Non-Obvious and Easy Pop Culture Vampire Costumes

September 29, 2019 5:45 PM

I have been invited to a What We Do in the Shadows themed party, and I have been instructed to dress as one of the undead. What are some easy/cute/comfy ways do do that?

I'm a woman with short hair and glasses if that helps. The easier the better - anything that is fairly recognizable on sight to a pretty nerdy crowd would be great, too. Thanks, AskMe, for helping me be a better vampire.

posted by superlibby to Society & Culture (13 answers total)

Have you seen the show? The gal who is in Booksmart becomes one of the undead and she's basically paler than usual, dark circles under her eyes, sort of nerdy outfit (backpack) and two puncture marks on the neck might do it. This can be accentuated with darker hair. You can make very simple fangs with fake nails and denture adhesive.
posted by jessamyn at 6:03 PM on September 29, 2019

Casual Prince?
posted by bleep at 6:03 PM on September 29, 2019

Mavis from Hotel Transylvania - she has short hair, black dress and black and red striped stockings! Easy!
posted by latch24 at 6:06 PM on September 29, 2019

So, my go-to halloween costume is "pajamas, but a costume", so I say you get either the cutiest or the vampiest pjs you can find, wear slippers, put a little blood in the corner of your mouth, and explain you just got up. Obviously if you were an actual coffin-sleeping vampire you wouldn't NEED a sleep mask pushed up like a headband, but I would go to Tuesday Morning or the internet and either find a blingy one or get a plain black one and find some vampy/halloweeny stickers or patches to put on it.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:46 PM on September 29, 2019

Dress in a black/white/grey baseball ensemble, be one of the Twilight vampires. Add body glitter if you want to go the extra mile.
posted by 100kb at 6:55 PM on September 29, 2019

Marceline the Vampire Queen from Adventure Time! There are a lot of easy variations.
posted by rhiannonstone at 7:08 PM on September 29, 2019

I came in to suggest Marceline, too. She has a gendershift version, Marshall Lee, who has short hair and a super simple outfit of red plaid shirt, blue jeans, and red chucks. Try to be seen eating something conspicuously red to sell the idea.
posted by Mizu at 7:20 PM on September 29, 2019

If it were me I'd go as Cassidy from Preacher—sunglasses, denim vest, white t-shirt with blood on it, et voila. You can add some makeup stubble or a prop cigarette if you want to work harder. The stubble could make it less cute, though, depending on your idea of cute.
posted by babelfish at 7:20 PM on September 29, 2019

The What We Do in the Shadows movie vampires have photos of them in clothes from the 1970s, 80s, 90s - plus pale makeup and fangs - you could mix a retro outfit with vampirey bits that way.
Or, dress as a New Zealand police officer (they make a memorable appearance).
Or, you could make a Werewolves Not Swearwolves shirt and wear that.
Or, cosplay as Stu?
posted by Geameade at 7:54 PM on September 29, 2019

Marceline is BRILLIANT. Thanks, y'all!
posted by superlibby at 8:53 PM on September 29, 2019

Colin/Colleen Robinson
Evie Russell

It's business casual. Even if you don't work in an office, you might already have everything you need.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 11:10 PM on September 29, 2019

Dress as Velma from Scooby Doo and keep trying to yank off everyone else’s masks.
posted by ejs at 5:13 AM on September 30, 2019

Jody from Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore?
posted by dotparker at 9:52 AM on September 30, 2019