Eras of human experience to choose from, but revolutionary periods tend to be particularly suitable for Halloween costumes. Perhaps it’s the thought of turning a huge page in history, or the especially high number of deaths from these periods, but whatever the reason, there’s plenty to choose from when it comes to choosing a Halloween costume.

One of the most popular periods in history for choosing costumes is the French Revolution. Not only was there great upheaval, but there have been many books and works of art about this turbulent time in world history. There are many types of extreme characters to choose from, as well as specifically recognizable fictional or real people. From the dying masses stricken by poverty, to the opulent lifestyle of royalty at Versailles, to Jean Valjean from Les Miserables and Marie Antoinette. Another delightfully apt reason to choose a Halloween costume from this time of year is the popularity of the guillotine as a method of execution.

The guillotine is a device used for execution by beheading. It consists of a snare-like holding place for the victim’s head, and a high track on top of which is a very sharp weighted blade. When the command is given, the blade is released and falls, quickly severing the victim’s head. While it was originally created to be a more humane method of execution, its bloody reality gave it tremendous notoriety in the history books, as well as a particular association with the French Revolution, as it was highly favored at the time. Since the French executed so many during their revolutionary period, the options for French guillotine costumes are numerous.

You could easily build an old-fashioned suit and be Sydney Carton from Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities. This important fictional character makes the ultimate sacrifice for love and is beheaded at the guillotine. With a simple peasant blouse, breeches and stockings, the outfit of this costume is fixed, with the only other necessities being an authentic hairstyle and a fine line of blood on the neck to signify decapitation. If your hair isn’t long enough to go back to a vintage hairstyle, there are plenty of places to find wigs online.

Another good option is Marie Antoinette. This notoriously selfish and spoiled queen was also guillotined, but her costume would be much more showy. She was not only a member of royalty with seemingly unlimited resources for clothing and accessories, but she was also known for promoting fashion at court during her time there. For this costume, you’ll need a full-skirted dress (preferably cage hoop) with a corset top. For best effect, it should be on a light-colored fabric and decorated with beads or jewels. The makeup should be pale and the features simply defined. A small dark red mouth and flushed cheeks are complemented by a large fake birthmark somewhere on the face. The finishing touch to this costume is a large powdered beehive wig that can be embellished with beads, jewels, and veils for added authenticity.

Have fun dressing up for Halloween and don’t lose your mind!