If you need to set ten alarms before you actually wake up, then consider this one of your reminders that it’s time to figure out your Halloween costume.
These trending Halloween costume ideas for 2021 will have you looking your best for all your favorite fall activities, whether that’s picking pumpkins, watching Hocus Pocus, or picking out all the KitKats before the trick-or-treaters come.
Last year, it was all about what costumes you could wear with a mask. That’s still not a bad idea for this Halloween, but there are also plenty of new and classic pop culture references to inspire your outfit. From Bennifer to Bridgerton, here are some of our favorites. Maybe one day we’ll learn what comes after the letter B.
19 Trendy Halloween Costume Ideas for 2021
1. Wanda Maximoff
WandaVision likely won’t be back for another season, but you can keep the time loop going by channeling your favorite witch. (Sorry, Sabrina.) Want to go meta Marvel? Wear Wanda’s Halloween costume from WandaVision, which is also a nod to her original Scarlet Witch costume.
If you find yourself in a relationship with a droid, they can dress up as Vision. And keep your phone charged for all the pictures you’ll take together!
What to Wear:
- Wanda’s original costume from the Halloween episode or this Scarlet Witch costume.
- Pink opaque tights
- A red wig
2. Loki Variant
The real question when it comes to choosing your Loki costume is which Loki variant will you be? The classic Tom Hiddleston version complete with horned helmet? The Sylvie version? Or the crocodile? We’ll just say you can never go wrong with a costume that has a tail. Just watch out for closing doors.
What to Wear: This Sylvie costume or a horned helmet
3. Squid Game Players and Workers
Even though we’ve all been traumatized by this Korean hit, at least the Halloween costumes for it are comfortable! Try to get over episode six while you lounge around in your green tracksuit. Bonus points if you spill ketchup on it. And if you don’t feel like showing your face, suit up as one of the red guards.
What to Wear: This green numbered tracksuit and white shoes, or this red suit and helmet featuring a square, triangle, or circle.
4. Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad 2
After romping through Birds of Prey, Harley Quinn returns to Suicide Squad 2 in full harlequin chic. But, we stan a costume change, so if that’s not your cup of tea, you can always dress up in her red dress and combat boots combo pretty much any day of the week. Workplace dress code went out the window after a year of working from home, anyway.
Get the Look
5. Cruella
We all learned a valuable lesson from Emma Stone’s Cruella: you can do a lot of sociopathic things, but as long as you don’t hurt the dogs you get a pass. Also, graying hair can totally be chic. So channel your inner evil fashionista with this simple red dress costume. Just leave the pups out of it, ok?
What to Wear: Red Cruella dress (comes with wig and long gloves)
6. Lola Bunny from Space Jam
If you’ve ever wanted to dress up a sexy rabbit, now’s your chance. And you know what they say about rabbits. (They’re really good at basketball.)
What to Wear: This Lola Bunny costume
7. Astronaut
Do you watch the Mars Rover on your lunch break, follow Elon Musk on Twitter, and “entertain” your friends with the latest black hole video you found on YouTube? Then this astronaut costume is right up your alley. Once the International Space Station adds a bowling alley, of course.
What to Wear: NASA astronaut costume
8. Cher from Clueless
If Alicia Silverstone can relive her Clueless moments on TikTok, you can rock her iconic yellow plaid skirt and blazer for Halloween. As if you’d wear anything else.
What to Wear:
9. Bridgerton
Bridgerton made history sexy. Dress up in your best Regency-era outfits and be on the lookout for your own Duke this Halloween. Here’s what to wear to go as Daphne, Queen Charlotte, or Penelope Featherington. Hopefully there’s a library in whatever haunted house you’re going to.
Daphne Bridgerton Costume:
Queen Charlotte Costume:
Penelope Featherington Costume:
10. Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso reminded us how much we love Jason Sudeikis and football. Or eating stadium snacks while we watch other people play football. If you’re rocking this look this October, don’t forget the bold mustache and the quick one-liners, or you’ll look just like a disgruntled dad. And you wouldn’t want to offend neighbor Steve…
What to Wear:
11. Black Widow
Just like our library books from middle school, Black Widow getting her feature film was long overdue. By the time Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit is sorted to her satisfaction we’ll probably have gotten this skintight costume on.
What to Wear:
12. Gossip Girl
Loving the new Gossip Girl reboot? Start with this schoolgirl outfit and dress up as one of the new characters, or go as an old school fave. Just remember, whatever you do, it’s likely going to end up on the Internet.
13. Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album “Sour” brought all the feels, all the music videos, and some pretty great costume ideas. For a last-minute idea, cover your face with stickers. Or, rock this blue cheerleader uniform from “Good 4 U.” Which we won’t be saying if you beat us in debate next week.
14. Hand Sanitizer
If you wanted to dress up as hand sanitizer in 2020 but didn’t, now’s your chance. Don’t forget to spritz yourself with cheap tequila for the full effect. Cancun in 2012 has nothing on this!
15. Wednesday Addams
The Addams Family will never not be trending for Halloween. Nut there’s a new Wednesday Addams show coming to Netflix, so this year really is a perfect time to dress up as everyone’s favorite homicidal maniac. After all, they look just like everyone else.
What to Wear:
16. Cassie from Promising Young Woman
In Promising Young Woman, Cassie goes from future doctor to taking revenge on predatory men. Props for the double major! Dress up in her sexy nurse costume and throw on a cotton candy-looking wig for a memorable party look. Bonus points if you can find one that’s edible. Payback really fires up our sweet tooth.
What to Wear:
17. Lizzo or Cardi B from the “Rumors” video
We’ve started our Hercules live-action casting dream list and it includes Lizzo and Cardi B. There’s no official costume to purchase for this one, but basically find as much gold as you can and wear it. So, you know, your usual.
Lizzo costume:
Cardi B costume:
18. Beetlejuice
We may dress more like Lydia Deetz in real life, but Halloween is the perfect time to channel the ghost with the most. Make everyone’s millennium with this pinstriped suit combo, or put it together with the items below. If you’re lucky, you may finally use up all that purple eyeshadow from your leftover bar mitzvahs gift bags.
What to Wear:
19. Ghostbusters
We were always told to dress for the job we want. If that job involves destroying ballrooms with particle beams, nab this Ghostbusters costume and dress up as your favorite character. For the full effect, grab three friends to join you. Or your two cats and a snake plant.
Ashley is a Nashville unicorn (born, raised, and based), queer, vegan, and dedicated to leaving a positive impact through her life, work, and her website, Wild Hearted.
When she's not writing, she's traveling, reading a book, trying not to kill her houseplants, worshiping her dog, or having an existential crisis. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter, and LinkedIn
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