The 22 Best Halloween Costume Ideas for 2021 (Inspired by Pop Culture)

Co-authored by Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: January 1, 2022 References

Halloween is just around the corner, but you haven’t quite nailed down the perfect costume yet. Sure, you can always slide on a witch hat or pop in a set of vampire fangs, but where’s the fun in that? Don’t worry. We’ve put together a list of fun, trendy costumes inspired by some of 2021’s greatest hits.

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The topic of this article is no longer active, no longer ongoing, or does not exist. (Posted 2022-01-01).

1

Bernie Sanders Meme

Who can forget the classic picture of Bernie Sanders at the inauguration ceremony? With his hunter green winter jacket, dark pants, and patterned mittens, Bernie definitely looked toasty sitting on that fold-out chair. Stay warm on Halloween by dressing up in some of your favorite winter duds. Don’t forget to finish off the outfit with a light blue face mask! ^{[1]
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- As an extra touch, sit on a fold-out chair with your arms and legs crossed.
- Bernie actually got his iconic mittens from crafter Jen Ellis. However, Ellis only makes these mittens for charity, so you’ll have more luck picking up a similar-looking pair from a clothing store or online marketplace.
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2

Britney Spears

Pay tribute to the #FreeBritney movement with one of this pop star’s iconic outfits. Recreate her “Toxic” look with a short-sleeved, knee-length blue dress along with an old-school flight attendant hat. Complete the look with dramatic blue eyeshadow, pink lipstick, dangling earrings, and red nail polish. ^{[2]
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- If you’re feeling a little more playful, slip into a metallic red bodysuit as a tribute to her “Oops I Did It Again” music video. Or, you can always rock her green, bikini-style “I’m a Slave 4 U” outfit, complete with a toy cobra.
- You can always steal a look from one of this queen’s other well-known music videos, like “Circus,” “Baby One More Time,” or “Slumber Party.”

3

Olivia Rodrigo

This “sour” pop star is the perfect inspiration for your Halloween costume. There’s no doubt about it—2021 was definitely Olivia Rodrigo’s year. One of her best moments was the release of her debut album, Sour . Recreate the unforgettable album cover with a long, wavy dark brown wig, along with a light pink camisole and a pair of jeans. Then, plaster your cheeks, nose, and forehead with playful stickers and stick-on rhinestones. ^{[3]
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- To really go the extra mile, stick the word “sour” on your tongue with alphabetical stickers. Unfortunately, the stickers probably won’t stay in place for long.
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4

Bob Ross

Although he passed away over 25 years ago, Bob’s legacy of kindness, creativity, and self-love has become especially relevant in the past few years. Channel your own Bob Ross with a light blue button-up shirt and a dark pair of jeans, along with a curly brown wig and a stick-on beard (if needed!). Grab a paintbrush and fake paint palette to really complete the look. ^{[4]
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5

Lil Nas X

This rapper’s unforgettable outfits leave countless costume possibilities. Pay tribute to his pink, cowboy chic look at the 2019 Country Music Awards with a black button-up with gold fringe, a pair of black skinny jeans, patterned black cowboy boots, a black belt with a dramatic belt buckle, and a black cowboy hat. ^{[5]
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- For a “Montero”-style costume, pair a long, denim gown with a blue, Marie Antoinette-style wig, along with dramatic nails and jewelry.
- For a casual look, slip into a Miley Cyrus-themed T-shirt, a pair of blue jeans, a statement jacket, and a white, sideways baseball hat.
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6

LeBron James

Plenty of movies hit the silver screen this past year, but none cranked up the nostalgia quite like the latest installment of Space Jam . Take a page out of Lebron James’s book with light blue and orange “Tune Squad” basketball duds, along with his blue arm sleeve and silver basketball. ^{[6]
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7

The Mandalorian

It’s up to you to protect Baby Yoda now. Don’t worry—you can make your own version of Mando’s classic outfit with a black, long-sleeved shirt, along with a long, black cape, black boots, a black cape, and an over-the-shoulder holster belt. Then, recreate Mando’s traditional Beskar armor with cardboard and silver spray paint. ^{[7]
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- You can buy some of Mando’s fancier accessories online, like his helmet and sniper rifle.
- If you’re in the mood for something cozier, shop for an adult-sized Mandalorian onesie online. ^{[8]
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8

Cruella De Vil

Recreate the classic party infiltration scene by slipping into a bright red floor-length gown, a pair of dark red, elbow-length gloves, a black masquerade mask, and a curly black-and-white wig. Then, tie the entire outfit together with some dark red lipstick. ^{[9]
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9

Wanda Maximoff

Pay homage to the Avengers films with Wanda’s classic outfit. Throughout WandaVision , Wanda served look after iconic look. Still, what costume could be better than the “Sokovian fortune teller” outfit Wanda wore during the show’s Halloween episode? With a bright red leotard, red gloves, a long cape, and a pointed red crown, you can create your own spin on this scarlet look. ^{[10]
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- If you don’t feel like making your own costume, feel free to buy a premade version online!
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10

Vision

Steal the show with Vision’s brightly colored costume. A bright green bodysuit, yellow shorts, yellow gloves, and a long yellow cape are all you need to copy Vision’s comic book look. Then, cover your face in red body paint to complete the costume. ^{[11]
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- You’ll need to cut out a small portion of the green bodysuit so your face is visible.

11

Loki

Unlike the MCU films, which featured Loki in regal robes and battle outfits, the TV series Loki takes a much more business-casual approach. Slip into a standard white button-up, along with a brown tie, a pair of brown pants, and a brown windbreaker. As an extra touch, paint the word “VARIANT” on the back of your jacket in orange. Top off the look with a wavy, shoulder-length, and dark brown wig. ^{[12]
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12

Natasha Romanoff

Why dress as a black cat when you can be a black widow? The MCU ended Natasha Romanoff’s saga as the Black Widow in a feature film with the same name—but that doesn’t mean her story has to end! Recreate her classic Avengers -era look with a sleek black jumpsuit, gun holsters for her waist and legs, bicycle gloves, knee-high boots, fake bullets, toy guns, and a short, wavy auburn wig. Complete the outfit with a thick elastic waist belt featuring her distinct red buckle. ^{[13]
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- Pick out a white bodysuit, white canvas sneakers, white bicycle gloves, and a long auburn wig if you’d like to recreate her look from the Black Widow movie. ^{[14]
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13

Harley Quinn

Harley’s chaotic, colorful looks are perfect for Halloween. This beloved antihero has seen a variety of different costume changes after her appearance in the latest Suicide Squad movie, along with the Birds of Prey film. Still, who can forget the classic outfit from her DCU debut? Slip into a red-and-white, short-sleeved “Daddy’s Lil Monster” shirt, along with fishnet leggings, short blue-and-red shorts, and a bejeweled belt. Don’t forget her iconic pink and blue pigtails, red lipstick, and pink-and-blue eyeshadow! ^{[15]
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- To go the extra mile, draw some tattoos on her legs in body paint or washable marker.
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14

Cassie Thomas

Cassie’s colorful get-up offers a fun twist on the standard nurse outfit. Cassie definitely sported a lot of unforgettable looks in the film Promising Young Woman , but few were as memorable as her bachelor party outfit. Slip into a very short, white-and-red nurse dress, along with thigh-high white stockings and a pair of red heels. Finish things off with a short, rainbow wig, a nurse hat, and a fake nurse’s kit. ^{[16]
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- Take an extra step in channeling Cassie by painting your nails in pastel, rainbow colors.

15

Beth Harmon

Beth Harmon owned 60s-style fashion throughout her appearance on The Queen’s Gambit . Opt for a simple but stand-out look by slipping into a black knee-length dress with a Peter Pan collar, accompanied by a chin-length, auburn wig. Don’t forget your chessboard and chess pieces! ^{[17]
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16

Ted Lasso

You don’t need a lot of soccer know-how to dress as this football-turned-soccer coach. Ted Lasso definitely isn’t your stereotypical sports drama, but his outfits are pretty run-of-the-mill. Slip into some navy sweatpants, along with a dual-toned blue sweat jacket. Complete the look with a whistle attached to a yellow lanyard, a white visor, a pair of aviators, and Ted’s classic mustache. ^{[18]
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- You can shop online for a more official-looking Ted Lasso costume, complete with the AFC Richmond logo.

17

Mare

Layers, layers, and more layers: what more could you want? The titular character from the show Mare of Easttown is known for a lot of things, though her fashion sense isn’t necessarily one of them. Still, Mare’s no-nonsense outfit consisting of a men’s coat and a fleece jacket is the perfect way to stay warm during the brisk October weather. ^{[19]
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- You can really channel Mare’s energy by bringing a fake vape pen along with you.
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18

Mabel Mora

Let’s face it: Mabel has some of the most unforgettable outfits in Only Murders in the Building . You can recreate her most famous outfit pretty easily—all you need is a yellow sweater, a fuzzy, gold-orange jacket, yellow beanie, red headphones, plaid pants, and designer sunglasses. Let the mystery-solving begin! ^{[20]
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19

Daphne Bridgerton

Add a touch of elegance to your Halloween costume. Recreate Daphne’s staple look with an embroidered, ankle- or floor-length light blue dress with cap sleeves, along with a pair of short, see-through gloves. ^{[21]
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Research source} Daphne sports quite a few complex hairdos throughout Bridgerton , but her half-up, half-down look from her trip to the ball is a fairly simple yet breathtaking look that you can try at home. ^{[22]
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- Tease the hair to create volume, then style your loose hair with some light waves for a regal look.
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20

Simon Basset

Few Halloween costumes are as regal as this duke’s. Start off your outfit with a white, high-collared button-up shirt, layered beneath a black waistcoat. Add a green brooch to the center of your waistcoat, and wear a black cravat as a finishing touch. ^{[23]
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- Paint the waistcoat with evenly-spaced gold circles to really capture Simon’s look.

21

Patrizia Reggiani

You don’t have to own designer brands to dress as this infamous socialite. In the House of Gucci trailer alone, we catch Patrizia in a ton of different chic, show-stopping outfits. For a simple but classic look, pair a burgundy snowsuit with a matching pair of ski goggles, along with a subtle pink lip, neutral-toned eyeshadow, and some chunky green earrings. Then, sell the look by slipping on a short, curly brown wig. ^{[24]
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- For a more formal look, slide into a long-sleeved, knee-length black dress with a square neck cut.
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22

Among Us Crewmate

You have the creators of Among Us to thank; in September, they released their own line of inflatable crewmate Halloween costumes! Slip into your favorite colored space suit, switch on the inflation, and you’re ready to go! Just don’t let anyone catch you venting... ^{[25]
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