“Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” “Jury Duty” and “The Last Of Us” were all amazing movies and TV shows that were released in the past year and received a lot of good reviews. However, because of how popular they have become, it’s obvious that Halloween parties are going to be filled with swarms of people wearing the same outfits. An additional worry can be finding last-minute costume ideas, so they need to be closet-friendly; something that you already own.
So what costumes stand out against the crowd while addressing these concerns?
Solo Costumes
Elle Woods
Starting with a classic: Elle Woods, the protagonist of the movie “Legally Blonde.” If you are looking to emulate Barbie’s aesthetic without going as Barbie, this is the choice for you. There are many outfits to choose from as well, from what she wears to her classes to her iconic Playboy Bunny costume.
Her outfits always let her personality shine through, no matter the setting, such as the pink dress that she wears to court, or the clothes she wears on her first day at Harvard, a pink skirt, pink blazer and pink glasses.
Jennifer Coolidge
Next up is Jennifer Coolidge. She has always been in the public eye, and her iconic roles provide plenty of material to choose an outfit from. The best costume to replicate should be your favorite role of hers! Maybe Amanda Buffamonteez from “Friends?” Or Sophie Kachinkyl from “2 Broke Girls?” The possibilities are endless!
The easiest outfit to recreate would be Paulette Bonafonte from “Legally Blonde” because the components are simple, and the character is easy to recognize. Extra points if you can do a good impression while in costume!
Musical Artists
Finally, for solo costume ideas, if you do not want to buy any new clothing to make a costume, go for ideas like Ethel Cain, Kurt Cobain or a box troll!
For Ethel Cain, you will only need white shoes and a white dress to recreate the outfit she wore on the cover of her album, “Preacher’s Daughter.”
Kurt Cobain’s outfit can be recreated with a pair of jeans, a band T-shirt, like Frightwig or Flipper, and hair that looks like his, shaggy and a light shade. For the band T-shirts that he has worn, many references can be found online. Even a Nirvana shirt would work! Other accessories such as a guitar or a sweater will make it more recognizable.
And lastly, for a box troll wear clothing with neutral tones, and a cardboard box with arm and leg holes cut out.
Duo Costumes
If you are going with a friend this year, a way you can spice up the night can be a duo costume. but what Halloween costume ideas can be unique to you?
Gilmore Girls
First up are Luke Danes and Lorelai Gilmore from the TV series “Gilmore Girls.” They are an iconic pairing, distinguishable and easy to dress up. For Luke, a baseball cap worn backward, a flannel and a pair of jeans are all you need to capture his essence. For Lorelai, jeans, a long-sleeved, cool-toned shirt and a jean or leather jacket will be perfect for the costume.
If you don’t have either of these types of jackets, Lorelai is also often seen wearing fur-lined jackets and turtlenecks, all of which are typically neutral colors. Or, if you want to replicate her crazy outfit in the first episode of the series, wear a pink top, a black blazer, jean shorts, and boots.
The best part is the clothes are probably already in your closet!
If you’re not the biggest fan of Luke and Lorelai, but you love “Gilmore Girls,” there are still so many other options to choose from. Rory and Dean, Jess or Logan if you want to go as a couple, or Rory and Lane if you prefer to go as friends.
“Gilmore Girls” has been prevalent in mainstream media ever since its release, but despite its popularity, you can dress up as them for Halloween and still be unique.
Musical Duos
Going back to the idea of musical artists, there are hundreds of iconic duos to choose from as an idea for your Halloween costume this year.
For example, Hall and Oates are a recognizable pairing that only requires a trip to the thrift store if you still need to include all of the components. The most important pieces are a jean jacket, a leather jacket and of course the hair. Simon and Garfunkel, Daft Punk and Sony and Cher are other perfect ideas that will make you stand out.
“Rhyme Without Reason”
Finally for duos is a “Rhyme Without Reason” pairing, a more whimsical idea where the costumes have nothing to do with each other but because they rhyme, they match! An example is Flo (from Progressive) and Marilyn Monroe. They both have recognizable outfits you can recreate with ease.
Another “Rhyme Without Reason” Halloween costume is Jim Carrey and a strawberry. Recreate one of Jim Carrey’s characters, like the Grinch or Truman from “The Truman Show.” For the strawberry, go as wild as you want! Anything from an all-red outfit to a strawberry costume will work.
The rhyme without reason is a perfect plan for friends who can’t decide on a matching costume, because it gives each person their independence for their costume, while still going as a pair. The creativity with this concept is endless!
Group Costumes
Finally, ideas for groups of three or more people are endless, but here are some of the best costumes.
First, characters from the TV show “Total Drama Island” are perfect because there are so many characters you and your friends will most likely be able to find someone you already look like for your costume.
Similar to the costumes for the characters in “Gilmore Girls,” most of the outfits in “Total Drama Island” are clothes you can find in your closet. Because the new season was released this year, it is pertinent to current pop culture so there may be someone else dressed as a character from the show, but because there are so many characters, there is a low chance you will be dressed as the same person.
Similarly to “Total Drama Island,” you and your friends can dress up as your favorite group from the TV shows you watched as a kid. You can choose “Winx Club,” “Teen Titans,” “Adventure Time” or “My Little Pony” which are all iconic groups whose outfits can be easily recreated. However, be careful when choosing the TV show, because shows like these are popular, so there may be a repeat.
Talk with your friends to see if you all watched a show as a kid that would be a little less conventional, but still recognizable. “Veggie Tales,” “Octonauts” and “Fish Hooks” may be good examples. You can commit as much as you feel comfortable, like dressing up in all red instead of in a full tomato costume for “Veggie Tales.”
For your Halloween costume, you can choose anything you want, no matter if it’s too niche or too popular, but if you’re looking for a costume somewhere in the middle then the options on this list are perfect.
