This weekend, I decided to tackle a fun Halloween project: creating a Marie Antoinette-inspired look. Starting with a basic wig, I'm going to show you how to add some personal flair with flowers, pearls, and feathers, channeling the iconic style seen in the movie.
Tackling the Wig
So, I have jet black hair with a gray stripe, and I picked up this platinum blonde wig. The wig itself is a bit see-through, so I used a German hairspray called "Graphite" to cover my natural hair. It makes your hair really stiff, and honestly, you could use this to create that 1700s look without a wig if you wanted. Marie Antoinette was known for her super high hair, and you can definitely get away with a lot of volume, especially if you've seen the movie with Kirsten Dunst.
I did some digging, and finding a good Marie Antoinette wig can be tough. I tried on a few, but they were either too heavy or just didn't look right. So, I'm going to modify this one. You know how it is with Halloween costumes – what you see online isn't always what you get. This wig looked amazing in the picture, but when it arrived, it was a bit of a mess with tendrils sticking out. Don't worry if yours looks like this; we can fix it. We can pin things up, clip them off, and add more hair where needed. This one looked a little thin in one spot, so I'll be adding some hair there. I'm also going to remove these bows that came with it because they're not really my style.
Key Takeaways
- Wig Modification is Key: Don't be afraid to alter a wig to fit your vision.
- Cover Your Natural Hair: Use hairspray or a cap to hide your real hair color.
- Accessorize Creatively: Flowers, pearls, and feathers can transform a basic wig.
Adding Personal Touches
I've got my glue gun ready to add some pretty roses from the craft store. I also picked up some butterflies and pearls to weave into the hair. And for a dramatic flair, a beautiful white feather. Instead of a typical masquerade mask, I'm going for a black lace look, similar to what Kirsten Dunst's character wore in the movie. I've made a simple lace mask with elastic so it can be worn under the wig.
I also found this cool piece of tool in a makeup kit that could work as a mask too, just by tweaking the sides. It's a bit different from the usual masquerade masks, and I like that.
Styling the Wig
First, I'm snipping off those bows. Be careful not to cut too much of the wig's hair, as they're attached. You can always use the bows for something else, like decorating shoes or other parts of your costume.
I didn't spray my entire head; I left some of my natural black hair showing on the sides. If I were going for a full period look without a wig, I'd spray everything to make it stiff and easier to tease and pin into shape. You can create those tight pin curls if you want that specific look.
I'm not totally in love with a few bits on this wig, so I'm going to cut them off and re-glue them. You want as much hair as possible, so I'll be adding some extra hair to the back where it looks a bit thin. Using a mannequin head really helps to see where the wig needs more volume and how to glue and pin the extra hair in place. We're not aiming for the highest wig ever, just modifying it to look great and capture that historical vibe.
I'm going to add a rose right on the front of the right side, securing it with the glue gun. Then, another rose on the other side. Have fun with this part! If you want to add more hair, remember that synthetic hair can melt if you use a curling iron. A good trick is to use velcro curlers, dip the wig in boiling water for about 15-20 seconds, then take it out and blow-dry it. This will help hold the curl, but be careful not to leave it in the water too long, or it might melt.
I'm adding a butterfly underneath the roses and then some pearls. You can really tease the hair up with a comb to get that big, voluminous look. It takes some work, but it's worth it. After teasing, I'll spray it to hold everything in place.
Assembling the Full Look
I'm clipping these pearls off their original string to glue them under the flowers for an extra touch. It can get a bit messy with the glue gun and synthetic hair sticking everywhere, so precision is key.
I'm adding a cluster of pearls right under the flowers for some added interest. Then, I'll place this beautiful feather in the back. Now, I've got the wig on. I sprayed the front to cover my dark hair, aiming for that gray and white look underneath. You always have to position synthetic wigs carefully. You can tease and hairspray it further, or roll pieces back if you want them to frame your face differently. It's easier to adjust when it's on your head.
I love the roses and the butterfly. I'll secure the butterfly a bit more. Since I'm doing the lace mask, I don't need to worry too much about my eyebrows. Ideally, you'd put the mask on before the wig, but for demonstration, I'm showing you the wig first. The lace mask will be tucked underneath, tweaked on the sides to look like a mask. It's important that you can see through it easily, so don't use a super tight lace.
Even though my costume is blue and gold, the black lace mask will look really striking. I'll adjust the points of the mask near my ears later. Lots of hairspray will be used to make the hair big and full. I don't mind if the curls lose their shape; the goal is volume.
The Costume Details
When you order costumes online, they often don't look exactly like the pictures. This wig arrived looking like a big, flat mop, but after adding flowers, pearls, a butterfly, and a feather, it's coming together. I'm still tweaking it a bit.
My costume itself is adorable. It zips up the back and has lovely lace details, bows, and a cameo in the front. However, it was a bit too short. To fix this, I got a drop-waist petticoat that I can adjust to the perfect length. Avoid short petticoats, as they can make the costume ride up.
I also got these great opaque thigh-highs with ruffle trim and white bows. For accessories, I'm adding choker pearls and some white stiletto pumps. Gold or pearl earrings would also work well.
I'll put on the full outfit now so you can see how it all comes together. The costume is super cute, and with the petticoat and thigh-highs, it looks great. I'll be spraying the wig more to make it really big and fresh for Halloween.
It's amazing how much modification a wig can need. This one started as a flat mess, but with some added flowers, pearls, a butterfly, and a feather, it's transforming. The lace mask will be worn under the wig, tweaked on the sides for a cool effect, just like in the movie. I'm using elastic to secure it, making it comfortable and effective. I hope you enjoyed this transformation and get inspired to create your own unique look!
