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Halloween Costumes I Want To See This Year

Ella Reilly Student Contributor, Pennsylvania State University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at PSU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Halloween is quickly approaching, and I cannot wait for it. With this in mind, I know that not everyone has all of their costumes planned out yet. To give some inspiration, here are some costumes that I most definitely want to see this year.

Iconic Costume

Everyone needs a hot, showstopper, iconic costume on Halloween. The one that makes you feel your absolute best and would only be acceptable to wear on Halloween night. When brainstorming about this style of costume, I usually think recognizable, but still unique in some shape or form.

A costume that embodies the word ‘iconic’ is, of course, Britney Spears. There are so many eras and music videos of hers that you can pick an outfit from, making this a versatile solo or group costume.

I have also been obsessed with the Showgirl costumes or Burlesque dancer costumes. I think that they are fun, girly and definitely recognizable. Flapper girl costumes are definitely in the same family as these two and are just as classic and iconic.

A few other ideas for this type of costume are Indiana Jones, a bird from the film “Rio,” any vampire from a movie or show, any “final girls” from horror movies or the nurse from Blink-182’s “Enema of the State.”

Funny Costume

Comedic relief costumes are my favorites to see and are always the most memorable the day after. I believe that they require the most amount of confidence and I absolutely love when people can commit to a bit. Similarly to the iconic costumes, these work best when they are recognizable, in order for everyone to be able to get the most amusement out of your costume.

The first costume that I think of when I hear about a funny costume is absolutely Gru from “Despicable Me.” I do not know why, but I feel that he is a staple for anyone thinking of being something entertaining and funny for Halloween. Any costume with a bald cap will simply never disappoint.

I would also love to see someone recreate the costumes from Tom Holland and Zendaya’s Lip Sync Battle. This would be so funny to see solo or as a couple, especially if they learned Holland’s dance to really commit to the performance.

Some other funny costumes that you can never go wrong with are the cast of “The Hangover,” “The Lorax,” “White Chicks,” Sue Sylvester from “Glee” in her tracksuit, a founding father or of course, any costume where you are dressed up as food.

Adorable Costume

Alongside the iconic costume, an adorable, sweeter costume is always a must. Definitely think princesses, storybook characters or animals. This is always needed to balance out the hotter costume, while still looking amazing and being recognizable.

One of my favorites that I have been seeing is Paddington Bear and it is incredibly cute. A brown top with a denim skirt and bear ears works perfectly for this costume, but extra points if you hold a stuffed bear. This look is low effort but totally adorable.

I have been seeing the “bed bug” costume everywhere, and although the premise is gross, the costume is super cute. All that you need for this is a nightgown and little bug ears and you are all set. Once again, a low-effort costume that is super easy and looks put together.

Other adorable costumes are Strawberry Shortcake, Cupid, a bee or ladybug, Minnie Mouse, a deer, a ballerina or a Beanie Baby.

Couples Costume

A solid couples costume is definitely a must for every relationship on Halloween. Whether you are going for funny, cute or iconic, there are plenty of costumes to choose from.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith from the film with the same title is a great costume that is instantly recognizable. It is incredibly low effort, with a white T-shirt and shorts with fake blood on them for Mr. Smith, and a black top with an oversized white button-up with fake blood on it for Mrs. Smith. I feel that you can never go wrong with this costume, as it is super easy and comfortable to wear.

Another couple’s costume that I want to see this year is Romeo and Juliet, specifically from the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio when they are at the house party. I think it is so cute and definitely more elevated than some of the other couples’ costumes on this list. A simple white dress with angel wings for Juliet and a silver ‘knight in shining armor’ outfit with a sword for Romeo work perfectly for this costume.

Some other ideas for couples costumes are Clark Kent and Lois Lane, sailor and mermaid, Christine and the Phantom from “Phantom of the Opera,” Joey and Mary from “Another Cinderella Story,” Sharkboy and Lavagirl and Wall-E and Eve.

Group Costume

A legendary group costume is essential to any good Halloween weekend. It must be something that everyone will recognize as a group and still looks amazing on its own. There are endless options for a group costume, but there are definitely some that I have been more excited to see this year.

One group costume that I think is so iconic is a group of circus members. I have seen it done many times, and it never fails. This can include a ringleader, a lion, a clown, cotton candy, a mime, a magician or a showgirl.

This costume is incredible and can be done with so many different variations. Not only does it look great as a collective, but each one looks great as a solo costume as well.

Another group costume I want to see is the group from “Teen Titans.” This costume is instantly recognizable and, once again, each outfit looks great all by itself, too. Variations could be done with this for couples’ costumes as well, making this a very versatile group costume.

Other classic group costumes are the Barden Bellas from “Pitch Perfect,” the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, cereal box characters, superheroes, Strawberry Shortcake and friends, “Alice in Wonderland” characters and the girls from “Mean Girls.”

There are many different types of Halloween costumes to choose from, ranging from iconic and recognizable to hilariously unforgettable. Hopefully, this list was able to give you some ideas, and I am incredibly excited to see what everyone ends up dressing up as this year.

My name is Ella Reilly and I am from Ramsey, New Jersey. I am a second year English major here at Penn State. I aspire to become an investigative journalist in my future.
In my free time, I love to listen to music, binge watch TV shows and movies, as well as read and write. I also love hanging out with my friends and staying active. My favorite aspects of Penn State are all of the opportunities that it offers and just the overall energy!