I absolutely loved the new Cruella movie and immediately afterwards felt the need to go put together a Cruella inspired look. But I didn’t just do just one- I had so much fun with it that I did a several different looks. The great thing about Cruella is that it’s all about the hair, those dramatic eyes and the edgy black and white style. So if you want to put together a costume for yourself, there’s no need to go purchase the exact same thing she’s wearing in the movie. Why not have some fun with it?

Disclaimer: Article contains affiliate links, which may earn me a few cents toward new costumes, so I really appreciate it when people click them 🙂

How to Put Together a Cruella Inspired Costume

Step 1 – Cruella De Vil’s black and white hair

The most important piece of this look is the iconic black and white hair style. She wears her hair a few different ways in the movie, but this look is my favorite. Click here to see the wig I got on Amazon (pictured below). This wig by Amzcos has adjustable hooks inside, so you can make it small enough to fit kids too. It comes out of the bag looking great, but I gave mine a spray of hairspray and some light teasing on the sides to make it a little more wild.

Step 2 – The dramatic make-up

Cruella’s make-up is very defined- a heavy brow, dramatic black winged eye and a sharp red lip. You’ll need a black eyeliner and black shadow to get the effect. If you aren’t so steady with freehand drawing, you can use a crease line tool for a more defined edge. Click here for the one pictured below. Don’t be afraid to go all out and really wing it up the sides. More is more in this case. There’s nothing subtle about Cruella’s make-up! Outline your whole eye in black liner, then put black on the lid, and white or silver on your brow bone.

Next draw your brows on extra heavy, bringing them down to the nose a bit in front and out on the sides. Go for red on the lips, and use a liner to draw the front “M” on extra sharp and higher than normal. For the face, I use an extra light foundation and white powder. And don’t forget the little beauty mark by the right eye!

Step 3 – The Style

Once you have Cruella’s hair and make-up, you can really get creative with her style. The movie is set in 70’s London and her look has a bit of a punk aesthetic mixed with high fashion. First raid your closet, and if you don’t have anything there, go to Goodwill or your closest thrift store. Look for anything black, leather, vinyl, checkered, Dalmatian print, plaid…things that can be mixed and matched. I made a big pile on the bed of all my options and created several different looks. Remember to look for accessories as well. I added corsets, belts and a choker. You can also make some sort of cane like the one she carries. I transformed an old magic wand into a riding crop. And don’t forget the gloves! Cruella usually wears some form of gloves.

I put together all these looks using old clothes from my closet. And I couldn’t resist getting pics with my new puppy now that Cruella isn’t a crazy puppy skinner. And while none of these outfits look exactly like one she wears in the movie, it’s obvious I’m Cruella from the hair, make-up and style.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas to put together your own Cruella look. And if you post on Instagram, please tag @sewgeekmama or @geekmamasblog so I can see your creation!

Be sure to check out my Amazon Influencer page for shoppable cosplay photos and lots of costume ideas!

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About the Author

Candy Keane is a digital content creator and long-time cosplayer, most well-known for being on the cover of the Star Wars documentary Jedi Junkies. After making costumes professionally for over a decade, she now writes about about geek culture and mom life, and continues to cosplay for fun, while sharing her love of costumes on Instagram @SewGeekMama. Her first children’s book, I’m Going to My First Comic Convention, was published in 2020 and won a Story Monsters Approved award for Excellence in Literature.

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