One of October’s biggest predicaments: what to dress up as for Halloween. We’re all tired of seeing angels & devils, fairies, and cops & prisoners. And if you plan on going out for more than one night, your costume troubles multiply! Don’t settle for being the hundredth Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders or Chappell Roan. Here are some creative ideas which you can tailor to your liking.

Group Costumes

Celebrating Halloween with your friends? Don’t worry, group and duo costumes aren’t as difficult as they seem!

1. Elvis and Priscilla Presley: This costume is perfect for those who like to go all out. For Elvis, wear a sparkling white suit with his classic slicked-back hair. For Priscilla, any 50s-style dress (or even her wedding outfit) with a beehive will easily make you the best-dressed duo.
2. Reindeer: Although it is simpler, a pair of antlers and some brown clothes are all you need! To amp up the cohesiveness, one of your friends can also have a red nose, in true Rudolph fashion.
3. Cher and Dionne: As the iconic duo from the most iconic film, this costume is perfect for best friends. Wear yellow plaid for Cher, black and red for Dionne, and pop on some hair accessories to transform into the beloved Clueless pair.
4. Zombies: Although seemingly one of the more common costumes, we don’t see this one as much as we should. Imagine a group of friends, painted pale and bloody in tattered clothes and fishnets—so cool! Tease your hair, tear your shirt; you can really go crazy as a zombie!

Solo Costumes

Want to do your own thing, and show up better dressed than everyone else? I got you.

1. Your favorite artist: Choose someone with a distinct look! Last year I was Amy Winehouse, with her huge hair and signature big eyeliner. You can be whoever comes to mind: Bruno Mars, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, Kurt Cobain—the sky’s the limit with this one.
2. Beetlejuice: Iconic black and white stripes, crazy green hair: what could be better? Especially with the second movie on its way, this costume will be a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. You don’t even have to wear a suit, anything with black and white stripes is instantly recognizable.
3. Strawberry Shortcake: This costume is cute and sweet—perfect for those who are willing to seek out specific articles of clothing (unless you have striped pants lying around). You’ll need striped green leggings, a pink dress, and a strawberry hat. Additionally, if you want to match your hair color to the character, you can be Lemon Meringue or Orange Blossom.
4. Spider: This is another classic that we don’t see enough. All you need is a fully black outfit and some legs you can make at home. You can use pipe cleaners or wooden dowels if you have some strong glue. Attach eight legs to two fabric loops, stick your arms through the loops, and you’re good to go!

What is HSMSE dressing up as for Halloween? Here’s a sneak peek:

Annalie Merkel, ‘26: A ladybug!
Nomi Gedzelman ‘25: Curious George, and my boyfriend is going to be the Man in the Yellow Hat.

Ayisha Yankey ‘25: Jazmine and I are going to be police officers.

Oliver Grover ‘26: I’m going to do a group costume… We’re going to be Weezer!

Jayden Cedano ‘25: I want to be a Christmas tree.