The Other Mother Costume
Button up your eyes and step into the Other World.
The Other Mother, also known as the Beldam, from Coraline is a chillingly popular choice for Halloween and cosplay. Her look blends retro 1950s charm with unsettling, uncanny elements. To pull it off, you'll need her signature black bob, a polka dot dress, and her iconic black button eyes.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $35–75
Try it on
See yourself as The Other Mother
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a The Other Mother costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete The Other Mother costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Polka Dot Dress
A vintage-style, A-line swing dress in black with white polka dots.
DIY: Use a plain black dress and fabric paint or white felt circles to add the polka dots.
Red Waist Belt
A wide, red cinch belt to wear around the waist of the dress.
DIY: Tie a wide red ribbon or strip of red fabric around your waist.
Button Glasses
Black round glasses styled to look like giant sewing buttons with mesh or pinholes for visibility.
DIY: Glue large black plastic buttons onto cheap clear glasses frames, drilling small pinholes through the button holes to see.
Black Bob Wig
A short, sleek black wig styled into an asymmetrical bob with straight-cut bangs.
DIY: Style your own dark hair into a sleek, tucked-under bob using hair gel.
Silver Button Key
A prop skeleton key with a button-shaped bow at the top.
DIY: Cut a key shape out of thick cardboard, paint it black or silver, and hot-glue a large black button to the top.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made The Other Mother costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black and white polka dot dress and secure the wide red belt tightly around your waist.
- 2
Style and put on the short black asymmetrical bob wig, ensuring the bangs are straight and sharp.
- 3
Apply pale foundation to your face, neck, and hands to mimic her porcelain-like skin.
- 4
Draw sharp, highly arched dark eyebrows and apply a bold, classic red lipstick.
- 5
Use black eyeliner to add a small, distinct beauty mark on your left cheek.
- 6
Put on the black button glasses, making sure you have adequate visibility before walking around.
- 7
Carry the silver button-topped key as your main spooky prop.
Makeup & hair
Apply pale face makeup, dramatic dark eyebrows, and bold red lipstick. Draw a small beauty mark on your left cheek, and wear a sleek, black asymmetrical bob wig.
The Other Mother for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Coraline in her yellow raincoat and blue wig.
- group
- Create a Coraline group with Coraline, Wybie, the Cat, and the Other Mother.
- kids
- A kid-friendly version can use black face paint to draw buttons over the eyelids instead of wearing glasses for safety.
- Plus size
- An A-line polka dot swing dress with an elastic red belt offers a comfortable, flattering, and screen-accurate fit.
- pet
- Dress a black cat pet as the helpful black cat from the movie.
Tips
- Make sure your button glasses have mesh or small holes so you can navigate dark Halloween parties safely.
- If wearing the button glasses is too difficult, paint buttons onto your eyelids and keep your eyes closed for photos.
- Keep your posture stiff, tall, and slightly unnatural to mimic her creepy stop-motion movements.
The Other Mother costume FAQ
- How do you see out of the button eyes?
- Most costume button eyes are made like sunglasses with mesh or small pinholes drilled through the plastic buttons so you can see out while they look solid black from the outside.
- What makeup do I need for the Other Mother?
- You need a pale foundation, sharp black eyeliner for her arched brows and cheek mole, and a classic bright red lipstick.
- What is the key prop she carries?
- She carries a black or silver skeleton key with a handle shaped like a button, which unlocks the small door to the Other World.
Did you know? In the film adaptation of Coraline, the Other Mother's design gradually becomes taller, thinner, and more angular as her true, spider-like nature is revealed.