As one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States, Halloween is a day many look forward to all year. With October 31 just two weeks away, the search for the perfect costume is officially on. Halloween 2025 is quickly approaching, and so is the unofficial competition for best dressed—but don’t panic. Whether you’re aiming for spooky, funny, or trying to find something last-minute with materials you already have, I’ve rounded up the top costume ideas to help you stand out this year.
Hair: A wig is arguably one of the most important parts of a costume, as hair can be such a defining characteristic of many characters. When I think of characters with distinct hair, my mind goes toViolet Beauregarde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Whether you want to go for her platinum pre-blueberry hair or her blue post-blueberry bob, a wig is a necessity. For a more edgy character, like Black Widow, a ginger wig is important. The all black outfit topped with her fiery orange hair is the key to the Natasha Romanoff look. Outside of a colored wig, the hairdo is also incredibly important. If you have long, dark hair, a good costume might be Wednesday Addams, complete with her iconic black braids. If you have lighter blonde hair, Barbie might look good on you.
Puns: Every year, someone comes up with a random pun that happens to make a fantastic costume. My costume this year comes purely from things I already have, but it brings a completely new sense of life to the items. I’m being a goldfish, but I am taking the word literally, with a shiny sequined gold top, and for the fish aspect, fish on my skirt. My all-time favorite punny costume was Cardi B. To be Cardi B, someone wore a handmade shirt complete with playing cards, and the wings and headband of a bee. If you swap out the cards for Scrabble pieces, you become a spelling bee! If you attach pictures of cats and dogs to an umbrella, you become the popular phrase, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”For a punny group costume, try being good and bad news, wearing newspaper print clothing and devil/angel headbands.
Fake Blood: Fake blood is one of the most perfect scary ways to upscale a usual costume, because Halloween would not be complete without scare. Wear the classic Disney Princess outfit, tiara and all, but with a splash of red to go from cutesy to spooky. Another go-to with fake blood is the timeless Vampire, with dramatic makeup, fake teeth, and a cape. Try dressing up in bridalwear and going as a ghost bride/groom. Or, be extra scary by dressing as a haunted horror movie character, like the twins from The Shining, Freddy Krueger from The Nightmare on Elm Street, or Pennywise from It, and add fake blood to complete the frightening look.
Pop Culture: Costumes based on film, TV, and viral moments are a guaranteed way to get recognized. We all know how iconic Barbie is with all of her jobs and looks, which is why she has made this list twice. Rather than the classic Barbie doll, the Barbie costume can excel in this category, even as a group costume. Have your girls dress as different Barbies, from rollerblading Barbie to cowgirl Barbie, and the Kens can wear fur coats to help out the Barbies, of course. Another idea is to dress up as the newly engaged couple: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Pop culture is also heavily defined by popular music, so you can always pick an album cover and try to recreate it, like Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft look or SZA’s SOS.
Last Minute Looks: While they may be a bit frowned upon, not everyone finds joy in the weeks-long search for a costume. Some prefer the thrill of the moment, finding a costume just minutes before a party or trick-or-treating. Use something you already have, combined with a printed element, to create a quick, cohesive costume. For example, wear all black, with a printed bat logo to be Batman or Batgirl. Find a staple piece, like a pair of fun, colored socks or a bright colored belt, to become someone like a pirate or a character from a Dr. Seuss book.
It’s always important to remember that the best costumes aren’t necessarily the most expensive, but the most imaginative. A well-executed pun or a twist on a classic costume is always the one to turn the most heads. Halloween is the one day of the year when you are allowed—and encouraged—to be someone other than yourself, so help yourself choose something memorable. As the spooky day approaches, I’ll leave you with one last tip: have fun!
