Hey everyone, so, I’ve been wanting to do something really out there for a while, and this year I finally went for it. I decided to create costumes based on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Sounds wild, right? Well, it was a ride, let me tell you!
First off, I started brainstorming. What do these guys even look like? Conquest, War, Famine, and Death—pretty heavy stuff. I spent a good few days just scrolling through images online, looking for inspiration. Pinterest became my best friend. I found some cool ideas there from a board by Jessica Flora on December 26, 2019. There were some awesome concepts, but I wanted mine to be unique, you know?
Then, I hit up another board by Ashley Lola, posted on September 28, 2018. This one was more about the makeup side of things. Halloween makeup, to be exact. I realized that the makeup would be just as important as the costumes themselves. I mean, you can’t have the Four Horsemen looking like they just rolled out of bed.
After gathering a ton of ideas, I started sketching. I’m no artist, but I managed to get my ideas down on paper. I envisioned each Horseman having a distinct look. For Conquest, I pictured a regal, almost kingly appearance, but with a dark twist. War had to look fierce and battle-ready. Famine, I imagined gaunt and ghostly, and Death, well, Death had to be the most terrifying of them all.
Once I had my sketches, I started hunting for materials. This was a whole adventure on its own. I hit up every thrift store, fabric shop, and online marketplace I could find. I needed fabrics that looked ancient and worn, but also kind of majestic. For War, I found some old leather pieces that I could repurpose into armor. Famine required lots of tattered cloth and some creative distressing techniques. And for Death, I found this amazing black fabric that had a really eerie sheen to it.
Then came the sewing and crafting. Let me tell you, I’m not the best with a needle and thread, but I was determined. I spent weeks cutting, sewing, and gluing. There were definitely some moments of frustration—like when I accidentally sewed a sleeve on backward—but I kept at it. For the armor pieces, I used a combination of leather, metal scraps, and even some cardboard for structure. It was a lot of trial and error, but eventually, things started to come together.
Makeup was the next big hurdle. I watched a ton of YouTube tutorials and practiced on myself. Let’s just say there were some nights I looked like a zombie gone wrong. But hey, practice makes perfect, right? I experimented with different products and techniques until I found the right looks for each Horseman. Pale foundation, dark eyeshadows, and a lot of contouring were key. For Death, I even used some special effects makeup to create a really skeletal look.
Finally, the day came to put it all together. I got some friends to model the costumes, which was a blast. Seeing my creations come to life was such a rewarding experience. We did a photoshoot in this old, abandoned building I found—it was the perfect backdrop. The photos turned out amazing, capturing the eerie and dramatic vibe I was going for.
Here are some highlights from the process:
- Brainstorming and Research: Spent days on Pinterest and various websites to gather inspiration.
- Sketching: Drew out initial designs for each Horseman.
- Material Hunting: Scoured thrift stores, fabric shops, and online marketplaces for the perfect materials.
- Sewing and Crafting: Cut, sewed, and glued fabrics and materials to create the costumes.
- Makeup Trials: Practiced makeup techniques extensively, using tutorials and experimentation.
- Photoshoot: Organized a photoshoot with friends in an abandoned building to showcase the final costumes.
Honestly, this project pushed me way out of my comfort zone, but I’m so glad I did it. It was a ton of work, but seeing the final results made it all worth it. Plus, I learned a lot about costume design, sewing, and makeup along the way. If you’re thinking about tackling a big creative project, my advice is to just go for it. You might surprise yourself with what you can achieve!
So yeah, that’s my story about creating the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse costumes. Hope you all enjoyed hearing about it. Let me know what you think, and if you’ve got any crazy costume ideas of your own, I’d love to hear them!
