Moulin Rouge Halloween Costumes

The hit musical film Moulin Rouge came along in 2001, and ever since that time, women wanting fabulous Halloween costumes have looked to some of the amazing Moulin Rouge costumes for inspiration. The real Moulin Rouge is in the Pigalle red-light district in Paris, and got its name from the red windmill (translation: moulin rouge) on top of the building.

The “saloon girl” and can-can dancer are always popular costume choices for Halloween parties because they're flattering and can be quite beautiful.

The can-can dancer dresses from the movie are actually quite a bit tamer than the original French designs. One of the most fun things about the costume is the wonderful layers of petticoats underneath. They swirl wonderfully when you walk or dance, and the silhouette is flattering on almost all figures. Paired with a corset top, the effect is that of the classic hourglass shape.

If you're creating Moulin Rouge costumes DIY, then you can search out petticoats at charity thrift shops and other second-hand shops. You'll want to give them a good wash in hot water before wearing them, but chances are you'll get them without spending much at all.

If you buy from a costume shop, you'll spend around $50 to $100, which is still not a lot as far as great Halloween costumes go.

You'll also want a feathered headpiece, which you may have to get at a costume shop, unless you're skilled at decorating hats, in which case you could easily find the ingredients necessary at thrift shops and retailers for very little money.

Additionally, you'll need a corset top and sexy fishnet or striped stockings.Wear plain black heels, or else Victorian boots (which you can probably incorporate into your everyday wardrobe as well). A lovely velvet choker, and some long, fingerless gloves will finish off this great costume in style.

Another take on Moulin Rouge costumes is the Satine costume that includes a black camisole with fringe “skirt” and associated accessories. Start with a black lacy tank or camisole and make a short skirt with longer tux tail in back out of stretchy, glittery material. This is a matter of sewing the skirt material to the tank top and making it longer in back. Sew fringe (black, white, or silver) around the hem of the skirt. You can use a hot glue gun to add sequins onto the straps of the top. Add black gloves, fishnet stockings, black high heels, and a top hat. You can glam up the top hat by creating a jeweled band for it out of sequined ribbon, or by hot gluing sequins in a band around it. You'll want to wear black satin shorts or tap pants, and some sparkly earrings to complete the look.

As for makeup, the key to getting the Moulin Rouge look right is focusing on eyes and lips. It doesn't matter if you don't have pale skin like Nicole Kidman in the movie. Even if you have dark skin, you'll get the right look as long as you go for smoky eye makeup, with gray or bronze eye pencil all the way around the eye, and black eyeliner on the top lid. Lipstick should be red. You may have to experiment with shades of red to get it just right, but there's a red for everyone, and Moulin Rouge costumes demand it.

Moulin Rouge costumes make for some of the sexiest, most fun Halloween looks out there!