Build a whole costume around one mask

The mask is the costume. Everything else should support it, not compete with it. That is good news, because it means most of what you need is already in your wardrobe.

1. Pick the silhouette

Slashers want dark, plain, bulky layers: a hoodie, a work jacket, boots. Ghouls and witches want long, loose shapes: a nightgown, a shawl, a coat to the ankle. Creatures want something that hides the neck line.

2. Hide the join

Where the mask ends and your skin begins is where the illusion breaks. A collar, a scarf, a hood or our gore torso covers it. Gloves hide your hands, which are the second giveaway.

3. Add one prop

• Slasher: a prop knife held low.
• Witch: a broom or a lantern.
• Zombie: nothing in your hands, just dirt on them.
• Headpieces: a cape or a sword belt.

4. Move like the character

Stillness scares more than jumping. Stand in a doorway and turn your head slowly. Zombies shuffle, witches hunch, clowns tilt. Practise once in the mirror and you will not need a word of dialogue.