I don’t know about you, but I’m already on Pinterest scrolling and looking for my costume ideas for this Halloween. But if you’re an AANHPI girlie like me looking for ideas of what to be this year, you may have run into the same problem as me — seeing the same five costumes over and over again. So, I’ve come up with 10 niche costumes for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women.
Let’s be real: it’s no fun when you show up at a Halloween function to see that you and five other Asian girls decided to wear the same costume. I mean, c’mon — you could’ve thought of another Asian character besides Suki Lee or Shego to be this Halloween, right?
And while yes, you can also dress up as your favorite K-pop idol, that could also feel overdone. If you’re an AANHPI woman sick and tired of showing up to parties and finding that other folks had the same costume idea as you (or don’t want to repeat the same costume again for the third Halloween in a row), I’ve got you.Â
I’ve come up with a list of 12 niche costume ideas for my AANPI baddies, and trust me — I promise you nobody else will have the same costume as you. From beloved cartoon characters to Bollywood icons to cultural references, here are 12 niche costumes for my fellow AANHPI girlies.
- Pucca from Pucca
-
If you’re an Asian American girlie who grew up watching Pucca in the 2000s, this one’s for you! This costume is cute and simple — all you need to do is find a cute red dress, some black tights, and throw your hair up into space buns.
- Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service
-
This one’s for my Studio Ghibli fans! You probably have everything you need for this costume in your closet already. To dress up as Kiki, tie your hair up with a red ribbon and just throw on a blue dress and a pair of flats. Grab your broom, and you’re good to go. Optional: a black cat.
- Moana from Moana
-
If you’re a Pacific Islander girlie looking for a fun costume, try going as Disney’s heroine, Moana! To recreate this costume, all you need is a red crop top, wrap skirt, and red scarf around your waist.
- Wave from War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1
-
If you’re Filipina and want to dress up as a superhero this Halloween, I have the costume for you! You can dress up as Wave, Marvel’s first Filipina superhero. If you want to be her, you can wear a black and turquoise workout bra with black spandex.
- Red Envelope
-
For another cultural reference, try dressing up as the iconic Lunar New Year’s envelope! All you need is a red mini dress, gold accessories, and a red envelope purse! Bonus if you actually have red envelopes to carry around with you.
- Poo from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
-
If you’re of Indian or Bangladeshi descent looking for a costume idea, try dressing up as Poo from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham! Her costume options basically give Y2K main character vibes — but with a Bollywood twist. One good costume idea is Poo from her London era. All you’d need is a pink sequin top, pink leather jacket, fur scarf, and a pair of sunglasses. You can also recreate her prom night look with a red crop top and red jeans.
- Aisha from Aisha
-
On the same note, you can also be Aisha from Aisha. Think of Aisha as a Desi version of Cher Horowitz. To recreate her iconic school uniform, you can wear a white top with a plaid green blazer and jacket and a black headband.
- Lara Jean from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
-
This one’s for my Asian American hopeless romantics! For this one, you can wear a pink bomber jacket, pink floral dress, and tie your hair up into a ponytail. Or you can recreate another one of her iconic outfits by wearing a grey sweater on top of a collared shirt, a pink cardigan, a plaid skirt, and tights. Don’t forget to bring your love letters with you!
- Lucky Cat
-
If you’re looking for a cultural reference rather than a media one, try being the iconic Japanese lucky cat! For this costume, you can wear a white mini dress, cat ears, whiskers, and a red collar with a little bell. You can also carry around a giant gold coin.
- Gogo Yubari from Kill Bill
-
If you want to be a bit more on theme for Halloween and go as something more thrilling, try dressing up as Gogo Yubari. For this costume, all you need is a schoolgirl outfit and a meteor hammer prop.
- Joy from Everywhere, Everything, All At Once
-
Another great option for an Asian American character that’s not overdone is Joy from Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. The easiest costume of hers you can recreate is her tennis outfit, which consists of a pink polo, pink and white sweater vest, visor, and tennis skirt. But if you want, you can also try to recreate her other costumes and looks from the multiverse!
- Diane Nguyen from Bojack Horseman
-
I don’t know about you, but as a Vietnamese American, Diane Nguyen’s entire character and storyline hits a bit too close to home. So if you relate (or you’re just Vietnamese and need a quick and easy costume), dress up as Diane Nguyen! All you need is a white top, a green jacket, jeans, and boots.
So there you have it! 12 non-cliche costume ideas that ensure you’ll stand out at your next Halloween party!