Courtney Love Costume
Embrace the ultimate 90s kinderwhore grunge aesthetic with rebellious style.
Courtney Love is the iconic frontwoman of the alternative rock band Hole and a pioneer of the 1990s 'kinderwhore' aesthetic. This costume is a popular choice for music fans who want a rebellious, easy-to-assemble look. The style centers around a delicate vintage slip dress contrasted with messy makeup, torn tights, and rock-and-roll attitude.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $20–60
Try it on
See yourself as Courtney Love
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What you need for a Courtney Love costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Courtney Love costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Satin slip dress
A white, cream, or pastel pink vintage-style satin slip dress with lace trim.
DIY: Use an old nightgown or a simple babydoll dress from a thrift store.
Torn black tights
Black fishnets or sheer black tights with visible rips and runs.
DIY: Take a pair of old black tights and carefully cut or tear small holes in them.
Toy tiara
A sparkly plastic silver or pink toy tiara.
DIY: Use a sparkly pink headband or make a simple paper crown painted silver.
Chunky black shoes
Chunky black leather Mary Janes, T-strap heels, or combat boots.
DIY: Any scuffed black boots or school-style shoes will work.
Red lipstick
A classic bright red lipstick applied heavily and slightly smudged.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Courtney Love costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the satin slip dress or babydoll dress.
- 2
Take your black tights and use scissors or your fingers to create several runs and rips along the legs.
- 3
Put on the torn tights and pair them with your chunky black shoes or boots.
- 4
Style your hair into messy, tousled waves, teasing it at the crown for extra volume.
- 5
Apply heavy black eyeliner around your eyes and bright red lipstick, then use your fingers to gently smudge the edges of both.
- 6
Place the sparkly tiara slightly askew on your head to complete the look.
Makeup & hair
Style your hair into messy, voluminous, bleached-blonde waves with visible dark roots. Apply heavy black eyeliner and a bold red lipstick, then deliberately smudge both around the edges for a slept-in, rock-star finish.
Courtney Love for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with Kurt Cobain wearing a green striped sweater, distressed jeans, and oversized white sunglasses.
- group
- Go as a 90s grunge band or alongside other 90s music icons like Shirley Manson and Gwen Stefani.
- Plus size
- A satin A-line slip dress or empire-waist babydoll dress offers a comfortable, flowing fit for this look.
Tips
- Thrift stores are excellent places to find authentic, inexpensive vintage slip dresses and nightgowns.
- Don't worry about being neat; the key to this costume is looking intentionally disheveled and rock-and-roll.
- Carry a vintage microphone or a plastic toy guitar as a prop to make the musician connection clearer.
Courtney Love costume FAQ
- What is Courtney Love's signature fashion style called?
- How do I style my hair for a Courtney Love costume?
- What makeup do I need for this look?
Did you know? Courtney Love popularized the 'kinderwhore' fashion trend in the early 1990s, drawing inspiration from vintage baby doll dresses and classic punk rock style.