‘Hulaween’ Host Busy Philipps Channeled Cher in ‘Moonstruck’ for Her New York-inspired Costume

The Friday before Halloween, Busy Philipps struck a familiar pose on the red carpet alongside Bette Midler. Both actresses were in character for Midler’s annual Hulaween costume benefit for the New York Restoration Project: Philipps as Loretta from “Moonstruck,” and Midler as a Crocs-wearing gardener.

This year’s gala honored Midler for her dedication to the nonprofit, which she founded 30 years ago to maintain and sustain public green spaces across New York. Andy Cohen and Studios Architecture were also honored.

“As a little girl who always felt like I was too much, Bette Midler was my idol,” said Philipps, who served as the event host. “Just being in her orbit is the most incredible thing — and to be there to honor her on the 30th anniversary of this incredible organization that she founded.”

Guests included Martha Stewart, Michael Kors and Lance Le Pere, Sandra Bernhardt, Shoshana Bean, Ben Platt and Noah Galvin, and Marisha Wallace.

The theme of this year’s Hulaween was “New York, New York, a Helluva Town!,” and Philipps applauded the range of costumes in the room. There was a group of Muppet characters, Darren Criss and Mia Criss as New York-themed dolls, and Jordan Roth as a pigeon nest atop a skyscraper. “ There were only two Carrie Bradshaws. I was surprised,” said Philipps. Roth judged the costume contest, selecting actor Casey Thomas Brown, dressed as “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” as the solo winner, and a lineup of iconic Met Gala looks as the winning group costume.

For her own costume, Philipps channeled Cher’s movie poster image for 1987 rom-com “Moonstruck.” Throughout the evening, Philipps struck the same arms-wide, head-thrown-back pose as the poster.

“ I was really thinking about iconic New York characters,” said Philipps. “ There’s something about that ‘Moonstruck’ poster with the skyline of New York in the back. I feel like it’s kind of ingrained in my brain; I remember growing up watching that movie and feeling like, ‘oh, that’s New York and Brooklyn,’” she added. “ Plus, Cher is so iconic.”

Philipps’ hairstylist, Matthew Monzon, suggested fashioning a photo bounce into a personal full moon backdrop, and Philipps rigged one up from B&H with elastic arm straps, wearing it backpack-style. With her wig, makeup by Anthony Merante, and moon sorted, she was left with the final detail: the dress. On the morning of Hulaween, the outfit she ordered on Etsy hadn’t arrived, and Philipps had to pivot to creating the look herself. One friend sourced a velvet gown at Bloomingdale’s, while another found what would become the taffeta bottom half of the dress on Facebook Marketplace.

“ At noon, I took two full dresses to Eva Joan, a tailor in the West Village,” said Philipps. “ And they had it done by 3:20.”

With Hulaween behind her and (official) Halloween still on deck, Philipps was already brainstorming ways to repurpose the curly black wig for her next costume. “We’ll see,” she said. “Maybe I’ll throw something together.”