Standing out from the crowd on Halloween night is a must. Among all of the iterations of witches, black cats and ghosts, you need to have a costume that will set you apart. One great way to do that is to pull inspiration from one of the various iconic or viral moments of the year with an extremely creative pop culture Halloween costume.
To help you step outside of the box this year, we’ve pulled together some of the best looks from popular television shows, blockbuster films, unforgettable celeb moments and more. There are plenty of cute couples ideas, last-minute costumes you can quickly create from items already in your closet and options that will easily win you the prize for best group costume of all time.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
*Cue Thunderstruck.* The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have always been a household name, as the Cowboys are America's team, but with the Netflix documentary returning this year, the team is getting a new spotlight.
To pull off this iconic look you'll need cowboy boots white shorts and a top with those classic Cowboys colors. Don't forget to start practicing your jump splits now.
David and Victoria Beckham
After the hit Netflix documentary on David Beckham and the streamer's recent announcement of an upcoming documentary on Victoria Beckham, there's no denying that the pair are the "IT" couple.
The best part about this costume? You can easily pull it off by wearing all black and old soccer gear. Bonus points if you enlist a friend to be your personal paparazzi for the night.
Stanley Cup
They're practically everywhere and someone you know, if not you, is completely obsessed and has drastically increased their water intake.
Get inspired to create your own version of the Stanley Cup with some of this DIY idea. Just be sure to print out the Stanley logo on transfer paper to really get the look across.
Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark is making her mark in the basketball world and looks pretty cool while doing it.
Bring your A-game with this inspired look that you can probably achieve with just a few items from your closet.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
For the ultimate couples' costume, look to the couple no one saw coming, a.k.a. Traylor.
You can keep it casual in one of the duo's game-day looks or something a little more dressy from their date nights. For more ideas, check out our guide to all the best Traylor-inspired costumes.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé has officially ushered us all into our cowboy era with her Cowboy Carter tour.
So break out your cowboy boots and Stetson hat and a pair of your favorite Levi's Jeans. Or just repurpose your concert outfit.
Elle Woods from Legally Blonde
Move over Barbie, another lady in pink will be taking over Halloween this year. Elle Woods, from the iconic 2001 film Legally Blonde, is sure to be trending on Halloween night following the announcement of the new prequel series dubbed Elle.
While you wait for more details about the series, don all the pink you own for a fun Elle-inspired getup.
Olivia Rodrigo
Fans of the angsty pop princess have been flocking to her bold and fearless concert costumes this year.
You can pull off one of Olivia's iconic looks with just a few key pieces.
Sequin Shorts
Portable Megaphone
Alan Cumming From The Traitors
If you are a fan of the popular reality show The Traitors, this costume is for you! On October 31, dress up as host Alan Cumming and set out to find the "traitors" amongst your group friends.
Don't forget to tap into his eccentric fashion choices to truly bring your look to life!
Poncho Shawl
Retro Horn Rim Glasses
Wednesday Addams from Wednesday
Jenna Ortega's portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the Netflix show Wednesday was arguably the biggest moment of 2022. With season 2 on the way, everyone will want to dress up in her creepy getups this Halloween.
Yes, recreating her classic pigtails and sporting a permanent frown will get you halfway there, but to really commit to the look, you'll need Wednesday's trusty sidekick, Thing.
HMPRT Wednesday Costume
Luffy from One Piece
A pirate's life for me! Spend this Halloween as Luffy — the One Piece character will thrill any anime-lover you come across this holiday.
Pair a red vest with your favorite worn denim shorts for a laid-back look. Rock a pair of sandals and a yellow straw hat, and you'll be a dapper pirate.
Janine from Abbott Elementary
Second to Janine's can-do attitude is her style. Add that to the fact that Abbott Elementary is one of the biggest shows on television right now, and you've got yourself a grade-A costume.
To channel your inner Janine, opt for flowy dresses, lots of patterns and, of course, your ID badge.
Maxi Skirt
Hoop Earrings
Sabrina Carpenter
Get her easy-to-do MET Gala look. All you need is a brown bodysuit, tights and a blonde wig.
Elphaba from Wicked
Channel your inner Elphaba with a costumes fit for the Wicked Witch of the West.
Ariel from The Little Mermaid
With this outfit, you can dress as the princess whether she is on land or in the sea.
Mabel Mora from Only Murders in the Building
Go as Mabel Mora from the hit Hulu show Only Murders in the Building. With season 5 of the comedy-mystery show currently in production, this is an on-trend costume idea.
To dress up as Selena Gomez's character Mabel, you can wear a faux fur coat, red headphones and other shades of yellow to complete her outfit.
Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.
