When Heidi Klum throws her annual Halloween party in New York, guests know to expect the unexpected. But this year, the model and television host outdid herself once again, arriving as a towering, blood-soaked hand — an exact, enlarged copy of her own left hand.
The costume, revealed at her 25th annual bash, was the result of months of planning and collaboration with special effects makeup artist Mike Marino, who has helped bring many of Klum's previous creations to life. According to Vogue, the hand was built using body scans of Klum's actual hand, ensuring every detail was accurate — including her engagement ring, wedding band, and the tattoo bearing her husband Tom Kaulitz's name.
Klum explained the inspiration to the Associated Press: “I looked at my hand and I thought, ‘Hey, I think I could fit my body in this somehow.’” The idea had been brewing since last year, and the result was a spectacle that left fellow guests and onlookers in awe.
A family affair with a twist
Klum's husband, Tom Kaulitz of the German band Tokio Hotel, has been a staple of her Halloween parties, often appearing in matching or complementary costumes. Past duos have included a peacock and an egg, a giant worm and a fisherman, and Medusa with her petrified counterpart. This year, however, Kaulitz was notably absent, performing at a concert in Germany.
“Of course I would have loved to hold hands with Tom,” Klum told the German magazine Bunte, “but you can’t be in two places at once.”
Her daughter, Leni Klum, stepped in to represent the family, arriving as Miss Piggy with oversized eyelashes, pig ears, and a purple feather boa. Other notable guests included actor Kyle MacLachlan, and Neil Patrick Harris with his husband David Burtka, who came as a creepy twin duo.
The party, held in New York, has become a cultural touchstone for Halloween enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic. Klum's costumes are often so elaborate that they take months to design and build, and this year's hand was no exception. The attention to detail — from the veins to the fingernails — made it one of her most memorable yet.
On the eve of the event, Klum hosted a smaller gathering at her pizzeria in Manhattan's SoHo neighbourhood, where she appeared without the giant hand, wearing an orange dress and black boots. That intimate dinner gave guests a chance to see the woman behind the monster, before the full spectacle unfolded the next night.
While Halloween is traditionally a Western celebration, its popularity has grown across Europe in recent years, with events like Pumpkimania at Groot-Bijgaarden Castle in Belgium drawing large crowds. Klum, who was born in Germany and now splits her time between the US and Europe, has helped bridge the two continents' Halloween traditions with her annual extravaganza.
For those who missed the party, Klum shared glimpses on Instagram, where her costume posts routinely go viral. The hand, which she wore like a giant glove, allowed her to move and interact with guests while maintaining the illusion of a disembodied appendage.
As Halloween becomes a more global phenomenon, Klum's creations continue to push the boundaries of costume design. Her 2026 hand may be her most personal yet — a literal extension of herself, complete with the symbols of her marriage and her identity.
