I've always loved Halloween costumes. When I was a kid, costumes were a chance to be someone else for a night. I took advantage of it, dressing as something - or someone - different every year.
The crazy part? Most of my favorite costumes were pulled straight out of my closet, including the one I’m going to share with you today! I loved coming up with an idea and putting together all the necessary elements using clothing and accessories I already owned.
What can I say? I’m a #Halloweenpurist – you won’t find me buying any pre-made costumes at discount stores come October!
And you shouldn’t either because putting together a costume in your own closet is easier than you think.
Here’s the secret: get the details right, get everything else close enough.
That was my approach to Rita Skeeter.
In 2012, Halloweenie Roast was a Harry Potter theme and, seeing that I was giving journalism one last try in my career, I decided to dress up as my favorite evil reporter from the series.
If you haven’t read the books or seen the movies, Rita Skeeter is a tabloid-style reporter for the wizarding world’s newspaper, The Daily Prophet, who delights in overexaggerating the smallest of details and bringing Harry Potter a lot of grief during his teen years.
In the books, she described as having red talon-like nails, wearing red lipstick aplenty and is never without her acid green quill. In the movies, she donned an acid green suit when we first meet her:
No offense to any costume designers from the film, but I wasn’t about to put together a hideous suit like this myself. I knew it’d only hang in my closet for years to come, unused.
Instead, I pulled together a few pieces of clothing I already had that made me look like a witchy newspaper reporter:

That’s a dressy top with a flippy black pencil skirt and some of my favorite Mary Jane’s. Oh, and a little book I made with the magic of the Internet. Not pictured: my favorite black blazer I regularly wear to work.
I also made sure to get Rita’s key details – her red glasses and acid green quill – correct so everyone knew who I was:

Bonus item: a beetle necklace, which is a call out to Rita’s Animangus – or the animal she is able to turn into, for you Muggles – utilized in the series to get her scoops!
Plus…I added a few additional details, like Rita’s scandalous posthumous biography on Albus Dumbledore, to round out my props. In the original version of my costume, I also included a Daily Prophet name badge and a copy of The Daily Prophet.
So how does this all come together for a Rita Skeeter costume?

Okay, the costume is awesome…but can we talk about this wall for a second?

Houston is FULL of amazing artists doing awesome work like this. This piece is by Pilot One of the FX Crew and is part of the Art Wall Houston, an 800-foot mural in the Washington Avenue Arts District with art from 14 artists. (Including one right next door to this owl with a jack-o-lantern and skull!)
When I saw this particular work featured on Wear + Where + Well’s Houston mural guide (thanks, Aryn, for sharing it with me!), I knew it would be the perfect backdrop for a few photos dressed up as one of my favorite Harry Potter characters.


I should note: crazy bangs are not a part of the Rita Skeeter look…they’re just a result of the unrelenting wind.

I worked really hard to perfect my best Rita Skeeter scowl…but I’m pretty sure I still look too nice.

Rita is best known for her scathing pieces that over-dramatize much of what’s actually happening in the novels…so I had to bust out one of my old reporter’s notebooks to take a few notes.



Sometimes when you’re the baddest witch reporter in town, you’ve got to make sure your work holds up.

Don’t worry – it does!


Okay, I couldn’t be totally serious the entire time I was Rita!
To this day, it is one of my favorite costumes I’ve ever worn.
![]()
So now I have a challenge for you…
What Halloween costume could you make using items in your closet?
Or better yet, what costumes have you made in the past? Share your stories in the comments and photos with me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook!
Happy haunting,

Special thank you to Amanda from AJG Photography Etc for taking these photos for me!
Want weekly Halloween treats in your inbox?
If you just can’t get enough October 31st in your life, join my email list – Treats Not Tricks. Every Friday I’ll send you one Halloween treat to enjoy. It’s the best way to make every day feel like Halloween all year long!



Jillian
I’ve got pieces to do a Nancy Drew costume that I can’t wait to use some year. I’ve got magnifying glass and a Nacy Drew box set liner (that can be used as a purse) to add the finishing touches. Now, I just need it to not be 1,000 degrees one year for Halloween.
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
So cool, Jillian! Fingers crossed for cool weather this year so you can rock your Nancy Drew ensemble.
Laura worley
Wow, That is Bloody Brilliant. I had some leftover items in my closet from when my oldest daughter was in school plays, so I have put together many odd or unique costumes over the years
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
Thanks, Laura! I bet you could come up with some awesome costumes with the goodies you have. :)
Dana Marie
I would totally know who you were, even without the green jacket, LOL! This turned out SO well!! <3
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
Thank you, Dana!
Chelsea Celaya
Nothing quite beats a closet costume where all the pieces were carefully selected! I absolutely love your take of Rita (and totally beats what they did to her in the films >P but then again, I have a lot of issues with the movies)!
My closet is…funny…because I love costuming and so already have a ton of costumes I made myself so throwing one together isn’t so challenging, but at the same time, probably cheating. ^^;;; I think if I was taking pieces I have to combine them into thing, I could do a female Beetlejuice. I made a black and white striped victorian blouse and skirt I made for one costume, but the blouse definitely has that Tim Burton flare to it and I could pair it with some black pants and winged heels I own for an impromptu look. :) I could also probably throw together a Morticia Addams inspired outfit with a black trumpet skirt I made for a spider costume and a fitted blouse I bought from a vintage-styles store. :D
I hope you share more costumes soon!
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
Ooooh, I love BOTH of those costume ideas, Chelsea! :) And having costumes already isn’t cheating – it’s smart!
Heidi K
I’m sorry I’m creeping on all your old entries, I’m trying to catch up on the whole blog but I’m not staying in order. I love this costume! Rita is such an underrated character and her look is so costume worthy. I’ve had it wrote down on my costume idea list for a while (it was inspired by a green beetle brooch I have) but I haven’t ever got around to it. This has reignited my desire to raid my closet of it’s best Rita attire! Stunning look.
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
Thanks so much, Heidi! I’m glad you’re enjoying some of the older posts I have. I really love this costume too. I’ve cleaned out my closet several times since wearing this…and always hang on to these pieces so I can wear Rita again.