12 Iconic Figures From History to Dress Up as for Halloween

The last Queen consort of France before the Revolution, Marie Antoinette is most remembered for something she didn’t say: “Let them eat cake.” When philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote of a princess making that remark in his 1765 book, Confessions, Antoinette was just nine years old, still living in Austria.

In her 2006 cult classic, Sofia Coppola reimagines one of history’s most controversial queens as a modern symbol of teen angst. Lean into the 18th-century Rococo aesthetic with a pastel gown, corset, hip panniers, and, of course, an elaborate powdered wig.

Physicist Albert Einsten, ultimately shaped modern physics, creating the groundbreaking theory of relativity and the famous equation E=mc. In 1921, he won the Nobel Prize for explaining how light can knock electrons out of materials, a discovery that helped establish quantum theory.

What’s more, his look is instantly recognizable and easy to recreate. Grab yourself a white wig—the wilder the hair, the better—and a thick mustache. He often preferred more casual wear, like a sweater or turtleneck, and you can top it all off with a lab coat.

Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, known for her vivid self-portraits, has remained a cultural icon. Her style, blending fantasy and realism, often drew on Mexican folk art and nature. 

Her look was just as iconic: a floral crown, braided updo, bold brows, and red lipstick. She often wore Tehuana-style dresses, inspired by the traditional clothing of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, to celebrate her Mexican heritage.

To honor her, try an embroidered blouse, a long ruffled skirt, and bold jewelry. Keep it about Frida herself.

Widely recognized simply as “the Greatest,” Muhammad Ali is considered the best heavyweight boxer of all time. Beyond his unmatched style (“float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” in the words of the man himself), Ali was also a major civil rights activist and served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

His signature in-ring outfit was white boxing trunks with black trim, but he was also known for his elaborate walk-out wear of a red satin robe. Whatever direction you go in, don’t forget the red gloves.

Most, if not all, of us have come across the story of Joan of Arc: a teenage peasant girl who led French armies to major victories during the Hundred Years’ War. Widely recognized as a martyr, she was burned at the stake in 1431 for heresy, refusing to renounce her claims of divine guidance even in the face of death.

From Chappell Roan at the VMAs to Zendaya at the Met Gala, many celebrities have paid homage to her bravery. To dress like Joan of Arc, combine some variation of the following: armor and chainmail, heavy leather boots, and a signature sword or white banner.

International superstar turned spy, Josephine Baker broke boundaries in more ways than one. One of the world’s first Black female superstars, she called out the racism she experienced in the segregated United States and moved to Paris in 1925, where she became an overnight sensation as a dancer, singer, and actor. 

When France fell to Nazi forces, she used her celebrity status to spy for the French Resistance. If you’re dressing up as the icon, whether in her cabaret fashion or showgirl costumes, take the opportunity to dive deeper into her fascinating life, because this is just scratching the surface.

More than 400 years after his death, we’re still talking about Shakespeare, one way or another. Whether it’s an adaptation of one of his classic plays hitting Broadway or a film about his family sweeping award season, it’s amazing how little we know about the man himself.

For this look, you can dress the part in Elizabethan-style clothing, like a doublet, knee breeches, and a ruff—or keep people guessing and come as one of his characters. A quill makes an easy prop either way.

Bruce Lee was a legendary Hong Kong-American martial artist who broke barriers as one of the first Chinese film stars to reach a global audience. He famously created Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial art and philosophy focused on intercepting an opponent’s attack before it lands.

Lee has many notable looks to recreate, but the most remembered is the bright yellow-and-black track jumpsuit from his final, unfinished film, Game of Death—which was later paid homage to in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

Pioneering African American mathematician Katherine Johnson’s calculations played a major role in helping NASA launch the first Americans into space and return Apollo astronauts from the Moon. 

Margot Lee Shetterly’s 2016 book and the later Oscar-nominated movie, Hidden Figures, brought Johnson and her colleagues into the spotlight, ultimately inspiring a new generation of women and minorities in STEM.

Respectfully dressing up as Johnson for Halloween is a great way to continue honoring her legacy. Mirror the iconic look in the movie with a 1960s vintage dress and cardigan, retro glasses, and, for effect, a stack of space trajectory calculations.

Considered the “father of modern science,” Galileo Galilei’s discoveries in astronomy and physics fundamentally changed how we understand the universe—from observing Jupiter’s four largest moons to proving the law of falling bodies.

To get the look, wear a dark button-up jacket with a white collar and cuffs peeking out, paired with a gray-and-white wig, a matching beard, and glasses. And don’t forget the telescope!

The first woman to win a Nobel Prize, Marie Curie broke barriers for women in science with her groundbreaking research on radioactivity. She grew up in Poland, where women couldn’t attend university, and later won two Nobel Prizes in physics and chemistry. 

To dress up as the physicist and chemist, wear a high-collared black or dark dress with long sleeves and a white vintage collar, with your hair in a loose bun. A glass vial or lab notebook makes an easy prop.

Recognized as the first African-American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license, Bessie Coleman became the earliest known Black person to earn an international pilot’s license.

When American flight schools refused to accept her based on her race and gender, she moved to France and trained at the Caudron Brothers School of Aviation. She later used her platform to advocate for equal rights. 

To dress as the aviation pioneer, wear a military green-style jacket, a white Oxford shirt with a tie, tall boots, and an aviator cap with goggles.