Some people are creative, some people are topical using current events or political figures as inspiration, other wear the same thing this year they did last year and every other year and some just toss on whatever they can find in the closet.
Halloween is a time of costumes, costume parties and pub crawls. And one thing is certain: you can’t go out without having on some type of outfit. It’s easy for some and challening for others. So here’s how to come up with a great Halloween costume. This article is for adults, and not kids.
Pick a Theme
Think about what you want to go for in a costume:
• Funny – Pun-based costumes, absurd characters, pop culture or making light of political leaders
• Creepy/Scary – Classic horror (vampires, zombies, ghosts, etc.) Characters from horror movies like Jason from Friday the 13th, and Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street or even Frankenstein. You could also have some fun with the latter by adding a comical twist by being the monster from Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein.
Clever – Costumes that are intellectual, funny or unexpected
Cool/Impressive – High-effort builds, armor, transformations
Nostalgic – Characters, childhood favorites or flappers and gangsters from the Roaring ’20s. The 1920s, of course!
Pop Culture Characters & Political Figures
What shows, movies, or games do you love right now, what are trendy and popular characters (a couple might go as Taylor Swift and Jason Kelce, for example) or a political figure that’s fun to mock (a certain president and a fat “secetary of war” would likely get a few laughs this year).
Think about viral memes that would make for a good costume like a smiley face or mug of beer.
Check Your Closet For Things You Already Own
You can go to a Halloween costume store (this can be fun and talking with others may even give you an idea) or order online at Amazon for a costume but here’s another idea: see what you already have by looking in your closet. For example:
Do you have a black suit? If so, you can be John Wick or Men in Black.
Got a red hoodie? Bam, you’re Elliot from E.T., or girls you can be a sexy Little Red Riding Hood.
Have a lab coat? Mad scientist or Rick from Rick & Morty.
Easy Costume Ideas For 2025
Zombie Influencer – Dead but still posting.
AI Assistant – Wear a sleek outfit and answer everything like a chatbot.
Barbenheimer mashup – Half Barbie, half Oppenheimer (yes, it’s still in current).
Corporate Goth – Office wear meets vampire energy.
Cryptid Tourist – A “bigfoot” in Hawaiian shirt with a camera.
Think Comfort & Practicality
Things to consider are: will you be indoors/outdoors, can you eat/drink/dance in it, can you move through a crowded bar or pub crawl with your costume, etc.
Use These Tools to Help You Find A Costume
• Pinterest or Instagram for visual inspo
• Costume generators or filters (AI costume idea tools exist now)
Coming up with a good and fun Halloween costume can be fun and easy by following these simple steps.
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