Every year, the question is the same: what will Heidi Klum be for Halloween? For the 25th anniversary of her famous New York party on Saturday, October 31, the answer was one of her strangest yet. The supermodel and Project Runway host arrived as a giant, bloodied severed hand.
Here is what we know about the night, based on reporting from The Hollywood Reporter and E! News.
The grand entrance
Klum didn’t just walk the carpet. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she arrived in a truck covered in red “danger” signs and was helped to the ground by actors in yellow hazmat suits.
The costume featured a bloody wrist with her face appearing at its centre, and fingers decorated with rings and a fresh manicure. Klum explained in red-carpet interviews that it was a detailed recreation of her own hand.
She appeared without her husband, Tom Kaulitz, who has dressed up alongside her in recent years.
The artist behind the look
Klum works on her costumes with special effects makeup designer Mike Marino, who won an Emmy for his work on The Penguin. Marino said in a recent interview that “this costume this year is one of the most elaborate costumes ever made,” adding that it was “so difficult to do.”
Earlier in the year, Klum had promised People that her look would be “very, very bloody” and would go “very well with red wine.” The night was presented by Apothic and Butterfinger, and The Hollywood Reporter notes that Apothic blood-bag collectibles inspired by the look were served at the party.
Who else showed up
The party took place at Cathédrale at Moxy East Village, and plenty of guests went just as big. According to E! News:
- Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka dressed as the twins from The Shining, with brunette wigs, coloured contacts and baby blue dresses.
- James Charles became Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove and told E! News it took seven and a half hours to get ready.
- Taylor Momsen dressed as AC/DC’s Angus Young, a fitting choice after touring with the band for the past three years.
A quarter-century of Heidiween
Klum’s party has become one of the most anticipated celebrity events of the Halloween season, largely because she treats her costume as a full production. Over the years she has transformed into Medusa, E.T., a peacock, Fiona from Shrek, Jessica Rabbit and, most famously, a worm.
She spent the day teasing her transformation on Instagram and asking followers to guess what she would become, which has become part of the tradition. The reveal on the carpet is the payoff.
Why it works
The secret to Heidiween is commitment. Plenty of stars throw parties, but few spend months building a single costume that requires a special effects team and hours to put on. The result is a look that dominates social feeds and gives fans something to talk about long after the night ends.
It also helps that she never repeats herself. From animals to aliens to body parts, she keeps finding new ways to surprise people, which is no small feat after 25 years.
A busy Halloween weekend for stars
Klum’s party was the headline event, but it was far from the only one. Harry Styles brought back his “Harryween” concerts at Madison Square Garden, and stars across New York, Los Angeles and London spent the weekend hopping between parties. Still, no other host has turned a single night into a 25-year tradition quite like Klum has, and her arrival remains the moment photographers wait for.
The wrap-up
For her silver anniversary, Heidi Klum gave Halloween fans exactly what they hoped for: something huge, weird and unforgettable. Whether a severed hand tops the worm is up for debate, but one thing is clear. The Queen of Halloween still owns the night.
Image: Pumpkins, carved (48828550093) by Alabama Extension via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0
