Halloween 2025 is right around the corner and it’s time to get dressed!
In case you didn’t know, Halloween originated from the Celts, who believed this was a time when the barrier between the living and the dead blurred. To ward off evil spirits from roaming the Earth, they lit bonfires and wore costumes.
And honestly, I can’t think of anything that would ward off a spirit quite like a Labubu, so the tradition is alive and kicking!
But for every good pop culture Halloween costume, there is a bad pop culture Halloween costume. One that’s too late, too overdone, or too close to the bone.
Here, we outline the good’uns and the bad’uns, to give you some much-needed inspiration. Welcome to spooky season! Don’t f** it up!
10 genuinely good pop culture Halloween costume ideas:
1. Labubu
Bonus points if two people with a height difference do this as a couple’s costume, then the smaller friend/partner can tie themselves to the larger friend/partner, thus becoming their Labubu.
2. Lumon Industries employee
Perhaps the only good TV show costume of 2025, plus a good excuse to get suited and booted. Make Mark and Helly proud!
3. The Traitors
This is best done in a large group, so get purchasing those capes and lanterns. The Alpha of the group gets to be Claudia. Or whoever looks best with a tan and a fringe.
4. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban
One long blonde wig, one short blonde wig with bad highlights, one suit, one floaty dress, two Australian accents, you’re in for a winner.
5. Marty Supreme
Essentially an easy win for any film boys with a really hard-won pencil ‘tache. And that’s definitely a Venn diagram that exists.
6. Charli v Taylor
Realistically, Charli xcx is still as relevant as she was last Halloween, so we can expect a slew of Charli xcx costumes. But the most up-to-date will obviously need to feature some kind of reference to the Taylor Swift feud. Use this as an excuse to placate your Swiftie mate.
7. The Summer I Turned Pretty
Brunette girl, two blonde-ish boys, you’ve got yourself a Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah love triangle! It’s like Challengers, 2025 edition.
8. Lex Luthor from Superman
Bald men who like to wear suits, rejoice!
9. Harry Styles and Zoe Kravitz
Are you naturally good looking and obscenely well dressed? Is there two of you? Great, now hold hands and pretend not to see the cameras!
10. Vampire, but specifically of the Sinners variety
Get a bit 1930s with it! Blood pouring down the chin, cinched ‘lil retro waist, fangs out, dressed in your glad rags. Hot!
10 pop culture Halloween costume ideas to AVOID:
1. The Bear
We get it, you have nice arms and a coke problem, but this is low effort and so very 2023.
2. Barbie in any form
Did you just wake up from a mid-length coma? Girl, I’m so happy for you, but your friends and family should have given you a better pop culture debriefing. They let you embarrass yourself with this one.
3. Trump
As a general rule, any costume that has been going since 2016 is not a particularly cool or good idea.
4. Oasis
Every year, there is a lazy straight man costume of choice that ends up being done to death. Don’t let this lazy straight man be you.
5. Anything to do with ChatGPT
Even lazier than Oasis! Potentially the laxiest thing to exist, ever! Take pleasure in making an effort! Trying is cool! Knowledge is sexy!
6. Chappell Roan’s Midwest Princess look
That era has been and gone! Stage looks only! Sexy dragon from Shrek or bust, guys!
7. Harley Quinn
See: Donald Trump. Suicide Squad came out in 2016. Every year since, I’ve thought, ‘Surely no one will dress as Harley Quinn this year’. Every year I am proven wrong. It’s 2025. Please, for the love of god, prove me right this time. I need a win.
8. Dubai Chocolate
Not worth it. Labubus are clearly the viral winner in this scenario, plus a far better and more flattering costume option.
9. Aunt Gladys from Weapons
I’m sorry to the gay community, but this is going to be the most overdone costume of 2025, so get brainstorming now.
10. Pink cowboy hat for any reason
You had your chance to do this at the Taylor Swift tour, at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, at basically any stadium tour for the last five years. Hang that pink cowboy hat up baby, you’ve yee’d your last haw.
