“It’s Saturday, and it’s Halloween. Do you know what they call that? Satur-ween. It only happens like once every 300 years.” – Sam & Cat.Â
As Halloween approaches, I still had not found the perfect costume. After endless TikTok scrolling and Pinterest deep dives, I’ve asked my Instagram followers for costume ideas I can copy and get a sense of the vibe Gen Zers are going for this Halloween. Â Â
For Halloween in 2025, I spent roughly $200 on costumes alone. I dressed up as a flirty cowgirl, Playboy bunny, and a matching cop-and-prisoner costume; I was the police officer. On top of spending an absurd amount on costumes, my friends and I ended up not even making it to parties; I didn’t want to go overboard and risk disappointment, so I settled for one day of fun. Â
After much deep diving and endless nights of searching for a Halloween costume this year, I decided on Pennywise. The outfit items are: Â
- White CorsetÂ
- Ruffle ShortsÂ
- White Platform Boot HeelsÂ
- Ruffle CollarÂ
- Red Pom Poms Â
As a young woman in my early 20s, I want to be flirty but still resemble the character from It, so people understand who I’m portraying. Â
What costume ideas are trending for the 2026 spooky Halloween season, and which category do you fall under? Â Â
After asking fellow college students their costume ideas, here are the costume ideas that I’ve heard so far:Â Â
Cute: “It’s all just a bunch of Hocus Pocus.” – Hocus Pocus Â
Ladybug
- Red Dress or Red Corset and Black ShortsÂ
- Black Pom PomsÂ
- Ladybug EarsÂ
- Black HeelsÂ
Betty Boop Â
- Red DressÂ
- Pixie HairÂ
- Replicate her MakeupÂ
- Black HeelsÂ
Flirt:Â “In Girl World, Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total sl*t, and no other girls can say anything about it.” – Mean Girls
Vampire  Â
- Black CapÂ
- Black Mini DressÂ
- Black Platform HeelsÂ
- Fake BloodÂ
- Fake Fangs TeethÂ
- Smoky Eye MakeupÂ
Nurse
- White Mini DressÂ
- Red Corset and White SkirtÂ
- Nurse HatÂ
- Stethoscope Â
Unhinged: “This is my costume; I’m a homicidal maniac. They look just like everyone.” – The Addams Family
Maxx from A Goofy Movie Â
- Black Long Sleeve ShirtÂ
- Red Short Sleeve ShirtÂ
- Blue SkirtÂ
- White glovesÂ
- ConversesÂ
- Maxx Inspo MakeupÂ
Boov from HomeÂ
- Purple Long Sleeve ShirtÂ
- Blue shirt with a SwirlÂ
- Mini SkirtÂ
- Princess Leia HairstyleÂ
- Purple Face paint Makeup InspoÂ
The costume ideas are recyclable and changeable, as they can all be styled in different categories with item changes. For example, the Ladybug can be altered into Unhinged by wearing an inflatable and doing makeup that suits a comedic, not-cute look. Â
To this day, Betty Boop costumes have come in many variations, like a red mini dress and red stiletto heels. Not only are all the characters changeable, but they are timeless. The ones described earlier, such as Boov from Home, debuted in 2015, and Betty Boop first appeared in the 1930s. Â
Halloween is a time when everyone can show their creativity through costumes. Some may go for a funny look, while others want to look cute and flirty. The most important part is to make it your own.