Popular Halloween Costumes Through the Years

Have you ever noticed how every October there seems to be that one Halloween costume that every single basic girl dresses up as? Usually coming from movies or television shows, one Halloween costume surpasses all the rest any given year. Pop culture has a pretty hefty influence on the October holiday. Let’s take a look back at the costumes that were the most trendy, new, and in thing to be the past few years, from Britney Spears, to Wonder Woman, to everything in between.

2000 – Britney Spears

Britney was at the height of her career at the start of the new millennium, and there were few people across America who didn’t secretly (or not so secretly) love the tune of “Oops!…I did it again”, which was released in May of this year.

2001 – Elle Woods

This smash-hit comedy, Legally Blonde, (that later inspired the musical) hit screens in July, 2001. Wearing all pink, and going to Harvard Law, Elle Woods quickly became an icon to motivated women everywhere, and many girls donned their all pink ensembles to become Elle for a night.

2002 – Hermione Granger

With the release of the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, in late 2001, and constant buzz about the Chamber of Secrets being released in November 2002, everyone was obsessed with Harry Potter. It comes as no surprise, then, that many girls wanted to be the smart, independent, and witty girl from the series for a night.

2003 – The Cheetah Girls

One of the most iconic Disney Channel Original Movies, The Cheetah Girls, told the story of four teenage girls in NYC trying to sing and dance their way to stardom. Whether you went as just one, or had a squad of four, being a cheetah girl was the thing to do after the movie release in August, 2003.

2004 – Mean Girls

Arguably the most quotable movie of all time, Mean Girls graced movie theaters in May, 2004, sparking a cult following for girls everywhere. With a plethora of iconic characters to choose from, and the ease of the mostly pink DIY costumes, dressing up Regina George, Cady Herron, Karen Smith (“I’m a mouse, duh”), or any other member in (or out) of the snippy social clique was a pretty easy, and basic, thing to do.

2005 – Kim Possible

Call me beep me if you wanna reach me. The Disney animated series, “Kim Possible,” first aired in 2002, and continued to grow in popularity, with it’s second television movie, So the Drama, airing in April 2005. Every girl admired the spunky, crime-fighting teenager that Kim Possible was.

2006 – Gabriella Montez/ Sharpay Evans

Arguably the most famous Disney Channel Original Movie to date, High School Musical sparked a worldwide obsession with the students of East High. Coming out in January, 2006, both blondes and brunettes wanted to dress up as sweet Gabriella or fierce Sharpay for Halloween.

2007 – Pirate

In May 2007, the third installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise hit theaters. Both boys and girls were inspired by the pop culture phenomenon and donned pirate gear this October.

2008 – Hannah Montana

With the hit tv show in its third season, and Miley Cyrus finishing her famed Best of Both Worlds tour, Hannah Montana was the pop culture icon of the year. The banged blonde wig and sparkly outfit made it too easy for girls across America.

2009 – Vampire

The movie version of the popular book, Twilight, came out in late 2008, sparking a renewed worldwide interest in Vampires. Many people tried to look like pale, fanged, members of the Cullen family this Halloween.

2010 – Snooki, JWoww and other Jersey Shore members

First premiering in 2009, the ladies of the Jersey Shore television show were all the rage in 2010. Tanned skin, big hair bumps, and short skirts were all you needed to be just like the girls of the iconic show.

2011 – Rapunzel

The new Disney Movie Tangled, came out in late 2010, inspiring many girls to dress up as the newest Disney Princess the next Halloween, with her long side-braid and signature lavender dress, Rapunzel made for a fun and fresh costume in 2011.

2012 – Katniss Everdeen

The movie of the year was The Hunger Games, released in March 2012, and the fierce heroine Katniss Everdeen appeared in the form of girls everywhere on October 31.

2013 – Miley Cyrus

2013 was the year Miley Cyrus reinvented her image, and sung her memorable performance with Robin Thicke at the VMA’s. This inspired many a girl to don space buns, a foam finger, and some tight clothes inspired by Cyrus’s new form.

2014 – Anna & Elsa

The Disney animated hit-movie, Frozen, was the most popular Disney film in years, with two very different, equally amazing, new princesses. Released around Christmas 2013, this movie gave both blondes and brunettes a chance to be a new Disney princess for Halloween 2014 (myself included).

2015 – Minions

The Despicable Me franchise first hit screens in 2010, creating a worldwide obsession with yellow, goggle-wearing minions. The popular characters got their own movie in 2015, making them quite a trendy costume that year.

2016 – Harley Quinn

The movie Suicide Squad same out in the summer of 2016, and the character Harley Quinn, playing alongside the joker, quickly became a fan favorite among girls across the country. Her spunky outfit was a popular one on October 31st.

2017 – Wonder Woman???

Following the trends of the past few years, I would guess that in a few weeks, Diana Prince as Wonder Woman will be hitting American Streets on Halloween night. The movie came out this past summer, and continues to be quite popular with people everywhere.

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