Helena (My Chemical Romance) Costume
Bring the dramatic, tragic elegance of MCR's Helena to life.
The Helena costume is based on the iconic ballet dancer from My Chemical Romance's 2005 music video for 'Helena' (from Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge). It is a highly popular choice for emo, goth, and alternative music fans who want a dramatic, theatrical look. The outfit centers around a black ballet-style dress with red accents, heavy gothic makeup, and dark ballet flats.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
See yourself as Helena (My Chemical Romance)
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What you need for a Helena (My Chemical Romance) costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Helena (My Chemical Romance) costume — one box instead of 4 pieces.
Black ballet dress
A black sleeveless dress with a fitted bodice and a flared, tiered tulle skirt that mimics a ballet tutu.
DIY: Combine a black tank top or corset with a black tiered tulle tutu skirt.
Red waist sash
A wide red satin ribbon or sash tied around the waist with a bow in the back.
DIY: Cut a length of wide red satin fabric or ribbon from a craft store.
Black ballet flats
Simple black ballet flats, preferably with ribbons that wrap and tie around the ankles.
DIY: Take plain black flats and fabric-glue black satin ribbons to the inner soles to wrap around your ankles.
Black fingerless gloves
Elbow-length black lace or fishnet fingerless gloves.
DIY: Cut the fingers off a pair of long black lace gloves.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Helena (My Chemical Romance) costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black ballet dress or the combined black top and tulle tutu skirt.
- 2
Wrap the wide red satin sash around your waist, securing it with a neat bow at the back.
- 3
Put on the long black fingerless lace gloves, pulling them up past your elbows.
- 4
Slip on the black ballet flats and wrap the ribbons securely around your ankles, tying them in a small bow.
- 5
Apply the dramatic gothic makeup, focusing on pale skin and heavy red and black eyeshadow.
- 6
Style your hair into a messy, slightly teased updo with loose tendrils framing your face.
Makeup & hair
Apply a pale foundation base. Use deep red and black eyeshadow blended heavily around the eyes to create a smeared, crying effect, paired with a dark red or black lipstick. Style dark hair into a loose, messy bun or half-updo with face-framing strands.
Helena (My Chemical Romance) for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with Gerard Way in his black suit with a red tie from the same music video.
- group
- Have friends dress as the pallbearers in black suits with red armbands and red ties.
- kids
- A miniature version using a black toddler tutu, red ribbon, and washable red face paint.
- Plus size
- A black sweetheart-neckline A-line dress with a petticoat underneath provides the same silhouette and excellent comfort.
- pet
- A black pet tutu with a small red bow collar.
Tips
- Set your makeup with a high-quality setting spray to prevent the heavy red eyeshadow from smudging onto your clothes.
- If you plan on walking outdoors, choose ballet flats with rubber soles rather than true dance slippers.
- Add a fake red rose as a prop to hold in photos for an extra dramatic touch.
Helena (My Chemical Romance) costume FAQ
- What kind of dress does Helena wear in the MCR video?
- She wears a 1950s-style black ballet dress with a fitted bodice, a flared mid-length tulle skirt, and a bright red satin sash tied around the waist.
- How do you do the Helena MCR makeup?
- Start with a pale face base, then apply bright red eyeshadow all around the eyes, blending it out. Layer black eyeshadow close to the lash line and smudge it to look worn and tear-stained.
- Is the Helena costume hard to put together?
- It is moderately easy. The clothing items are simple to find or assemble, but the gothic makeup and hair styling require a bit of time and practice to get the dramatic look right.
Did you know? The song 'Helena' was written by Gerard Way as a tribute to his late grandmother, Elena Lee Rush, whose friends called her Helen.