Cruella: Estella Miller

When I was young, I dreamed of being a fashion designer. In my ideal career, I thought a beret was a mandatory part of the uniform. I even dressed up as a fashion designer one year for our Girl Scout Halloween Party. (pictured below) Oh shit! I just realized that I’m wearing a turtleneck in this costume. LMAO

A young child in the 1990s dressed up as a fashion designer for Halloween. — Circa the early 1990s

Like so many others, my dream of being a fashion designer was lost among the way. I’m not usually one of those adults who still cling to their youth via Disney movies, but when the latest Cruella rendition had part of her backstory be that she was an aspiring fashion designer, something inside me was overjoyed.

While this movie isn’t a horror movie or really a Halloween movie, it is definitely a fashion movie, and the outfits are all so amazing! (As an aside, if I ever meet an Artie to collaborate with we will be an unstoppable force!) Some part of me would love to recreate ALL the outfits in this movie, but realistically, I’m still just working with what I’ve got on a limited budget. On that note, here is my take on Estella Miller from Cruella.

A maid costume on a dress form with a pair of black fishnets and a pair of black docs on the floor in front.

Outfit #1: A tagless maid’s costume I probably swiped from my mother many years ago.

Previously seen as Magenta from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Black Fishnet Stocking Tights (you can’t see them in the pics but they are filled with holes and rips above the knees.)

Shoes:

1460 Smooth Leather 8 Eye Lace Up Dr. Martens Boots that were a present from my partner.

Previously seen as Jesse Reeves from Queen of the Damned, Stokely Mitchell from The Faculty, and Little Rock from Zombieland: Double Tap

A pair of a glasses, a black peplum top, and black pants on a dress form with a pair of knee-high black boots in front on the floor.

Outfit #2: Black Faux Leather Jennifer Lopez Peplum Sleeveless Top

Black Express Side Zipper Ponte Pants

Shoes: MIA Black Lace-up Buckle Strappy Knee-High Wedge Boots

A charcoal gray pea coat on a dress form with a pair of knee-high black boots in front on the floor.

Outfit #3: Charcoal Gray Mossimo Military Button Fit & Flare Pea Coat (I’ve worn this so many times and had to resew the buttons a bunch. The cons of being a busty person.)

A person dressed as Estella Miller in a maid outfits facing away from the camera. The emphasis is on the long wine red wig.

Hair: Wine Red Long Layered Wig with Bangs

Previously seen as Heather Duke from Heathers

A selfie of a pale person dressed as Estella Miller from Cruella. They are wearing spotted glasses, a wine red wig, a little lipstick, and a black top.

Makeup:

Eyes: The remnants of my black eyeliner and mascara cleaned off the night before.

Lips: Kate Moss Collection 104 Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick

A selfie of a pale person dressed as Estella Miller from Cruella. They are wearing spotted glasses, a wine red wig, a little lipstick, and a black top. They are holding their hand across their chest to show off the black nails.

Nails: Artificial Nails trimmed to Square Tips painted in Willa by Zoya

Accessories: “Leopard” blue light-blocking glasses

A closeup of a costume jewelry rhinestone necklace.

Accessories: Vintage Rhinestone Necklace inherited from my grandmother many years ago.

A person dressed as Estella Miller from Cruella in a black beret and pea coat facing away from the camera. The emphasis is on the black mini backpack.

Accessories: Black Genuine Leather with Stitching Detail Mini Backpack (This is my every-day purse currently.)

A closeup of a vintage black velvet beret.

Accessories: Vintage Black Velvet Betmar Beret with Faux Pearl Detail

My mom scored a bunch of vintage hats for a steal at a secondhand sale. She had them in the playthings for the grandkids, but I was like, “wtf? I want to actually wear these!” So, she gave a bunch of them to me. Thanks mom! 😘