Clever Halloween Costumes For Creative People
Halloween is the best time of year to explore your creative side. For many people, Halloween marks the one night a year where we are free to show a different side of ourselves. Whether that means adopting a rock star alter ego or dressing up as a mythical creature, this holiday is a surreal, judgment-free zone. We can indulge our imaginations and become anyone we want to be. It doesn’t matter if you’re DIYing your one-of-a-kind costume from items that you already own, or heading to a store to pick up a prepackaged costume. The important thing is to dress up and get into the spirit of the holiday.
Check out these clever and creative Halloween costumes for inspiration.
30. E.T. & Friends
The classic movie E.T. serves as the inspiration for this incredibly creative and cute family costume. One of the best things about this costume is the fact that it can be assembled based on items that you already own. Have a pair of overalls and a striped top? You’re instantly Gertie.
For Elliott, all you really need is a red hoodie. E.T himself is a bit harder – but if you’ve got a white towel and a mask, you’re good to go! Just add a bicycle, and everyone will instantly recognize who you’re portraying. We love this cute, low-effort costume!
29. Hot Cheetos
Looking to spice things up? Want a costume that’s outside of the box – or should we say, outside of the bag? Dressing up as hot Cheetos is the perfect solution for a parent who wants to match with their child. One of you can be the bag, and the other a giant Cheeto. Who among us hasn’t wanted to be a gargantuan version of our favorite spicy snack food?
All you need is a printer and cardboard for the bag itself, and some crumpled tissue paper for the texture of the Cheeto. Throw on a pair of red tights and shoes, and get ready to wow the neighborhood.
28. Tiger King – Carole Baskin & Joe Exotic
This was probably a very topical costume in 2020, but we think it still works any year. Based on the main characters from the Netflix smash hit documentary series Tiger King, you’ll be instantly recognizable to everyone you encounter when you dress up as Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic.
This costume can be put together based on items you have laying around your house. For Joe, a trucker hat, a fake eyebrow piercing, a polyester shirt, and some facial hair do the trick (bonus points for a blonde wig.) For Carole, throw on a flowy printed tunic and a flower crown, and voila! The only thing they’re missing is a cat.
27. Thing 1 and Thing 2
Matching costumes are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. But coordinating your costume with your dog? That’s sure to score you a ton of points! You can take inspiration from this dog owner and her pooch, who dressed up as Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat.
This whimsical costume features blue wigs for both the human and her furry friend, and many retailers sell these outfits in people and dog sizes. The costume will keep your four-legged companions warm on a chilly Halloween night. Paired with knee-high orange socks, these eye-popping outfits are sure to turn heads.
26. Bear-ista
Everyone loves a good pun, especially when it comes to Halloween costumes. Using a play on words to come up with a one-of-a-kind costume is sure to be a big hit.
This woman got creative by putting her own spin on a bear costume and a barista costume, by combining the two into the ‘ Bearista.”
This costume does require some props. You need some fuzzy bear ears and some furry bodywear, like wristbands or a bodysuit, or fluffy boots for the bear part. For the barista, an apron and coffee cup is needed. You can even paint your face with some bear whiskers to complete the look.
25. Shrek & Princess Fiona
Everyone’s favorite Ogre and his wife make the perfect couples costume! Just be sure that your partner is cool with a lot of green face and body paint.
You don’t necessarily need the prosthetic ears and noses – just throwing on the vest with green face paint is enough for the average person to understand your costume.
For a perfect Princess Fiona, a braided red wig with a plastic tiara and some costume jewelry will do the trick.
If you have a third friend who’s ready to join the party, see if they’d be willing to dress up as Donkey! You’ll have the perfect fairytale trio to impress on Halloween.
24. Seinfeld Cast
Finding a group costume that works for both parents and kids isn’t always easy, but these parents just epically won Halloween by dressing their family up as the cast of classic 90s sitcom Seinfeld. All you really need are some 80s suit jackets, a pair of glasses, and a few good wigs.
Your family will be instantly recognizable as Jerry, George, Elaine, and Cosmo.
This costume is especially good if you have a baby who still hasn’t got a full head of hair – you have an instant balding George, no wig necessary! For Elaine, a floral print dress or skirt with a shoulder-padded jacket makes you instantly recognizable.
23. Colonel Sanders & Chick
If you’re looking for a couples costume that will make your friends chuckle, this is it! Meet Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC (better known as Kentucky Fried Chicken) and one of his chicken pals.
Now, you might say that this costume is actually creepy on some level, considering that she’s potentially a snack!
For the Colonel Sanders part of the costume, all you need is a white suit, bolo tie, and some old-school black eyelashes. The chick is a bit more complicated – you can try DIYing some feathers onto an old white dress or coat.
Be sure to add the classic KFC chicken bucket to make your costume crystal clear.
22. Twister Game Board
If you’re looking for an excuse to lie on the floor all night, this is the perfect costume for you!
For those of us who are a bit lazy, dressing up as a Twister game board is the ultimate excuse to chill out on Halloween night. No physical movement required!
One of the best things about this costume is that it’s extremely low effort to put together. Just take the Twister mat and wrap it around yourself like a dress. Glue the physical game board to the top of the outfit, position yourself on the floor, and voila! You’re Twister.
21. Broc(coli) Star
Halloween is the best opportunity to bring your alter ego to life. Daydreaming about being a rock star? This is the exact time to put on your star outfit and strut your stuff.
But this woman decided to take things even further, and dressed up as a Broc (as in broccoli) star!
Becoming a Broc star is fairly easy. This woman wore as much green as possible – check out her leggings, tank top, rocker skirt, and lipstick.
The crowning feature is her naturally curly hair, which she temporarily dyed green, mirroring a head of broccoli. An inflatable air guitar completes the look.
20. Fiji Water
An adult onesie is the best possible outfit for someone who’d like to dress to impress on Halloween but wants to invest very little effort.
Not only are you warm and cozy, all you have to do is put on the onesie and you’re good to go – no mask, wig, or makeup required.
This woman’s Fiji Water costume works well because her body is a similar shape to the bottle. The blue hoodie (as the cap) is a brilliant touch.
If we didn’t see the zipper in the middle of her outfit, she would blend in perfectly with the bottles behind her. Talk about a serious case of camouflage!
19. Hot Dog Stand
Pet owners who decide to bring their furry friends in on the action are our favorite, and this woman’s Halloween costume is one of our all-time favorites.
Dressing up as a hot dog stand, she turned this into a funny couples costume by dressing up her canine companion as the accompanying “hot dog.’
No more guilt when you leave your dog at home alone! If your pooch suffers from separation anxiety, this costume is a great solution.
This is the perfect way to take your dog with you on Halloween night. We’re sure that everywhere they went, this dynamic duo lit up the room.
18. French Kiss
This extremely pun-ny outfit works on two levels.
First off, the distinctive black and white face makeup makes it clear that this couple is dressed up as members of the 70s glam rock band Kiss. But why the red berets and scarves? Because these items are evocative of France.
So, we have KISS, and French – making the costume “French Kiss.” Get it?
This clever costume definitely made this couple stand out from the crowd. Everyone loves a good pun, and this couple has executed a funny, pun-based costume perfectly.
The French wine bottle, and rock star hand gesture, are the cherry on top.
17. Dating App Catfish
The Internet age has spawned the concept of the “catfish” – someone who doesn’t represent themselves accurately on a dating app.
There’s even a TV show called Catfish about this very subject! So it’s no surprise that this woman decided to jump on the trend via her catfish Halloween costume.
For this outfit, you need elements of both cat and fish costumes. Think furry cat ears, with some painted on cat whiskers. Adding some blue or green paint that looks like fish scales adds to the undersea vibe.
And for the finishing touch, a cardboard print out of a popular dating app interface.
16. Vending Machine
This creative DIY costume is super impressive. This boy’s mom painted a plain cardboard box to look like a vending machine.
She looked out for all the details, and even went so far to put actual candy inside! This boy is so loaded with sweets, he won’t have to trick or treat this year.
Dressing up as that magical box of sweet treats is every kid’s dream, but not everyone has a mom crafty enough to create this.
She definitely put a lot of time into putting this costume together. We’re sure this boy was the envy of all the other kids in his class.
15. Burger & Fries
Peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk – there are some things that go together perfectly. A burger and fries are one of those classic combinations, and it makes one of the cutest couples costumes out there. For a pair of good friends, this costume shows that you two are inseparable.
While it’s probably unlikely that you can create this burger and fries couples costume with things you already have at home, the investment is worth it.
If you enjoy being the center of attention and want all eyes to stay on you, this is a great option. You’ll undoubtedly turn heads wherever you go on Halloween.
14. Dunkin’ Donuts
We love a clever costume, and this pun-ny duo perfectly pulls it off. The basketballs and sports jerseys are to show that they’re players (who, when scoring, may dunk the ball.) The donut pool floaties around their waists? For the word donuts, of course. From these two elements, we understand the costume – Dunkin Donuts.
One of the best things about this costume is that there is no need to break the bank to create it.
Borrow a basketball jersey from a friend if you don’t own one, and pick up a donut-shaped pool floaties. That’s all you really need for this pun-ny Halloween costume.
13. Darla from Finding Nemo
Don’t worry, no real fish were harmed in the making of this costume! This woman perfectly executed a costume based on Darla, the dental patient depicted in the classic animated film Finding Nemo. From the headgear to trademark purple sweater and the pigtails, she got all the details exactly right.
For this costume, you’ll need a purple sweater, a plastic bag, a rubber fish, and some hair bands. Once you have those items, you are ready.
This costume is especially awesome if you have braces – this is your time to shine! Add some tinfoil to your braces and wrap it around your ears.
12. “Cool Mom’ from Mean Girls
When we look at this costume, we can practically hear the classic line said by Regina George’s mom in Mean Girls. “I’m not a regular mom,” she says, “I’m a cool mom!” Parodied by everyone from SNL to Kris Jenner in an Ariana Grande music video, the Cool Mom has become an icon of our times.
For this costume, you need a pink sweatsuit or tracksuit, a martini glass, and an old school video camera.
Most people will instantly recognize exactly who you’re portraying and you’ll be sure to get some laughs. Bonus points for adding a blonde wig. Strike a pose, and you’re ready to go.
11. Liar, Liar Pants on Fire
This woman has taken a schoolyard insult and turned it into a clever Halloween costume. When children think someone is lying, they will say, “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
It appears that this woman has decided to turn this expression into her Halloween costume, and we commend her serious creativity.
This costume doesn’t require a lot of work. Simply print out some fire emojis, like this woman did, and stick them to your pants.
To drive the point home, you can print out a sheet of paper with the words “Liar, Liar” on it. We’re sure this woman’s costume got a lot of laughs.
10. Spice Girls
Are you ready to “spice up your life,” but don’t have the time, energy, or number of friends required for a proper Spice Girls group Halloween costume?
You can turn the concept of “spice girls” into a pun-based costume that’s easier to pull off, instead. No platform heels required!
All you really need is an apron, a friend, and two spice boxes. These women chose pumpkin spice and ground cinnamon, but any spice works for this costume.
Simply stick the spice box onto your apron, and when someone asks what your costume is, you can say, “A spice girl!”
9. Struck by Lightning
We are absolutely in love with this super creative and cute couples costume! We see this costume as both the concept “struck by lightning” and the classic rock song “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC.
In any case, it’s clear that this duo pulled off an eye-catching costume that was sure to turn heads.
All you need for this costume is some cardboard and ripped clothes. While your odds of getting struck by lightning are minuscule – 1 in 3,000 according to National Geographic – the odds of this couples costume lighting up the room are 100%!
We’re sure that these two were the life of the party.
8. Taco Belle
Talk about a super creative and clever pun-based couples costume! These two ladies definitely have a good sense of humor.
Classic Beauty and the Beast Princess Belle, paired with a taco, makes…Taco Belle! A play on words that refers to the name of popular American-Mexican fast food restaurant Taco Bell.
You can DIY this couples costume at home if you don’t want to spend a ton of cash for a Halloween get-up. You can simply stick some cut-out toppings (think lettuce, tomato, and cheese) on your shirt, with a yellow vest.
For Belle, a white, long-sleeved shirt, blue dress, and brown braided wig are all you need.
7. Social Butterfly
This woman has taken the expression “Social butterfly” to a whole new level. With her antenna and butterfly wings, it’s clear that she’s a flying insect.
But the Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook logos show that she’s very enthusiastic about social media platforms. Hence, we understand her costume’s cleverly executed concept.
This costume is a great low-effort solution for people who don’t want to break the bank for their Halloween outfit. Just print out the logos of your favorite social media platforms, add some butterfly wings, and you are ready to soar!
It’s the perfect outfit for a social media obsessed era.
6. Venus Fly Trap
This costume is definitely for those who are more arts-and-crafts inclined! We love how this woman put together such a creative and original DIY costume.
Standing in a giant pot, she appears to have constructed the carnivorous plant’s famous “mouth” from lampshades that were painted green.
Check out the plastic fly on her shoulder!
You can tell from the look on her face that she’s super proud of her brilliant creation. We definitely give her credit for pulling off such an intricate, complicated costume that’s not store bought.
She must have spent a lot of time on it. The attention to detail is truly incredible.
5. Bob Ross & Blank Canvas
Bob Ross, known for the classic PBS painting show bearing his name, is one of the most distinctive figures on low-budget TV. With his soothing voice, bushy beard, and a small nest of curly brown hair, usually coupled with a denim shirt and a pair of blue jeans, he’s instantly recognizable.
This is an awesome option for an original matching costume. We love that this couple decided to pay tribute to Bob Ross by coming up with a creative couples costume based on his TV show.
The woman as Bob Ross’ blank canvas works perfectly. “Happy little trees,” it is!
4. Napoleon & Pedro
All Millennials will remember Napoleon Dynamite, the 2004 sleeper hit comedy that spawned memorable lines like “Tina! Come and eat your meatloaf,” and “Give me some of your tots!”
The movie features an awkward high school student named Napoleon, who befriends a new foreign exchange student from Juarez, Mexico named Pedro.
The hilarious movie centers around the duo’s adventures as they launch an unlikely campaign for Pedro to be elected student body president.
While there are many comedic moments, the friendship between Napoleon and Pedro is truly touching, so this is a great costume for a pair of especially close friends.
3. Wayne’s World
The classic 90s movie Wayne’s World, based on characters from the SNL skit of the same name, is a perfect source of inspiration for a funny friend’s costume.
All you need are some black glasses, old blue jeans, a flannel shirt, and a black hat – you’re pretty much good to go! Bonus points for a blonde and/or black wig.
This dynamic duo dressed up as Wayne and Garth and the results are, as they would say it, “Excellent!” This costume is easy to create and execute, and a fun trip down memory lane.
Once you get these outfits on, as Wayne says in his trademark phrase, it’s “Party time!”
2. Clueless Cast
Dressing up as the cast of the classic 90s movie Clueless is the perfect way to get your friends involved in a group costume. Each of the main characters wears a distinctive outfit on the movie poster, so other people will instantly recognize your crew’s costume. Just pick who’s going to be Cher, Dionne, and Amber ahead of time.
For Cher, a blonde wig, feather boa, and red dress are all you need. For Dionne, a plaid bucket hat and plaid skirt-top combo, along with knee high black socks, instantly turns you into her character. And for Amber, a curly reddish blonde wig and black skirt complete the look.
1. Potted Plant & Mini Potted Plant
This plant enthusiast decided to show her passion for greenery via her Halloween costume while including her cute dog in the fun.
Using cardboard and cutting out a place for her head, she constructed the plant’s pot and stuck a real life plant stem on top. From there, she glued paper leaves to the stem.
We’re super impressed by her craftsmanship! A neutral colored outfit completes the look. For her canine companion, she simply strapped on a painted cardboard box to his back, with the same stem and handmade paper leaves that she used in her costume.
This super cute and original matching costume set is sure to turn heads.