So you want to fit in with all the Barbie costumes this Halloween but still want to have a costume related to Hunchback?
That is a very unique and super niche problem. To be a fair a pink Esmeralda look COULD work very well. There is also the fact that Esmeralda, Phoebus and Quasimodo were all given the doll treatment.
But which character from a version of Hunchback of Notre Dame has that stereotypical Barbie look? Who is blonde and wears pink? The Answer is….
Julie Zenatti as Fleur de Lys Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame de Paris’ Fleur de Lys . Fleur de Lys’ costume in this version is relatively simple, especially the design from 1998-2015. It’s consists of a pink sleeveless dress with darker pink dye marks and some sparse crystal details. The length is a dealer’s choice as you can make it mid-calf to floor length. Also low-high (or high-low) hemlines are fine as they are used in some productions. Though if you want, you can go shorter. If you already have a sleeveless pink dress, or gown, in your closet go for that one but if you don’t have a pink dress on-hand here are some options.
Try to avoid dresses with boho styles as that doesn’t fit Fleur de Lys. Think classic or even glam looks.
Pink Dress Options
Lilly-Jane Young as Fleur de Lys 2012 Asian Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris
Julie Zenatti as Fleur-de-Lys with Patrick Fiori as Phoebus, Notre Dame de Paris
For shoes any type of heel can work so long as it’s pink. This is a “Think Pink” costume. To be honest as long as the shoe is pink go for it. Maybe not a sneakers though.
Anne Meson as Fleur de Lys in the Las Vegas Cast Notre Dame de Paris
In Notre Dame de Paris, Fleur de Lys is typically blonde, the foil to Esmeralda. Some productions however opted to have Fleur de Lys use their natural hair colors. In those productions the Fleur de Lys straighten their locks and the Esmeralda has wavy hair. So if you don’t not want to wear a wig or dye your hair at least straighten it. You can also add flowers or crystal into your hairstyle.
Disney’s Esmeralda’s costume is a great Halloween costume idea. This is because it is super recognizable and made up for easy to get pieces, some of which you may already have in your closet.
But Disney’s Esmeralda has another costume, well technically she has three but no one going to wear her white prisoner costume plus who would recognize that one? I’m talking about her Red Festival of Fool look. Which also highly memorable.
Esmeralda’s Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
This one is a little hard to DIY. You might be to be a little more crafty with either sewing and/or with a hot glue gun. Never doubt a hot gun glue, they are great in a pinch. But let’s see what one can buy readily for this costume.
What you’ll need for this Costume:
Since you’re going to need Sheer purple fabric for the flutter sleeves and gold trim, let’s start with those.
The Sleeves
Between you and me, the purple of the sleeves is more of a magenta and you can just use a scarf instead of getting fabric. Also this means you can have a finished edge if you use the hem. Also note if you’re going for it Esmeralda’s sleeves have slit up the center.
Esmeralda’s trim in the movie is flat but you can go in other directions since there are a lot of gold trim option out there (pun always intended). So one option is more screen accurate and the other is a little more fun.
Wrapped around her hips, Esmeralda wears a long sheer purple. If you’re feeling enterprising you can make one, basically just make a long rectangle. If you feeling less enterprising get a sarong.
2nd option for this is if your feeling like going an extra mile you could paint stars, moon and suns on it and create the scarf she leaves with Frollo.
Most of the jewelry she wears are from her other costume so you can click here for options for her hoop earring, cuff, bracelets and anklet however the tiara is a bit trickier.
One option would be to get a plain gold headband and wear it across your forehead. You could also fashion it from the gold trim and some Velcro or a hook and eye. You could use try some epoxy sculpt to make a more screen accurate tiara.
However if you’re as hung up on being accurate you could also just get red and gold tiara to get the impression of the look. A Tiara like this one.
Tiara option #4: Didder Gold Tiaras for Women, Red Rhinestones Tiaras and Crowns for Women Elegant Princess Crown with Combs Tiaras for Girls Wedding Crowns for Brides Women’s Headbands Prom Birthday Party
It’s been a while since I have offered new Merch for my Zazzle store.
The idea behind these designs was inspired by “movie monsters” and Quasimodo dressing up like them for Halloween. It is meant to be cute and silly. There is are Zombie, a Mummy and Dracula/Vampire designs.
(the hieroglyphs phonetically spell “Quasimodo” (at least I hope they do) and the irony of latin being depicted in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs is not totally lost on me)
So you likeThe Hunchback of NotreDame enough to dress-up from it for Halloween? However you don’t want to be too on the nose. You also want to be weird, or clever or just not a “character” from the novel.
Well here is a list for you. It is a List of Vaguely Hunchback costume ideas that can be as big and crazy as you want or something more last minute.
Also these don’t have to be strictly for Halloween, any costume party would do.
There are ten costume ideas. There are in no real order.
Enjoy
A Gargoyle
Notre Dame’s Gargoyle
For whatever reason Gargoyles are NOT a popular choice for Halloween and I think that is a darn shame. Not ONLY are the monstrous but they ward off evil spirits. They are also iconic for Hunchback as they a prominent feature of Notre Dame and they are liken to Quasimodo.
A Medieval High Justice
Jehan Frollo, Sir Cedric Hardwicke 1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame
A costume basically inspired by Disney Frollo or the 1939 version. You could also do the scepter Priest which is from the book.
Goat
Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
An Animal costume is classic costume choice. Goats also have scary connotations so it works on that level too. If You WANT to make it Book Djali make the horns gold and add some card that spell Phoebus in a pretty script. Disney version add a hoop earring.
Poet Juggler
Gringoire balancing a chair Jetlag version Hunchback of Notre Dame
This one is open to interpretation. Basically inspired by Gringoire. You could opt to make a prop chair to balance in your teeth too. A prop chair would be great at parties.
Printing Press
Richard Harris as Frollo and the Printing Press
A weird and out there pick but also very creative. You will be the only one.
Hennin Princess
Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
Inspired by Fleur de Lys. You would be free to choose any color and decoration you want so long as you have the headgear. Though you are free to add Fleur de Lys in you want.
A Knight
Phoebus (Norman Kerry) 1923 Hunchback of Notre Dame
Inspired by Phoebus. A basic staple idea although you go with the Burgundian in style. That would require research. Or you a do a Medieval take on a Roman look which is sort of what Disney did. Or you could just be a very shiny Knight as handsome as the sun.
An Alchemist
Frollo (Alain Cuny) practices alchemy, 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Frollo did practice Alchemy in the book. What would an Alchemist wear????? Up to you. Some wear red jackets with the Flamel cross on the back.
A Stained Glass Window
Notre Dame’s South Rose Window
Yet another Creative weird pick. This one could be very striking and crazy. You could take inspiration from the Notre Dame Rose Windows or some other motif. This is the one I’d most liked to see done.
A Bell
Garou as Quasimodo with a bell
And last but not least, A Bell. You can’t have Hunchback without a Bell. You could go ONE STEP further and be Belle Bell. Do with that as you will.
Which of these ideas would you pick???? I’m Curious.
It’s Halloween time and that means costumes. Now we all know that Disney’s Esmeralda makes for a great Halloween costume as the components are easy to attain and on their own are very wearable for everyday use. It’s also very recognizable and warm enough for late autumn.
BUT is it the best version of Esmeralda to wear for the spooky season?
Is there a better Esmeralda Costume to wear while you acquire candy?
This is a ranked list of movie versions of Esmeralda’s primary costume that would work as a Halloween costume. It’s not a ranked list of the best costumes of Esmeralda from the Hunchback movie adaptations but rather how it works for an average person to go out into the world and get noticed as person dressed like the character Esmeralda.
I will also included tier levels from F-S just for fun. Sorry about not have the graphic but that is more fun in a video format anyway.
There are 8 major movie versions so it’s a list of 8. And this all for fun!
Number #8
The 1999 version Quasimodo d’El Paris
Melanie Thierry as Esmeralda
It’s a red dress. It’s a pretty red dress but unless you are wearing a wig – no one is going to notice this one as a costume. It will just be assumed you are not wearing a costume which not good for a costume party. Also only a super-die-hard fan of Hunchback version might notice or a die-hard fan of French comedy movies MIGHT notice but probably not, it’s a red dress.
F Tier
Number #7
The 1982 Version
Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame
It’s not nothing. It does read as a costume but it’s more akin to a random person who doesn’t go to Ren-Faires’ last minute costume to a Ren-Faire. They tried and want have fun but they are not super into it and then they wore the same thing to a Halloween party.
D Tier
Number #6
The 1977 Version
Michelle Newell as Esmeralda
You’re going to be confused as Juliet all evening.
D Tier
Number #5
The 1939 Version
Maureen O’Hara as Esmeralda
You could see that this is more of an “Esmeralda” but only if you were told. Otherwise Ren-faire plus some pointed jewelry that indicates the character. Side note one COULD make it more of “costume” by going grayscale with the colors or you could pick your own colors but I just will say that the original design was red corset and blue skirt.
C Tier
Number #4
The 1923 Version
Patsy Ruth Miller as Esmeralda 1923 Hunchback of Notre Dame
Because of the whole 1920s interpretation with the look, it skews less Ren-Faire and more “fancy dress party” which is basically Halloween. Would people look at this costume and say “Esmeralda?” Probably not but it works for a Halloween event. Plus you can do whatever you want for the colors or lean into the grayscale angle, like with the 1939 version.
B Tier
Number #3
The 1997 Version
Salma Hayek as Esmeralda, 1997 Hunchback of Notre Dame
I know I have been dismissive of “Ren-Faire” costumes but this one is just enough where it looks like you didn’t just throw on a costume you had that you got randomly. It looks like some thought went into it. It could be the colors or the dye job on the fabric but something more went into it.
B Tier
Number #2
The 1956 Version
Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda, 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame
Like the 1923 version, the period specific interpretation, 1950s in this case, helps adds to the costume concept. Does it fully say Esmeralda? Maybe not but it’s fun and would serve you well at Halloween party plus the Sexy vibe does help.
A Tier
Number #1
Disney
Disney Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame
Yeah don’t pretend you didn’t see this coming either. It just works the best. It’s the Esmeralda we all know and the one that comes into our minds first. Helps that it’s Disney. Everyone will know right away who you are. No need to ask. They know.
A Were-Human/Mermaid, A Sea Witch in Disguise and a Prince
It’s a Little Mermaid DIY Costume Buying Guide! Because it’s a the spooky Halloween season there needs to be more costume content.
So it’s The Little Mermaid’s turn.
Ariel’s Human Costume
Ariel’s Blue Dress
Ariel, the titular Little Mermaid, as a plethora of costumes to wear for Halloween fun spooky times. They are great and super iconic. But oddly enough it’s the blue dress she wears on her outing with Prince Eric that is quite similar in type to Esmeralda’s costume which is why it’s the Ariel costume of this post. PLUS it’s good if you live in a cooler climate. What you will need. A light blue long blue shirt or Blouse, a long blue skirt, black corset, black kitten heels, a big blue hair bow and red wig
Ariel’s Top
You could also go for white or dye it if you feel like it. It’s not hard to dye things just can be hard to get the color right.
In The Little Mermaid, Ursula disguises herself as a human and enchants Eric using Ariel’s voice. So it’s a double costume because you’re dressing up as someone in dress-up, costume inception.
Ursula as Vanessa has three looks but again this one has the elements of Esmeralda’s costume plus the other two looks are under-garments and a wedding gown but hey it’s Halloween so those looks would not be out of place.
Vanessa’s purple outfit consists of a dark purple corset, light purple skirt, and golden nautilus shell necklace. For shoes you could go for anything BUT she does where black flat and it does look like heels during the beach scene. You can get wig of you need one and a cloak since again she wears one on the beach when she enchants Eric. Girl is a siren.
Vanessa’s Top
Allow me to be real with you, it’s HARD to find something like Vanessa’s top on offer at Amazon. I tried. Also I’m ignoring the lace up detail.
If you need a wig by all means get one. You can also get a dark purple cape for added warmth. For shoes, see the Ariel’s shoe recommendations as Vanessa is pretty much a villainous Ariel look-like. But for shoes you can get away with whatever you think suits.
I’d say any blue pants you have. Eric’s pants are a slim fit but whatever you have should work. His pants do seems to be knee length with a cuffs but it’s not a deal breaker if your look lacks this detail.
DTV Monster Hits was a big thing in my childhood, my family recorded it on VHS (oh yeah) and I used to watch it a lot. Sadly this is pre-Disney Renassiance so no Hunchback but it defiantly a call back to 1980’s sentiments where you could scare child so long as it ended happily. I do prefer Disney being scary than sweet Princess stories but what can you do, I’m not an executive at Disney (Hire me Disney, we can make a scary Princess!)
Just click the picture below to watch the special (only only I could share it.)
DTV Monster Hits
So this is basically Disney music videos with spooky songs. There a few other things that are creepy and Halloween-ish, like the Evil Queen’s magic mirror and Witch Hazel. Also just to date this special, it has a preview of the newest movie at the time which was the The Great Mouse Detective, which was a fun movie! The special a great blend of old-school Dinsey charm and spooky creepy stuff. I think my favorites of the music videos are Bad Moon Rising (not my typical style of music), Sweet Dreams, Monster Mash, Somebody’s watching, Better Run and Heffalumps & Woozles just to name a few. I really do love this special.
Recently I became a fan of Modern Family and as I’m watching season 2 episode 6, just named Halloween we are treated to a Hunchback of Notre Dame reference, yay.
Eric Stonestreet as Cameron from the Halloween episode of Modern Family
In the episode Cameron makes mentions to his traumatic Halloween of his youth. At the end of episode as the Halloween is being ruined, Cam shares his story and I’m going off of memory to recount it. He was dressed up as Quasimodo. His friend took a whole bowl of candy as the ran off Cam’s Quasi Hunch got caught on a rose bush as his friend got away but every went after Cam saying ” Get Quasimodo” and them Cam wet his pants. Poor Cam
Also as an added bonus Jay is dressed as a Gargoyle. And the show makes other reference to Hunchback so double Yay!
Of course, there are two other movie Esmeralda costumes that would be fun choices for Halloween, the 1956 and the 1923 version. Both are simple and you can pretty much buy what you need or go to your closet.
Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda, 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame
The 1956 costume is bold and striking. It reads Gypsy or at least dancer in a modern yet classic way. You will need a basic red short sleeve shirt, long red skirt, a leather belt with gold details, a dagger, and coin earring and bracelet. Pretty simple yet sexy. You can add the veil and a hip scarf if you want.
Here are some options for the 1956 costume that you can buy on amazon.
Simple Red Shirt
This shirt while simple is the right cut for the 1956 costume. The belt will help create the shape of the costume.
This skirt would be a good option has it has a nice jagged hemline which look like the 56 version and it moves well.
Also comes in purple for Disney version.
Red Satin Skirt
This skirt is also a very good option. It’s simpler but it still lovely.
Hip Scarf
You can add a belly dancing hip scarf to make it fun but you don’t have too.
Brown & Gold Belt
A brown belt should do the trick but a brown belt with some gold details would be perfect. This is a great option if you don’t have something in your closet already, and you can wear it for every day wear.
Much like the bracelet if you can get coin hoops that would the best but just plain gold hoops would work well.
Just add a little dagger and you’re set! Perfect 1956 Esmeralda
Patsy Ruth Miller as Esmeralda 1923 Hunchback of Notre Dame
The 1923 verison is an 1920 take on Gyspy costumes which makes it a kind of whimsical and on a fashion trend since with Downton Abbey and the 2013 The Great Gatsby movie, the 1920’s are an in style. The 1923 version is a little tricker than 1956 to buy for but you can get the idea. Since the 1923 version is black and white you can pick any colors you want but one poster for the movie depicted her costume as yellow and purple, so that is what I would suggest.
All you need is a short sleeve loose white blouse, a yellow skirt that hits roughly below the knees but above the ankles, a vest or bolero and hip scarf and a long beaded necklace.
Here are some options for the 1923 costume that you can buy on amazon.
The 1923 Esmeralda wears a little vest but you can get a yellow bolero. If you wish you can cut off the sleeves or leave them on if you want. This one is made from knit so it would be harder to remove the sleeves but the details of the knitting look nice and would match the bohemian style of the costume.
The 1923 Esmeralda wears lots of long necklaces so you can fun layering what ever you have. But I would recommend trying to get some yellow and purple in there in you opt for that color scheme.
movie, the 1920’s are an in style. The 1923 version is a little tricker than 1956 to buy for but you can get the idea. Since the 1923 version is black and white you can pick any colors you want but one poster for the movie depicted her costume as yellow and purple, so that is what I would suggest.
