How to Make a Betty Boop Halloween Costume in 4 Easy Steps

Betty Boop Halloween costumes are among the most popular Halloween costume trends for women year after year, but you don't have to purchase a pre-packaged costume to look like this famous cartoon character. Betty Boop's signature look can be replicated with a few basic accessories and some simple hair and makeup tricks. If you want to make your own Betty Boop Halloween costume, just follow these four easy steps:

Step 1: Betty's red dress. Betty Boop usually wears a short red dress with either a polka dot scarf around her neck or other simple accessories. You'll need a form-fitting red dress that ends above the knee with a v-cut bodice. Look for something made out of stretch cotton or a jersey-knit material to replicate the Betty Boop look.

Step 2: Betty Boop hair. Betty Boop's hair is one of her key features, so if you don't have a short bob that you can sculpt and style with an exaggerated flip and middle part, you'll need to wear a wig. Look for a wig made of thick hair that you can flat iron and curl outward to create Betty's famous 'flip'. You may need some extra hairspray and rollers to create the large curls.

Step 3: Betty's shoes. High-heeled Mary Jane pumps that match the dress are the best pick for Betty Boop's shoes. Look for closed-toe shoes in glossy patent leather red or a simple black shoe with a high heel. Stick with the thicker heels if you plan to wear your Betty Boop Halloween costume for a long night ahead.

Step 4: Betty Boop makeup. Betty Boop's makeup consists of light foundation to create a 'doll-like' appearance, eyelash extensions or false eyelashes, dark eyeliner around the eyes, and bold red lip color. Experiment with the '40s makeup palette so that you can recreate Betty's signature look. You want to create a flawless finish with your foundation, so stick with a liquid foundation followed by a dusting of powder to keep it in place.

And that's it! If you can replicate Betty Boop's dress, hair, shoes and makeup, you head out to the Halloween party and other Halloween events looking just like the famous cartoon character. Keep in mind that Betty Boop's signature look is the short red dress, but she's appeared in cartoons as a nurse, angel, sailor and biker.

If you decide to sport a Betty Boop Halloween costume with a particular theme, you can add other accessories such as a feather boa, a black top hat, fishnet stockings, oversized sunglasses or a hair scarf for variation.