Halloween is on the horizon, and everybody wants to show up at the party in the costume of the night. Unfortunately, that often requires work—or, at least, a lot of frantic late-night wig purchasing—but it shouldn’t have to.
We’ve had a fruitful 12 months of pop culture, with this year delivering gems like Midsommar, Booksmart, and Succession one after the other; why not draw inspiration from the year’s most popular movies and TV shows to put together a costume that’s truly out of this world (without requiring much work on your part)?
Below, find a guide to dressing up as influential TV and movie characters, from recent favorites like Shiv Roy and Jules from Euphoria to classic famous Halloween characters like Wednesday Addams.
Photo: Courtesy of Hulu / Everett Collection1/47Maya and Anna from Pen15
A bowl cut, a JanSport backpack, and an air of adolescent awkwardness are all you’ll need to make this ode to one of the year’s funniest shows work.
Photo: Courtesy of HBO2/47Any of the Euphoria girls
If you were supremely jealous of the Euphoria girls’ eye makeup, but lacked the nerve to try it out, Halloween might just be your time.
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios / Everett Collection3/47Fleabag
If you already went out and bought the Fleabag jumpsuit, you might as well get some wear out of it this Halloween (cigarette not included).
Photo: Chuck Zlotnick / Courtesy of Walt Disney Motion Pictures / Marvel / Everett Collection4/47Captain Marvel
She’s powerful! She’s chic! And you can more or less approximate her look with jeans, a blue top, and red accessories!
Photo: Claudette Barius / Courtesy of Universal / Everett Collection5/47The Tethered people from Us
This would be a fun group costume for friends who want to pay homage to one of the year’s best horror movies.
Photo: François Duhamel / Courtesy of Annapurna Pictures / Everett Collection6/47The Booksmart girls
This is a perfect costume for you and the BFF glued to your side, especially if you already own bright blue jumpsuits and fanny packs.
Photo: Courtesy of DC COMICS / DC ENTERTAINMENT / Alamy7/47The Joker
How hard can it be to track down a red suit?
Photo: Courtesy of HBO8/47Shiv from Succession
A turtleneck, a bobbed wig, a slightly sinister smirk, and you’re in business.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix9/47Nadia from Russian Doll
This ode to déjà vu was one of the best shows of the year, and dressing up as its main character (played by Natasha Lyonne) is easy; just find yourself a curly red wig, a suit jacket, and a long necklace.
Photo: Courtesy of A24 / Everett Collection10/47A Midsommar villager
Why unearth a full-on floral gown and go as the May Queen when you can easily slip on a white peasant blouse and a flower crown and be one of her attendants?
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Studios / Everett Collection11/47Cher from Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
We’re aware that Cher’s character in this movie has a name that is not “Cher,” but the Cher-ness of it all renders that point technically moot. Slink into a white suit, get thyself a chic platinum bob and a pair of big sunglasses, and you’re good to go.
Photo: Jonathan Prime / Courtesy of Universal Studios / Everett Collection12/47Everybody else from Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Grab your pals, toss on some resortwear and some fringe ponchos, brush up on your ABBA, and pretend you’re washed up on Meryl Streep’s island. (Is there somewhere else you’d rather be on October 31? We thought not.)
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix13/47Ma Anand Sheela from Wild Wild Country
An easy yet terrifying costume is Ma Anand Sheela, the former spokesperson of the Rajneesh movement who participated in Wild Wild Country, the Netflix documentary series about the cult. To achieve this look, wear several shades of reds and magentas (whether gauzy, flowy layers or the more polished separates she favored after her power grab is up to you), a long necklace, and talk about the Bhagwan...a lot.
Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios / Alamy14/47Rey from Star Wars
Rey, Daisy Ridley’s character in Star Wars, requires little in the hair and makeup departments, unlike most of the film’s other characters. A simple linen wrap dress in a beige hue will do the trick. And, of course, a glowing light saber as accessory. May the force be with you.
Photo: Brooke Palmer / Courtesy of Warner Bros / Everett Collection15/47Pennywise from It
The remake of Stephen King’s renowned novel has proven to be a box office success, showing that Pennywise remains as scary as ever. The character’s signature red hair and clown’s collar are not to be missed, but the key accessory will be his unnerving smile.
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Brothers / Alamy16/47Wonder Woman
We could all use some female empowerment in our lives, so why not dress up as Wonder Woman to bring the point home?
Photo: Alamy17/47Wednesday Addams
“The grim stare, the heart of evil, the saddle shoes—what’s not to love about Wednesday Addams?” says Vogue fashion news editor Steff Yotka.
Photo: Everett Collection18/47Agatha from The Grand Budapest Hotel
For Agatha from Wes Anderson’s 2014 hit The Grand Budapest Hotel, all you need is a trench coat, a milkmaid braid, and a tower of pink-frosted cakes!
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures19/47Tippi Hedren in The Birds
Mostly it’s just a great excuse to wear a vintage skirt suit and a chic chignon.
Photo: Courtesy of © Columbia Pictures / Everett Collection20/47Natalie Portman in Léon: The Professional
“I do love Natalie Portman in Léon: The Professional,” says Vogue’s Chioma Nnadi. And with the right haircut/choker combo, it can be one of the easier costumes to pull together in time for a party.
Photo: Courtesy of © Miramax Films / Everett Collection21/47Laney Boggs from She’s All That
Laney Boggs in seminal late ’90s rom-com She’s All That is probably best achieved using paint-splattered overalls, glasses, and pinned-up braids. Glasses removal and dramatic hair unpinning is optional, though best achieved to a soundtrack of Sixpence None the Richer.
Photo: Courtesy of © Buena Vista / Everett Collection22/47Team Zissou from The Life Aquatic
Robin’s egg blue pajamas and red knit caps—Wes Anderson gave us the perfect, simple Halloween movie characters.
Photo: Courtesy of © United Artists / Everett Collection23/47James Bond in Dr. No
”One of my favorite movies growing up was Dr. No, the original James Bond film starring Sean Connery,” says Vogue’s Edward Barsamian, “so when I was 10 or 11, I put on my Savile Row finest (or, rather, a suit from Brooks Brothers). Accenting the look were a tie and pocket square and, at the time, the most advanced cell phone, a Motorola StarTAC. No doubt Q would approve.”
Photo: Courtesy of © Studio Ghibli / Everett Collection24/47Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service
All of Hayao Miyazaki’s dreamy, impressionistic films feature strong, sartorially fun heroines, but in Kiki’s Delivery Service, Kiki’s black shift dress, tangerine flats, and floppy red hair bow are the most iconic—and easy to assemble!—Halloween look. Bonus points if you go for the couple costume: Tombo’s black specs, striped tee, and rolled-up jeans are equally chic.
Photo: Courtesy of © Embassy Pictures25/47La Saraghina from 8 1/2
La Saraghina from Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2 is both terrifying and gorgeous (in an appropriately strange way), says Vogue copy editor Susan Gordon. And that rhumba on the beach!
Photo: Courtesy of © Fox Searchlight Pictures26/47Juno and Paulie from Juno
One for the couples out there—and if you’re a runner, it’s an option that won’t require much shopping outside your own closet.
Photo: Courtesy of © Miramax Films / Everett Collection27/47Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction
Vogue’s Catherine Piercy says: “I was Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction for two years in a row. I bought my wig at Ricky’s [Beauty Supply] and cut it myself. It was a masterpiece. (Later, it doubled as a Cleopatra moment.) Then all I needed was a white shirt, short black pants, gold flats, and some wine-colored lipstick. It was the world’s best (and most comfortable) Halloween costume.”
Photo: Courtesy of © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. / Everett Collection28/47Edward Scissorhands
For the traditionalists among us! (For best results, don’t use real scissors.)
Photo: Courtesy of © Lions Gate Entertainment/Everett Collection29/47A dolphin from The Cove
Dressing up as a dolphin from hit documentary The Cove would be both terrifying (one of nature’s smarter creatures returns for revenge!) and technically impressive.
Photo: Courtesy of © NBC30/47Kelly Kapowski from Saved by the Bell
Vogue’s Alexandra Macon likes being Kelly Kapowski from Saved by the Bell. “All you need is a loose gray sweatshirt you can wear off one shoulder (if you’re feeling crafty, stencil ‘Bayside High’ on it in maroon), jeans in a very light wash, and Keds. Do an aggressive side part, add lipgloss, and you’re all set.”
Photo: Courtesy of © RKO Radio Pictures / Everett Collection31/47The Mad Hatter
For the Mad Hatter, all that’s really required is a top hat and a teapot and some blithely tossed off aphorisms, like “You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.”
Photo: Courtesy of © Universal Pictures / Everett Collection32/47Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird
Vogue contributing editor Lynn Yaeger says she “always wanted to be Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, and find toys in trees, and get rescued by Robert Duvall.”
Photo: Courtesy of © MGM / Everett Collection33/47Jonny Lee Miller in Hackers
John Waters once said that if you wanted to dress like a true rebel these days, you’d have to dress like a hacker. So why not be Jonny Lee Miller in Hackers? The box-dyed blonde hair, the little mirrored sunglasses, the cheesy leather jacket isn't that far off from the street style of the best dressed these days.
Photo: Courtesy of © CBS34/47Audrey Horne from Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks returned in 2017, but it’s always a classic. Put on a tight sweater, pleated skirt, and start practicing your sultriest cherry-twisting moves for the perfect Audrey Horne. Or wrap yourself in plastic, add beach hair and blue lips, and go as Laura Palmer. And if you’re costuming as a pair? You can try broken-hearted biker cool (Donna and James) or beauty and the creep (Shelly and Leo).
Photo: Courtesy of © New World Pictures / Everett Collection35/47A Heather
“I’m always keen on croquet, a good kilt, and some bitchin’ pâté,” says Vogue’s Alessandra Codinha. “And in this case, I’ll make an exception for white tights and a red scrunchie.”
Photo: Courtesy of © United Artists / Photofest36/47Princess Dala in The Pink Panther
Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue archive editor, champions this fictional royal: You’ll need a regal dress and a very big “diamond.”
Photo: Courtesy of © Paramount Pictures37/47Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Always a good excuse to break out some opera gloves and your favorite little black dress.
Photo: Courtesy of © Buena Vista Pictures38/47Sarah Jessica Parker in Hocus Pocus
Why not try a turn as the more fun Sanderson sister?
Photo: Photofest39/47Max Fischer from Rushmore
Vogue executive editor Jessie Heyman suggests attending as this cinematic intellectual: “It’s one of the easiest costumes in the world (one red beret, a pair of glasses, and a schoolboy tie) and it goes so well with a tumbler full of whiskey. Make sure to practice your teenage angst when reciting: ‘I can write a hit play. Why can’t I have a little drink to unwind myself?’”
Photo: Photofest40/47Joanna Stayton from Overboard
“This year I’m going as Goldie Hawn in Overboard (and forcing my boyfriend to be Kurt Russell!)” says Vogue’s Zoe Ruffner.
Photo: Photofest41/47Martha from Baskets
Vetements dress, Keds, arm brace, and neon traffic vest: done.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix / Everett Collection42/47Debbie Eagan in GLOW
Halloween is the perfect occasion to don that ’80s leotard that’s proven to be a bit too tight for your yoga class. Debbie Eagan, GLOW’s all-American star, has sported some of the finest costumes of the first season, including this golden number that will surely catch attention inside and outside the ring.
Photo: Courtesy of Focus Features / Alamy43/47The cast of The Beguiled
Though we can’t entirely say that the costumes in Sofia Coppola’s Southern Gothic feature are scary, they sure are desirable. Besides, this lends itself well to a group costume opportunity, where everyone can show up in matching whites donned in the film by Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, and more.
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios44/47Zula from Paweł Pawlikowski’s Cold War
For the cinephiles, a low-key selection from Vogue senior features editor Chloe Schama: “It’s a black-and-white Cold War drama entirely in Polish and French. But if you can get beyond all that pretension, the female lead, Zula, provides excellent Halloween inspiration—she’s a vampy, unstable knockout who seems like she’s stepped out of a noir classic. All you need is a wraparound black dress, Soviet cigarettes, and an aura of angry ennui.”
Photo: Everett Collection45/47Mr. Rogers
A cardigan, some simple sneaks, and a genuinely heroic sense of kindness will have everyone at your Halloween party weeping nostalgically.
Photo: Everett Collection46/47Mary Poppins
A new Mary Poppins may have been made, but why abandon an old favorite? It actually works just as well—and is so seasonally appropriate. If it rains, you even have an umbrella!
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures / Everett Collection47/47Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong in First Man
Damien Chazelle’s 2018 Academy Award contender features a very stoic, very 1970s-attired Gosling as American hero Neil Armstrong. Get yourself a flight suit and some Apollo 11 patches and go for it. (Haunted gaze: optional.)
