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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CNU chapter.

Due to Halloween falling on a school night (a Thursday), there have been heated debates on when Halloweekend 2024 should be celebrated for college students. Whether you threw down last weekend or are still waiting to shrug on your costume for post-holiday partying, here are the costumes current university students have deemed fun and trendy for this year’s spooky season. As broke college students, we have compiled a list of budget-friendly, eco-conscious/reusable, and age appropriate (we ain’t afraid of showing a little skin!) costumes that groups, duos, couples, and solo-goers can wear!

rep image, cat eyes, halloween, costume
Photo by Sarah Pflug from Burst.shopify

SOlo costumes

Nora: “I’m going to dress up as Chappell Roan! I still need to assemble all of the pieces (other than curly red hair), but I’m planning to recreate her Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess album cover. Think sparkly blue dress, sash that says “Chappell,” white gloves, and a tiara. We’ll see how well I can recreate her iconic makeup look though… I might have to tone it down to just some sparkly eyeshadow.”

Allison: “As president of our chapter, I’ll be hosting our Her Campus Halloween Party on October 29th, where we’ll be doing some Halloween themed activities, watching Halloween episodes of shows or clips from movies, and having a costume contest! I’m not really a Halloween girlie and rarely ever dress up or have plans, but my friend and Senior Editor, will decide my costume under the condition that she keeps it simple!”

Bandhavi: “I am doing catacombs makeup and wearing a daisy white dress I already own to be a dead valley girl. A Frankenstein type thing!”

Zoe: “I’m just doing a cute little devil costume. A little black dress and some red devil ears. It’s just something I could pull together last minute as I’m probably just watching some silly little scary movies with friends!”

couples costumes

Brooke: My boyfriend and I wanted to go as a classic, sweet movie couple, so we are going as Little Bo Peep and Woody from Toy Story… specifically the original Toy Story (1995). We have cultivated our looks from various cheap Amazon finds that we can reuse in our daily wardrobe (to rationalize our purchases) such as Woody’s yellow and black flannel or a frilly skirt for Bo Peep. I have a pet that I will attempt to pose for photos as my “sheep”. This is our first Halloween matching our couples outfits so I am excited for the pictures and memories!

Emelith: “I’m dressing as Neapolitan ice cream and my boyfriend is dressing as Napoleon from Napoleon Dynamite. It’s a play on the fact people always mix up the words Napoleon and Neapolitan. He’s getting a costume from party city, I got a pink tutu from party city with white tights or shorts for under the tutu. I bought cherry pom-poms to put in my hair for the cherry on top and then wearing a brown top and white shoes I already own.”

Daya: “My boyfriend and I are dressing up as the two main characters from the show You (2019), Joe Goldberg and Love Quinn. Since Love is a baker in the show, I though it would be cool to put fake blood on an apron I got to make it look like she just killed someone. I followed her bohemian aesthetic/style in the show by wearing sweaters.”

bestie or group costumes

Ivy: “Me and my group are going to be Raven, Beast Boy, Starfire, and Robin from Teen Titans! I plan on getting most of my costume from Amazon or my closet. We are probably going to Howl’o’scream or watch horror movies!”

22 yr old Virgo writer at Christopher Newport University. Big feminist. Coffee ice cream enthusiast. Communication Major.
Emelith is a CNU student double majoring in Communication and Leadership Studies with a minor in Sociology. Outside of Her Campus, Emelith is very involved including being a tour guide, a part of the Campus Activities Board, on the executive board of Where Is The Line, in the President's Leadership Program, an events intern in the Office of Orientation and Student Involvement, a first-semester academic mentor, and a sister of the sorority Alpha Delta Pi. Emelith is an animal lover, a huge Swiftie and fan of Renee Rapp and Hozier, loves baking, and is a big Netflix show binger. Some of her other favorite things include the color red, the season autumn, and chai lattes. In Her Campus, Emelith is a part of the Events and Marketing and Member Wellness teams. She loves that HC is a safe space on campus for women and all members of the campus community who want to get together and support one another and have a good time.
Ivy Andre

CNU '27

Ivy is a sophomore at Christopher Newport University. She is majoring in Psychology. She loves reading, photography, and watching horror movies with friends.
Allison is a Junior at Christopher Newport University, studying Psychology and Leadership Studies. She enjoys reading, writing poetry, and listening to Alt Rock music. Find her on insta @allibryan
Zoe is a Psychology major with a Writing minor. She enjoys learning about human development, especially when it comes to child development. Zoe loves writing in her free time and creating stories. She wants to eventually be a Child Therapist/Psychologist and write on the side.
Nora (she/her) is a senior attending Christopher Newport University. She's majoring in psychology and plans to become an elementary teacher after college. Nora enjoys social media, but when she's not researching trends to incorporate into her HC chapter's Instagram (definitely not just scrolling endlessly) she loves reading, cooking, and attempting to crochet.
Bandhavi is currently pursuing a major in Cellular, Molecular, and Physiological Biology, with a strong passion for the sciences and healthcare. She dreams of becoming a doctor, with a specific goal of working with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), where she hopes to make a meaningful impact on global health by providing medical care in underserved regions around the world. In addition to her biological studies, Bandhavi is involved in psychology research, specifically working with Danio rerio (zebrafish). Her research is focused on understanding behavior, which ties into her broader interest in medicine and the human condition. This research not only complements her academic interests but also provides her with hands-on experience that will be invaluable in her future medical career. Born in India and raised in Canada, Bandhavi has a unique cultural background that blends both Eastern and Western traditions. Her dedication to Indian classical dance spans over 15 years, a journey that has shaped her discipline, creativity, and deep connection to her heritage. Whether performing intricate footwork or expressing nuanced emotions through dance, she embodies the grace and precision that this ancient art form demands. Beyond her academic and artistic pursuits, Bandhavi finds joy in the world of visual arts. She has a passion for painting and drawing, using these creative outlets to express her imagination and unwind from the demands of her studies. Her artistic talents complement her scientific mindset, making her a well-rounded individual with a diverse array of interests and skills.
Daya has recently joined her university’s Her Campus chapter. She is a first generation college student and has family from Bolivia. She is fluent in Spanish and English and has a goal of learning more languages. At CNU, Daya is pursuing a B.S a neuroscience major with a minor in criminology and is currently in her senior year. In the future she plans on pursuing behavioral psychology research. Outside of academics, she enjoys going on hikes and spending time outdoors. Additionally, she loves traveling — whether it’s a short road trip or touring a new country, she loves to expand her cultural knowledge and learn about new places.