With Halloween coming up in less than two weeks, you might still be looking for just the right look. Have no fear; I have compiled a list of ideas that can be used as group or single costume inspiration. Given how Halloween is fast approaching, these costumes can easily be put together with common items or items that can be purchased quickly and cheaply. Without further ado, let’s begin.
1. Disney Movie Characters
Everyone knows Disney, and the beauty of these costumes is that you can pick your favorite character and dress up as them by yourself and have it work, or you can group together with others. One of my favorites is the movie Ratatouille; in the past year this movie has gained popularity through TikTok as well as Ratouisical The Musical, and I’m so glad. Last year, I dressed up as the red-headed chef, Linguini (shout-out to my fellow redheads who also use their hair as an accessory of their costumes) as a solo costume, but this could easily also be paired with a partner dressed up as Remy, Gusteau, Colette, or other memorable characters from the animated film. Obviously different Disney princesses are a classic move, and these can be altered using color-blocking; you can channel the character’s iconic color scheme to make a normal outfit from your closet fit their aesthetic. Marvel also falls under Disney, so you could do a solo costume as any of the Avengers or other superheroes, or you could get a group together and go as The Guardians of the Galaxy. These costumes are fairly versatile and easily made, but still fun and recognizable.
2. Musical Artists
These costumes tend to be fun and unique. I’d recommend picking someone who has a distinct style or a specific well-known trait. Artists that will likely be easily recognized are Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, or Elton John. Each of them have at least one outfit or look that will make it clear who you are trying to portray. These are also good because you can choose bands if you have a bunch of people dressing up with you, or you can pick a solo artist to go as by yourself. Bonus points if, like me, you go as Zombie Michael Jackson from the “Thriller” music video.
3. Cartoon Characters
Again, this idea may be reliant on a specific look or outfit, but with a lot of classic cartoons from our childhoods to pick from, this one can be really fun. Depending on the popularity of the cartoon you pick, you could do this costume solo, although I think this will work best with a group. One of my favorites is Scooby-Doo and the Gang. Their outfits are pretty simple, so with five people, that would be fun. Another idea that I’ve always wanted to do is “Phineas and Ferb” characters. This one is a little less dependent on how many people you have, although I’d recommend at least two for Phineas and Ferb. “The Magic School Bus” would also be a fun and unique look; you could go solo as Ms. Frizzle, or pull together a group, so you could have students and Liz as well. This one would be pretty easy for those going as Arnold, Dorothy Ann, Tim, etc. since you just need their normal clothes.
4. Punny Ideas
If you’re anything like me, you love a good pun! These costumes tend to be the easiest to make, are cheap, and are usually hits! Now some of these can be customizable depending on your look (Once again showing red-head pride, a shirt that says “Ginger-bread man.” Get it? Ginger?), but I will provide some of my favorite generic ones. A classic is a normal shirt with a name tag that says “Hi my name is: Life” alongside the accessory of a basket of lemons (bonus points if you hand these out to people through-out the day). You could also wear a shirt with a yellow circle within a larger white circle and a pair of devil horns to be a deviled egg. A slightly more involved option (and possibly my favorite out of all of these), is the French Kiss; simply paint your face like Gene Simmons, and put on a striped shirt and beret. It’s hard to go wrong with these classics.
5. Pop Culture References
This may seem like a broad category that could encapsulate many options, but I’m thinking along the lines of memes, TikToks, recent popular shows, new Saturday Night Live sketches, etc. If it’s cold, an especially creative idea could be Bernie Sanders with his mittens (maybe you could even carry around a folding chair to sit on). A look which reflects on recent trends is the Berries and Cream Little Lad; maybe not everyone was stuck on Berries and Cream TikTok like I was, but if they were, this costume will for sure be a hit.
I hope these ideas helped you choose a costume, or come up with an idea for what you want to dress up as for Halloween. Whatever you choose to do, I hope everyone has a fun, safe and Happy Halloween!