What are the best Halloween costumes for glasses wearers?
Halloween is the perfect time to get creative with costumes that work with your eyewear. If you want to embrace your frames and incorporate them into your costume, there are plenty of fun options for people with glasses.
From classic characters known for their signature eyewear to modern pop culture references, many costumes can highlight your glasses as part of the look.
Iconic characters with glasses
Iconic characters are a popular choice for Halloween costumes. And there are lots of iconic personalities with eyewear to choose from.
It’s easy to capture Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s well-known look when you wear glasses. An RBG costume comes together with a judge’s robe and a lace collar. Add a gavel and put your hair in a tight bun for the perfect finishing touches.
For iconic fictional characters, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus can bring some early festive cheer. Switch out your regular glasses for some half-moon-shaped glasses. To play Santa, complete the look with a fake padded belly, a white beard and a fur-trimmed red suit.
A Colonel Sanders costume features a white suit, black ribbon bow tie and signature browline glasses. Carrying a KFC bucket makes the costume even more fun.
Decades-inspired costumes with glasses
Travel back in time by dressing in a style easily associated with a specific decade. Step into the 1950s with a poodle skirt, cardigan and cat-eye glasses.
For a look from the 1960s, take inspiration from Holly Golightly’s character in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Wear your favorite pair of oversized sunglasses, a long black dress, long black gloves and a multistrand pearl necklace.
Create a John Lennon-inspired look for the 1970s with round wire-rimmed glasses, a peace sign and an all-white ensemble. You can even include your significant other with a coordinating Yoko Ono look.
Superhero alter egos with glasses
Superhero costumes are a timeless choice for Halloween, giving fans the chance to dress as their favorite comic book legends.
The Riddler from Gotham is easy to recognize with glasses, a bright green suit and a black bowler hat. Add a tie — and some question marks — to complete the look.
You can also dress up as Superman’s modern-day alter ego, Clark Kent, with dark square frames and a blue business suit.
Cartoon characters with glasses
Glasses often define a cartoon character’s look, turning them into fun and recognizable costume ideas. Some of the most well-known cartoon characters who wear glasses include:
- Mirabel from Encanto – Bright round glasses paired with a ruffled white top and long, flowy teal skirt make for an identifiable Mirabel costume.
- Edna Mode from The Incredibles – With her extremely oversized glasses, sharp bob and unforgettable fashion sense, Edna is an easy character to channel for a fun and stylish costume.
- Sadness from Inside Out – Big round glasses and a chunky white sweater capture Sadness’s lovable look.
- Smee from Peter Pan – Along with his loyalty to Captain Hook, Smee is known for his half-moon reading glasses, blue and white striped shirt, and red cap.
- Chuckie from Rugrats – Square purple glasses, messy red hair, a blue planet-print shirt and green shorts turn you into this lovable cartoon kid.
Quirky characters with glasses
For a unique costume, these quirky picks bring plenty of personality:
- Grandpa and grandma costumes – Pair your glasses with a gray wig, vintage clothes, a cane and orthopedic shoes to complete the classic elderly look.
- Nerd or librarian costume – Thick-rimmed frames paired with a plaid buttoned-up shirt and cozy cardigan capture the vibe.
- Mad scientist costume – Oversized safety goggles or glasses, wild hair, a lab coat and a rack of test tubes create this distinctive costume.
Book characters with glasses
Glasses-wearing book characters offer an almost endless supply of inspiration for Halloween costumes. Glasses often help define these characters, making it easy to bring them from the page to life.
Harry Potter is easy to spot with his round glasses and lightning bolt scar. Also from the world of Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore is remembered for his wisdom and leadership at Hogwarts. His half-moon spectacles, long beard and flowing robe make up his magical costume.
LEARN MORE: 16 best kids' books about wearing glasses
Movie characters with glasses
Film fanatics can choose from an array of movie characters for their costume. From classic comedies to nostalgic favorites, glasses often play a big role in shaping a movie character’s look.
Squints from The Sandlot never turns down a game of baseball with his friends. Create his look with thick black glasses, a backwards baseball cap and an oversized shirt. Napoleon Dynamite stands out with his aviator frames, blond curly hair and a “Vote for Pedro” T-shirt.
TV show characters with glasses
TV offers plenty of memorable characters whose glasses distinguish their style. These costumes can be put together easily to connect instantly to the shows you love.
Dwight Schrute from The Office is the ultimate rule follower with plenty of nerdy humor to spare. His look can be recreated with aviator glasses, a mustard-colored shirt, brown and gold tie, and a dark suit. Dwight’s signature outfit makes him a perfect Halloween choice for fans of the show.
Barbara “Barb” Holland from Stranger Things may not have had much screen time, but her vintage style makes her a standout choice for Halloween. Jeans, a plaid shirt and oversized transparent frames capture her memorable look.
READ MORE: Is this why Stranger Things' Vecna had cloudy eyes?
Historical figures with glasses
Many historical figures are remembered for their achievements as well as their distinctive glasses. Choosing one of these figures for Halloween is a creative way to celebrate the past.
Known as one of the Founding Fathers and the inventor of bifocal glasses, Benjamin Franklin makes for a fun and educational costume. Put on a balding gray wig, small round glasses and complete the historic look with a key attached to a kite.
A Rosa Parks costume is a great option for honoring an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Keep the look strong and understated with small wire-rimmed glasses, a pillbox hat, gingham dress, overcoat and handbag.
Tips for perfecting your glasses-inspired costume
After deciding which character or historic figure you want to be for Halloween, it’s time to put everything together. You can make your costume unique by taking inspiration from your favorite character and adding your own personal touches.
Choose the right frames for your character
Consider frame shape, size and color when choosing glasses for your costume. Vintage styles, such as cat-eye glasses, may work best for decades-inspired costumes. You can also experiment with tinted lenses or mirrored lenses for some extra flair.
Accessorize beyond the glasses
You'll want to have all the right accessories to complete your look. Put together a list of items that are easily recognizable for the person you're portraying. After all, it's the details that will set your costume apart from the rest. This should include makeup, jewelry, hats, scarves and any other props that will help you step into character.
Ensure your comfort while in costume
Remember to choose accessories that won't restrict your movement or cause discomfort. For example, masks or headpieces can make it challenging to wear glasses, so it may be better to avoid them. If you expect to be moving around a lot on Halloween, an eyeglass strap can help hold your frames in place.
Benefits of incorporating glasses into your costume
There are endless possibilities for a Halloween costume when you have the right pair of frames. The benefits are pretty good too:
Make use of what you already have
If you're among the millions of people who wear glasses, you may already have an important piece of your Halloween costume.
By using an existing pair of frames as part of your costume, you can save money on accessories and make your outfit more comfortable and practical. Plus, wearing glasses allows you to remain faithful to certain beloved characters.
Try a new Halloween look
If you’ve been thinking about trying a new frame style, Halloween is the perfect excuse to take the plunge. Find a character with the type of glasses you’ve had your eye on and build your costume around that.
You can also switch things up with a completely new persona that you create for yourself. Whatever you choose, there's no doubt that eyewear can take your costume to the next level.
What if you don’t already wear glasses?
If you don’t need vision correction, you can still dress up as a character who does! You can always get fake glasses with clear, non-prescription lenses to complete your look. Get ready for some spooky fun this Halloween season with your new costume.
