Halloween only comes once a year, and is one of the most anticipated days. College students celebrate by dressing up and going out around the week of Halloween. This leads to many people wanting multiple costumes or something unique to wear for multiple days. The type of costume you look for depends on personal interest, group size, and cost. It is that time of the year to start thinking about your Halloween costume, so hereâs my list of this yearâs most popular and fun Halloween costumes.
Witch
A staple costume for a reason, witch costumes can be whatever you want. Typically it involves a black dress, a pointy hat, and black shoes. If youâre going with a trio, you could be the Sanderson sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” Another group of witches is Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West from “The Wizard of Oz,” or more recently, “Wicked,” the musical. With some green face paint, you could be the Wicked Witch of the West. A pink dress and a tiara would be the main parts of a Glinda costume.
Black Swan
Black swan is a beautiful costume. It refers to the 2010 movie of the same name which is based off Swan Lake, a ballet. You can choose how detailed you want your costume to be. On the easier side, a black corset top and a black skirt with black flats or heels would suffice. Black eyeliner would be a simple version of the makeup look. If youâre looking to put more effort and/or money into your look, you could upgrade to a black tutu and ballet flats or pointe shoes. Extra details like a black tiara, red contacts, and more intricate eyeshadow would elevate the look. Black swan could also go with a white swan costume.
Wolverine and Deadpool
A Halloween costume list would not be complete without adding a superhero. “Deadpool and Wolverine” made a splash at the box office in July. The thrilling movie includes two popular characters that would make excellent costumes. A Deadpool costume can be achieved through any variation of the character. In the recent movie, this includes Deadpool, Lady Deadpool, cowboy Deadpool, and more. If youâre working on a budget, I would recommend wearing red and creating or buying the mask. If you have more money to spare, a Deadpool suit would be a good idea. On the other hand, the most essential part of a Wolverine costume is the claws. You could buy the costume online or make your own using yellow clothes.
Pirate
Ahoy, matey! Pirate is always a popular, timeless costume. Itâs fairly simple to pull off and looks good on anyone. You can pick a specific character like Jack Sparrow, or forge your own path. Some ideas for costume components are a white or striped shirt, vest or jacket, trousers or skirt, bandana or headscarf, and boots. Treasure like jewelry make a great addition to any pirateâs outfit.
Kiss, Marry, and Kill
This trio costume is based on a social party game. âKissâ should dress in pink or red. âMarryâ should wear white. âKillâ should dress in black. I could see this being either decked out with lots of accessories like veils and fake blood, or something more cute and simple with mainly the color scheme. Have fun playing around with makeup looks and props! Itâs easy to make this one fit whatever look your group of three wants.
Patrick Bateman
Patrick Bateman is the main character in “American Psycho,” a cult classic movie. This is perfect for anyone that wants a recognizable character with a slightly scarier outfit. You will need a suit, clear raincoat, fake axe, Walkman, and fake blood. This requires a bigger budget than some of the other costumes on the list, but it can be worth it.
Brat Summer
Why not bring Brat Summer into the fall? With the release of Charli XCXâs latest album, the world was swept up into the phenomenon during the summer of 2024. It was associated with a specific shade of green, partying, following your heart, and embracing your flaws. The abrasive color is somewhere between these shades of green: lime, chartreuse, and slime. You will need a green shirt, preferably the color of the album, and you can pair it with whatever pair of pants or skirt you want. This is arguably the cheapest costume on the list, as even the most expensive version will only require buying a shirt.
Founding Fathers
This costume idea is hilarious and will certainly get those around you talking. The more friends you can recruit, the funnier it will be. There are so many options from George Washington to Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Franklin. The key components of this costume are a wig and colonial-period clothing. Have fun with this one!
Ghostface
A slasher from “Scream,” a popular â90s horror movie, Ghostface is an easily recognizable costume. Important components of the costume are the mask, black-hooded cloak, and a fake knife. If you want to scare your friends, feel free to get a voice changer, call up your friends, and ask what their favorite scary movie is. Jump scares are fun too.
Chefâs Kiss
Chefâs Kiss is one of my favorites off the list. This is a more creative costume. You will need an apron, chefâs hat, and red lipstick. The important part about this is making it your own. For example, if you want to focus more on the chef part, you could bring a rolling pin or food with you. No matter what, I would add a kiss on the cheek or somewhere visible, so that it is clear what your costume is.
Mermaid
Mermaid costumes are versatile since there are a lot of different directions you can take. Some examples are Ariel from Disney or a siren. I could see repeating this outfit or changing up certain details of it to make it something unique for another event. A lot of things you would need for the costume can be taken from your closet, thrifted, or homemade. Some materials you might think of using are fishnet tights, corset, seashell bra, mermaid tail, skirt, pearls, glittery makeup, starfish accessories, or other holographic or ocean related clothes and accessories.
Greek God/Goddess
If you like Greek mythology or Percy Jackson, a Greek god or goddess is the costume for you. This can be a solo or group costume. You need a white toga or dress, sandals, and gold accessories. If youâre planning on going as a specific god or goddess, feel free to personalize the outfit to fit what you think is right!
Cereal Killer
I have two ideas for a cereal killer costume. For the first way, you need plain clothes and cereal boxes. This is a good costume for people who like to upcycle. All you need to do is attach cereal boxes to your outfit. You could also make a hat or bag out of cereal boxes. Adding some fake blood could be an interesting way to spice up the look. My second, alternative way to look at this costume would be dressing up as a serial killer character like Jason Voorhees or Chucky, and bring a bowl of cereal with you, although that might be too messy for certain events. The wordplay is what makes this costume funny, so I suggest you lean into the amusement and have a fun time!
This is not an extensive list of costume ideas, however I think everyone can find something for them. Maybe it helps you find your costume or sparks some inspiration you can draw from. Many of the costumes can be thrifted or put together with pieces you already have in your closet. It can be as simple or difficult as you want. Have some fun with your Halloween costume; after all, you are never too old to dress up and hang out with your friends. Happy Halloween!