As Halloween approaches, the streets are set to transform into a parade of creativity and imagination. Every year, Halloween costumes reflect pop culture trends and showcase individuals’ self-expression. From a spooky mask, to a cute matching costume with that special someone, or a minimal effort outfit, there is a costume for everyone.
Couple Costumes:
Couple costumes have become a staple for any Halloween party, with characters like Flynn Rider and Rapunzel gaining popularity this year. A common rendition for Rapunzel uses a purple corset and a purple skirt, paired with a frying pan or a plush chameleon for Pascal. The Flynn Rider costume can be made with a white long-sleeve and a blue vest over top, completed with his iconic satchel.
Coraline and Wybie from the 2009 family-horror movie “Coraline” is another option for any couple trying to bring the modern classic to life. To enhance the costume duo, you can use SFX makeup to recreate the button eyes or the sewn mouth on Wybie. The iconic yellow raincoat that Coraline wears throughout the movie is also a must.
Padme and Anakin from Star Wars are a timeless couple costume that can be done in so many ways. The most popular look for Padme is her white battle outfit and blaster from “Attack of the Clones.” For Anakin, the dark Jedi outfit is most recognizable and easiest to recreate. This costume duo is seen often and has a lot of room for creativity due to the variety of looks throughout the films.
Best Friends:
Many costume trends this year cater to best friend duos looking for cute options this Halloween.
Velma and Daphne are a popular idea for any brunette and redhead duo. For the outfits, you can wear their signature colors, orange and purple, while also incorporating Velma’s glasses and Daphne’s green scarf. Their costumes can also be altered from sweaters and pants to short-sleeves and skirts depending on the weather.
A very popular option this year is the recreation of Sabrina Carpenter and Jenna Ortega from the “Taste” music video that came out in August of 2024. In the video, Sabrina is wearing a blue and white plaid top, which can have blood added to it, to represent the scene in the video when Jenna attacks Sabrina with a chainsaw. For Jenna’s portion of the outfit, wear a dramatic black dress paired with a chainsaw. The outfit is not only recognizable, but it also has a comedic element.
Disney princesses or villains are always a safe idea for any best friend duo, due to their simplicity and style. Aurora and Maleficent, Charlotte and Tiana, or any of your favorite Disney princesses or villains. One can simply wear a skirt and top that matches the color of the princess’s outfit, and pair it with a wand, book, or their animal companion from the movie. This can also double as a couples costume by dressing as the prince counterpart.
Not so Main-stream:
For people looking to think outside the box this Halloween, there are many niche costumes that can be brought to life.
Frank the Rabbit from the thriller movie “Donnie Darko” for example, is recognizable while also uncommon. His look can be recreated using huge teeth and crooked ears, paired with a gray fur suit. For those looking to go the extra mile, you can recreate or buy his creepy rabbit mask.
Another niche option for horror fans is a “Children of the Corn” costume. Stephen King’s 1984 classic is well known but not implicated in many Halloween trends. One of the main antagonists, Isaac, is known for the iconic imagery of him holding the corn scythe. The look is easy to replicate, with the use of gory makeup and dark clothing paired with a hat and scythe.
If you’re in a group of two, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Emily Elizabeth may be a good choice for you. Relive childhood memories and wear a red onesie with dog ears for Clifford. For Emily Elizabeth, wear a pink long-sleeve with a black skirt, paired with pink and black socks. This is an easy outfit with a lot of character to spice up your Halloween this year.
DIY:
If you’re not trying to break the bank this year or you’re searching for something low maintenance, DIY costumes are the perfect solution. Kim Possible is a recognizable character that can be done with items you already own, such as green cargo pants or shorts and a black top. This can also be accompanied by a belt or fanny pack to hold your collection of spy gadgets.
If you’re looking for a really low effort option, dig up any black clothing you own, and use black eyeliner from the bottom of your makeup bag to create a gothic look that doesn’t necessarily belong to any one character.
Halloween offers a unique window into how we express ourselves and connect with others, whether through humor, nostalgia, or a fan base. As every spooky season passes, trends arise, creating variations of old costumes, or establishing new ideas entirely. This constant change in trending ideas, allows Halloween to remain a day of creativity and individuality.
