Winifred Sanderson Costume
Channel the eldest Sanderson sister with velvet, gold runes, and fiery hair.
Winifred Sanderson is the commanding, spell-casting eldest sister from Disney's Hocus Pocus, famously played by Bette Midler. A perennial Halloween favorite, her iconic look is instantly recognizable by its rich textures and dramatic silhouette. The costume features a medieval-style green velvet robe layered over purple and gold fabrics, topped with her signature heart-shaped red hair.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $50–150
Try it on
See yourself as Winifred Sanderson
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 Winifred Sanderson costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Winifred Sanderson costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Green Velvet Robe
A long, dark green velvet-like robe or dress with flared sleeves, gold foil runes or Celtic designs, and a lace-up front bodice.
DIY: Use a long green velvet cardigan or robe and paint gold metallic swirls along the borders using fabric paint.
Purple and Light Green Under-layers
A purple satin underskirt and light green crinkled fabric undersleeves to peek out from beneath the robe.
DIY: Layer a purple maxi skirt under the robe and sew light green fabric cuffs to the inside of the robe sleeves.
Winifred Sanderson Wig
A bright orange-red wig styled into two high, voluminous top-knots forming a heart shape, with tight curls.
DIY: Tease your own hair heavily, spray it with temporary orange-red hair color, and pin it into two high, rounded buns.
Buckle Shoes
Black pointed-toe boots or low heels featuring a prominent square gold buckle on the front.
DIY: Cut a square buckle out of gold cardboard and slide it onto the laces of plain black boots.
The Spellbook (Manual of Witchcraft)
A brown, leather-textured book prop featuring a prominent, realistic closed eye on the front cover and silver snake accents.
DIY: Cover an old textbook in brown paper, sculpt a closed eye using air-dry clay, glue it to the front, and paint it to look like leather.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Winifred Sanderson costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the purple maxi skirt first to establish the base layer of the skirt.
- 2
Slip on the green velvet robe, adjusting the lace-up front and ensuring the light green undersleeves sit comfortably at your wrists.
- 3
Secure your natural hair under a wig cap, then put on the styled orange-red Winifred wig, pinning it securely with bobby pins.
- 4
Apply the character makeup, focusing on the pale complexion, high thin eyebrows, and distinct lip shape.
- 5
Put on your black buckle shoes or boots.
- 6
Pick up your spellbook prop or a plastic broom to complete the look.
Makeup & hair
Apply pale foundation and draw thin, highly arched dark eyebrows. Use red lipstick to paint a small, heart-shaped pout only in the center of your lips, leaving the outer corners bare. Wear the signature orange-red wig styled into two large, rounded top-knots.
Winifred Sanderson for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with Billy Butcherson in his decayed 17th-century suit and stitches.
- group
- Assemble the full trio with Sarah Sanderson in purple/pink and Mary Sanderson in red/orange with her crooked hair.
- kids
- A miniature green velvet dress and a smaller, lightweight plush spellbook.
- Plus size
- Look for velvet robes with adjustable lace-up bodices or elastic waistbands for a comfortable, custom fit.
- pet
- A small green velvet cape and a tiny orange wig with ear holes.
Tips
- Velvet can get warm indoors; opt for lightweight velvet-textured polyester if you plan to wear this to crowded parties.
- If using a wig, use plenty of bobby pins to keep the heavy top-knots from sliding backward.
- For photos, hold the spellbook close to your face and strike a dramatic, wide-eyed expression.
- Practice Winifred's signature buck-toothed sneer and dramatic hand gestures to bring the character to life.
Winifred Sanderson costume FAQ
- What color is Winifred Sanderson's dress?
- Her signature dress is primarily dark green velvet, layered with purple fabric underneath and accented with light green undersleeves and gold metallic designs.
- How do you do Winifred Sanderson's lipstick?
- Apply concealer over your natural lips, then use a deep red lipstick or lip liner to draw a small, concentrated bow shape right in the center of your lips, leaving the sides uncolored.
- What does Winifred Sanderson carry as a prop?
- She is best known for carrying her living Spellbook (with a single blinking eye on the cover) or a traditional straw broom.
Did you know? Winifred's beloved spellbook prop used in the original 1933 film was created with a realistic prosthetic eye that was operated via remote control off-camera.