Northwestern students are officially back on campus, and with the late September start time and all the buzz of going back to class, spooky season has crept upon us. Halloween is just around the corner, and if you are anything like me, planning your Halloween costumes is something that you look forward to year-round. However, picking the perfect one is not an easy task. Sometimes, I’ll end up finally landing on a costume, only to hear that five other people who also thought they picked a super “cute and unique” idea are all going to be wearing the same thing as me. Then it’s back to the drawing board.
However, I am here to help save you from the ~misery~ that ensues when you stress over what the most creative and fun idea is for a Halloween costume. After spending the last month on Halloween-costume-TikTok and researching all over the Internet, I have compiled a list of the five most unique costumes I could think of, and I am now sharing all my glorious Halloween knowledge with you. So without further ado, let’s break down my top five most unique Halloween costumes for 2021.
- Cheerleader, but specifically, from “Bring it on” the movie
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As a girl who grew up cheerleading, I basically WORSHIPPED the cheerleaders of Rancho Carne and East Compton high schools. Their cute little cropped uniform tops and pleated skirts are nothing like I ever got to wear, but something that everyone who has ever watched the movie knows to be the true, iconic cheerleader image. So instead of being a “zombie cheerleader” this year like everyone else, take on this classic movie and rock an RCHS or Clovers uniform! I found versions of the uniforms on both Amazon and Etsy, but you can always watch the movie for inspo, and then DIY your own version.
- Disney princesses getting their mugshots taken
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The Disney princess is a classic costume, and with the number of princesses out there now, it’s the perfect pick for a large group. I urge you to put a fun spin on this classic girl-group power costume by adding some placards with the “crimes” each princess committed—for example, Tinkerbell was caught “flying under the influence”, or Ariel was caught “pirating human legs”. You could even make a lined backdrop to take some funny mugshot pictures in front of. Check out Pinterest or Google for some more insight on how to rock this costume with your friends.
- (non-basic) Celebrity couples costume
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Every year, we always see the same couples’ costumes being done—Morticia and Gomez Addams, prince and princess pairings, or even Britney Spears and JT in their Canadian tuxedos. This year, try out recreating the outfits of your favorite celebrity couple from a media appearance. Every year, celebs put together killer outfits for the Met Gala, so maybe turn to them for some inspiration. Obsessed with Shawn and Camilla? Check out their 2021 Met Gala look for a fun and unique costume idea.
- The “spice” girls
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You are bound to see Posh Spice, Baby Spice, and any of the other 3 members of the iconic girl group walking around at any Halloween party. But, if you are quirky and fun like me, you’ll get much more of a kick out of dressing up as the literal spice girls. Put each of your group members in a red apron and hat, then print out labels of your average kitchen spices onto some large sheets of paper, and pin them to your aprons. There you have it—you are now the SPICE GIRLS! This is the perfect choice for a group that is looking for an easy and laid-back costume to wear out.
- Miss Frizzle from “The Magic Schoolbus”
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Lastly, if you are in the mood to rock the best and most creative solo costume ever, DIY your own Miss Frizzle dress and be the talk of the night! I think I speak for a lot of us when I say that Miss Frizzle is an all-time favorite teacher icon, and her different outfits for all the class’s Magic Schoolbus field trips are unmatched. Take to Pinterest to find some inspiration and make your best take on a Miss Frizzle dress.
And there you have it: five fun ideas for our first (sort of?) post-pandemic Halloween. Enjoy!