Spooky season is among us, and we’re all asking ourselves the most difficult question yet again: what should I wear for Halloween? If you’re anything like me, Halloween is a massive deal, and finding the perfect costume never comes easily. In this 2023 season, a variety of costumes have become popular within pop culture and are achievable with only a few accessories. Let’s look at the most popular costumes for this Halloween season.
Barbie
The new “Barbie” movie released in July, and according to NPR, is the highest grossing movie of the year so far with over a billion dollars in revenue. There are a variety of costumes to choose from when dressing as Barbie: Western Barbie, Workout Barbie, 80’s Barbie, Vintage Swimsuit Barbie, “Stereotypical” Barbie and more. The opportunities are endless! Workout Barbie is easy to execute when looking for a last-minute costume. All it takes is a bright-colored pair of biker shorts with a funky patterned leotard over it.
Ken costumes can also be easily paired with any of these styles, as he is Barbie’s typical companion. For Workout Ken, any vibrant shorts and a colored tank top would fit perfectly. Not Kenough? Try accessorizing with leg warmers and sweatbands to pair with both the Barbie and Ken costumes.
Avatar
Do-it-yourself Avatar costumes have made a surprising appearance among teenagers in 2023. Scrolling on TikTok trying to find a simple, inexpensive Halloween costume? Notice that DIY Avatar costumes are a recent trend in most videos. Maybe it’s because the latest installment in the franchise, “Avatar: The Way of Water” was released in late 2022, or maybe it is due to the simplicity of the costume itself.
Blue makeup or face paint is the only item really needed to make this costume come to life. If you aren’t too good at makeup, YouTube provides short videos that can walk you through the application process. I would recommend wearing a blue, mesh, long sleeve top under a brown bandeau top paired with a brown maxi skirt. Men can also wear this costume following similar guidelines. Brown shorts and a brown open-buttoned shirt with the blue face makeup is all you need for this costume.
Wizard of Oz
1939’s “The Wizard of Oz” is one of the most iconic films of all time. For this Halloween season, the yellow brick road has led many teens to come up with unique and trendy costumes for “The Wizard of Oz” characters. The main characters for this costume include Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow.
Dorothy’s costume entails any blue checkered dress with pigtails and red shoes. For the full effect, you could even carry around a small basket with a stuffed animal dog to play the role of Toto. For the Cowardly Lion, any gold or brown clothing with animal ears and fake whiskers would work. For the Tin Man, any chrome or silver clothing with a funnel-looking hat and a fake axe would be perfect. Lastly, the Scarecrow can be easily accomplished with cute scarecrow makeup from guides found on YouTube, and any checkered clothing with a straw hat. Not enough costumes for the members of your group? You could also add Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West or even Toto to the mix for a full ensemble serve.
Spiderman
Similar to “Barbie,” the success of this past summer’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” has gathered great interest for this year’s Halloween costumes. There are a variety of different Spider-Man to choose: the original Spider-Man, Symbiote Spider-Man, Spider-Punk and even Spider-Gwen. Any of these costumes are available on Amazon with just one simple jumpsuit, no other accessories are needed. The stretchy and soft material ensures comfort all night long while staying in character.
Wednesday Addams
The Goth look has taken over social media this past year because of the recent Netflix series “Wednesday.” Jenna Ortega plays the role of Wednesday Addams, and has since mesmerized the internet to mimic her stylish, gothic fashion. Although this outfit was in higher demand during the 2022 Halloween season, it is still perfect for a quick, simple, last-minute outfit. Any black dress with combat boots and two braids is genuinely all you need for this costume. If you want to go a little further, try some dark makeup to imitate Wednesday’s well-known death stare.
If you’re struggling to find a last-minute Halloween costume, use this guide to find the quickest, most inexpensive way to serve the perfect costume. These top five most popular costumes for this upcoming Halloween season will be of great interest, and I’m sure you’ll be able to find a twin amongst the crowds. Have fun, feel comfortable and express your inner character with any of these five speedy and simple Halloween costumes!
Allie Powers can be reached at [email protected]
