Costumes are a big part of Halloween fun, but it’s also a great opportunity to give a nod to the year we live in. These zeitgeist-y outfits will surely delight your friends at the party.
Whether you’re dressing up as “Barbie” or Rihanna’s super-bombshell Super Bowl performance, these costumes are sure to make your Halloween night a blast.
Barbie and Ken
With Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie bringing fresh enthusiasm for these beloved dolls, it’s only fitting to dress as them this Halloween. These Barbie and Ken costumes are creative, fun, and totally on-theme.
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling rocked these Barbie and Ken outfits in the film, so they’re an easy choice for a couples costume. To recreate Barbie’s look, grab a pink fit-and-flare dress with matching shorts and heels. Add a paisley bandana and magenta sunglasses to complete the outfit. For Ken, a striped shirt and matching pants will work. You’ll also need neon-yellow rollerblades, visor hats and multicolored backpacks.
Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie is a funny and poignant character, representing a doll that’s been damaged by kids and loved despite her flaws. To mimic her wacky look, start with a babydoll-style pink dress with poofy sleeves (this Amazon find is perfect) and paint it with crazy splotches of color. Top it off with a wig and face paint that’s a little bit messy and a lot of fun.
Squid Game
The first season of Squid Game swept the world with its high-stakes twist on children’s games that can cost participants their lives. And while the series’ intricate and deadly games may have been a draw, it was the strong characters that pulled audiences in.
This is especially true of player 212, a wily and assertive contestant played by Kim Joo-ryoung. Her ruthless strategy and ability to turn the tables on her fellow players makes her one of the most memorable players from the first episode to the end.
This is the real-world aspect of the series that gives it such a universal appeal. It’s a criticism of modern-day capitalism and the brutality it inflicts on people from lower income classes. Its characters are a mix of people who have fallen on hard times and are willing to do whatever it takes to survive, as well as those who want to break free from the system that has trapped them in debt.
Dune
When it comes to complex, ambitious and operatic sci-fi, few have been better than Dune. Taking on the epic dimensions of its source novel, Villeneuve and his screenwriters (producer Jon Spaihts and A Star Is Born’s Eric Roth) have made the movie both a blockbuster blast and a serious attempt to hold up a mirror to Western culture.
The story follows House Atreides, the noble family of Caladan, as it attempts to take over the inhospitable desert planet Arrakis from the corrupt House Harkonnen, who control the precious resource known as “spice.” When it’s used to make the “water of life,” a substance essential for interstellar travel, the spice can bring about an eternally young, healthy and vibrant population.
Much of the movie’s success lies in Timothee Chalamet’s fine-boned portrayal of Paul Atreides, a human-sized prince who’s destined to become a messiah. The film also benefits from Jason Momoa’s bro-y appeal as Duncan Idaho, Paul’s swordmaster and love interest; and Zendaya’s presence, as a member of the Bene Gesserit women’s brotherhood.
Jury Duty
If you’re in the mood to dress up as someone who’s fighting for the good ol’ American way this Halloween, Ronald Gladden from 2022’s Jury Duty is sure to please. The look is pretty easy to assemble, too; you’ll just need some short-sleeve striped button-downs and a customized name tag with his juror number 54. It’s a great option for groups, too. Just add a pair of fedoras for an extra dose of swagger. You’re welcome.
Top Gun
If you’re not into skeletons and witches, but still want to dress up for Halloween, there are plenty of pop-culture costumes that will spark fun reactions from friends. Just pay attention to what’s currently making headlines as you’re scrolling your TikTok feed and you should be able to find some inspiration.
A costume inspired by the 2022 FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago makes for a political statement that also doubles as a hilarious getup. It’s easy to put together, too: Just add a few file boxes and some top-secret classified folders for an instantly recognizable outfit.
If you’re a brunette, recreating Olivia Rodrigo’s look from the “good 4 u” music video is another instant classic. Pair a sombrero with some blue cheerleading gear, then finish it off with some long black gloves and hair clips. This is an ideal choice for a group costume or solo trick-or-treating. It’s a great way to show off your love for ’90s music, too!
Abbott Elementary
If a costume that makes people laugh is what you’re looking for, there are plenty of options to choose from. Luckily, funny costumes are usually the simplest and coziest, too.
Quinta Brunson’s wry portrayal of teacher Janine Teagues on the popular ABC show Abbott Elementary has raked in millions of viewers and won several Emmys. She’s surrounded by foil characters that would be caricatures were it not for their truthy roots: Janine’s scheming, failing-upward principal Ava Coleman (the show’s Dunder Mifflin); firm kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard; and her sister Vanetta, played by Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson.
A few episodes in, the show started drawing attention for its withering criticism of the real-life conditions in Philadelphia’s schools, particularly their chronic underfunding and age. Henson’s quip that her mother’s rug was covered with “death traps” is both priceless and a withering critique of a system where administrators run the schools while teachers and aides work in their stead.
Amy and Danny
If you’re on the hunt for a great Halloween costume, look no further. Whether you have tons of time to DIY or are on a tight deadline for a last-minute party, these costumes can be whipped together with a little creativity and secondhand shopping.
They may be enemies on the outside, but Amy and Danny (Joseph Lee) find a common bond in their shared pain of loneliness, isolation and depression. When they finally have a chance to talk to each other in the desert, it’s almost like a group therapy session and they squash their long-held feud as they share their deepest secrets.
While they’re both battling the effects of hallucinogenic berries, they work together to find a way out of the wilderness. This is a perfect couples costume that reflects the love and friendship these two characters found in each other. They’re the perfect example of how people can overcome their differences and find the strength to love.
Reggie Jackson
We’re sure a lot of kids will dress as Barbie and Ken this year, but for adults looking for a pop culture costume that’s relevant in 2023, consider going as the two high school sweethearts from Grease. You’ll need overalls and a pair of brown shoes to complete the look.
The ’80s saw some scary moments, including the Tylenol poisonings and reports of tainted candy. But the era is also known for some great movies, TV shows, and sports moments, so you can find plenty of inspiration.
Ree Drummond is all about the movie Grease this year, so it makes sense that she’d want to take her own high-school sweetheart out as Danny and Sandy. This outfit will be a hit with your friends who also love the flick.
Ronald Gladden
If you’re looking for a Halloween costume that is more joyful than scary, look no further than Ronald Gladden. The solar contractor who was the subject of the TikTok series Jury Duty is America’s newest sweetheart thanks to his kindness and bemused generosity. He went through a lot on the set of the show, which followed a mock trial and trial jury that turned out to be a staged prank by an all-star cast of improv actors.
But he never lost his sense of humor and ended up being the best juror in the case. Dressing as him for Halloween is simple enough: Grab a short-sleeved striped button-down and a name tag that spells out your juror number, 54. You’ll be the life of any party.
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