Rita Skeeter was a writer for The Daily Prophet who wasn’t against using questionable or unethical tactics for her articles. We saw her use such tactics when she ushered Harry Potter into a broom cupboard for an interview about his participation in the Triwizard Tournament. She knew she wasn’t welcome and hid in the closet to avoid being seen, but she was discovered and Headmaster Dumbledore eventually banned her from Hogwarts.
This didn’t deter Rita. She continued to visit the school, hidden by her Animagus form of a beetle. She was able to get a lot of juicy information this way, information that she twisted (with the help of her Quick-Quotes Quill) for her newspaper column. To her dismay, Hermione Granger discovered Rita’s secret and used it against her by forcing Rita to properly interview Harry about Lord Voldemort’s return and publishing the article in The Quibbler.
Interestingly, Rita is the first character I have come across who doesn’t seem to have a wand. Although I’m sure she did have one, we never saw it and there are no details about her wand on Pottermore. I can’t help but wonder if her wand was disguised as her quill…
Rita is a delightfully detestable character. She isn’t evil like Dolores Umbridge, but it’s a lot of fun to dislike her. From her hair, green dress, glasses, to her quill, notepad, and jewelry, here is everything you need for a Rita Skeeter costume!
Mandatory Accessories |
Wig
Rita had short blonde hair that was so light it was almost white. She kept it curled and even had a few finger curls.
Rita Skeeter’s Hair
Glasses
The glasses worn by Rita were brown, narrow, and almost cat-like. I couldn’t find an exact replica but there are plenty of choices that all look like frames Rita would wear.
Glasses
Chain For Glasses
You’ll need a chain to keep your glasses from getting lost, just like Rita’s. The chain Rita had was silver.
Neck Chain For Glasses
Notepad
Rita was rarely seen without her notepad. The one she used was a small Muggle notepad with spirals on the top, not the side.
Spiral Notepad
Quill
You’ll also need a quill for writing in your notepad. Rita’s was a magical Quick-Quotes Quill that had a very long, acid-green pheasant feather. She sucked on the nib before using it, which seems to be how she activated it.
There is an official replica Quick-Quotes Quill (with a feather that is much shorter than the one seen in the movies), Muggles may have a hard time finding one so if you are crafty you can attach a pheasant feather to a pen or choose a different styled quill. Just be sure to hide it from Dumbledore because he did not approve of Rita’s writing device.
Green Quill
Clothing |
Dress
Rita’s most identifiable outfit was a green dress suit with a pencil skirt. The buttoned jacket had a feathery collar and cuffs, while the skirt was plain. You probably won’t be able to find an outfit with feathers or in the bright green worn by Rita but there are plenty of alternative options.
Green Dress
Collar And Cuffs
A collar and cuffs are not mandatory but it will make your costume more authentic. Rita’s were fluffy feathers but those are hard to find so I’ve included links to black fur collars and cuffs that you can easily add to your outfit.
Collar
NAME
Shoes
High heels are a must with a Rita Skeeter costume. Choose something that will match the green of your dress or the color of your collar and cuffs.
Heels
Jewelry and Accessories |
Earrings
We saw Rita wear large green earrings. Hers were shaped like triangles but you can go with any shape you like.
Green Earrings
Ring
Rita also wore a large green ring similar to the one seen here.
Green Earrings
Beetle Pin
No, Rita Skeeter didn’t wear a beetle pin, but it would be a humorous touch that die-hard fans will appreciate because she was an unregistered Animagus. Rita turned into a beetle whenever she wanted to get the scoop on someone for her The Daily Prophet column without permission, which is how she learned that Hagrid was a giant and overheard the conversation between Hermione Granger and Viktor Krum during the Yule Ball.
Beetle Pin
Purse
I can’t say for sure but I seem to recall that Rita had a purse. I’ve chosen three colors that will match your green dress.
Purse
Optional Accessories |
Nails
Don’t forget your fingernails. Rita cared greatly for hers, so you should, too. She had long nails that were painted black, but I’ve seen women in Rita Skeeter Cosplay costumes with red nails, therefore I’ve included links to both colors.
Black Or Red Nails
The Life And Lies Of Albus Dumbledore
Rita used her skills to get magical historian Bathilda Bagshot to spill the beans, as they say, about her knowledge of Albus Dumbledore’s youth and family almost immediately after Dumbledore’s death. She then wrote a book called The Life And Lies Of Albus Dumbledore that was more fiction than fact.
At the time that I wrote this, there were several sellers on Etsy who recreated the cover of Rita’s book so you can put the book cover on one of your books. You might consider carrying the book around in your purse so you can pull it out and brag about it to whoever will listen.
Rita Skeeter’s Book
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