The Midnight Pumpkin Blog

If you are planning to be the one and only Mistress of the Dark, Elvira, then read on for the Elvira cosplay guide with details on where to get the best costume, wig and makeup tips.

The Elvira Costume

The Elvira dress I wear is by Rubies Costumes. Rubies is honestly not known for their quality, but this Officially Licensed Elvira dress is an exception. It’s incredibly well made with a thick, slightly stretchy fabric and fits perfectly, true-to-size.

Click her for the Elvira Costume on Amazon

It has a very deep V in front, much deeper than the company’s costume photo! It practically goes to my belly button. Elvira is known for her cleavage, but if you want to show a tiny bit less of yours, you can add a few stitches or a safety pin. (which is what I did)

The long bell sleeves have finished jagged edges, and end at just the right length. The dress has a very high front slit, but it also has attached bottoms! So, the top part fits like a leotard.

The dagger is plastic but looks pretty decent. The only “cheap” looking part of the costume is the belt, which is faux leather and might need a little adjusting to fit right. A corset would also look nice instead of the belt.

The Best Elvira Wig

After ordering several different wigs, I went with the Big Bouffant Beehive Wig by Linfairy. This wig looks good right out of the bag and has held its shape for several years.

The bouffant is solid and made into the wig, so you don’t have to stuff it or style it.

Click here for the Elvira Wig on Amazon

Elvira’s Iconic Makeup

I actually read Elvira’s book, Yours Cruelly, Elvira: memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark, and I was hoping they would talk more about how they came up with her look and makeup. But it was a pretty short mention and no explanation about what inspired the pink and blue stripe eye makeup.

Most of Elvira’s look is in the eye makeup, with the heavy lining continuing into the inner corners. There’s also that pop of white added to the inner corners, and a beauty mark under her right eye.

The eye makeup is a fuchsia pink all around the outside, and a stripe of baby blue up the center. The eye shadow extends up above her eyebrows and onto her forehead.

She also had bright red lips and sculpted cheekbones with prominent blush.

I add a little bit of the Clown White and mix it with my foundation to lighten the color, because Elvira tends to be a bit pale from all that time in the dark.

And the other main detail is that she draws her eyelashes on as well as wears false lashes. Extra big lashes are a must!

Watch me putting on my Elvira makeup:

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The Mistress of the Dark

Elvira, whose real name is Cassandra Peterson, is an American actress, singer, and television personality best known for her character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

Elvira became a pop culture icon in the 1980s as the host of the television show “Elvira’s Movie Macabre,” where she introduced and provided commentary on B-grade horror movies. Her character, known for her gothic, vampy appearance—with a black bouffant hairstyle, heavy makeup, and a revealing black dress—became synonymous with campy horror.

Elvira’s persona is a blend of horror, comedy, and sex appeal, and she quickly became a beloved figure in the horror community. Beyond her TV show, Cassandra Peterson expanded Elvira’s brand to include movies, comic books, merchandise, and even a Halloween costume line. Her self-deprecating humor, witty one-liners, and playful attitude helped make Elvira a household name, especially during the Halloween season.

Elvira has remained a significant figure in pop culture, and Cassandra Peterson has continued to embody the character for decades, making appearances at conventions, on television, and in various media.