How do you do Sally's stitch makeup?

Start with a pale blue face paint base. Use a fine-tip black liquid eyeliner to draw a line from the corners of your mouth outward, then add short perpendicular tick marks to create the stitched look. Add a stitch line down your neck and forehead.

What color is Sally's skin?

Sally has a pale, grayish-blue skin tone. You can achieve this using water-activated face paint or by wearing pale blue tights and matching long sleeves.

Can I make a DIY Sally dress?

Yes! You can buy fabric paint and draw the patchwork patterns (swirls, stripes, and dots) onto a plain yellow, pink, or teal dress, or sew together actual fabric scraps.

Skip the store: Fabric-paint patchwork designs onto a basic yellow or teal dress, or sew together fabric scraps of different colors and draw the patterns with a black fabric marker. Create a wig by hot-gluing long strands of thick red yarn to a red mesh wig cap. Draw stitch marks with a black permanent marker onto a pair of pale blue tights and long gloves.

AI-generated example

Sally Costume

Stitch together the ultimate rag doll look with this patchwork guide.

Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas is a beloved Halloween icon known for her sweet nature and striking gothic design. Fans choose this costume to show off their love for Tim Burton's stop-motion classic while rocking a vibrant, artistic aesthetic. The signature look features a colorful patchwork dress, long red hair, and stitched blue skin.

Difficulty: Medium
Time: ~45 min
Budget: $35–90

See yourself as Sally →What you need Buy the Sally costume

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See yourself as Sally

One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.

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One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.

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Sally costume — Example look · AI-generated

You as Sally

Result

What you need for a Sally costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Sally costume — one box instead of 4 pieces.

Shop Sally at Spirit ↗

Patchwork dress
An A-line dress featuring a mismatched pattern of yellow, teal, pink, and purple patches decorated with black swirls, stripes, and polka dots, finished with jagged hemlines.
DIY: Fabric-paint patchwork designs onto a basic yellow or teal dress, or sew together fabric scraps of different colors and draw the patterns with a black fabric marker.
Amazon
Long red wig
A vibrant, straight red wig with a center part, mimicking Sally's yarn-like hair.
DIY: Create a wig by hot-gluing long strands of thick red yarn to a red mesh wig cap.
Amazon
Stitched tights and arm warmers
Pale blue or white tights and matching arm sleeves printed with black stitch marks.
DIY: Draw stitch marks with a black permanent marker onto a pair of pale blue tights and long gloves.
Amazon
Black ankle boots
Simple black lace-up ankle boots or oxford shoes with a low heel.
DIY: Use any flat black boots or closed-toe shoes you already own.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Sally costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Put on the pale blue stitched tights and arm warmers first to establish your base skin tone.
2
Slip on the patchwork dress, adjusting the jagged sleeves and hemline.
3
Put on your black lace-up ankle boots.
4
Carefully put on the red wig, using a wig cap underneath to secure your natural hair.
5
Apply your makeup, drawing the characteristic black stitches on your face and neck.
6
Inspect the overall look in a mirror, adjusting the wig and dress alignment as needed.

Makeup & hair

Apply a pale blue or grayish-teal face paint base. Use a black liquid eyeliner to draw stitch marks across your cheeks, down the sides of your mouth, and on your neck. Finish with dramatic eyelashes, blue eyeshadow, and bright red lipstick.

Sally for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: Pair up with Jack Skellington in his classic pinstripe suit for the ultimate Halloween Town couple.
group: Gather a group to dress as Jack, Sally, Oogie Boogie, and Dr. Finkelstein.
kids: A comfortable patchwork t-shirt dress paired with red yarn pigtails makes a cozy, kid-friendly version.
Plus size: Look for an A-line skater dress style made of stretchy knit fabric for a comfortable, flattering fit.
pet: Dress your dog in a simple patchwork bandana or a tiny Jack Skellington tuxedo.

More ways people search for this costume

The most-searched variations of “Sally costume”, and how this look adapts to each.

Sally diy costume: Skip the store: Fabric-paint patchwork designs onto a basic yellow or teal dress, or sew together fabric scraps of different colors and draw the patterns with a black fabric marker. Create a wig by hot-gluing long strands of thick red yarn to a red mesh wig cap. Draw stitch marks with a black permanent marker onto a pair of pale blue tights and long gloves.

Tips

If you are skipping full-body paint, stitched tights and arm warmers are much more comfortable and won't rub off on your clothes.
Keep a black eyeliner pen in your bag for quick touch-ups on your stitch makeup throughout the night.
Opt for flat or low-heeled black boots if you plan to walk around trick-or-treating or dancing.
Style the wig with a light mist of hairspray to keep the long red strands from tangling in the wind.

Sally costume FAQ

How do you do Sally's stitch makeup?: Start with a pale blue face paint base. Use a fine-tip black liquid eyeliner to draw a line from the corners of your mouth outward, then add short perpendicular tick marks to create the stitched look. Add a stitch line down your neck and forehead.
What color is Sally's skin?: Sally has a pale, grayish-blue skin tone. You can achieve this using water-activated face paint or by wearing pale blue tights and matching long sleeves.
Can I make a DIY Sally dress?: Yes! You can buy fabric paint and draw the patchwork patterns (swirls, stripes, and dots) onto a plain yellow, pink, or teal dress, or sew together actual fabric scraps.

Did you know? Sally was voiced by Catherine O'Hara, who also voiced Shock (one of Oogie Boogie's henchmen) in the very same movie.