The real horror of Halloween isn’t the potential to run-in to some ghosts, it’s deciding whether your costume should be chic, scary, or somewhere in between.
The trouble is that once you’re past the age of free Haribos, the costume stakes get higher. A half-hearted pair of cat ears no longer cuts it, but nor does spending three hours in latex prosthetics if you’ve got an early meeting the next day. The sweet spot is somewhere between effort and irony — looking like you tried, without looking like you tried too hard.
Halloween has always been a playground for adults who secretly miss dressing up, and in 2025 the options are broader than ever. Costume rental services are booming, TikTok is awash with tutorials, and even high-street brands are dabbling in “spooky capsule collections.”
The result? It’s now entirely possible to turn up at a party looking genuinely stylish, rather than like you’ve lost a bet in a fancy-dress shop. Think sleek vampire with a tailored coat instead of polyester cape, or witch as styled by Prada rather than Poundland.
Of course, some people will always lean into the grotesque. Gore still has its devotees, as do jump-scare masks that make you wish you’d stayed home. And then there’s the other camp: the pun costume wearers, who are as divisive as Marmite. (Yes, we see you, “cereal killer” with your glued-on Cornflakes boxes.) Whether you find that clever or unbearable probably says more about you than it does about them.
The beauty of adult Halloween is that it allows room for every type. You can be chic and understated, terrifyingly theatrical, or simply the person who dons a skeleton T-shirt and claims minimalism. The only real rule is to commit to the bit, because nothing is scarier than a half-hearted outfit.
Whether you’re hunting for a genuinely stylish ensemble, something that will make people scream, or just a costume that gets you through the night without having to explain yourself too much, I’ve rounded up the best Halloween costumes for 2025 — chic to scary, and everything in between.
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Women's
Wednesday and Enid
With the latest instalment of Wednesday set to arrive on Netflix in the coming months, celebrate Halloween 2024 by dressing up as everyone’s favourite dynamic duo. Luckily for those with little sewing ability, there are already show-accurate school uniforms available.. Simply purchase an Enid-appropriate or Wednesday-themed wig, depending on which character you choose.
Buy now £34.82, Amazon
Killer Farmhouse Starlet Premium Costume Set
A red dress with ruffles, tulle beneath, bow in hair and a plastic axe - this is for the adult who likes their horror with a side of cottagecore gone wrong: sweet, scary and just a little insane.
Buy now £113.00, Dolls Kill
Rubie's Official Miss Beetlejuice Secret Wishes Adult Costume
Embrace the mischievous, demonic spirit of Beetlejuice following the anticipated re-release of the iconic film.
Buy now £48.99, Amazon
Marilyn Monroe Costume
Hollywood’s greatest bombshell is ripe for imitation this Halloween. Pair Marilyn’s iconic dress with the matching wig and eyelashes to be instantly recognisable as the star - and make sure you’ve got the red lip and beauty spot to match.
Buy now £25.56, Amazon
Clueless Dionne Costume
If you’re a lover of all things Nineties, it doesn’t get better than cult classic Clueless - and Dionne’s iconic check two piece that is as on trend now as it was at the time. Get your bestie to dress as Cher for the best couples costume at the party. As if!
Buy now £37.48, Amazon
Smiffys Barbie Costume Workout
Channel some serious Kenergy with this fabulous limited-edition Barbie ensemble, inspired by the doll’s debut outfit back in the 80s. Be warned: you might not be the only Barbie at the party, so this is one way to ensure your rendition is the best. High heels required.
Buy now £34.99, Amazon
Kill Bill Costume
For an epic costume on a cinematic scale, look no further than Black Mamba. The costume consists of Beatrix Kiddo’s signature banana yellow jumpsuit with the corresponding sides and badges. It also includes a sword so you are ready to exact your bloody revenge.
Buy now £80.99, Halloween Costumes
Phoebe Buffet
The sartorial spotlight was always on Rachel in Friends, but Phoebe reigned supreme in the costume department in our book. Shop secondhand and reimagine her kooky, Y2K style in this Custo Barcelona piece Princess Consuela Banana Hammock owned many of.
Buy now £43.98, Vestiaire
Pretty Killer Clown Costume
Amp up the horror with a murderously good costume. Freak out friends and channel your inner Pennywise with this outfit’s jarring stripes, creepy cut and ominous blood stains.
Buy now £44.95, Horror Shop
Womens Dark Knight Deluxe Catwoman Costume
It wouldn’t be a roundup of women’s fancy dress costumes without Batman’s ever-popular Catwoman. Slip into this sleek black jumpsuit, made from polyester and foam, to transform into Gotham’s dark feline heroine. It features attached shoe covers and comes with a vinyl belt, a headband with cat ears and an eye mask.
Buy now £47.96, Amazon
Womens Supergirl Costume
You’ll look ready to save the day in this timeless Supergirl costume, which comes with everything you need to channel the iconic female super hero. The red-and-blue long-sleeved dress, of course, features an attached red cape – in case you need to make a swift exit.
Buy now £40.78, Amazon
Statue of Liberty and NYC Tourist
The Statue of Liberty and a classic NYC tourist is a brilliant BFF costume idea for this Halloween. Simply purchase a Lady Liberty costume and a classic I Love New York tee, and accessorise with a pair of ridiculous cargo shorts and disposable camera which you can then use to document your wild night.
Buy now £24.86, Amazon
Bruno Gaga Halloween Cosplay Costume Outfits Die With A Smile Couples Carnival Costume
For the couple that insists on making an entrance, this one ticks every box: stylish, coordinated, slightly over the top. Consider it couples therapy by way of sequins and eyeliner.
Buy now £42.32, Light in the Box
Men’s
Napoleon Dynamite – Napoleon and Pedro
This geeky duo is the perfect BFF costume for indie film lovers. All you’ll need for Napoleon is the iconic ‘Vote for Pedro’ tee, an Annie-style curly hair wig and some nerdy aviator spectacles. For Pedro, a pale blue western-style shirt, bolo tie and drawn-on moustache should do the trick.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
Ferris Bueller
Life moves pretty fast, but these vests sell out faster. Ferris Bueller captured the hearts of millions when Matthew Broderick bounced onto our screens in the Eighties. The high-schooler’s grandad sweater vest is a style that can be worn by Hackney hipsters and academics alike.
Buy now £44.62, Etsy
Freddie Mercury
The easiest Halloween outfit of them all, this white tank top effortlessly transforms an everyday vest into Freddie Mercury’s iconic tank top.
Buy now £6.99, H&M
Rocky Horror Show Frank N Furter Costume
For the more daring among us, pay homage to the formidable Frank N Furter from Rocky Horror this Halloween. A bold red lip and some egregious blue eyeshadow is essential.
Buy now £35.99, Very
Top Gun Costume
Time for the Danger Zone. Maverick’s back, now for the third time thanks to this Top Gun Halloween costume. Pair with some lace-up military boots and accessorise with Ray Ban Aviators to up the pilot ante. Tom Cruise, eat your heart out.
Buy now £32.99, Amazon
Fun Costumes Back to the Future Costume
With theBack to the Future musical delighting audiences at Adelphi, Robert Zemeckis’s famous trilogy is enjoying a revival (although its genius never faded in our eyes).
The year 2015 may have come and gone without a self-drying jacket (sob), but you can still recreate the look in this futuristic Marty McFly-inspired ensemble. The costume comes with a jacket that’s a copy of the one worn in the second movie, as well as a “You’re Fired” fax printout and Sports Almanac. You can also choose to add a hover board and baseball cap to complete the look.
Buy now £57.58, Amazon
Gryffindor Costume Harry Potter Robe
If you were disappointed to be put in Hufflepuff or Slytherin on Pottermore, then this Halloween gives you the perfect excuse to dress up in the house colours of The Boy Who Lived. The red and black Gryffindor robe features the house’s Lion crest embroidered on the breast. Add some specs and say hello to an adult Harry Potter.
Buy now £19.80, Amazon
Pirates of the Caribbean Jack Sparrow fancy dress costume
A Halloween stalwart ever since the film’s release way back in 2003, get ready to transform into the “trickster pirate of the Seven Seas”, the bawdy, rum-soaked Captain Jack Sparrow.
Complete the look this year with a cutlass and plastic gun to hang on your waistband - but if you really want this to be believeable, don’t forget the thick black eyeliner. The more smudged, the better.
Buy now £27.99, Amazon
Ibiza Final Boss Costume
Equal parts rave-ready and ridiculous – exactly what October 31 deserves.
Buy now £19.99, Amazon
Masks and makeup
Art the Clown Halloween Mask Halloween Props
Pure performance art on a night of excess. Pair this twisted clown face with dark tailoring or shredded denim — you’ll look like you stepped out of someone else’s horror flick, starring you.
Buy now £16.00, Light in the Box
The Purge mask
With its exaggerated grin, this sinister smiling mask is guaranteed to give anyone the creeps and is an easy last-minute costume solution. Similar to the masks worn in The Purge, it’s made of plastic and is designed with eye holes and an elastic strap. One size should fit most adults and teens while matching accessories are also available.
Buy now £5.99, Amazon
David Bowie Wig
There’s a starman waiting for a buy! Emulate the distinctive style of David Bowie with a Ziggy Stardust-esque mullet in a fiery shade of red.
Buy now £17.54, Amazon
Monster Mask
He did the mash, he did the monster mash! This Frankenstein-inspired mask is perfect for upping the spooky stakes this Halloween. Get the look by pairing it with a with a dark suit to bring a bit of macabre fun to proceedings.
Buy now £23.99, Amazon
Old Witch Mask with Hair and Headscarf
As Halloween masks go, we find this one pretty terrifying - and not just because it’s so realistic.
All you need to complete the look is a cauldron and broom and you are well on your way to scaring each and every one of your pals.
Buy now £14.02, Amazon
Killer Clown Makeup
Keep it ultra simple and just focus on your scariest face. With this makeup set, you can complete the killer clown costume. It is comprised of a red nose, teeth, makeup tray with a sponge to apply as well as liquid latex and fake blood for a realistic and terrifying look.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
