical , but Meryl Streep's witch portrayal deserves an honorable mention simply because of the sly weirdness she injected into the role.
The film itself is more or less a satirical Disney remake of a Disney original - which gives it a truly offbeat quality - and there's just something about Meryl's witch that will haunt you long after the credits roll.
Get the look: Use a healthy dose of product to add texture and volume to your hair, wearing occult jewelry and a classic black dress.
Witches -The Witches
No one could bridge the gap between entertaining children's tales and sweat-inducing adult pictures like Roald Dahl . And Witches are no exception.
The film adaptation of the author's scariest story, The Witches , features a host of ugly, creepy, and incredibly menacing witches. Although The High Witch is probably the scariest of the bunch, this collective of evil women still haunts me as an adult - a real Halloween party head-turner.
Get the look: Go for as much alternative glamor as possible, from the neck down, opting for gothic or vintage accents, getting a bald cap or prosthetic nose for the face and head.
Asa Vajda - The Mask of the Demon
Barbara Steele is without a doubt one of the most ruthless and vengeful witches the world has ever seen.
A beautiful woman, goth from head to toe , when Barbara's character, Asa Vajda , returns from the grave in search of blood, a transformation occurs, an unhealthy metamorphosis that will literally make your hair stand on end.
The amazing thing about Asa Vajda is the fact that throughout the film she is cool and creepy in equal proportions - which is not easy to achieve in any book.
Get the look: Wear a skeletal top, a flowing black coat, and bring your best gothic glamor to the party. Give yourself a pale complexion with your makeup combination and wear down your hair for maximum witchy impact.
Meg Mucklebones – Legend
The slight but frightening return of the swamp witch, Meg Muckelberry's presence in Ridley Scott's 1985 The Legend , is nothing short of legend.
While Tom Cruise, who played the hero Jack in the film, managed to appease Muckleberry with flattery, his grotesque features alone are enough to strike fear into anyone who crosses his path.
Get the Look: If you're looking to stock up on Muckleberry, we recommend getting your costume now - you might need to go to a fancy costume store for that one!
The Blair Witch – The Blair Witch Project
Often, it's what we don't see that sticks to us the most.
As you probably know, The Blair Witch never makes a physical appearance during the project. Instead, we are left to our own imagination , letting our fears get the better of us until we are rocking back and forth in a fit of frenzy....
Get this look: A conceptual Halloween party outfit, you can go as one of Blair Witch's victims (a wool hat, snot and a camera will do the trick) or you can go wild and wear something subtle but sinister – creating an element of mystery about your costume until the very end of the party.
Haggis - Pumpkinhead
It's not often that the main character in a horror film is scarier than the main monster, but that's certainly the case in Pumpkinhead.
The classic witch in the woods, Haggis by Florence Schauffler is truly terrifying . Not only is she demonic and bloodthirsty , but if you look at her face for too long, you'll probably cry or vomit. A true icon of the witching world.
Get the look: Use a bedhead type product to make your hair look dirty and unkempt, using makeup or face paint to make your face look distorted and wrinkled. Get a worn and distressed vintage dress and accessories, with long nails to complete the wicked witch in the woods aesthetic.
Bathsheba Sherman – The Conjuring
The Conjuring will make you lose sleep , especially since it is based on a true story that sends chills down your spine.
Essentially, Bathsheba Sherman is like Regan Macneil's demon on steroids, in witch form. Yes, if you haven't seen The Conjuring, prepare to hold on to your hat.
The story of The Conjuring is so incredibly dark , and the way it is portrayed in the film is so disturbing, that Bathsheba Sherman is one of the scariest witches the world has ever seen and is likely to see.
Get the look: Wild hair, a Victorian nightgown, demonic contact lenses, a little fake blood and the desire to scare everyone in the party - that should be enough.
“I don’t know if I have a fascination with witches per se – maybe I just have a fascination with all things weird.” -Rob Zombie
Halloween is the time to embrace the weird and spooky. Unleash your inner demons, drawing inspiration from our inventory of iconic witches, and for additional tips, check out our selection of spooky and devoted witch clothing.
Which witch will you choose?
Let us know in the comments, or visit us on Facebook to join the conversation.
