It’s that time of year again — when pop culture lovers everywhere are tasked with finding a well-known yet niche enough reference to channel for Halloween. Whether you’re dressing up solo, in a pair or as a part of a larger group, we‘ve gathered options from some of the great pop culture moments of 2025 to help make your decision easier.
Below are 13 killer costume ideas to consider this spooky season.
Sabrina Carpenter from her Tears music video
Sabrina Carpenter has taken pop music by storm, so even if you haven’t heard her latest album, Man’s Best Friend, you’ve likely seen snippets of her videos and live performances. Inspired by the The Rocky Horror Picture Show (a perfect reference for Halloween), Carpenter’s latest music video showcases her disco-style anthem with cheeky dance numbers and plenty of fun outfits to consider for All Hallows’ Eve.
- Recreate her flashiest (and most fun) outfit from the Tears music video. This fringed shiny bra-top paired with purple bottoms can be easily assembled: Cut up a shiny dress to make the long fringe and hot glue it to the top, then slip into some sparkly bottoms that you’re comfy in. (Don a bodysuit to combat October temps, if needed.) And, if there are two of you, your partner can dress in drag like Colman Domingo’s character.
- For a reference that does double duty, assemble a light blue skirt suit like the one that Carpenter wears in the video, which itself pays homage to one of Susan Sarandon’s Rocky Horror looks.
- Want something a little more niche? Recreate Carpenter’s outfit from the 2025 VMAs performance of Tears with a bedazzled silver top, sparkly black bottoms and black tights. The dance break, however, will be up to you!
Stack and Smoke, or someone else from Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners dominated the box office and pop culture this year. This chart-topping blockbuster horror stars Michael B. Jordan as twins Stack and Smoke — which means double the screen time for Jordan (thank you, Ryan Coogler) — and the roles serve as the perfect costume inspo for you and a pal. Since the movie takes place over just one day and night, the characters wear one outfit each throughout most of the film, which makes their complementary outfits all the more memorable.
- Start with a suit. Smoke’s go-to colour is blue, so pair a dark suit with a blue tie, pocket square and newsboy cap. Stack, meanwhile, accessorizes with pops of red. Jazz up a dark, pinstriped suit with a red tie, pocket square and fedora. Be prepared to spend the night repeating their quote, “Nah, we cousins.”
- Dressing up with friends? Take inspo from the film’s vampires. Go as Mary (played by Hailee Steinfeld) and wear a champagne-hued satin dress drenched in fake blood — and don’t forget the fangs. Or, go as Sinners‘ main villain, Remmick, by rolling up the sleeves on your button-up shirt and attaching some suspenders to your trousers. Blood is also a must — as is a little Irish dancing.
The Labubu edition you still don’t own
A fashion accessory that seemingly blew up overnight, the Labubu can be classified as either ugly or cute depending on who you talk to, but they’re certainly the hottest accessory around. If you haven’t been able to get your hands on the exclusive bag charm, why not make yourself look like one for Halloween?
- Pair a matching top and bottom in the colour of Labubu you’re dressing as — the fuzzier the fabric, the better. But the outfit is less important than the defining piece: the ears. Add some fuzzy bunny ears in your shade of Labubu to complete the costume. Bonus tip: if you have the makeup skills, paint the signature Labubu smile as a finishing touch!
- To make this a group costume, you and your pals can each recreate a different Labubu edition!
- For a reference to their unique packaging, consider dressing as the blind box these coveted creatures come in. Decorate a box with photos of the limited-edition collection you missed out on and wear it over a comfy outfit.
Jonathan Bailey and his little glasses
This summer’s Jurassic World Rebirth wasn’t particularly memorable, but its press tour did give us some endearing and meme-able moments between stars Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey. But what really won over the internet was Bailey’s character, Dr. Henry Loomis, and what has been dubbed his “slutty little glasses” by culture critic Blakely Thornton. Here’s how to channel this look:
- The first thing you need, of course, is a pair of slutty little glasses. Get yourself a pair of small wire-framed spectacles like the ones Bailey’s character wears in the film, or look to the actor’s stylish attire from the film’s press tour (his homage to a ’90s Steven Spielberg, anyone?).
- For the outfit itself, you can probably piece together a Loomis-inspired fit with items you already have in your closet: a flannel shirt, some khakis and a utility vest (the more worn-in, the better).
The Summer I Turned Pretty’s love triangle
This was the year we all collectively lost our minds over the final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Fans of the teen drama waited on the edge of their seats to see whom Belly would choose in the end: Jeremiah (her fiancé), Conrad (her first love — and Jeremiah’s older brother) or herself. It was a love triangle to remember and thus perfect for any trio looking for a group costume.
- To keep things literal, grab a curly brond wig and casual preppy clothes for Jeremiah, Old Hollywood movie-star hair and a ’90s-inspired men’s look for Conrad, and a cute bob and French-girl style for Belly.
- Want to try something a bit more playful? Get three blank T-shirts in red, blue and yellow and write “Team Jeremiah” on the blue, “Team Conrad” on the red and “Team Belly” on the yellow. Carry around a marker all night and have people tally their votes on the backs of your shirts for an interactive conversation-starter.
Frankenstein’s monster
With a reboot in theatres (and hitting Netflix early next month), now is the perfect time to revisit this gothic tale. Whether you want to resurrect the classic caricature of Frankenstein’s monster from the 1931 film by James Whale, or you’re more drawn to Guillermo del Toro’s contemporary interpretation starring Jacob Elordi, we have some ideas for you.
- To achieve the cult classic costume, hair and makeup are key. The piecey bangs, suit and dark undereyes are all staples — but the sides of your neck need bolts.
- To pay tribute to del Toro’s take on the monster, you’ll have to rely on the few images the film has released of Jacob Elordi. Lots of layering of fuzzy dark clothing is involved, plus you’ll need to cover at least half of your face — perfect for heading outdoors on a cold October night!
- If you’re going as a duo, add Victor Frankenstein himself to the mix! Go for the mad scientist motif or check out Oscar Isaac’s toned-down look for your partner in crime.
Katseye
If you hadn’t heard of the girl group Katseye until recently, maybe you’ve seen their viral Gap commercial making the rounds online — or watched one of the thousands of TikTok dances inspired by it. Whether you’re influenced by the commercial or want to try out one of Katseye’s other iconic looks, here’s how to make it work for your whole group.
- Grab five friends and reference the Gap commercial in the simplest way possible: mix and match all the denim you own, adding white T-shirts and accents where possible. Don’t forget to accessorize with glam jewelry for the ultimate pop-star look!
- Pay homage to one of Katseye’s other recent performances or music videos. Whatever the theme may be, note how they all wear complementary costumes instead of the same thing. And to really nail their girl-group vibe, you’ll all need to learn one of Katseye’s viral dances. Our suggestion? Don red and black attire and master a bit of the Gabriela choreography, even if it’s just the hands part.
Anyone from Wicked: For Good
The second and final instalment of Wicked is set to premiere next month, and thankfully, the trailer has been released in time to inspire Halloween costumes. Solo or together, Elphaba and Glinda (played by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande) are the standout characters and Wicked: For Good introduces us to different sides of them — and new outfits. But whether you’re flying solo, dressing as the lead duo or as part of a group, there are dress-up options for everyone!
- Recreate Glinda’s voluminous blue and pink fairy gown that’s featured on the movie posters. Any dress of the same colour scheme will do because it’s the accessories that will really make the costume: her signature tiara and fairy wand. Don’t forget to style your hair for a fabulous toss toss throughout the night. In Wicked: For Good, a grown-up Elphaba dons her witchiest ensemble yet. Follow suit by wearing a long, flowy black gown, and make sure you have a wooden broomstick and a pointy witch hat to really sell the look. A little green makeup couldn’t hurt, either!
- Searching for a couple’s costume? Whether you consider yourself an Elphaba or a Glinda, you can pair either with Fiyero thanks to their love triangle. Fiyero’s main look in the upcoming movie is a soldier’s uniform in the Ozian colour palette of emerald green and gold. Decorate a dark-green military jacket with any gold detailing you can — fringe on the shoulders, gold buttons or a belt.
A Love Island contestant
A hot new bombshell has entered the villa! That’s what you’ll have everyone saying when you enter the Halloween party in this get-up. Even if you’re not a fan of the show, it’s hard to escape Love Island memes and discourse when it airs each summer. And whether you’re dressing up solo or with a group, there’s plenty of inspo you can take from the Fiji-set series.
- The classic uniform for contestants on the show consists of bathing suits (the skimpier, the better), heels for the ladies, water bottles with their name on them and the quintessential fuzzy, black microphone around their necks, which you can easily emulate with some black string and a pom pom.
- If you don’t want to commit to the swimwear, you can recreate the Islanders’ nighttime attire by dressing up in a club-worthy outfit, hanging the mic around your neck and carrying a plastic wine glass all evening.
- Your group could also draw inspiration from one of the many challenges the Islanders take part in. For example, this baseball-inspired challenge from the most recent season can be your group’s excuse to wear cute baseball outfits. Just don’t forget the fuzzy mic around your neck to seal the deal.
Aunt Gladys
Zach Cregger’s Weapons was undoubtedly one of the biggest horror hits of the year, and the film’s initial marketing did well to omit the key villain, making Aunt Gladys a pleasantly frightening shock to us all. Played by Amy Madigan, the character stole the show so much that a prequel film might be in the works! Here’s what you’ll need to conjure up an Aunt Gladys–inspired costume.
- The hair and makeup are crucial to creating Aunt Gladys’s chilling look. Get yourself a short red wig with blunt micro bangs, apply colourful makeup with a messy hand and don the most over-the-top rainbow outfit you can muster. Top it off by carrying around a little bell to jingle when you want to cast a spell.
- Going as a group? You and your fellow cinephiles can keep it simple and dress as the kids whom Aunt Gladys bewitches. Just wear pyjamas and spend the night running around with your arms extended behind you on each side. And if you’re up for it, you can even add the Gladys-inspired clown makeup that we see during a haunting scene with the children in their classroom.
A showgirl, channelling Taylor’s latest era
Whether you’re a Swiftie or not, there’s no escaping Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Showgirl. This Halloween, why not take inspiration from her newest era and its countless album covers? The bright, sparkly orange mixed with splashes of purple, green and champagne will provide the perfect palette for your showgirl-inspired ensembles.
- Put every sparkly accessory you own (like a rhinestone necklace or headpiece) to use. Now’s their moment to shine! And you’ll need to incorporate feathers — lots of them. Whether it’s a feather boa, feathers for your hair or on your outfit itself, they’re a must.
- Want to make this a group costume? Go as your own cast of showgirls with a matching colour scheme and accessories.
- For a more niche interpretation, dress up as Shakespeare’s Ophelia, the character from Hamlet that partially inspired Swift’s track The Fate of Ophelia. Her main cover art and opening scene of the music video for the track also references the 19th-century painting Ophelia by John Everett Millais.
Superman
This summer brought the return of a more joyful kind of Superman movie than we’ve seen in recent years, thanks in part to the return of a special Superdog from the comics. So if you’ve been waiting for the right moment to dress up as the classic DC character — or someone else from his universe — this could be the time to do so. Here are some costume combos for you to consider this Halloween.
- If you’re dressing up solo, the classic Superman outfit is a natural choice. If you don’t want to commit to the spandex suit, simply pair a bright-blue sweater with red bottoms and boots — just make sure to slap the signature S on your chest to signal your hero status.
- For a simple couple’s costume, channel Clark Kent and Lois Lane at work by repurposing your everyday office clothes, carrying around homemade copies of the Daily Planet and exchanging flirtatious banter all night. Just make sure that the person dressing as Clark throws on a pair of glasses to disguise themself!
- Have a pup you want to bring along to the event? Tie a little red cape around their neck so they can be your trusty sidekick, Krypto.
Anyone from Severance
The second season of the mind-boggling sci-fi series was basically all anyone could talk about at the start of this year. And if you’re still trying to make sense of what happened in the finale, why not channel that energy into throwing together an equally memorable Halloween costume? There’s plenty to pull from when it comes to the show’s eerie atmosphere. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- If you’re going solo, you can keep it simple and dress as your own Innie — just wear some muted office clothes and hang a Lumon Industries lanyard around your neck. Bonus points if you can find a way to enter the party via elevator.
- Going as a pair? You could pay homage to the show’s central couple, Mark and Helly, by wearing a dishevelled black suit and sad eyes for Mark and sporting a red wig and blue monochrome outfit for Helly. Make sure to leave the party running hand in hand.
- Want to try something only the true fans will get? Dress up as Gwendoline Christie’s Lorne and recreate this iconic moment by wearing a long black dress, donning a crown braid, painting fake blood dripping from your mouth and carrying around a plush goat all night. Fellow Severance viewers are sure to get the reference.
