Costume ideas that will please both tweens and their parents.
Halloween can be a tricky time for “tween” girls. By that age, gone are the days when the #1 costume choices are a fairy princess or a cuddly tiger. However, girls between the ages of 11 and 13 still routinely dress up for Halloween, whether to take younger siblings trick-or-treating, attend a party or simply wear their costume to school.
Tween girls long to appear older than they are, coveting costumes along the lines of French Maids or sexy kittens. Parents, however, don’t have to approve of these choices. There are other costumes that can satisfy a tween’s desire to dress up with a parent’s desire for their girl to remain age-appropriate.
Flapper (1920s girl)
A flapper is a fun costume that appeals to a tween girl’s idea that Halloween is now a time to be pretty and a bit provocative, yet the costume itself doesn’t have to be revealing.
A “flapper” dress can be purchased at costume stores or via catalog, often these are sleeveless short dresses in a bright color, such as red, with fringe on it. But another option is to find any 1920s-style dress to wear as a costume. Tween girls generally have an ideal “flapper” body – boyish and straight.
Accessories to complete the look include long necklaces, red lipstick and stacked or flat shoes. If it’s cold weather, a coat with fur is very 20s-inspired. Bobbed hair is a flapper must – if hair is long, simply roll up to mimic a bob. Or cover hair with a fitted cap or “cloche” hat.
Geisha
Dressing like a geisha has become popular in the last decade, from books such as Memoirs of a Geisha and Asian-inspired looks on the runway. Look for a geisha costume at a store, or elsewhere for a kimono – even a beautiful, flowered robe can do the trick.
A geisha is a fun costume to wear and tween girls will feel pretty and sophisticated. The makeup is specific – the face and neck should be covered in white makeup, with a red top lip and red lipstick just in the bottom center. Eyes are lined with dark liner, but don’t wear colored eyeshadow.
Hair should be rolled up and secured with chopsticks. A good accessory to carry is a paper fan, found at any party store.
Genie
Girls like wearing genie costumes since they’re often made with a lot of gauzy fabric and in pretty colors such as pale pink or mint green. Some genie costumes have longer tops or false flesh-colored panels across the stomach so that girls aren’t really exposing their midriffs.
To complete the look, wear a pair of pointy shoes – or shoes with a little “puff” of fabric on them will do the trick. Secure hair into a high ponytail and tie with a scarf. Accessories can vary, but try big jewelry.
Ideal makeup is false eyelashes and ruby or pink lipstick.
The copyright of the article Halloween Costume Ideas for Tween Girls in Children's & Teen Fashion is owned by Lindsey Michelle. Permission to republish Halloween Costume Ideas for Tween Girls in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I am a tween and it is hard to find something for a school party. My mom
wants to recycle ballet costumes and everything i like is too expensive or
showy. I don't want to look like a little kid in front of my peers.
Sep 27, 2008 8:13 PM
Guest
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no tween girl would want to wear that , TRUST ME I AS A TWEEN WOULD KNOW but the genie idea was okay
Sep 27, 2008 8:20 PM
Guest
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I am a tween too and i do not want to look like a flapper, no body in tween
years does and genie, really that is so 3rd grade!
Sep 28, 2008 11:57 AM
Guest
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I am a tween and just like the other person said it is hard to find
something that suits mine and my parents approval.
Sep 30, 2008 6:25 PM
Guest
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i want to look GOOD in a costume - not childish- all my friends are going
together and they have "adult costumes" my mom wants me to be a
candy corn!!!! Any ideas????
Oct 4, 2008 1:51 PM
Guest
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These ideas are great! I am 11 and i think i might be a fortune teller! Or
maybe I might be a barbie doll well ill think about it, but thanx 4 the
ideas!
Oct 5, 2008 12:34 PM
Guest
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I want to look totally awesome for halloween but i jsut want to look stupid
in front of my friends. It's too hard to be a tween. My mom won't let me
wear anything showy so I gotta get myself somethign i'll actallu mix and
match because my mom says things are way 2 expensive. She suggests things
that will make me look like a little kid! HELP!
Oct 6, 2008 2:11 AM
Guest
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Hey people. I am 11 turning 12 and i am having a halloween party. do you have any ideas? (somthing not to kiddy or sexy) thankyou
Oct 7, 2008 2:37 PM
Guest
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you coud try a go go girl costume thats you can do your self for real cheap
Oct 8, 2008 4:20 AM
Guest
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This is the best website I have found that actually tells you what you can
wear if you're a tween. I am a tween, and believe me, my parents don't
approve of too exposed costumes.
Oct 8, 2008 10:31 AM
Guest
:
my mom is like a pilgrim she dosn't want me to wear any thing thats shows
skin i am a tween and i dont to dress up like a princess i am to old for
that your article was geat i will show my mom mabey then shell get the
picture!!!!!!!!!!!
Oct 12, 2008 5:35 AM
Guest
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i live in spain, and here not alota people go trick-or-treating so like 2
dress up nd show my frends how fun it is, but this year i cant think of any
REALLY SCARY ideas... can any1 help?
Oct 12, 2008 9:20 AM
Guest
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It's almost halloween and I don't know what to were.I'm 11 and the geisha
idea might work.But I wanted to be scary,i can put a little bloud to
it.Flapper is a BAD idea
Oct 12, 2008 12:41 PM
Guest
:
Hey everyone I'm a tween too, and I'm thinking of being an autograph book
(put poster and white clothes on and bring around a pen) or a Dark Hunter
(black roses, not really goth, just black and dark purple). Hope it gives
people ideas!
Oct 13, 2008 9:41 AM
Guest
:
hi im a tween im 11 and im havent decided what to wear as my costume yet
because well i dont know i need some help finding a costumee im going trick
or treating and then to a block party then to another party what should i
do or wear.
Oct 14, 2008 12:06 PM
Guest
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i'm 13, and i want a creative fun and cute costume that's not boring and is
not sexy, i was thinking of super girl but its hard to make and every store
i look at have "sexy" or "sparkle princess" kinda
things and there expensive! i also thot a pirate costume would be cool but
yet again the best one i could find was 40$ yikes! so i need ideas on
making a GIRL pirate costume that's really cool and age appropriate. can
any one help me before its too late???
Oct 15, 2008 3:10 PM
Guest
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omg these are so bad i was thinking of a poodle skirt (okay still bad..)but
really. my mom doesnt want me to get one of those "hoochy"
cotumes with the short skirts and puffed tops any ideas?
Oct 15, 2008 3:16 PM
Guest
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im a tween and it suck that we cant have anything. NOthing to risque or
nothing to dorky something right.... help please!!
Oct 15, 2008 5:45 PM
Guest
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thank you so much for the ideas, i thought that just going on random
websites wouldnt help, but this is fantastic! thank you so much!(and the
flapper was a great idea)
Oct 17, 2008 12:47 PM
Guest
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i am a tween and its wicked hard to hind halloween costumes, and this
doesn't help much either, theses costumes might be good for a 9 year old
but no for 12-13 years old
Oct 17, 2008 3:24 PM
Guest
:
Although i am no longer a tween i remember how hard the halloween costumes
were to put together and stuff. A really cute idea is a sexy mini mouse.
wear like a red and white polka dotted dress with a black little vest on
top and get the ears and some knee highs that u can put little red bows on.
Affordable and adorable.
Oct 17, 2008 5:45 PM
Guest
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hey im goin to be a pirate cutie tween.i bought it in party city[they have
many cutie un baby costuumes and the pirate cutie tween costume is only $30
!!and it comes with 5 thing!w3ll GO to party city if anything http://www.partycity.com/costumes.shtml
hey im goin to be a pirate cutie tween.i bought it in party city[they have
many cutie un baby costuumes and the pirate cutie tween costume is only $30
!!and it comes with 5 thing!w3ll GO to party city if anything http://www.partycity.com/costumes.shtml
HELLO...IM A TWEENY CHICK AND A GREAT COSTUME FOR HALLOWEEN IS A DOLL. I
WAS A DOLL LAST YEAR... CLOTHES:WEAR A CUTE DRESS THATS NOT TO
SHORT...THEN GO TO A STORE LIKE OLD NAVY AND BUY A PAIR OF GIRLS BOXERS TO
WEAR UNDERNEATH THE DRESSS (BUT REMEB. ULL STILL SEE THEM SO TRY TO MATCH
IT UP)....THE BUY KNEE-HIGH STRIPPED SOCKS AND WEAR BLACK OR RED BALLET
FLATS. MAKEUP: BIG RED CIRCLES (ROSY CHEEKS) AND (IF YOUR MOM WILL LET
YOU...) A BIT OF MASCARA OR EVEN EYELINER...HOPE IT ALL WORKS OUT FOR YOU
GUYS....AHPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oct 18, 2008 1:47 PM
Guest
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I'm 13, and I'm veryyyy stressed about what to wear for Halloween. It's
October 18th and I have NO idea. A Flapper girl? A Genie? A Geisha? No. Trust me, none of these costumes are good for tweens/young teens.
Oct 18, 2008 3:00 PM
Guest
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i am 12 and i need a costume that is really cute but not revealing. I don't
want to buy a costume, although buying normal clothes to use for the
costume would be a good option for me.
Oct 19, 2008 2:19 PM
Guest
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my mom is sooooooooo mean she wont let me go trick or treating at all!!! im
a tween and all but wtf wats going on i want to be geisha so bad but my
mom keeps on ignoring me my dad says yes but mom on the other hand is a
wiked person so grrrrrrrrrrrrr to my mom!!!!!
Oct 19, 2008 4:38 PM
Guest
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i am a tween and those ideas r NOT good... they r stupid, im going with my
boyfriend and i wanna look good, not like a gay person from the 1800!!
Oct 20, 2008 2:47 PM
Guest
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im a tween and i want to have an awsome costumes this year not a genie or a
flapper or wat ev i want a AWSOME costumes that everybody will wish they
were wearing
Oct 20, 2008 4:53 PM
Guest
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NO TWEEN GIRL WOULD EVER WEAR ANY OF THESE TRUST ME I KNOW IM 12
Oct 20, 2008 6:23 PM
Guest
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I'm 11 and i need more ideas. not liking yours very much.
Oct 20, 2008 9:23 PM
Guest
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First of all, you guys do know what a geisha is, right? So, yes it's
pretty, but i can see why your mom wouldn't want you to go as it, because
theya re basically a prostitute- sorry but true. Second, some cute ideas
i've seen done, that aren't dorky, or too sexy are dragon girl- either buy
or make wings out of wire and tissue paper and glitter, then you wear all
grean, black, or red and you put green ribbons in your hair. The only time
my parents let me wear make-up was on halloween- so if your parents let you
you could put some make up on to match the outfit. I've seen it done where
it was really cute-not dorky or little kidish. another idea i've seen is
the corpses bride idea, if you could find a cheap white or grey dress maybe
an old one you have (if any one actually has one) tear it in places (if
possible), put white and black makeup on your face if you are allowed to
wear make up, but if not it's not the end of the world the costume will
still work. then make tissue paper butterflies to stick in your hair, and
maybe some black ribbons in your hair also. carry a bouquet of dead
flowers. hope this helps.
Oct 22, 2008 2:20 AM
Guest
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im a teen and im dressing up as a dead cheerleader.
feel
free to copy.
Oct 23, 2008 3:04 PM
Guest
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Okay i am a tween and these costumes are like so 2nd grade! (no offense to
whoever thought of them)
Oct 23, 2008 3:43 PM
Guest
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I wouln't wear that i don't want to look like a dork.
Oct 23, 2008 5:35 PM
Guest
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im a tween and i want to also be sexy
Oct 24, 2008 3:38 PM
Guest
:
i am a father looking for halloween costumes online with my 11 yo daughter.
we both think some of the comments posted on here are quite mean spirited.
she wanted to be a flapper but now she is worried that her schoolmates will
think she looks like a baby. Do you girls know what a flapper is? they were
the most popular and youthful and sexy young women of the jazz age. and
geisha are japanese most desired women! i went to a costume party a few
years ago and half of the ADULT women were dressed as geisha so maybe these
costumes arent too young for you but simply too mature
Oct 24, 2008 4:06 PM
Guest
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im 13 and don't know what to be
all of these seem to childish
for me....ugh.......thx anyways help
Oct 24, 2008 4:07 PM
Guest
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im an actual teen!! these are way to childih for me
ugh.tweens
scare me!
Oct 24, 2008 9:22 PM
Guest
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im a tween and these are kinda dumb i like wanna look cool for my date to
the halloween dance so these ideas totaly no way
Oct 25, 2008 5:59 AM
Guest
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i would wa nt to wear something that would make me look really cool in
front of my friends and crush
Oct 25, 2008 10:40 AM
Guest
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I am 12 and found a really good idea and not to showy or sexy it is a flash
back dancer List of things you'll need:
*Vibrant and
colorful colors!
pantyhose leg warmers ballet shoes
shorts leotard a T-shirt you don't use anymore cut in
half or 1/4 off head sweat band purple or blue eye shadow red lipstick or lip gloss light pink blush Voila! *sweep ponytail to side of head for ultra cute look! not bad at all
and maybe add gaudy jemelry too make it fun
Oct 25, 2008 4:37 PM
Guest
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lol nice comment.
Oct 26, 2008 6:27 AM
Guest
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who would wear eny of these? I'm a tween and I sure would'nt! NO affence.
Oct 26, 2008 11:18 AM
Guest
:
How bout a devil? or catwomen u cud be a rely cute cat but kinda sexy
aswel hop a helped!
Oct 27, 2008 6:16 PM
Guest
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i think i want to be a strawberry or the statue of liberty are they ok?
Oct 27, 2008 6:16 PM
Guest
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i think i want to be a strawberry or the statue of liberty are they ok?
Oct 27, 2008 6:32 PM
Guest
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the flapper and geisha idea were lame. genie wasnt that good either.
Oct 27, 2008 6:42 PM
Guest
:
well i am as well a tween and i dont know what to be for halloween ay
help?
Oct 28, 2008 1:42 PM
Guest
:
I'm a little older than a tween but feel like my halloween years are almost
up. I'm looking for some good final costumes, and I've already been all of
these things....anything else? My mom wants me to be a ladybug (ummm no)
Some help for good tween costumes, (ones that I have been) cute bumble bee
is good, Vampress is very good (kinda of like vampire's wife except in a
gothic looking dress), belly dancer is a good one because you can get the
cool jingly wrap around your hips. And a good group one is the Cullen
family from Twilight (although there may be controversy over who gets to be
Bella)... Hope i was of some help. Enjoy your last years :)
Oct 28, 2008 5:43 PM
Guest
:
I'm a tween and I found a costume that worked for me and my parents. It was
little red riding hood. It was a little tight at the top to look my age but
it wasn't too short i tried it on and loved it and so did my parents. I
found it at party city
Oct 28, 2008 11:19 PM
Guest
:
hello ive had many fun halloweening experiences here are some
ideas you can dress up or down and cover up depending on wwhether your mum
will let you out of the house or not!! -angel(short white dress,silver
belt,halo headband watever colour you like,and sexy/cute ballet slippers
WINGS) -devil(red dress,black belt,horns,the stick thikn and sexy
black shoes) -greek godess (using short white dress gold rope to wrap
around your waist and leather sandles) -fairy(leotard,bright
tutu,wings,wand,ballet slippers) have fun :) xx
Oct 29, 2008 4:50 PM
Guest
:
Mmm well these are lame no offence.I am allowed to wear my choice of
costumes because im 14.But last year I had a really cute,not too revealing
costume. I was a football player. I wore my little brothers old
jersey that came up a few inches above my belly button,with a sports bra
underneith.Gold football pants(cause our colors are black & gold), a
pair of tall gold socks,and a pair of black stilletos to wear to our
costume swavey.It was very cute and I fit in at the high school party I was
at perfectly. So even if your a tween,that doesnt mean you cant have a
sexy costume.You just have to make it sexy in an appropriate way. Wear dark
eye shadow(but not too much),Something that shows off a little skin,and
some heels(:
Oct 30, 2008 6:08 PM
Guest
:
i am 16 almost 17. and this year my friend and i are going as flappers. we like the classic sophisticated looke of a dress with elbow gloves,
feather, PEARLS, and the heels.:) we dont find this costume a bit
childish at all. and in my opinion if a tween dont want to look
childish they shouldnt act childish; its not the costume that makes them
look like that. :) this costume is a great idea.
Oct 31, 2008 1:43 PM
Guest
:
me and my friend this year were an oreo cooke and milk carton it
was SO simple to make we used carboard, spray painted it black, and
wrapped the milk carton up with white paper we won our school costume
contest!
