Lola is a fun character to dress as because her whole look is glamour turned up loud. She's fitted and curvy, coloured in red, pink and purple, with a huge sweep of hair, heavy-lidded eyes and fins that flow behind her like a train. On real people that usually translates into a shimmering dress, a dramatic wig, glossy lips, a shell or two and some kind of soft fin at the back. The goal is a costume you can actually wear to a Halloween party, a convention or a photo shoot without fighting it all night. Below are thirty versions, from a sewn mermaid gown to a thrift-store dress you alter in an afternoon, to one you can pull straight from your closet.
Cutting Organza Fins That Float Instead of Flop
Almost every Lola below has some kind of fin, and the fin is what tells people you're a fish, not just a woman in a purple dress. Here's how I make a set that holds its shape and comes off when you need it to.
- Use crystal organza or a crisp polyester organza. Soft chiffon looks pretty on the bolt but hangs limp once it's on your back.
- Cut each fin as a long rounded teardrop, then cut two more slightly smaller in a second colour. Stacked red, magenta and violet layers look like the film's fins far more than one flat colour.
- Seal every cut edge. A narrow rolled hem on a machine is neatest; fray stopper or a fabric glue for synthetics works if you're not sewing.
- Gather the narrow end of each stack with a few hand stitches so it fans out, then sew the gathered ends to a strip of ribbon or a belt, not to the dress.
- Fasten that ribbon or belt with snaps, hooks or a buckle, so the whole fin set lifts off before you sit, drive or dance in a tight crowd.
If you want fins with a bit more body, slip a thin piece of flexible craft foam or millinery wire into the centre layer. Keep it light; weight at the back of a stretchy dress pulls the neckline backwards all night.
1. Classic Lola Costume With Purple Maxi Dress
Start here if you want the classic Lola without much sewing. A fitted purple maxi dress, strapless or with a sweetheart neck and a slight flare at the hem, gives you her fishy outline. Sheer purple tights and metallic lavender heels keep the colour running top to bottom. The wig should be long, red into magenta, with a deep side part and a big sweep across the front. Purple shadow, long lashes, peach blush and glossy red lips do the face. Clip a light shell near the part and carry a small gold purse. I'd make the organza back fin detachable with two snaps, so you can take it off before you sit.
2. Lola Costume With Red Sequin Mermaid Dress
Sequins suit Lola because she always wants the light on her. Pick a red sequin mermaid dress that fits through the body and flares at the ankle. Sequin seams scratch, especially under the arms, so wear nude tights or a thin slip underneath, and run a strip of soft bias tape over any scratchy inside seam. Red or gold block heels hold up better than stilettos on a party floor. A wig blending crimson, magenta and violet stands in for her colourful fins. Go bright with the purple shadow, add a black wing, big lashes and shiny berry lips, plus a gold shell clip and cuffs. Rather than a literal tail, layered red organza panels at the back move like fins when you walk.
3. Lola Costume With Pink Satin Mini Dress
Satin keeps this one light and still glamorous. Choose a fitted hot pink satin mini with a sweetheart neckline and a little ruching, then add opaque purple tights for coverage and contrast. Pink platforms or ankle-strap heels suit it. Satin shows every pull at a tight seam, so size up if you're between sizes and take it in at the side rather than squeezing in. A shoulder-length magenta wig with curled-under ends and a dramatic side bang keeps the hair manageable. Purple shimmer, fluttery lashes, rosy contour and glossy coral-red lips finish the face, with a pearly shell barrette and big gold earrings. A small pleated organza piece at the back gives a quick tail fin. This is a good pick for a warm indoor party.
4. Easy Lola Costume With Purple Bodycon Dress
Short on time? A plain purple bodycon dress gets you most of the way. Pick a midi length so you can move, then violet tights and silver low heels. Wear a long red wig, or work washable magenta hair wax through the ends of dark hair. Purple shadow, black liner and reusable lashes give the eyes, with red gloss and a touch of highlighter. The fin can be glittery craft foam fixed with safety pins or removable fashion tape. I pin from the inside of the dress so the pin heads don't show, and keep the foam small so it doesn't drag the back of a stretchy dress down. Shell earrings and a gold clutch finish it, and every piece comes off afterwards.
5. Plus Size Lola Costume With Purple Velvet Gown
Stretch velvet suits a plus-size Lola because it follows the body without pinching. Look for a deep purple wrap gown or fitted maxi with supportive straps and a flared skirt, with smoothing shorts or breathable tights underneath if you like. Cushioned gold block heels keep you upright all night. A long burgundy and magenta wig gives rich colour without fighting the velvet. Blend plum shadow outward, add lashes and finish with glossy red lips. Gold drop earrings, shell hair jewellery and stacked bangles add detail. Velvet has a pile that changes colour depending on direction, so cut the two fins with the pile running the same way as the dress, or they'll look a different shade. Attach them at the lower back with snaps.
6. Modest Lola Costume With Long Sleeve Dress
Lola works with full coverage too. Wear a long-sleeve purple maxi with a high neck, fitted waist and gently flared hem, over opaque plum tights with metallic flats or low block heels. A long magenta wig with a side part is one choice; a matching headscarf pinned with a shell brooch is another. Keep the eyes bold with violet shadow, a clean line and mascara, and finish with a glossy berry lip. A light red and purple organza cape over the shoulders reads as flowing fins. I stitch a hook and eye at the neck rather than tying it, so it stays put without pulling. Gold bracelets and a small shell bag finish a version that's easy to wear at public events.
7. Lola Costume With Purple Jumpsuit
If you'd rather wear pants, a jumpsuit does the job. Start with a purple halter or sweetheart jumpsuit with wide legs that swish like fins. Magenta platforms under the hem and a narrow gold belt shape it. A red and violet wig in long smooth layers with a big side sweep handles the hair. Purple smoky eyes, bold lashes, peach blush and red gloss suit her. Sheer organza panels stitched down the outer leg seams flutter as you walk; I tack them at the top and halfway down so they don't wrap around your shin. A shell clip, gold hoops and a small metallic purse finish a costume you can dance in for hours.
8. Lola Costume With Corset Top And Maxi Skirt
Separates give you a custom-made look and much easier fitting. Pair a structured purple corset-style top with a matching high-waisted maxi skirt that skims the hips and opens into a soft fishtail. Choose wide straps, or wear a fitted layer underneath for coverage. Purple tights and metallic red heels follow. A long wig with burgundy roots, red lengths and violet ends gives Lola's colours. Lavender shadow, a wing, full lashes, highlighted cheeks and glossy scarlet lips finish the face. Hand-cut scales of satin or iridescent fabric on the skirt are a nice touch. On satin, a light fusible web behind each scale stops the edges fraying and curling. A shell barrette and gold bracelets finish it.
9. Lola Costume With Purple Two-Piece Set
A crop top and skirt set gives you control over sizing, since top and bottom can be different sizes. Choose a fitted purple top and matching high-waisted mermaid skirt, showing only as much midriff as you're comfortable with; a matching bodysuit underneath covers the gap. Plum tights and gold platform sandals finish the base. A long crimson wig with magenta pieces gets a sweeping side part. Violet shimmer, dark liner, soft contour and lacquered red lips do the face. Layered organza ruffles sewn or pinned around the skirt hem give the flowing tail. Check that the ruffle sits a few centimetres above the floor in your shoes, or you'll tread on it. A pearl shell clip, gold earrings and a tiny metallic bag finish it.
10. Lola Costume With Purple Fin Cape
Here the fins become a cape, which turns a plain dress into Lola. Start with a sleeveless purple column dress, matching tights and silver pointed flats. Cut the cape from light red, pink and violet organza in rounded fin shapes, and layer the colours so the edges peek out from each other. Tie it at the shoulders with ribbon so it comes off to sit. A magenta wig with long layers and a full side bang, purple and pink shadow blended upward, black liner, lashes, coral blush and red gloss suit her. Add gold cuffs and a glittery shell hairpiece. Keep the cape about knee length. Any longer and it drags and gets caught as you move through a crowd.
11. Lola Costume With Purple Flapper Dress
Lola's showgirl attitude fits the 1920s better than you'd guess. Choose a fitted purple fringe dress to the knee over opaque plum tights, with gold T-strap shoes on a steady heel for dancing. A chin-length magenta bob with a deep side wave suits the decade, and a shell clip replaces the usual feather band. Lavender shadow, a winged line, curled lashes, defined cheeks and glossy deep red lips finish the face, with long gold beads and a small metallic clutch. The fin goes behind the fringe, attached at the back waist. Fringe tangles if it's stored folded, so hang the dress and shake it out before you put it on.
12. Y2K Lola Costume With Purple Mini Dress
The film came out in the early 2000s, so a Y2K Lola makes sense. Layer a shiny purple mini over magenta tights, ideally with a halter neck, some rhinestone trim or a little flare at the hem. Chunky silver platform sandals and a tiny metallic shoulder bag fit the era. A long red and purple wig with smooth lengths and two face-framing pieces handles the hair. Frosted lavender shadow, black liner, glossy lips and sparkly body highlighter set the mood. Add shell hair clips and a rhinestone waist chain over the dress. A small iridescent fin at the back makes the character obvious. Keep the accessories light, because chunky platforms already change how you balance.
13. Lola Costume With Purple Wide Leg Pants
Wide-leg trousers give you a dress-free Lola. Pair high-waisted purple wide-leg pants with a fitted red satin top. A drapey fabric, such as crepe or a soft satin, is what creates the fin-like swing; stiff cotton trousers just hang. Purple pointed boots or hidden platforms go underneath. A waist-length magenta wig with red streaks and a side-swept front suits it. Put the focus on the eyes with violet shadow, a precise line, long lashes and a pearly highlight under the brows, then bright red gloss. Sheer purple ruffles down the outside of each leg add a watery texture. Gold shell earrings, stacked cuffs and a structured metallic bag suit her polish, and you can move freely all night.
14. Cold Weather Lola Costume With Velvet Dress
Outdoors on Halloween night, you need warmth that doesn't hide the character. Start with a long-sleeve purple velvet midi and thermal plum tights, then red ankle boots with low block heels and a cropped deep violet faux-fur jacket. A thick shoulder-length magenta wig covers the ears and adds warmth, with a shell clip by the part. Waterproof purple eye makeup, bold lashes, cream blush and a moisturising red gloss hold up in cold wind. Make the fins from felt backed with thin foam, and put one on the jacket and two near the hem so they still show once you're bundled up. Gold gloves or bracelets finish it for trick-or-treating or an outdoor party.
15. Summer Lola Costume With Purple Sundress
A hot convention hall or a crowded party calls for fabric that breathes. Wear a fitted purple cotton sundress with supportive straps and a flared midi hem. Skip the tights unless the venue is cool and go bare-legged in comfortable purple sandals. A shoulder-length red and violet wig is much cooler than a waist-length one. Long-wear lavender shadow, waterproof mascara, a light cheek tint and glossy coral lips survive the heat better than heavy cream products. Clip a small shell above one ear and carry a gold crossbody bag. Instead of foam fins, I'd tie short organza panels around the waist as a removable overskirt. They move like a tail and add no bulk or heat.
16. Last-Minute Lola Costume With Closet Basics
You may already own everything for this Lola. Pair a fitted purple dress with red tights and any metallic shoes or ankle boots you have. No wig? Sweep your hair to one side and add temporary red or magenta colour spray to a few sections; it rubs off on collars and pillows, so keep the spray to the ends. Use a cheap palette for purple eyes, plus black mascara, rosy blush and shiny red lipstick. Cut a tail fin from purple poster board, cover it in glittery wrapping paper and pin it to the back of the dress. Gold jewellery and a shell from a summer accessory or craft kit finish it. Colour and shape do the work here, no specialty pieces needed.
17. Thrifted Lola Costume With Purple Formal Dress
Thrift stores are full of formal dresses that make great Lola bases. Look for a fitted purple prom dress, bridesmaid gown or stretchy evening dress with a flared hem. Most formal gowns are cut for heels, so try it on in the shoes you'll wear, then hem it to that length; I'd rather hem than trip on the night. Add second-hand metallic shoes and opaque tights. Look for a red wig in the costume rail, or drape a colourful scarf as flowing hair. Purple shadow, black liner, false lashes and red lipstick build the face. Make fins from fabric remnants and attach with snaps so the dress stays wearable. Thrifted gold earrings, bangles and a small evening bag finish an affordable Lola.
18. No-Sew Lola Costume With Organza Fins
You don't need a sewing machine for a polished Lola. Start with a plain purple maxi, matching tights and comfortable gold shoes. Cut red, pink and purple organza into rounded fin shapes and seal the edges with a fabric glue made for synthetics; organza frays the moment you look at it, so don't skip this. Fix the fins to an elastic belt with safety pins hidden on the inside, then wear the belt at the waist so the fins fall over the back. A long magenta wig with a shell clip, violet shadow, a winged line, dramatic mascara and red gloss do the rest, with gold earrings and a metallic cuff. Every addition comes off afterwards, and the dress goes back to normal use.
19. Budget Lola Costume With T-Shirt Dress
For the tightest budget, use a fitted purple T-shirt dress as the base. Red leggings or opaque magenta tights give strong contrast, with cheap gold ballet flats. For hair, a red costume wig, colourful extensions or a magenta scarf wrapped around a low ponytail all work. Use makeup you already own for purple shadow, mascara, rosy blush and red gloss. Cut the fin from craft foam, draw scale lines with a metallic marker and hang it from a ribbon belt. Shell earrings can be painted cardboard on clip-on findings. Jersey stretches out of shape under any weight, so keep the fin on the belt, not pinned to the dress. It's comfortable and easy to replace, and suits a casual party where a gown would be too much.
20. Deluxe Lola Cosplay With Hand-Painted Scales
Hand-painted scales take a simple gown into convention cosplay territory. Choose a red or deep purple mermaid dress in smooth stretch fabric, then stencil overlapping scales in magenta, violet and iridescent pink with fabric paint. On stretch fabric, stretch the area slightly over a board while you paint, so the paint doesn't crack when the dress stretches on your body. Hidden platforms and comfortable shorts go underneath. Style a long gradient wig with red roots, magenta lengths and purple ends, a sculpted side sweep and a gold shell ornament. Go big with the makeup: purple shadow, graphic liner, full lashes, sculpted cheeks and glossy scarlet lips. Detachable organza fins backed with flexible foam, gold cuffs and shell earrings finish her. Test every attachment before a long day.
21. Convention Lola Costume With Comfortable Sneakers
On a convention floor, sneakers are the right call, and they can still look like Lola. Wear a stretchy purple midi with a flared hem, moisture-wicking shorts and clean metallic silver sneakers. Magenta laces or removable rhinestone clips make the shoes look chosen, not borrowed. A light red and purple wig with an adjustable cap, held with a wig grip band, stays put through a long day. Long-wear violet shadow, waterproof liner, mascara, cheek tint and transfer-resistant red gloss hold up. Put the small fabric fins on a purple belt instead of the dress, so you can take them off before sitting. Light shell earrings, gold-painted foam bracelets and a crossbody bag finish a version made for photo lines, panels and long walks.
22. Halloween Party Lola Costume With Sequin Dress
A party dress for Lola should catch the light and let you move. Pick a purple sequin midi with some stretch, supportive straps and a back slit so you can walk normally. Opaque burgundy tights and cushioned gold block heels go with it. Style a long crimson wig into glossy side-swept waves with a pearly shell barrette near the temple. Lavender and plum shadow, black liner, full lashes and high-shine red lipstick finish the face. Keep the magenta organza fins short and attached at the lower back, so they swing without slapping the people next to you. Sequins can snag fine organza, so stitch the fins to a ribbon band rather than straight onto the sequins. Gold hoops and a small wristlet hold your essentials.
23. School-Friendly Lola Costume With Purple Midi Dress
A school Lola needs to be comfortable, covered and easy to read. Wear a purple short-sleeve midi over opaque magenta tights, with gold sneakers or flat ankle boots, and add a red cardigan for warmth or coverage. Swap the long wig for a shoulder-length burgundy bob with a simple shell clip; long synthetic hair tangles fast in a school day of coats and backpacks. Keep the makeup light: lavender shadow, mascara, pink blush and a tinted red balm. Put a small fabric fin on a removable belt rather than the dress. Gold studs and a purple backpack finish it. There's nothing trailing, no heels and nothing oversized, so it works for spirit days and class parties.
24. Work-Friendly Lola Costume With Purple Blazer
At work, Lola can show up through colour and shape alone. Pair a fitted purple blazer with matching wide-leg trousers and a red satin shell top, with burgundy loafers or metallic flats. Your own hair in a deep side part, a few temporary magenta extensions or a neat shoulder-length red wig all fit an office. Keep the makeup refined: muted violet shadow, defined lashes, soft blush and berry gloss. Pin a small gold shell brooch to the lapel and wear matching earrings. A pleated purple scarf tied at the back of the waist suggests a fin and comes off before a meeting. It gives a nod to the character without looking theatrical at your desk.
25. Lola Costume With Purple Sneakers
Sneakers make this Lola easy to host, walk or dance in. Begin with a fitted purple ribbed maxi with enough stretch to move, then purple high-tops with magenta laces and opaque red tights. A long burgundy wig with violet ends gets its side sweep held back by a shell clip. Purple shimmer, black liner, mascara, rosy contour and bright red gloss do the face. Detachable pleated tulle fins go around the hem and lower back. Tulle is stiffer than organza and holds a pleat well, but it scratches bare legs, so keep it above the knee or line it with something soft. Gold hoops and stacked bracelets keep it glam, and because the sneakers match the palette, they look intended.
26. Lola Costume With Gold Platform Heels
Gold platforms give Lola height and pick up the gold in her accessories. Choose a fitted violet gown with a fishtail hem that ends above the floor, so the shoes show and the fabric can't catch under them. I mark the hem with the platforms on, since a heel of that height changes the length by more than you'd think. Use cushioned insoles and practise walking before the night. A vivid magenta wig in long side-swept waves with a metallic shell comb, violet shadow, a long liner flick, fluttery lashes, gold in the inner corners, warm blush and glossy red lips finish her. A fan-shaped organza fin at the back, gold cuffs and a clutch complete it. Bring foldable flats for later.
27. Lola Costume With Natural Curly Hair
Natural curls can give you Lola's dramatic hair without a straight wig. Set a defined side part with lots of volume and add temporary burgundy, magenta or violet clip-ins through the curls. A gold shell barrette goes above one ear. Wear a fitted purple mermaid dress with red tights and metallic block heels. Plum and lavender shadow, defined lashes, a glowing cheek and glossy red lips do the face. Attach layered organza fins at the lower back and hem with removable clips. Gold hoops and stacked bracelets finish it. For clip-ins in curly hair, I clip into a small braided anchor at the root so the weight doesn't pull the curl straight.
28. Lola Costume With Red And Purple Braids
Braids are a secure alternative to a wig, and they hold through weather and dancing. Blend red, magenta and violet braiding hair and arrange the finished braids in a deep side part falling over one shoulder. A few small gold cuffs and one shell accessory are plenty in the hair. Pair them with a purple velvet midi, opaque plum tights and metallic red ankle boots. Shimmery violet shadow, black liner, full mascara, highlighted cheeks and glossy crimson lips suit the look. A light purple tulle bustle at the back makes the fin shape and still lets you sit. Gold drop earrings and a small structured purse finish it. Long braids are heavy on one shoulder, so try them for an hour before the night.
29. Lola Costume With Short Magenta Bob
A short wig is cooler and lighter than waist-length hair, and it shifts attention to the dress. Choose a sleek magenta bob with a curved side bang and tuck a few violet extensions under the top layer for depth. One pearly shell clip goes on the side. Wear a fitted red midi with a flared purple ruffle at the hem, purple tights and gold low heels. Lavender shadow, a long black liner flick, long lashes, sculpted blush and glossy red lips keep the cartoon feel. Attach a small pleated fin to the back waist with snaps or a removable belt. A bob shows the neckline and earrings, so gold earrings and a matching cuff are all the jewellery it needs.
30. Glam Lola Costume With Red And Purple Gown
For the most dramatic Lola, put all her colours in one sweeping gown. Choose a fitted red dress with purple side panels, a sweetheart neckline and a full fishtail, with hidden gold platforms and tights underneath. A voluminous wig in crimson, hot pink and violet with a deep side sweep and an oversized shell carries the head. Luminous purple eyes, a sharp black line, full lashes, contoured cheeks and lacquered scarlet lips suit the scale. Layer sheer fins along the back and lower skirt so the gown moves from every angle. With this much organza, I'd hand-tack each fin layer at two or three points so the layers don't twist together. Gold cuffs, shell earrings and a metallic clutch finish a gown made for contests and photo shoots.
Red Lips and Purple Lids That Last All Party
Lola's face is half the costume, and bold colour on a warm night tends to slide, crease and end up on a cup or a friend's shoulder. I'm not a makeup artist, but a few everyday habits keep the colour where you put it.
- Prime the lids first. Bright purple shadow creases fast on bare skin, and a thin layer of eyeshadow primer or concealer, set with powder, holds it far longer.
- Line the lips with a red pencil and fill the whole lip in with it before the lipstick or gloss goes on. When the gloss wears off, the colour underneath is still there.
- Gloss transfers to everything. If you'll be eating or hugging people, use a long-wear liquid lipstick and add the gloss only for photos.
- Test any new or bright product on the inside of your wrist a day before, especially glitter, coloured body highlighter or washable hair colour.
- Pack the lipstick, a mini powder and some blotting papers in the clutch or purse your costume already includes.
At the end of the night, take the eyes off with an oil-based remover before you wash your face. Heavy lashes and waterproof liner come off far more gently that way than with soap and scrubbing.
What Makes a Lola Read From the Doorway
Every version above comes back to the same few things: a purple or red base, a big side-swept sweep of hair, bold eyes, glossy lips, a shell and a light fin. Get those right and the rest can be a thrifted dress, closet basics or a hand-painted gown, adjusted for your budget, the weather, the coverage you want and how much you'll be moving. Wear shoes you've already walked in, pin the wig well and keep the fins short enough for a crowd. Lola is more about colour and attitude than copying each detail from the film, so put your effort there and have fun with it.
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