Last updated: July 18, 2026· By Seckin Peker

Halloween Costume Guide

Nanny Linda Halloween Costume Guide

I’ve got no qualifications, but a cheery disposition.
Netflix Curly Hair
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Quick Answer: The Nanny Linda costume mixes a teal sweater and leggings with a maroon pinafore dress and a curly wig.
  • Short Puffy Bob Wig (essential)
  • Corduroy Straps A-line Dress (essential)
  • Cable Knit Crewneck Sweater
  • High Waisted Capri Leggings
  • Black Cateye Glasses

Nanny Linda gets hired to look after four neglected kids and ends up being warmer to them than either parent ever was. The curly wig and maroon pinafore dress are what actually make this her specifically, the rest is color-coordinated filler. Nanny Linda is voiced by Maya Rudolph in The Willoughbys, a Netflix animated film released in 2020 (Wikipedia), and she’s a supporting character in a film that never grew into an ongoing franchise, so recognition depends entirely on who’s actually seen it.

Items Total11 Items
DifficultyMedium
VibeQuirky Retro Nanny
Cost$90-$220

Nanny Linda Halloween Costume Items

Nanny Linda from The Willoughbys Halloween costume infographic showing teal sweater, maroon pinafore dress, curly wig, glasses, and accessories

Nanny Linda Costume Items

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Nanny Linda The Willoughbys
  • 1Cable Knit Crewneck SweaterTeal or dark green, worn under the pinafore dress. Long sleeves are the point, the whole outfit reads as layered rather than a single piece.
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  • 2Corduroy Straps A-line Dress (essential)A pinafore-style dress in maroon or a similar deep tone, worn over the sweater. This is the piece that turns the outfit into a specific costume instead of generic autumn layering.
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  • 3Black Cateye GlassesClear lenses, black cateye frame. Adds the slightly retro, no-nonsense edge to the look.
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  • 4High Waisted Capri LeggingsTeal, matching the sweater. Worn under the dress for the layered color effect.
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  • 5Cherries In The Snow LipstickA bold red-pink shade, worn bright rather than subtle.
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  • 6Short Puffy Bob Wig (essential)Black, voluminous, curly. This is the single most identifying piece, without it the rest of the outfit just reads as a colorful vintage look.
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  • 7Paisley Cotton BandanaPink paisley print, tied at the neck or worn as a small headscarf accent.
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  • 8Green NeckerchiefSilky, tied loosely at the neck. A small color-matching detail against the sweater.
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  • 9Top Handle Crossbody HandbagPink, structured. Check your closet, any similar bag works fine.
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  • 10Plastic Bangle BraceletsA stack of colorful bangles on one wrist. Cheap and easy to find.
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  • 11White Flat ShoesCheck your closet, plain white flats work fine here.
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Nanny Linda styling reference showing the curly wig and pinafore dress combination from The Willoughbys

How to Style the Nanny Linda Halloween Costume

The curly wig is the first thing people notice, and it needs real volume, a flat or thin wig undersells the whole silhouette. The teal-and-maroon color layering is doing the second most work, keep the sweater and leggings the same teal shade so the dress actually reads as a layer on top rather than a mismatched outfit. At a party, if the wig comes off, the look drops back to a generic retro nanny instead of her specifically.

Linda shows up with zero credentials and somehow ends up being the most stable adult in the house within a few scenes. She’s warm without being saccharine about it, and the kids trust her faster than they trust their own parents, which tells you everything about the home she’s walking into.

A voluminous wig gets hot fast indoors

Thick curly wigs trap heat more than people expect, especially at a crowded indoor party. Bring bobby pins in case you need to pin sections back for comfort later in the night.

Don’t overthink the accessory count

Between the bandana, neckerchief, bangles, and handbag, it’s easy to end up looking cluttered instead of intentional. Pick two or three accent pieces rather than wearing everything at once.

Nanny Linda Group Halloween Costume Ideas

Group Idea: The Willoughby Household

Nanny Linda, Jane, Tim & the Barnabys

Excellent group for anyone who watched the film, this covers the actual family unit at the center of the story. Jane has her own costume guide here, Tim and the Barnaby twins work fine as plain build-from-scratch looks for the rest of the group.

Nanny Linda Jane Willoughby Tim Willoughby Barnaby A & B

Duo Idea

Nanny Linda & the Willoughby Parents

Might work, but this only lands as a group if everyone already knows the parents are meant to be neglectful and Linda is the contrast to that. It’s a thematic pairing more than a visual one, so it needs some setup to land at a party.

Nanny Linda Willoughby Parents

Duo Idea

Nanny Linda & Mary Poppins

Strong pairing on the cheerful-nanny archetype alone, two very different looks that both read instantly as “the nanny who actually shows up.” It’s a fun, low-effort connection rather than an official one.

Nanny Linda Mary Poppins

Group Idea: The Whole Household

Nanny Linda, Ruth & the Willoughby Kids

Might work, but adding the family dog Ruth into the mix only makes sense to people who remember her small but sweet role in the film. It’s a nice detail for a family group photo, less so as a costume anyone outside the household will immediately place.

Nanny Linda Ruth Willoughby Kids
Nanny Linda group Halloween costume reference from The Willoughbys

Nanny Linda Halloween Costume DIY Tips

Building the Look

The wig and dress are worth buying. Most of the rest is common closet items or cheap accessories.

  • Wig: buy this one, it’s the single most identifying piece.
  • Pinafore dress: worth buying, the specific cut is hard to fake with regular clothes.
  • Sweater and leggings: check your closet first, plain teal basics are common.
  • Glasses, bandana, neckerchief, bangles: cheap, buy them, small details that reward a closer look.
  • Handbag and shoes: check your closet before buying anything new.

Playing Nanny Linda at the Party

Linda is warm, upfront about her limits, and shows up fully anyway.

  • When someone asks what you do: “I’ve got no qualifications, but a cheery disposition.” Said proudly, not as a joke on yourself.
  • She wins people over fast without trying hard. Keep the energy easygoing rather than performed.
  • Skip playing her as ditzy. She’s warm, not clueless, and the character reads better with a little competence underneath the cheer.

Nanny Linda Halloween Costume: FAQ

Wear the teal cable knit sweater under the maroon corduroy pinafore dress with teal leggings, add the black cateye glasses and curly wig, then finish with the pink bandana, green neckerchief, and pink handbag. The color mix of teal and pink is what actually sells the look.

Niche. The Willoughbys got a decent push from Netflix in 2020 but never became a major ongoing franchise. People who watched it will recognize Nanny Linda instantly, everyone else will just see a colorful, quirky babysitter costume.

“I’ve got no qualifications, but a cheery disposition” is her introduction line to the Willoughby children, and it sums up her entire character in one sentence.

Nanny Linda is voiced by Maya Rudolph in The Willoughbys, a Netflix animated film released in 2020.

She’s hired by the neglectful Willoughby parents to look after their children, and ends up being far warmer and more present than either parent ever was. By the end of the film she becomes the children’s adoptive mother.

Who voices Nanny Linda in The Willoughbys?

What does Nanny Linda become to the Willoughby children by the end of the film?