Halloween is a time for costume enthusiasts to shine, but when it comes to extravagant and mind-boggling transformations, Heidi Klum has consistently stolen the spotlight. Renowned as a supermodel and former host of “Project Runway,” Klum has made her annual Halloween bash in New York City a much-anticipated event. Each year, she pushes the boundaries of creativity, and in 2013, she dramatically aged herself up, while in 2018, she transformed into Princess Fiona from “Shrek.” However, it was her prosthetic worm suit in the previous year that left everyone wondering how she would ever top it. In a mesmerizing display of performance art and collaboration, Klum turned to the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil to help her become a giant human peacock for her 2023 Halloween costume.
This year, Heidi Klum celebrated Halloween in a way that only she can – with grandeur, innovation, and the help of a talented team of Cirque du Soleil performers. Known for her elaborate and over-the-top costumes, Klum, now 50 years old, had set a high bar for herself in previous years. But she was determined to outdo herself once again and, in the process, make a memorable entrance at her annual Halloween bash held at the Marquee nightclub in Chelsea.
As the excitement built for her big reveal, Klum stepped onto the red carpet wearing faux feathers, and she was accompanied by ten Cirque du Soleil acrobats. The scene was set for a spectacular performance that would leave the attendees in awe. The performers showcased their incredible skills, twisting, contorting, and soaring through the air, all while concealing Klum, who waited on the ground. The audience’s eyes were drawn to the mesmerizing display of acrobatics, but their ultimate focus was on the transformation of Heidi Klum into a giant peacock.
The gradual unveiling of the peacock costume was an astonishing moment. As the acrobats arranged themselves into a human pyramid, legs and arms went up to reveal the impressive wings of the peacock. Klum, concealed beneath them, then crawled through a set of legs and stood at the center atop the thighs of one of her fellow performers. A prosthetic beak on her face added the final touch to the ensemble.
The headpiece of her peacock costume, designed by her longtime collaborator, makeup artist Bill Corso, was exquisitely detailed, but this year’s costume relied less on prosthetics compared to her previous looks. Klum’s inspiration for the peacock costume came from her experiences hosting “Germany’s Next Top Model,” where she became familiar with Cirque du Soleil. She decided on a peacock because the dynamic way these birds display their feathers would lend itself well to a performance.
Klum’s costume featured a stretchy velour unitard in a bright cobalt blue speckled with subtle sparkles to simulate the neck and head of the peacock. She emphasized the comfort of her attire, a welcome departure from the sometimes restrictive and elaborate costumes she’s donned in the past. Her hands were meticulously painted in blues and greens, effectively concealing any trace of human skin. To complete the look, Klum wore shoes resembling ballet slippers that blended seamlessly into the costume of the performer whose thighs she stood upon. Despite the slightly tight fit of the shoes, Klum expressed the importance of having a good grip, which she learned from the circus members.
Each of the performers surrounding Klum also wore unitards with unique patterns in feathery greens and blues. These custom patterns were designed and printed by Cirque du Soleil’s in-house team, led by costume designer Marie Chantale Vaillancourt. Individual Swarovski crystals were carefully applied to each suit, adding a touch of sparkle to the ensemble.
Heidi Klum’s penchant for “bedazzling” was evident, as she appreciated the shimmer and shine that these crystals added to the costumes. Interestingly, no real feathers were used in the creation of the costumes, aligning with the desire to make the performers resemble a bird tableau seamlessly. To achieve this transformation, the team employed an array of products, including foil, sparkles, and airbrushed paint, which took about two hours to apply to each performer. The goal was to make the artists as invisible as possible, emphasizing the transformation into a cohesive bird-like entity.
Klum’s own transformation into a magnificent peacock began around noon on Halloween. Bill Corso, her longtime makeup artist, was tasked with the intricate process of turning her into an unrecognizable spectacle. The transformation involved the application of glue, metallic paint, rhinestones, and feathery fake eyelashes, which collectively obscured any trace of Klum’s true appearance.
During this process, Klum humorously commented that in order to kiss her husband, Tom Kaulitz, a German musician, she would have to peck him, highlighting the extent to which her transformation had altered her appearance. With the final touches in place, Heidi Klum was ready to reveal her extraordinary peacock costume to the world, creating yet another unforgettable Halloween moment in her storied history of creative costume transformations.
