ANYWAY, with Halloween around the corner, I thought it might be fun to share book character-inspired outfits with you. Who knows, it might prompt you to throw together a last minute costume, picked right out of your closet.
XIFENG from FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS (Rise of the Empress series) by Julie C. Dao
This look is more of nod to the character than an actual costume. The green reminded me of the forest, the book cover, and the snake, and I loved the long skirt for a bit of drama. Gold accessories (and a snake necklace) because this outfit doubles as a Loki-inspired look. You can make this a little closer to Xifeng with a dress or long robe in a finer fabric and accessorize with flower hair combs and silk slippers. Don't forget to add a bit of blood (or blood-red color) to your lips for the final touch.
Put on you best defiant and queenly face, and be ready to embrace your destiny, no matter how dark.
FEYRE from A COURT OF THORNS & ROSES (ACOTAR series) by Sarah J. Maas
With its decadent faerie courts, cruel curses, and masked characters, ACOTAR was easy inspiration for an outfit.
Although Feyre herself is not cursed to wear a mask, I had to incorporate one here given what a presence they are in that first ACOTAR book. I thought this dress had a romantic look to it, and while the color is more Night Court, the flower detailing on the sheer fabric is a nice callback to the Spring Court. Go barefoot in the grass and claim the one you love.
RHY MARESH from A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC (Shades of Magic series) by V.E. Schwab
Rhy is one of my favorite characters from Schwab's magical London books, and I had this gorgeous red dress and nowhere to wear it. So, I decided to do a genderbent take on Rhy.
Since Rhy is the beloved prince of lively Red London, I layered on the most luxurious red fabrics I could find - a velvet military-style coat over a gauzy, embroidered red dress over wine-dark burned velvet leggings. Accessorize with royal gold, a sprinkling of angst, and an enchanted tattoo.
ALINA STARKOV from SHADOW & BONE (the Grisha trilogy) by Leigh Bardugo
This one sort of fell into my lap because I'd just received this stunning Blackmilk maxi skirt. Then the solar eclipse happened, and I had an idea. The outfit is more inspired-by, but the black and gold combination and the "sacred fractals" of the skirt felt very Sun Summoner to me, especially in the first book when Alina wore the Darkling's colors.
To make this more Grisha-like, go with something long-sleeved and heavier materials. Maybe a cape or something trimmed in fur. Remember to shine; you're the Sun Summoner, after all.
ANNE LANSING from GRAY WOLF ISLAND by Tracey Neithercott
Anne is the girl who never sleeps. I'm still reading this book, but Anne intrigued me from the moment she's introduced. The magic that touches her is she doesn't sleep, so she sells her extra hours. I love that concept, especially since I've often thought about how much time I'd have to get stuff done if I didn't have to sleep (though I love it). I love the character card of Anne, too, and thought it'd be an easier, less intense outfit to put together because she's a regular girl -minus the insomniac thing.
Ideally, I would have been wearing a plainer shirt, but I did want a casual, summer-vibes feel since the book takes place during the summer (this picture does not, hah). The flower crown was taken straight from the illustration, and pants suitable for adventuring.
Pull some late-nights to get the somewhat sleepy look, or better yet, just grab some friends and go searching for treasure.
Q4U: Do you have good book character costume or outfit ideas? Let me know in the comments!
BONUS: Non-book, but suitably geeky and timely since Season 2 of Stranger Things drops at midnight tonight... my take on Eleven. See more of the outfit at Girl on the Roam: Stranger Things style challenge.
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