Gone with the Wind Costume
Frankly, my dear, you will look absolutely spectacular in green velvet.
Recreate one of cinema's most legendary fashion moments with Scarlett O'Hara's iconic green curtain dress from Gone with the Wind. Chosen for its dramatic history and opulent Southern belle aesthetic, this look represents survival, determination, and classic Hollywood glamour. The ensemble consists of a heavy green velvet gown, a matching waist sash with gold tassels, and period-accurate 1860s accessories.
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $80–250
Try it on
See yourself as Gone with the Wind
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a Gone with the Wind costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Gone with the Wind costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Green Velvet Gown
A heavy, dark forest green velvet gown with one long hanging sleeve and a structured bodice, mimicking draped window curtains.
DIY: Drape dark green velvet curtain panels over a fitted green corset bodice, securing them with safety pins to mimic the asymmetrical shoulder drape.
Hoop Skirt Petticoat
A multi-tiered cage hoop skirt or crinoline petticoat to give the dress its classic 1860s bell shape.
Gold Tassel Cord
A thick, braided gold rope cord with heavy tassels wrapped twice around the waist as a sash.
DIY: Use thick gold drapery tieback cords knotted together.
Green Velvet Hat
A matching green velvet bonnet or small cocktail hat decorated with gold trim and a faux green bird feather.
DIY: Cover a cardboard base with green velvet fabric, adding a gold ribbon and a craft feather.
Gold Drop Earrings
Ornate Victorian-style gold drop earrings to complete the high-society look.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Gone with the Wind costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the hoop skirt petticoat first to establish the wide, structured bell shape of the skirt.
- 2
Step into the green velvet gown, carefully pulling it over the hoop skirt, and secure the bodice fasteners.
- 3
Wrap the thick gold tassel cord twice around your waist, knotting it so the heavy tassels hang down the left side.
- 4
Style your hair into a period-accurate half-up do with curls, or secure a dark brown styled wig.
- 5
Place the green velvet bonnet on your head, securing it at an angle, and put on the gold drop earrings.
Makeup & hair
Style dark brown hair into a mid-19th-century half-updo with tight ringlet curls framing the face and the rest pulled back. Keep makeup classic with a porcelain complexion, defined dark eyebrows, a subtle rose blush, and a bold matte red lip.
Gone with the Wind for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with Rhett Butler wearing a grey Victorian tailcoat, white ascot, black top hat, and a styled mustache.
- group
- Add Melanie Hamilton in a modest grey dress and Mammy in a red petticoat and white apron.
- kids
- A miniature version of the green floral barbecue dress with a straw sun hat.
- Plus size
- Look for velvet gowns with lace-up corset backs to allow for adjustable sizing and custom bust support.
- pet
- A pet-sized green velvet capelet or a tiny straw bonnet secured with a ribbon.
Tips
- Velvet is heavy; wear a lightweight cotton tank top underneath to stay cool under the layers.
- Practice walking and sitting in a hoop skirt beforehand to avoid tripping or flipping the frame.
- Use safety pins to drape the hanging sleeve perfectly over your shoulder to mimic the movie's curtain look.
Gone with the Wind costume FAQ
- What is the story behind the green dress in Gone with the Wind?
- Scarlett O'Hara crafts the dress out of her mother's green velvet parlor curtains to look wealthy when visiting Rhett Butler to ask for tax money.
- How do I make a DIY Gone with the Wind curtain dress?
- You can repurpose actual forest green velvet window curtains, draping them over a structured bodice and securing them with a thick gold rope tassel belt.
- What kind of underskirt do I need for this costume?
- A 4-hoop or 6-hoop crinoline petticoat is essential to support the heavy velvet fabric and create the wide 1860s silhouette.
Did you know? Costume designer Walter Plunkett deliberately faded and stained parts of the original screen-used curtain dress to show that Scarlett had hastily sewn it from old, sun-bleached parlor drapes.