Women's Viking Costume
Channel your inner Norse warrior with a fierce, battle-ready shieldmaiden look.
The Women's Viking costume, often styled as a legendary shieldmaiden, is a popular choice for Renaissance faires, Halloween, and cosplay. It represents strength, independence, and adventure, drawing inspiration from Norse history and mythology. The look features layered earthy tunics, faux-fur accents, leather armor details, and intricate braided hair.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
See yourself as Women's Viking
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What you need for a Women's Viking costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Women's Viking costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Brown or green tunic dress
A long-sleeve or short-sleeve rustic tunic dress in earthy tones like brown, olive green, or deep red.
DIY: Use an oversized brown or green t-shirt, cut the collar into a V-neck, and fray the hem.
Faux-fur shoulder cape
A textured grey or brown faux-fur collar or capelet that drapes over the shoulders.
DIY: Drape a strip of faux-fur fabric from a craft store over your shoulders and secure it with a safety pin.
Wide leather belt
A wide brown faux-leather waist belt or corset belt to cinch the tunic.
DIY: Wrap a long strip of brown fabric or vinyl around your waist several times and tie it.
Faux-leather wrist bracers
A pair of brown lace-up wrist guards or gauntlets.
DIY: Cut the sleeves off an old brown vinyl jacket and lace them up with twine.
Fur-trimmed boot covers
Brown boot tops or leg warmers with faux-fur trim to wear over your own boots.
DIY: Wrap faux-fur scraps around the tops of your boots and tie them in place with leather cord.
Toy Viking shield and axe
A round plastic or foam shield with Norse designs and a matching prop battle axe.
DIY: Cut a large circle out of thick cardboard, paint it with metallic and wood textures, and attach a duct-tape handle.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Women's Viking costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the base tunic dress or oversized t-shirt.
- 2
Cinch your waist tightly with the wide brown leather belt.
- 3
Drape the faux-fur cape over your shoulders, securing it in place.
- 4
Lace up the faux-leather bracers on your forearms.
- 5
Pull on your favorite dark leather boots and wrap the fur boot covers around the tops.
- 6
Style your hair with Norse-inspired braids and apply dark, smoky eye makeup.
- 7
Grab your prop shield and axe to complete the warrior look.
Makeup & hair
Create multiple tight French or Dutch braids along the sides of your head, leaving the rest of your hair crimped or wavy. Apply dark, smoky eyeshadow around your eyes, or use black face paint to draw a simple vertical warrior stripe down the center of your face.
Women's Viking for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with a male Viking warrior in matching chainmail and fur-lined cloaks.
- group
- Gather a clan of shieldmaidens and Norse raiders carrying matching round shields.
- kids
- A miniature warrior look with a soft fabric tunic, faux-fur collar, and a foam sword.
- Plus size
- A flowing, A-line medieval dress or tunic provides a comfortable, adjustable fit when paired with a lace-up corset belt.
- pet
- A small dog wearing a lightweight faux-fur collar and a soft fabric horned helmet.
Tips
- Wear comfortable, broken-in leather boots since you'll likely be walking around a faire or party.
- Layer thermal leggings under your tunic if you are wearing this costume in cold autumn weather.
- Keep your prop weapons lightweight, especially if you plan to carry them all night.
Women's Viking costume FAQ
- Did historical Viking women actually wear horned helmets?
- No, historical Vikings did not wear horned helmets; this is a modern myth popularized by 19th-century opera. Authentic shieldmaiden costumes focus on practical leather, wool, and fur.
- What kind of shoes should I wear with a Viking costume?
- Simple, flat leather boots in brown or black work best. Avoid modern sneakers or high heels to keep the look authentic.
- How do I make a DIY Viking shield?
- Cut a large circle out of thick cardboard, paint it to look like wooden planks with a metallic rim, and hot-glue a cardboard handle to the back.
Did you know? While pop culture popularized the 'shieldmaiden' through shows like Vikings, archaeological discoveries of female graves containing swords and axes suggest Norse women did indeed hold warrior status.