Halloween is just around the corner, and with it comes the excitement of finding the perfect costume. But let’s face it: not all of us have the time, energy, or creativity to create an elaborate costume from scratch. That’s where we can help. We’ve scoured the internet to find 31 Halloween costumes that are easy to put together in a pinch. With a little effort and a few basic supplies, you can transform yourself into a spooky character or pop culture icon in no time.
This list has something for everyone, from classic costumes like witches and ghosts to trendy options like superheroes and memes. Whether you’re looking for a last-minute costume idea or want to keep things simple this Halloween, these ideas will inspire you. So grab your glue gun and get ready to create a Halloween look that will turn heads and make you the life of the party!
My Ex (Garbage Person)
It’s okay to stay bitter. This idea could be perfect for you if you have recently gone through a messy breakup. That ex who is a piece of garbage can be your inspiration.
French Kiss
For a very punny costume, consider going as a French Kiss. Mimes are iconic characters in French culture, and the Kiss makeup is easy enough to pull off. All you need is black and white costume makeup.
Naked and Afraid
If it’s not too cold where you live, consider dressing as a contestant on Naked and Afraid. Use leftover cardboard from one of the many Amazon boxes in the recycle bin, or use construction paper to create a censorship blur.
Loofah
Scrub-a-dub-dub! If you’re looking for a clean Halloween costume this year, a loofah could be the way to go. Don’t skip the rubber duck, folks.
Minnie Bar
You will be the life of the party if you decide to go as a mini bar, AKA Minnie bar. Disney fans, you have the perfect opportunity with this costume idea. Cheers!
Gold Digger
If you have a gold dress or other apparel, all you need is a shovel and a bucket, and you have a gold digger costume. No gold clothes? No problem! Simply fill the bucket with convenient gold-colored items. Because it is Halloween, perhaps a pail full of those chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil is appropriate.
Ceiling Fan
We’ve got the perfect Halloween costume for those with a particularly dry sense of humor. Turn yourself into a cheerleader for a beloved ceiling fan. This is stilly and stupid that it is perfection.
The Sims
All you have to do is craft a green diamond onto a headband, and you’re a character from The Sims. It doesn’t get easier than that!
Copy Cat
A black outfit with cat ears has been a go-to Halloween costume for decades. Take it to the next level with a “ctrl + c” sign; you are a copycat.
Holy Cow
Stick some black spots on a white outfit and pop on a halo, and you become a holy cow. Angel wings are optional but are highly recommended.
A Formal Apology
If you have a formal gown collecting dust in the back of your closet, shake it out and stick a sign on it that says, “I’m sorry.” You have become a formal apology.
Walter White
Breaking Bad fans, this one’s for you. Get yourself a pair of whitey tighties, a prop gun, and a bag of tic tacs, and you are well on your way to becoming Walter White.
Ariel Out of Water
Some fabric, a rope, and red hair are all you need to be a shipwrecked Ariel from The Little Mermaid. If you wanna be where the people are this Halloween, you know what to do.
The Devil? She Wears Prada
For fans of the 2006 masterpiece, The Devil Wears Prada (or the book it’s based on!), Miranda Priestly might be difficult to pull off unless you have some haute couture pieces. Have no fear! Dress in all red, put the word Prada on you, and throw on some devil horns, and you have a fitting costume.
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Spice Girls
If you are looking for a themed costume for your group of friends, consider going as the Spice Girls. No, not the girl group, but actual spices.
Log Lady
For Twin Peaks fans, go as the Log Lady (Margaret Lanterman) for Halloween. You only need a chunky sweater, some glasses, and a lovely log.
A Piñata
If you are handy with a pair of scissors, get some colorful paper and go to town.
Sugar Daddy
Dress up a bag of sugar like a baby, and you are now Daddy. If you don’t feel like carrying a five-pound bag of sugar around all night, get your baby a little stroller.
Fortune Teller
We see an exciting costume in your future. Dress up as one of those arcade fortune teller games with a box and some simple crafting.
Bob Ross
Time to paint some happy trees! A Bob Ross costume could not be any simpler. All you have to do is find a wig that mimics Ross’ fantastic hair.
Beanie Baby
A tie-dyed shirt, cute ears, and a “ty” sign are all it takes to transform into the Jerry Garcia Beanie Baby.
That Kermit Meme
Beloved memes make for great Halloween costumes. We all know and love the Kermit one where he sips that tea. Easily turn it into a hilarious outfit.
Dora the Explorer
Dora? She’s exploring. Take a note from the beloved children’s program, and you’ve got a dynamite costume. Find a stuffed money, and you’ve got a Boots companion as well.
Wine Time
This one’s for the wine moms out there. Attach a bunch of purple or red balloons to yourself, and you can look like a bunch of grapes. A wine glass is not mandatory but is highly recommended.
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Magic Eight-Ball
Do you have a bun in the oven? Turn your belly into a magic eight-ball with some construction paper. This is one of our favorite Halloween costumes for expecting parents.
In conclusion, Halloween is a time for fun and creativity, but it doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. With these 31 easy and quick costume ideas, you can create a unique and impressive outfit without breaking the bank or spending hours preparing. Whether you’re looking to win a costume contest or want to feel festive at your Halloween party, these costumes are sure to impress. So, don’t stress about the perfect Halloween costume; choose one of these easy ideas, grab some supplies, and get ready for a spooktacular time!
For even more Halloween costume ideas, keep reading. We’ve got some fun pop culture-inspired ideas to share with you.
Evelyn Wang from Everything Everywhere All at Once
You better put that googly eye on your forehead! Did Michelle Yeoh deliver 2022’s best performance? We think so! Celebrate her incredible work and this brilliant movie with a costume inspired by Evelyn Wang. You could do a little or a lot for this one. It’s totally up to you.
Kamala Khan from Ms. Marvel
Time to find some cool bangles. A show that completely took us by surprise, Ms. Marvel turned out to be a poignant and personal show while also empowering and fun. Dress your favorite character, Kamala Khan in one of her amazing superhero suits.
Louis from Interview with the Vampire
Gentlemen (and ladies), it’s time to find a three-piece suit, a cane with a golden handle (without a blade attached, preferably), and a fancy hat. Things with Louis and Lestat are already heating up. The creepy yet romantic show could very well inspire your pop culture Halloween costume this year.
Maddy and Cassie’s Twinning Euphoria Look Could Be the Greatest BFF Halloween Costume This Year.
Season two of Euphoria was uneven and messy at times but it did have its moments. If you and your bestie are looking for a matching costume idea, we can think of no better than what Maddy and Cassie sauntered down the hallway together in. Have fun with this one!
Cassie’s Oklahoma Outfit from Euphoria
One of our favorite (actually it was our favorite) TV moments of the year found Cassie in an outfit inspired by the musical, Oklahoma! She proceeds to have the most hilarious meltdown ever put to film in it. The scene was all anyone could talk about and we think for fans of pop culture, this costume would please a lot of folks.
The Sisters Are Back and That Means So Are Hocus Pocus Costumes
They’re back… The Sanderson Sisters returned for a joyous romp in Hocus Pocus 2. Sanderson-inspired Halloween costumes have always been popular but it feels extremely appropriate this year to choose to go as your favorite witch. If you’ve got a couple of friends to join you, the more the merrier.
Elvis Returned to the Zeitgeist And You Should Totally Wear One of His Amazing Costumes
The Elvis biopic proved middling for most but if you fell in love with the King all over again, you should totally choose an iconic Elvis look and run with it. We are all about a Drag Elvis and we hope men aren’t the only ones who feel they can pull it off.
Go Goth, Girl with a Costume Inspired by Wednesday Addams
We are so excited about Tim Burton‘s Wednesday which is set to become a huge hit for Netflix. Wednesday Addams is such a dark and twisty character. Nurture your inner goth girl and dress like her this Halloween.
Join the Hellfire Club by Dressing as Eddie Munson from Stranger Things
The introduction of Eddie Munson in this season of Stranger Things started out rough but the character grew on many of us as the season played out. Get yourself a nice, curly wig, a denim jacket, and a hellfire club t-shirt and you’ve got a blast of a Halloween costume.
Go Green by Dressing Up as Jennifer Walters AKA She-Hulk
Tatiana Maslany‘s magnetic performance and the fresh writing and directing of She-Hulk have made it an unlikely favorite, especially among women and queer viewers. We thought the CGI would get in the way of the storytelling but this show proved us wrong. If you’d like to paint yourself green, you certainly have a great excuse.
Choose a Side and Dress as Rhaenyra or Alicent from House of the Dragon
If you’ve been watching House of the Dragon, you know just how tense things have become between Alicent and Rheanyra. That green gown that Alicent wore when she finally decided to join the wedding festivities was a real standout. But, we imagine most folks are interested in the royal with the dragons, so we are excited to see everyone’s take on Rheanyra this Halloween.
Rock a Fabulous Red Suit Inspired by Ricky “Jupe” Park from Nope
The cinematic, sartorial highlight of the year was served by Ricky “Jupe” Park in the horror movie Nope. Cowboy meets high fashion in this vibrant red suit with patchwork and embroidered details. This one will take a little work but it was the best outfit we saw on screen all year. Grab a cowboy hat and win a costume contest with something like this.
Freak Your Friends Out by Wearing a Costume That Looks like The Grabber from The Black Phone
If you enjoyed The Black Phone, we can think of no creepier mask than the one that The Grabber wears. This taught horror movie was a standout this year and we imagine a lot of people are excited to get their Grabber costumes ready.
Channel Joan of Arc and Dress as Galadriel from The Rings of Power
Galadriel is such a dynamic, passionate, brave, and fearless character in The Rings of Power. She also happens to be impeccably dressed. You could go for one of her flowing, fairy gown looks. Or, you can suit up in some armor for a more dramatic look. If you’ve got long, blonde hair, you know what to do.
Slap on Some Pointy Elf Ears and Also Give Arondir Your Costume Consideration
Another compelling and endearing character from The Rings of Power, Arondir could inspire your Halloween costume. That chest piece armor is going to be hard to recreate but we believe in you!
Pick a Bridgerton Character, Any Bridgerton Character
The latest season of Bridgerton introduced us to some amazing, new characters in Kate, Edwina, and Lady Mary Sharma. Each of these newcomers would make for great Halloween costume inspiration. Or, you could go as your favorite character (go as Queen Charlotte). There are so many excellent options and any excuse is a good excuse to dress in Regency-era finery.
Hellraiser Got a Reboot, Time to Become a Pin Cushion
Yes, there is a new Hellraiser movie to haunt your dreams. Jamie Clayton is playing Pinhead in this installment and we think a lot of folks will want to try their hand at some monster makeup. We are so excited to see how audiences respond to the movie and how many Pinhead costumes will be worn this year!
Embrace Your Inner Blonde and Dress as Marilyn Monroe
Whether you liked Blonde or not, everyone seems to be talking about Marilyn Monroe these days. She has so many legendary looks from the pink bow dress in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes to the billowing white number from The Seven Year Itch. Take your pick because you can’t go wrong with one of these for your Halloween costume.
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You’re a Maverick Now
Remember, “It’s not the plane, it’s the pilot.” If you’d like to dress as a fighter pilot, Top Gun: Maverick has given you the permission you did not need. The blockbuster was the right kind of escapist fun that many of us needed when it premiered earlier this year. Celebrate the movie with your very own Maverick costume.
It’s Not Halloween without Michael Myers
You could dress as Michael Myers for Halloween for the rest of your life and no one could fault you for it. But, you have a good excuse due to the release of Halloween Ends. The franchise is the biggest Halloween horror series ever made. Grab your coveralls and throw on a white mask and you’re good to go.
Halloween Is Actually Drag So Dress in One of Willow Pill’s Iconic Looks from the Latest Season of RuPaul’s Drag Race
Where are the RuPaul’s Drag Race fans at? We saw so many sickening outfits glide down the runway this year but no one stood out more for us than Willow Pill. Many of her outfits incorporated some form of horror to them but the one that we think would make the best Halloween costume is this little number. It looks whimsical and sweet from the front, but the creepy reveal when she turns around makes it just perfect for Halloween.
You’re a Rockstar! Dress as David Bowie After Watching the Incredible, New Documentary Moonage Daydream
Bowie fans and general audiences have been raving about the new documentary about the iconoclast. Moonage Daydream is a very special look into the life and artistry of David Bowie. The musician wore a multitude of fashion-forward looks on stage during his career and any would be great as Halloween costumes.
Folks, Grow Some Facial Hair and Become Cassian Andor
The latest Star Wars spinoff series, Andor, is already a hit and the season has not even finished. People are loving the lush settings, great dialogue, political intrigue, and tons of action that are packed into each episode. We are rooting for Andor and think his looks could easily translate into cool costumes.
It’s the Season of the (Scarlet) Witch
Fans of Marvel’s Avengers franchise know that the Scarlet Witch has lived a life! So many people are connecting to the character and her painful back story which resonates so deeply with many. Scarlet Witch costumes are encouraged this year to celebrate one of the franchise’s best characters.
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Be The Batman or The Catwoman
Would you like to be The Batman? How about Catwoman? The movie premiered in March which seems like a lifetime ago but this movie was a big hit with many folks loving this moody installment. Now, go put on some pointy ears and do your best Batman voice impression.
There you go! We hope you enjoyed these pop culture-inspired Halloween costumes from some of the best movies and TV shows that came out this year. Have fun with it, and don’t take things too seriously when it comes to your costume. You got this!