Magenta Costume
Let's do the Time Warp again in Magenta's iconic maid outfit.
Magenta is the eerie, eccentric Transylvanian maid from the cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Her most famous look is her tattered French maid outfit, which is a staple at midnight screenings and Halloween parties alike. This costume combines a classic black maid's dress with wild, voluminous hair and heavy gothic makeup.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $35–85
Try it on
See yourself as Magenta
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What you need for a Magenta costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Magenta costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Black maid dress
A short-sleeved black dress, ideally with a button-down front and a stiff white collar and cuffs.
DIY: Use a plain black button-down dress and sew or pin white fabric cuffs and a collar to it.
White maid apron
A small white waist apron with ruffles along the edges and straps that tie in the back.
DIY: Cut a piece of white fabric, hem the edges with ruffles, and attach a white ribbon waistband.
White maid headpiece
A small, ruffled white lace headpiece attached to a headband.
DIY: Gather white lace trim and glue it onto a simple black or white plastic headband.
Black fishnet tights
Classic black wide-mesh fishnet stockings.
Black Mary Jane shoes
Black patent leather or matte Mary Jane shoes with a low, chunky heel.
DIY: Use any plain black pumps or flats you already own.
Duster prop
A classic feather duster, preferably with dark or black feathers.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Magenta costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black fishnet tights first to avoid snagging them later.
- 2
Slip on the black maid dress and secure the front buttons.
- 3
Tie the white ruffled apron securely around your waist, making a neat bow in the back.
- 4
Put on the black Mary Jane shoes.
- 5
Style your hair into Magenta's signature wild, backcombed look and secure the white headpiece.
- 6
Apply the dark, dramatic gothic makeup.
- 7
Grab your feather duster prop to complete the look.
Makeup & hair
Tease your hair heavily to create massive, frizzy volume, or use a curly auburn/magenta wig backcombed to the extreme. For makeup, apply pale foundation, heavy dark eyeshadow blended outwards, thin dark eyebrows, and a deep plum or dark red lipstick with a slightly messy finish.
Magenta for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Riff Raff in his matching butler outfit or Frank-N-Furter in his corset and pearls.
- group
- Form the ultimate Transylvanian group with Riff Raff, Columbia, Frank-N-Furter, Janet, and Brad.
- Plus size
- A stretchy black skater dress paired with an adjustable tie-back apron offers a comfortable, custom fit.
Tips
- Carry a travel-sized can of strong-hold hairspray to keep your teased hair voluminous all night.
- If using your natural hair, backcomb it in small sections and spray each section at the roots.
- Keep the makeup smudged and slightly worn-in rather than pristine to capture the character's disheveled look.
Magenta costume FAQ
- What kind of dress does Magenta wear?
- She wears a black, short-sleeved maid's dress with a white collar, white cuffs, and a ruffled white waist apron.
- How do I do Magenta's hair?
- Her hair is wild, frizzy, and extremely voluminous. You can achieve this by heavily backcombing (teasing) curly auburn or dark red hair and setting it with high-strength hairspray.
- Is Magenta's dress purple or black?
- Despite her name, Magenta's signature maid dress is black. Her name is reflected more in her reddish-magenta tinted hair and dark makeup.
Did you know? The Rocky Horror Picture Show holds the record for the longest-running theatrical release in film history, largely kept alive by fans dressing up as characters like Magenta for midnight screenings.