Costume ideas inspired by Anya Taylor-Joy from the Netflix adaptation of The Queen's Gambit. Perfect for Halloween, cosplay, or just some inspiration for your daily mod style!
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1. The Outfits
Beth's fashion was the perfect blend of mod sensibility and 60's glam. While we had a lot of favorite looks during the series, her shift dresses are easily the most recognizable.
Who can forget that opening scene of the series, watching Beth's mad dash through the hotel for her anticipated meeting with Borgov. Somehow - despite the hangover - she still pulled off one of the most memorable looks of the series. We found a great replica of her mint dress that is sure to turn more than a few heads. ($45, Amazon)
This sleeveless shift dress is a replica of the one Beth wore to Paris in Episode 6. While the original garment was beige, this dress also comes in pink and black in case you want to switch it up a bit. ($31, Amazon).
Beth wore a lot of peter pan collars during the show, but we think this contrast dress from earlier in her career is one of the best representations of the classic style. Available in a range of colors, including black, navy, green, and burgundy (select styles $18-27, Amazon).
Bonus points: This dress could easily be used for other costumes in the future, including Wednesday Addams or Veronica Lodge!
2. The Wig
Unless you're blessed with naturally radiant red hair, you'll need to sport a wig to pull off this look. While Beth experimented with a few hair styles and lengths over the year, we think this medium length wig fits best with her top looks and is the most versatile. ($28, Amazon)
3. Makeup Inspo
The show's award-winning makeup artist, Daniel Parker, gave us so many great looks. However, nothing was more iconic than the heavy mod look from Episode 6, when Beth returns to the site of her very first tournament. To achieve this look, focus on false eyelashes and lots of jet black liquid liner. Keep reading for more tips on application.
On the bottom: The key here is to leave your bottom lashes alone (no mascara), and focus on that single black line which is offset from your actual lash line. Start slightly beyond the inner corner of your eye, and extend even further beyond the outer corner.
On the top: While the dark wing tip seems most noticeable, the eyeshadow application is secretly what makes this look work (see image on left). The "crease" shadow line should mirror the length of your bottom eyeliner. It should also be set ABOVE the actual crease of your eyelid; you want this line to be visible when your eyes are open. You'll notice the crease line is thinner at the inner corner of her eye, but has more of a bell shape by the time it reaches the outer corner. The shadow should extend out and meet the eyeliner wingtip. When you're done, apply some white shadow to the middle of your eyelid to create better contrast and to catch the light. Then apply the darkest lashes you can handle!
Classic Makeup Inspo:
If the glam look was too much, then this classic Beth Harmon look (below) is much more manageable. The focus here is a single black wing tip along the top lash line, and red lips. Keeping reading for a few extra tips and tricks!
Eyeliner: If you look closely at the second photo, you can see a whitish line just above her black eyeliner. That was done to accentuate the sharpness of the line and also provide some light for her lids for when her eyes are open (see first image). We'd suggest smudging a beige pencil over the lid prior to applying the black liner, or even using tinted eyeshadow primer to give a subtle flesh tone color without smudging your handy work (we'd suggest Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer in Eden).
The Lip: It's not just the color, but the application that matters here. The makeup artist always accentuated Anya's cupid's bow and the points of her lips were very sharp. We'd suggest using a very sharp lip pencil to trace this outline prior (we'd suggest an all-nighter lip pencil such as Makeup Forever's Aqua Waterproof Lipliner in Dark Matte Raspberry ($20, Sephora). Another tip? Apply coverup along the outside of the lip to help that line and color pop even more. (Bonus points: you can also contour the cupid's bow to create more shadowing along the line between your nose and the top of your lip).
Other Makeup Notes:
It's going to be a long night, so we'd suggest some of our Editor's must-have makeup tools for keeping your makeup in place from start to finish.
Primers:
The single most important part of your makeup for the night is your base. After moisturizing, make sure to use a strong layer of primer on your face and eyes. Our Editor's favorites are Smashbox Photo Finish Smoother & Blur Primer ($38, Macy's) and Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer which is available in a multiple shades and formulas including Original and Anti-Aging varieties ($24, Urban Decay).
Setting Powders:
After all this work, setting powders and sprays will provide that extra layer of security against smudges and transfer. We'd suggest runway favorite Laura Mercier setting powders, which come in Invisible (our favorite!) and nude tones ($39, Macy's). If you prefer a spray, Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray ($33) has developed a cult following - for good reason!
4. Accessories
Details can make or break a costume and, in the case of Beth Harmon, she wouldn't go anywhere without access to a chess board. We'd suggest this travel set ($29, Amazon) as a fun way to learn chess or to use as a conversation piece.
(Power Move: You could always ditch the game pieces and use this as a clutch instead!)
5. Knowledge
Perhaps it's too much to expect that you'll become a Grand Master by Halloween. But a different piece of literature to arm you with fun facts is the source material for the series! If you didn't already know, "The Queen's Gambit" was based on a New York Times Bestseller by Walter Tevis. Take a read and let us know how you think it compares to the Netflix series! ($9.87, Amazon)
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