THE EVERYDAY EDITION
Heidi Klum arrived at her 25th Halloween party dressed as a giant severed hand. Here is the story behind the look, hidden details and how long it took.
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01Klum wore a huge prosthetic costume designed to look like her own severed left hand. Only parts of her face were visible through the construction. Red nails, jewelry and realistic hand details helped sell the illusion.
A SMARTER EVERYDAY
02In an interview with E! News, Klum explained that she looked at her own hand and wondered whether her body could fit inside a giant version of it. Her team then spent months figuring out how to make that concept work.
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03It was not just the size that made the costume detailed. Klum’s recreated hand included jewelry and a small reference to her husband, musician Tom Kaulitz. According to AP reporting, the design reproduced the tattoo of his name and details such as her palm lines.
A SMARTER EVERYDAY
04Klum said getting ready on Halloween took roughly five to six hours. That figure describes the day-of transformation, not the design process. The sculpting and construction happened over many months, involving special-effects artists and a team able to support a large, heavy costume safely.
A SMARTER EVERYDAY
05Klum has previously appeared as a worm, a peacock and elaborate fantasy characters. Some years have focused on detailed character makeup; others have relied on a huge visual trick. The 2026 hand combines both approaches.
A SMARTER EVERYDAY
06For actual red-carpet photos, use the credited reporting and licensed galleries linked below. The illustration accompanying this article is an original editorial interpretation, not a photograph of Klum at the party.
THE TAKEAWAY
07According to AP, he was away on tour. Personal details on the costume referenced him.