When it comes to Halloween, there are two types of people: the prepared individuals who manage to curate the perfect costume months in advance, and those who haphazardly chop two holes into a musty pillow-case a few minutes before they leave and dress up as a ghost…for the third year in a row. If the latter sounds familiar —perhaps it even describes you — I have prepared a step-by-step guide to creative and fun Halloween costumes. Before we get into the nitty gritty here are some very basic guidelines:
Rule number one: basic is boring. If you want to have a truly good outfit, it’s never a good idea to wear a blue shirt and some red shorts and say you’re Superman. Sorry, but all you’re doing is putting on some primary colors and praying people will understand.
Rule number two: don’t go too far. You also don’t want to go too obscure. For example, no one’s going to know that you’re the spaceship that Katy Perry used to go to space, so unless you are going for a niche vibe, try to stray away from nebulous references.
Rule number three: be cautious. When finding a costume, if you’re unsure of whether or not it’s offensive, it’s best to avoid it! Not only will the people around you most likely feel more comfortable, but so will your future self.
You may be thinking,with all of these rules and restrictions, what can I dress up as? Well, an option that is always good is to take inspiration from one of your favorite things, such as a movie, book, celebrity or animal. A more simplified example could be a costume like Coraline, Carmy from “The Bear,” Indiana Jones or even a Victorian princess!
If you are looking for costumes for two, that basic guideline is always helpful, but here are some suggestions: Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Sally and Jack Skellington, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn and Daphne and Velma.
What about a bigger group though? Well, the Barden Bellas, DC or Marvel group, Hocus Pocus and Alice in Wonderland are good options.
With all these tips and tricks, you are sure to have a costume you can feel excited to wear and show off this Halloween season.