Chaos. Destruction. Mad love.
Only one couple can master all three.
Joker and Harley Quinn are back to wreak havoc on the city and your hearts. They remain the ultimate chaotic couple costume even decades after their first arrival. Their chemistry, individual aesthetic, and evolution keep fans engaged forever and throughout.
Joker meets Harley at the Arkham Asylum, where she is serving as a psychiatrist for the criminally insane. Formerly Harleen Quinzel, Harley falls victim to Joker’s manipulations and leaves her post to be with him, beginning her life as a criminal.
They’re both amazingly complex characters who reign supreme in the villain fashion scene and pop culture. Their iconic style, along with their iconic backgrounds, makes them the most sought-after look every Halloween. So, what’s new in 2025? We’re bringing you fresh takes, movie influences, and DIY twists to spice up your outfits.
Keep reading to find some unique, creative, and budget-friendly ideas for couples.
Classic Chaos–The OG Looks That Still Hit
The Joker (Heath Ledger/Christopher Nolan version)
Dress up as the OG Joker who stole our hearts—and Gotham’s peace—since the last century.
Heath Ledger’s Joker offers us a messy and unruly version of our favourite villain. He’s chaotic and personalized, and shows that through his rugged and haggard appearance as well. His signature look consists of a green vest, purple trench coat and a crazy makeup look that inspires fear.
You can easily recreate this look with a modern flair and on a budget.
For a Ledger or comics-inspired Joker, start with a basic white button-down shirt and black pants. Then comes a green vest. If you don’t have the right color, you can also wear a dark-colored vest or spray paint one in the desired color. Then comes the iconic purple trench coat, and you’re done with the outfit.
Moving to the makeup, start with a white base to achieve that clownish look. You can either paint your face (check the paints beforehand for safety) or use white foundation instead. Once done, apply dark eyeshadow or paint to the eyes and the surrounding area, and then smudge it with your fingers. The smudged, messy look is key to the whole ensemble. Then top it off with a creepy smile etched with red lipstick.
You can dye your hair or paint it green for the night. Leave them messily framing your face, or sweep them back; both work fine. Agent of chaos is ready for action.
Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad version)
Now let’s dress up Joker’s counterpart. Here’s how you can style the iconic Harley Quinn within a budget.
Start with a white tee from your wardrobe. You can stitch or paint the words, “Daddy’s Lil Monster”, across the front. You can give the shirt a few nips here and there to fully capture the disgruntled vibe. Then come denim cut-off shorts with fishnet leggings. These items are readily available everywhere, and chances are, you already own one or more of them. For shoes, you can pair white heeled boots or sneakers.
Once done with the outfit, start on the makeup. Apply a pale base, not entirely white like the Joker’s, but relatively paler than usual. Then apply blue eyeshadow to one eye and pink to the other, and smudge both down to the cheeks for a lived-in, chaotic look. Finish with a smudged red lip.
For the hair, part it down the middle and make two high pigtails. Dye the ends of the ponytails blue on one side and pink on the other. You can also add the bomber jacket to the whole ensemble, along with a foam baseball bat to complete the crazy look.
Now, Daddy’s Lil Monster is ever ready to bring destruction to Gotham. To enhance the look, you can accessorise like her iconic PUDDIN choker and gold belt to the outfit. You can DIY these at home or find cheap alternatives on Etsy and Temu.
New Age Madness–2025 Inspired Looks
Years go by, but the chokehold these characters have on us never loosens. Below are the updated versions of Joker and his crazy partner-in-crime, Harley Quinn, that you can recreate this Halloween.
Joker (Joaquin Phoenix’s “Arthur Fleck” style)
Joaquin Phoenix brings to us a tragic and broken version of Joker. He lays out the story of how Gotham’s most feared villain came to be. After cultivating fear and raining devastation on Gotham, we finally get a look at what brought about this manic character.
To recreate Phoenix’s Joker, start with basics: a white or green button-up shirt and red pants. Layer a yellow vest coat over that, followed by a matching red coat. You can either purchase the costume from an authentic costume store or create it yourself. Thrifting from your local boutiques is also a good, cost-friendly idea.
For the makeup, apply a white base with either face paint or white foundation. With a brush, draw green triangles over your eyelids and below around both eyes. Paint your brows a vibrant red along with the center of your nose to mimic the clownish look. Finish with the elaborate red lip that gives you the creeps.
Harley Quinn (Birds of Prey look)
2025 is the era of finding your own identity and building yourself from the ground up. And that’s exactly what Harley Quinn is seen doing in Birds of Prey. Following her dramatic breakup with Joker—whom she gave up her entire life for—Harley is having trouble trying to find her path again. But it doesn’t take her long to forge her own new identity.
Adopt Harley’s new look of independence this Halloween. What you’ll need are colorful tops—such as pink, yellow, etc.—and high-waisted shorts or overalls. She embraced a more eclectic and derby roller vibe, which can be easily recreated while adding your own personal touches.
For her makeup, apply a pale base; not completely white but paler than normal. Then use blue eyeshadow on one eye and pink on the other. Lightly smudge it to show Harley’s progress post-breakup. Her hair is shorter, with the same pigtails updo, and the colors on each end are almost washed out, giving the impression that she hasn’t had them redone.
Pair some nice heeled combat boots and you’re transformed into a new woman.
Coordinated Couple Combos with a Twist
Matching elevates the Halloween factor by a notch. If you’re bored with the basic Joker and Harley themes, here are a few innovative ideas to bring that spice back.
Dark Carnival Duo
Dark Carnival is a mystical theme that explores ideas of death, morality, and eternal judgement. It has a circus or carnival background where all spirits are judged for their choices and condemned to hell or heaven.
You can work Joker and Harley into this theme by adopting a circus ringmaster Joker with Harley as a twisted acrobat. The details are mostly in the makeup. You can dress in a complete dark suit with a tailcoat for Joker, with a matching dark top hat and a cane to complete the look of a ringmaster. Harley can dress in a red and black diamond-patterned bodysuit with a hoop ring around her.
Gotham’s Retro Rebels
Remagine the 1950s greaser meets pin-up aesthetic with Joker and Harley. The Joker can dress in grungy, masculine jacket outfits, complete with a face full of smudgy Joker makeup and tattoos. Harley can dress in a plaid skirt and a tucked-in shirt with an elegant pin-up hairdo.
Harley’s makeup and outfit can be a mix of blue and pink or red and black to keep the character alive. Joker’s palette can be the OG green and purple to add to the grunge-core aesthetic.
Masked Ball Mayhem
Put an elegant twist to the crazy and manic getups of Joker & Harley in masquerade-style costumes.
Dress up in a traditional suit or tuxedo with immaculate cuffs and a pressed silhouette. Sweep your hair back in a neat hairdo. Harley can wear a classic gown with embellishments down one side to reflect her spunky aesthetic. Her hair should be styled and parted down the middle and over her shoulders.
Joker should wear a classic Joker mask befitting his character, while Harley wears one with one side done in pink and the other in blue. Harley’s color palette can be red and black, depending on your preference.
DIY Tips & Styling Hacks
Here are a few tips that can help elevate the event for you.
- Use small brushes or eyeliner pencils for drawing Harley’s heart-shaped cheek tattoo.
- For the perfect Joker smile, use a medium-sized makeup brush.
- Use waterproof and tested face paint or makeup for a durable look.
- Dye your hair with tested products or buy cheap wigs from Temu or Etsy.
- Makeup tips for staying bold and smudge-proof all night.
- Create your own props, such as Harley’s bat or mallet, using foam.
Where to Shop or Rent the Look
There are affordable costume retailers online where you can purchase full costumes, such as Amazon, Etsy, or HalloweenCostumes. However, local thrift shops and consignment stores often offer better and more budget-friendly alternatives. You can even upcycle your old clothes to create something unique. For inspiration, check out this funny Halloween costume guide that proves creativity can outshine any store-bought outfit.
Other than that, check into costume rental services for one-night events if it falls within your budget.
Embrace the Madness
Be bold, expressive, and embrace your inner chaos. Joker and Harley reign supreme with their toxic, twisted love. Despite being bad for each other—and Gotham City—they’re iconic choices for Halloween this year. All About Craze dives into their unforgettable style, giving you fresh inspiration to bring this chaotic duo to life.
So, let loose your inner manic little monster and shine with your creative genius.
Bonus Tip: Add your own backstory or roleplay element to own the night.
