How to Dress Like Lydia Deetz

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: February 14, 2022 References

Although the movie Beetlejuice came out in 1988, the style of character Lydia Deetz is as popular as ever. In the movie, Lydia borrows from goth style—favoring black clothing, using black accessories, and keeping a pale, washed-out appearance. To get her signature look, try some of our easy style suggestions.

1

Wear all black.

Choose a black dress or black skirt and sweater as the base for your outfit. Lydia is always wearing black so raid your closet for a simple shift dress or an oversized black sweater. If you're wearing a sweater, pair it with a long black skirt and toss on black tights underneath it.^{[1]
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- Go for classic or simple styles—avoid edgy asymmetrical cuts or modern tops since Lydia's style is usually understated.

2

Choose clothes with lace accents.

Pick lacy clothing or add lacy shawls and wraps to your black outfit. Lydia's style might be understated, but the black lace makes it really interesting. Choose black dresses or tops that have lacy sleeves or edging. If you can't find any, buy a length of black lace and drape it around your shoulders like a shawl.^{[2]
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- If you don't want to buy black lace, you can dye your own lacy clothes black.

3

Wear a red dress for a formal look.

Put on a puffy red dress if you want to recreate Lydia's wedding dress. Lydia breaks away from the black wardrobe for the famous almost-wedding scene in Beetlejuice. To recreate the look, find a blood-red dress that has layers of tulle along the skirt. Pair the fancy dress with elbow-length red sleeves and wear a matching red veil to complete the look.^{[3]
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- Carry a bouquet of bright red roses and accessorize the outfit with a lacy red choker.

4

Pop on a pair of black boots or heels.

Don't stress over Lydia's shoes! You can truly wear any pair of black shoes you have, although Lydia's typically seen with heeled black boots. If you don't have heeled black boots, you could wear black combat boots or black sneakers.^{[4]
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- Not a fan of boots or heels? No worries! It's totally fine to style your Lydia Deetz look with black flats.

5

Complete the outfit with black accessories.

Put on a black choker or add a black beaded necklace. Lydia doesn't wear earrings or bracelets, but she does wear a lacy black choker. Sometimes, she pairs a long black beaded necklace with the look. If you have a really long beaded necklace, wrap it around your neck twice to make it double-stranded.^{[5]
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- If you can't find a lacy choker, try a plain black choker or a simple black ribbon.

6

Go for minimal makeup.

Brush pale powder over your face and use dark eyeshadow. Skip blush and lipstick since Lydia never looks like she's wearing a lot of makeup. Instead, apply pale or white face powder to your skin so it looks light. Then, apply a dark brown eyeshadow to your eyelids and the inner corners of your eyes. Brush a little black eyeshadow on the eyelid near the opposite end to make your eyes look sunken.^{[6]
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- If you don't have thick, dark eyebrows, fill them in with an eyeliner pencil or dark eyeshadow.
- If your skin isn't naturally pale, apply a light concealer or primer to your face. Use your fingers to rub it in before you brush your face with pale face powder.

7

Style your hair so it's messy and fluffy.

Keep your hair messy and make a few chunky bangs. Skip washing your hair for the day so it's a little stringy and greasy. Then, pull your hair back into a half-updo and brush the hair on top of your head so it's a little frantic and fluffy. Rub some mousse or hair gel between your fingers so you can make 3 to 5 defined bangs falling on your forehead.^{[7]
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- Don't have black hair? No problem—pick up a black wig and cut the hair along the forehead to make bangs.

8

Wear a black hat.

Pop on a wide-brimmed hat to complete the Lydia Deetz look. Lydia wears a large, black straw hat when she's outside photographing. You can also wear the hat inside, as she does, with a large lacy veil draped over your face.^{[8]
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- If you can find one, get a hat with strings that you can tie underneath your chin.

9

Hold a few props that Lydia has in the movie.

Carry a film camera and Lydia's book. In the movie, Lydia is frequently seen carrying Handbook for the Recently Deceased. If you're looking for a believable prop to carry, you can find journals with the iconic book cover for sale online. Then, hang a film camera with a strap around your neck and set out as Lydia!