How to dress and look like an old lady for Halloween

Fake aging can be done with makeup and clothing combined. To become an old lady you will need to use both. From head to toe the change must be dramatic but it need not be expensive. Thrifty costumers can embrace this idea as a good one. The transformation can be made with little effort and a little shopping.

Of course if you have plenty of money and want to spend a lot the sky is the limit. You can buy face masks and wigs as well as clothing and accessories and spend about as much as you would like to spend.

In either case you may get a real kick out of seeing the change which can be made in a person's face and body with the right series of choices. Those professonal make up artists have quite a fascinating profession and that's what you are taking a dabble in right now.

Instructions

Step 1

Thrift Store Shopping

Clothing can make the person appear to be something she isn't. So stop in at your local thrift shop and look for that out of date look. A nice but old and homey looking dress will do. A blouse which was really cute a few years ago on your Mom or neighbor combined with a sensible skirt will work well. You may want to add an apron, out of date earrings, necklace. Some plain and sturdy shoes could be a nice addition.Oh and your head could be topped with a nice head scarf or hat to add to the effect. For collecting candy and carrying anything you may need a good purse is commonly available for a dollar or two.

You will find these elements of your new identity at a thrift shop because they were too good to throw out and have been hanging in somebody's closet for years. That's just what you need for your transformation. For a few dollars you can completely outfit yourself from head to toe.

If you have one or more elderly relatives you may ask them if you can borrow an out of date outfit. Often a relative will be more than happy to loan or give you old clothes they feel are too good to throw out but too old and out of style to wear. This can be a really great option to check out if you have a friend or relative who is elderly.

Step 2

Hair aging

Old lady hair can be accomplished with corn starch or baby powder dusting the hair. Try it and you will see how effective it is! It's easily washed out of the hair afterwards so there is no need to be timid about it. Start at the part or the top of the head and then go to the temples and dust with the white powder. You will acheive a gray look fairly easily. Experiment with how much you want to use.

Those with long hair may want to swirl it up into a bun before you dust with powder. If you have a shorter hair cut you may just gray it with the powder.

Step 3

Wrinkles on the face

Do you want to be a happy old lady or a bitter old lady? You may choose and do makeup to accent either kind of face. Try standing in front of a mirror and making faces at yourself. When you have an idea of which you like then use eye liner pencil to make dark lines in the wrinkles that you see as you smile or frown at yourself. Start marking them around your mouth and then put some wrinkles on your forehead and your chin.

Step 4

The rest of the face makeup

Lipstick most likely should be in red or beige depending again on what your personality is going to become. A happy lady would have red lips to smile with and an unhappy one would have duller lips to snarl at passers by. Add a bit of blusher or rouge if you are a happy elderly gal or skip it and fade out the cheeks with some foundation if you are unhappy.

Eye makeup can be minimal. You may make additonal lines in wrinkles-to-be around the edges of the eyes. You don't need pretty colors of eye shadow or eye liner to accentuate the eyes. Some simple accents of a color a bit darker than the natural skin color should do it.

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Things Needed

Out of date clothing

Sensible shoes

Sensible jewelry

Sensible purse

Sensible head covering

Eye liner

Baby powder or cornstarch

A mirror

A smile or frown

Tips & Warnings

When you get done you may find you are looking at your mother or grandmother in the mirror!

Create a personality for your character either bitter or smiley.

Thrift or second hand stores are treasure troves when it comes to dressing up!

An elderly relative may have some stuff in her closets she would let you borrow.

photo by Jon Ovington

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