Looking Back on 25 Years of Heidi Klum’s Iconic Halloween Party
“UGLY. SCARY. STINKY.”
These are words you usually don’t want associated with your event, much less your attire, but that’s the only clue that this legendary party host has given at the time of writing.
Heidi Klum has yet to reveal her costume for the upcoming party, but we know that she will once again outdo her previous outfits (no matter how challenging that seems!). As you may know, the Supermodel has been hosting Hollywood’s most iconic Halloween parties for decades. From the theme to her costume, it’s as anticipated as the Met Gala, and has as much buzz on social media to boot. This Halloween, we’re taking you through 25 years of Heidi Klum’s Haunted Halloween Extravaganza, from the theme to the destination to the costumes.
Beginning in 2000, the spooky soiree has become the A-List invitation to receive. Along with the event, Klum herself has evolved info a Halloween style icon, and we can’t wait to see what she does this year! Below, we’ll explore a few of her event eras and costumes, in anticipation of this year’s reveal.
Early 2000’s: The Foundation
From the year 2000 to 2008, the event was exclusively held in New York City. From long-gone but once-trendy Meatpacking District locations like Lot61, to iconic venues still operating today (hello, Capitale), the star upped the ante each year when it came to her costume, theme and the amazing locations.
These events set the foundation for what to expect when you are invited to one of her events: over-the-top, glamorous, and celebratory ambience with guests who are just as excited to be there as she is to celebrate.
The Costumes:
Images courtesy of Getty Images unless otherwise noted; sources below
2009-2011: Experimentation Era
In 2009, Klum moved the party to Los Angeles (West Hollywood), in a one-off move that didn’t seem to have a public explanation (at least not one worthy of sharing here). 2010’s event was held in New York City and was most memorable for Heidi’s entrance: on robotic, superhero-like stilts, to be exact. 2011’s event was held in Las Vegas, and Klum pulled out all of the stops for her living cadaver look.
You’ll also notice that the sponsors supporting her event are much more visible and loud, as well as the evolution of the brand itself, including the logo. Step and Repeats are not created equal, and it’s fascinating to see brands like Skyy and AOL stepping up to become stakeholders.
The Costumes:
Image Credit: Getty Images/WireImage
2012-2019: Unexpected Era
2012 saw the first postponement of Klum’s party, due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. The event moved back to its original home in New York City, and Klum as well as her guests began to get more creative with their costumes. Joe Jonas, Gigi Hadid, and Gabrielle Union turned heads over the years with their renditions of Zoolander, Sandy from Grease and a Race Car Driver, respectively.
To me, this appears to be the era that Heidi herself started to truly embrace her ‘queen of Halloween’ status, and her ability to truly leave us in shock, in awe, and at times, grossed out.
The Costumes:
Image Credits in order: Michael Loccisano, Cindy Ord, Ilya S. Savenok, Mike Coppola, Neilson Barnard, Craig Barritt, Getty Images, Getty Images
2020: Silent Film Model/Director/Actress Era
The Pandemic may have been Heidi Klum and her family’s most creative yet. Their silent film can be viewed on Instagram, which they shared in absence of hosting the event due to restrictions. She blends herself into the wall, and turns herself into a bedsheet, during the movie. How cool would it be to have a mom (or an event planning Client) like Heidi Klum?!
Image courtesy of Heidi’s Instagram
2021-2024: The Oh-My-God Era
Known for her stunningly almost-perfect face and body, it seems Heidi Klum has found delight in a particular niche: Costumes that keep people guessing and talking. It’s hard to believe we’re approaching 25 years, but if the last few years have shown us anything, it’s that we’ll never be able to guess the hostess with the mostest’s costume before she arrives.
The Costumes that Dropped our Jaws:
Images courtesy of Getty Images, and John Nacion (E.T.)
In conclusion, if you are Heidi Klum, it makes perfect sense for your event’s 3 Keywords to be “Ugly. Scary. Stinky.”
Need to find the perfect 3 keywords, SMART Goals, or Key Milestones for your event? Book time with me below!