Every year, people from all over the world celebrate Halloween by holding costume parties, decorating their homes, and of course, going trick or treating. It’s the perfect night of the year to flex those creative muscles and come up with unique and unforgettable costumes. While some like to dress up as famous characters, others prefer coming up with their own crazy concepts, inspired by nothing more than their wild imaginations.
Many great ready-made costumes are available online. However, there’s something undeniably fun and rewarding about making your own. Whichever style of Halloween costume you decide to go for, what’s important is that you’re comfortable with what you are wearing and able to enjoy the night. Check out the amazing pictures below for some outfit inspiration. After all, it’s never too early to start planning your next Halloween getup!
Lara Croft
Lara Croft is the famous video game hero from the Tomb Raider series. Originally portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the live-action film of the same title, the role was later passed on to Alicia Vikander for the 2018 reboot. Croft is presented in the game as an intelligent but rebellious English archaeologist who is known for setting out on dangerous adventures.
We love how this costume perfectly captures every detail of the character. From the braid to the outfit, the attitude, and the pout, this lady’s Lara Croft costume gives Alicia Vikander and Angelina Jolie a run for their money in the character portrayal stakes!
The Mother of Dragons
Thanks to the popularity of HBO’s Game of Thrones TV series (a show based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire novels), the world became obsessed with the story of Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons. After going through many hardships, the character emerged from the flames, both literally and figuratively.
Be a different kind of queen for Halloween and go as Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen (a character who also works for any costume party). Though she may have some tattoos that don’t quite match the Targaryen look, this woman definitely pulled out all the stops in creating her stunning ensemble.
Cruella de Vil
Cruella de Vil is an iconic Disney villain from the movie 101 Dalmatians. Her name is a play on the words ‘cruel’ and ‘devil,’ which her character 100% is, considering she wants to turn a litter of adorable puppies into her next fur coat. Cruella de Vil was introduced in Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel, The Hundred and One Dalmatians.
We love this unique spin on this costume, with her hair and makeup looking far more glamorous than the cartoon character ever managed! If Cruella had been this stylish, maybe a few more people would have sided with her over the puppies.
The Cupid of Crime
Harley Quinn is a popular DC Comics character, most commonly seen alongside the Joker. Known for being energetic, animated, and good-natured, Harley is also psychotic and deranged, so dropping your guard around her can prove to be a fatal mistake.
Harley Quinn is more than a little crazy, and this woman has got her secretive smile down pat. Apart from her expression, this costume is on point too. It makes you wonder what she and her Joker pal have planned for the citizens of Gotham for Halloween. One thing’s for sure – it’s nothing good.
Jessica Rabbit
Known as one of the most famous sex symbols in the world of animation, Jessica Rabbit appeared in the old cartoon classic, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? She is also known for the line “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way,” and we can’t help but agree! While her character was described as “immoral” in the novel by Gary K. Wolf, her representation in film was changed to be sultry but kind and moral.
Turn yourself into a real live-action Jessica Rabbit for Halloween just like this lady, who has done a stellar job of recreating the hair and makeup of the popular character. Don a red dress, a pair of gloves, and top it all off with those luscious red locks.
Here Kitty, Kitty
When it comes to Halloween icons, black cats are definitely top of the list. During the medieval period in Spain and France, black cats were believed to be a curse. These animals were also associated with witches – so much so that they were once actively persecuted and burned.
Though they are still symbols of bad luck in many parts of the world, black cats are seen as lucky in Japan. In ancient Egypt, black cats were worshipped and considered sacred. We love the cute diamond collar of this kitty cat and we’re pretty sure she’s anything but bad luck.
Black Widow
Natalia “Natasha” Romanova, also known as Black Widow, is one of the more popular superheroes in the Marvel universe, thanks mainly to The Avengers franchise. Black Widow was initially an antagonist in the comics, but later became an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D and a member of the Avengers team.
We had to do a double-take upon seeing this photo as it looked just like Scarlett Johansson in the films. Every single detail has been recreated perfectly, and she had us fooled for a moment there, thinking we were looking at the real deal.
Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy first made her debut in the world of DC Comics in Batman #181 in June of 1966. She is a botanist from Gotham City who can control the growth of plants mentally and also secretes pheromones that control human minds. Ivy is typically portrayed as wearing a green one-piece outfit, with leaves and vines wrapping around her body.
In the comics, Ivy is one of the Bat’s love interests, but she also occasionally teams up with Harley Quinn and Catwoman for some mischief. We love the details on this costume, which obviously took a lot of thought and effort to construct, despite the scarcity of material.
A Swashbuckling Pirate
Even since Johnny Depp’s swoon-worthy and hilarious performance as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, pirates have become an in-thing. Dressing up as one for Halloween can be so much fun, mainly because there’s a lot of room for creative freedom and shenanigans.
Take your inspiration from this pirate getup – it’s sexy and fun but it doesn’t look uncomfortable. Just wrap a scarf around your head, get your sword ready, and learn a few pirate-y phrases, and you’re all set to sail the seven seas.
Kill Bill
A pregnant assassin who’s known only by her code name, “the Bride,” falls into a coma after being attacked by her boss, Bill, and his associates. When she wakes up after four years, she sets off to take revenge on those who wronged her – her adventure is told in Kill Bill.
Rock this iconic look by arming yourself with a yellow jumpsuit and a truckload of confidence. We thought it would be next to impossible to look so cool in a tight-fitting yellow outfit, but Kill Bill proved us wrong.
Captain Marvel
We’re finally starting to see more female superheroes gracing the screen, and it’s a welcome change from the testosterone-fueled action films we’ve been bombarded with for so many years. Captain Marvel, aka Carol Danvers (played by Brie Larson), is one of the most powerful superheroes in the universe.
Also called “Marvel’s mightiest Avenger” and “Marvel’s biggest female hero,” Captain Marvel is one woman you do not want to cross. Dress up as Captain Marvel for Halloween and we’re sure no one will want to mess with you (or your candy, for that matter).
It’s LeviOsa, Not LeviosA
Harry Potter has become a worldwide phenomenon, and fans love recreating from the books for Halloween. Among the most popular choices when it comes to female characters, however, is Hermione Granger.
While this costume was clearly inspired by the Hogwarts robes, it’s far from Hermione’s persona. Be your own unique Hogwarts student by mixing up your own look with the robe. Just be careful, Dumbledore or Snape might take off some House points if you dress too inappropriately.
Spider-Gwen
One downside to choosing a popular character for your costume is that it tends to get lost in the crowd. If you want your costume to stand out, you might want to choose a lesser-known character who’s still famous enough to be recognized. One perfect example is Spider-Gwen.
This costume is a refreshing change from the typical superheroes and villains we’ve seen so far. Spider-Gwen is part of the Spider-Verse, an alternate universe where Gwen Stacy was bitten by the radioactive spider, ultimately becoming Spider-Woman.
Under the Sea
When it comes to Kylie Jenner’s Halloween costumes, there’s no denying that the girl’s got it down pat, year after year. From the Bride of Chucky to Barbie and even Christina Aguilera, Kylie’s outfits only get better over time. Her latest costume – Ariel from The Little Mermaid – is all the proof you need.
Her costume is detailed-oriented, with an amazing shell top, green contacts, long red wig, green shimmering skirt, and even a Flounder purse. We wouldn’t expect anything less from this billionaire, and we can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve in the coming years. She’s certainly set the bar high for herself!
May the Force Be With You
The slave Leia look is probably one of the most iconic Halloween costumes ever. The bikini-style outfit was worn by Princess Leia when she was held captive by Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi. The costume was produced upon George Lucas’ request, after Carrie Fisher, the actress playing the princess, brought up the lack of interesting costumes in the previous films.
The outfit has had a huge fan following since it first appeared in 1983, and you can still see fans getting around in the costume at various comic conventions. It’s pretty easy to pull off, requiring only a simple bikini that is trimmed with gold embellishments.
Ruby Roundhouse
If you’ve seen the sequel to the original Jumanji, Welcome to the Jungle, then you’ll be no stranger to the character of Ruby Roundhouse, played by Karen Gillan. The film revolves around the story of four teenagers who are transported into the virtual world of Jumanji via a video game. They must act as their favorite characters and beat the game if they want to return home.
Ruby Roundhouse is one of the five playable characters in the video game. She is described as a killer of men and has a karate fighter as her avatar. This costume is such a perfect replica of the one in the film that we had to double-check it wasn’t Ruby herself in the picture.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is one of the most popular female superheroes of all time. After all, who wouldn’t want to be like Diana Prince with her Lasso of Hestia, superhuman strength, power of flight, and other amazing attributes? She’s definitely a warrior to be reckoned with.
While a lot of people think of Wonder Woman’s typical red and blue outfit when dressing up as the character, we love how this woman has opted for the less traditional route with her costume. Instead, she has recreated the armor Diana wore while she was on the hidden island of Themyscira with the other Amazonian warriors.
Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger is the terrifying antagonist in the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. He is the spirit of a serial killer who uses a glove fitted with razors to kill victims in their dreams. This also causes his victims to die in real life.
Freddy is almost completely indestructible while in the dream world, but when he is pulled into the real world, he manifests human weaknesses and can be killed. While Freddy is scary in the movies, this costume is more on the cute side and is less likely to give anyone nightmares.
Chi-Chi
If you’re not a fan of Dragon Ball, you probably won’t be familiar with Chi-Chi. A quick background, Chi-Chi is the Princess of Fire Mountain and the daughter of the Ox-King. Her character was initially introduced as being shy and fearful, but she goes on to become tough and fierce. Her character marries Goku and becomes the mother of two sons.
Now that you’ve brushed up on your Dragon Ball knowledge, it’s time to appreciate Chi-Chi’s cute costume. She even cut and styled her bangs to match the character’s appearance on the cartoon show. A+ for effort and dedication to the character.
Baywatch
Baywatch, an American action drama TV series about lifeguards in Los Angeles, remains one of the most-watched TV shows in the world. Despite being canceled after just one season on NBC, David Hasselhof (one of the main actors in the series) and the producers worked hard to revive the show. An action-comedy film under the same title was released in 2017.
Even if you don’t know how to swim, you can still pretend you are the best of the best on Halloween by dressing up as one of Baywatch’s lifeguards. We love how this woman has really gotten into character for the role, from the costume to the tan, and of course the abs.
Scoops Ahoy
There are two possible scenarios here: first, the girl may have wanted to gender-swap Popeye the Sailorman in her costume, but truth be told, it wouldn’t be very convincing or obvious given the glaring absence of Popeye’s iconic pipe and squinty-eyed expression. So, we are crossing out this possibility.
The second scenario (which makes much more sense) is that she is dressed up as Robin from Stranger Things, all garbed up in her Scoops Ahoy uniform from season 3 of the show. While it’s a sexier version than what we saw Maya Hawke’s character wearing in the series, it’s still an impressive recreation.
Sexy Demon Nun?
The Nun, a supernatural horror film that emerged as a spin-off from The Conjuring 2, gave rise to the popularity of Valak and her horrors. Valak is the demon nun from The Conjuring 2 who re-appears in the spin-off which follows the story of a Roman Catholic priest and a nun as they go to Romania in 1952 to uncover an unholy secret.
While Valak has become a source of horror for people all over the world, it has also given rise to the popularity of religious costumes during Halloween. This lady, for example, opted to ditch the scary makeup (and most of the nun’s habit). It would be easier to believe that she’s a religious woman if she went ahead and made that dress a bit longer.
Little Red Riding Hood
It’s hard to imagine anyone growing up without having heard the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Little Red Riding Hood got her name, of course, from her iconic red hood. While fairytales are for kids, that doesn’t mean adults can’t use them as costume inspiration.
This woman gave a unique and more mature twist to the character, trading in Little Red Riding Hood’s sweet dress for a little black number instead. With an outfit like this, we have no doubts the wolf would have second thoughts about messing with her.
Gumballs
While some costumes rely heavily on face value and popularity – that is, how easily other people can recognize the character they are portraying – some people opt for a costume that gives a sense of nostalgia instead. One perfect example is the gumball machines that used to be popular during the early 90s.
Who remembers begging their parents for a quarter so they could get one of those gumballs from the dispensing machine? This costume is a fun take on the old gumball machines and would work for the younger generation too since these machines can still be found here and there.
Ms. Universe Blooper
Who can forget the cringe-worthy moment during the 2015 Miss Universe coronation night when host Steve Harvey accidentally announced the wrong winner? Jaws dropped around the world as Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, was announced the winner of the pageant, only to have the crown taken from her a few moments later.
Harvey apologized and said Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, was the real winner, and it was an awkward moment between the two ladies on stage. The costumes pictured here perfectly capture the unbelievably awkward moment, giving us something to laugh about on Halloween, a night that’s usually filled with freaky sights.
Zatanna Zatara
Though she may be one of the lesser-known female superheroes, Zatanna Zatara is someone who shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re tired of picking from the usual cast of characters each year, you might want to consider dressing up as this magician on Halloween. Part of the DC Comic Universe, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman #4, which was published in November of 1964.
Zatanna is both a stage magician and a real worker of magic, inheriting the skills from her father. She made a live-action appearance during the last three seasons of the TV series, Smallville. This magical costume is perfect for those who want to stand out on Halloween.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Gamora Zen Whoberi Ben Titan is the last of her species and is more commonly known as the adopted daughter of Thanos. She is an excellent combatant and a member of the Infinity Watch, although she is known in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
It’s no small feat to paint your whole body green, which is why we take our hats off to this woman who must have as much strength as the real Gamora for having the patience to do her makeup so flawlessly. We also love her hair which very much looks like the real thing. Slay, sister, slay.
Spice Up Your Life
Did you ever love a certain kind of food so much that you have to dress up like it for Halloween? These ladies are certainly not slack in that department as they’ve decided to dress up as their favorite condiments for Halloween night. This trio has got imagination, we’ll give them that.
Dressed up as saucy sauce packets is definitely a cute group costume idea. Choose from Mild Sauce, Hot Sauce, or Fire Sauce, but get ready to be asked over and over again if you’ll “spice up” someone’s life.
Tequila Night
Once the trick or treating is over and all the kids have gone to bed, most Halloween parties feature at least a little booze. Taking the group costume idea to another level by adding alcohol into the mix is pure genius.
These ladies decided to dress up as a popular bar combo – Jose Cuervo tequila with lime and salt. You can’t have one without the others, so we rate this costume as simple, sassy, and smart. Who knows, they might have ended up getting a few free drinks at the party too for dressing up as one!
The Scarecrow Without a Brain
Almost everyone knows and loves Dorothy, the girl who finds herself in Munchkinland in the Merry Old Land of Oz. Dorothy meets Glinda the Good Witch who tells her to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and find the Wizard of Oz so she can return home. On her way to the city, she meets several characters central to the story.
One of these lovable characters is the Scarecrow, who wishes he could have a real brain instead of just straw. The Scarecrow goes on to play a crucial role in helping Dorothy get home. We love the scarecrow makeup this woman has taken the effort to create, giving the costume the extra oomph it needs to catch everyone’s attention.
Another Spicy Group Costume
Formed in England in 1994, the Spice Girls became a worldwide phenomenon with hits like “Wannabe,” “Stop!,” and “Mama.” The group was composed of Baby Spice, Ginger Spice, Scary Spice, Posh Spice, and Sporty Spice. The Spice Girls are synonymous with the 90s and remain one of the best-selling pop groups of all-time. Indeed, they have gone down in history as the biggest pop success in the UK after The Beatles.
These ladies’ costumes are so on point that they could even pass for the original girls themselves. Each one has cleverly chosen the costume that was the most iconic for each member of the group. They look ready to belt it out on stage and impress Spice Girls fans anywhere.
When Psychology is Life
While some costumes are well made and expensive, this costume proves that you don’t have to spend a fortune to make an impression. Regardless of whether you’re a psych major or not, you’re sure to appreciate this simple but funny representation of the Freudian slip.
A Freudian slip is an unintentional error, something mistakenly said that is believed to have been caused by an unconscious part of the mind. It is part of traditional psychoanalysis. This costume takes the concept to a literal level by placing Freudian terms on a slip dress. We have to say, we’re impressed by how she’s come up with such a unique concept. As an added bonus, you don’t even have to worry about staying comfortable throughout the party (or getting changed when it’s time to flop into bed).
Pumpkin Spice Latte
October isn’t just the season of Halloween, it’s also the time of year where pumpkins make an appearance just about everywhere. There are a lot of things you can do with pumpkin, some of the favorites being carving jack o’ lanterns and baking pumpkin pies. Another popular Fall tradition that many people look forward to is the pumpkin spice latte.
When October arrives, everyone becomes obsessed with this drink, as evidenced by this woman who chose to be loud and proud about her love of pumpkin spice lattes. She even added the Starbucks logo and a good helping of whipped cream on top.
You can’t sit with us
Mean Girls is a true classic, filled with scenes that remain memorable up to this day – including the Halloween scene. Chris Eisel hosts a Halloween party filled to the brim with students from North Shore High School.
The scene accurately sums up what most high schoolers fear when going to a Halloween party – being dressed differently from others. While everyone else was dressed in sexy outfits, Cady arrived in freaky zombie bride attire. Use this to your advantage at your next Halloween party, and don’t be afraid to be different.
Tale as Old as Time
We love unique spins on otherwise run-of-the-mill costumes, and this one takes the cake. At a glance, it looks like Belle’s gown from Beauty and the Beast, but in this case, it’s a Taco Belle. The costume might be designed for Halloween, but we’d be happy to wear this dress any day of the year – especially Taco Tuesdays!
Made by costume designer Olivia Mears, the details on the gown (right down to the flowers and sleeve cuffs) are all made of taco wrappers. This is sheer genius and proves that thinking out of the box can pay off big time, especially when you create something as pretty yet hilarious as this.
Wakanda forever!
Black Panther is one of the strongest and most intelligent superheroes in the Marvel Universe, and it comes as no surprise that a lot of fans want to dress up like him for Halloween. The film follows the story of T’Challa (Black Panther) who becomes king following the death of his father.
We love how this woman switched gears and made the character female without losing the primary essence of the costume. It’s much more feminine, but you can clearly see the details of the Panther’s original suit, and of course, his iconic panther mask.