The best pop culture Halloween costumes of 2023

Still haven't settled on a Halloween costume for this year? Since pop culture often yields some of the best inspo, we once again turned to the memes, celebs and performances that dominated our minds and the box offices (Hi, Barbie!) to assemble a list of 'fits that scream 2023. 

Behold, 15 ideas to consider for the Halloweekend ahead, whether you're searching for a solo look, a couples ensemble or something for the whole group. 

Renaissance Tour

We honestly can't recall a time when the fashion featured in a concert tour garnered as much attention as Beyoncé's did during this summer's Renaissance World Tour. This Halloween, you can channel the Renaissance tour (a.k.a. one of the top 10 highest grossing tours of all time) in one of two ways: as a group costume, dressed as members of the Bey Hive attending the show, or as Queen Bey herself. Bonus: you'll already have your outfit for when you see the concert film this December.  

Group: 

• If you're one of the lucky 2.8 million people who got to witness her in concert, simply wear your outfit from that memorable night.
• Wear all-silver for a "shimmering human disco ball" vibe in honour of Beyoncé's birthday wish "to celebrate with you wearing your most fabulous silver fashions." You remember that weekend when it seemed like every celeb was dressed in silver and at her concert, right? 

Solo: 

• Scroll through Beyoncé's Insta feed or peruse this list from W Magazine that compiles all of her incredible wardrobe moments from the tour. It may seem impossible to pick just one. But you can. 
• If you're torn, may we suggest her look from the concert poster, featuring her now-iconic disco ball cowboy hat from designer Abby Misbin? If you can't get your hands on one, DIY an homage to this hat using silver glitter — or mirrored tiles if you've got the time.
• In lieu of a giant one you can ride on, bedazzle a small horse figurine and carry it around with you all night. 
• Given October's temps, a bodysuit under a silver bra top and bikini bottom will help keep you warm. And don't forget some silver cowboy boots!

Anyone from Barbie 

Will this be the most popular Halloween costume of 2023? Most likely. Because Barbie is everything. The beauty of this one is that there are so many iterations you can choose from. With all the Barbies and all the Kens (and one Allan) featured in this year's highest grossing film, the possibilities really are endless. Plus, there are some easy ensembles that can be assembled at the last minute. Here are a few options:

• Embrace Barbie-core and wear all pink everything. Done!
• Have your group wear their glitteriest ensembles and learn that dance sequence. 
• Wear black tees and jeans for a group costume inspired by the "I'm Just Ken" musical number. (Cancon alert! We love these iconic Ken-adians.) 
• Learn the splits, don a pink frock and apply some colourful face paint for a night out as Weird Barbie. 
• Wear your beachwear and simply be Ken (his job is beach, after all).

Shawn Mendes's Smoothie Squad

Grab your squad and a smoothie for this group costume in honour of Shawn Mendes and his pals' iconic street style snaps taken as they strolled West Hollywood back in April. The best part about this look is that almost anything goes. We still haven't processed everything going on in these pics (it's a rich text indeed), but here are some non-negotiables for emulating these kings this Halloween: 

• Everyone must be carrying a smoothie, even if they're not from Erewhon
• At least one person shall be barefoot
• Brown paper shopping bags that say "Detox Market"
• A brown leather journal tucked under someone's arm
• Incongruous apparel/outfit choices (plus some chest exposure)

Gwyneth on trial

When the Goop CEO re-enters the zeitgeist these days, it's often for some dubious comment about bone broth or being a nepo baby. But in March, when Gwyneth Paltrow sat trial for a 2016 Utah ski collision, she arguably won more praise than she has in years, delighting us with quips about lost ski time and a parade of courtroom-chic outfits from Prada and The Row. 

Toasting the Oscar-winner with your Halloween attire doesn't require that kind of price tag, though. The beauty of Gwyneth's stealth-wealth aesthetic is that you probably own a slightly-less-luxurious version of those basics already. For example:

• If you have a cream-coloured turtleneck sweater, pair it with gold wire-rimmed glasses to recreate Paltrow's outfit from day one of the trial. 
• To mimic the more gothic getup she wore while testifying, opt for a black or navy crew-neck long-sleeve, a midi skirt, tights and big chunky boots.   
• Add a long blonde wig or wear your own hair down and pin-straight.
• Complete the look by carrying around a big blue notebook and a folder of important documents.
• Finally, remember to enact the costume's built-in exit strategy for any party you attend: simply whisper, "I wish you well" in the ear of your host, then vanish into the night.

A nepo baby

Speaking of nepo babies, they're arguably a subject that's been on our lips since the beginning of modern Hollywood, but the discourse around them definitely peaked this year. That's thanks in part to a New York Magazine feature that came out in the final days of 2022 with a cover that pasted the heads of various celebrity children of celebrities (Zoë Kravitz, Dakota Johnson, Jack Quaid, among others) onto the bodies of newborns. 

Suddenly, it seemed like every Gerber and Gummer was being asked to share their thoughts on nepotism, power and privilege in interviews, and the results were often both infuriating and hilarious, revealing just how much media training money really can buy. So this Halloween, let's take the conversation back from the famous, shall we? To embrace the "ugly moniker" yourself, you'll need:

• A onesie, though any cosy printed pajamas will work in a pinch.
• Oversized sunglasses to convey your importance to the people around you.
• An award (made of papier mâché or plastic, or the real deal) that you can carry around throughout the night — and that everyone will wonder if you truly deserved.
• Or, for an extra last-minute alternative, go the route of one particular nepo baby, Hailey Beiber and simply sport a white tee with those words printed on it. 

Rihanna at the Super Bowl

Rihanna performing at Super Bowl LVII (a.k.a. the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show of all time) is our top costume pick for pregnant folks. You could even use this moment to reveal your pregnancy, just as Rihanna did during her first live performance in over five years back in February. 

Expecting or not, this is a super comfy getup, and it's bound to be warm enough for late-October weather in Canada, which makes us love this look for Halloweekend even more. Here's how to recreate it: 

• Wear all red even if it's not custom Loewe. A red jumpsuit or snowsuit that can open to reveal a red bodysuit and red corset underneath is preferable. 
• Bonus points if you can find a long red coat to wear as an homage to editor and fashion icon André Leon Talley, just like Rihanna did. 
• For a couple's costume, have your partner wear a white puffer, sunglasses and white pants, or have even more pals wear all white and go as a whole group. 
• Although not essential, we wouldn't discourage you from learning some of the moves from her iconic performance. You can watch the full 13 minutes here. 

Any Taylor Swift era — including this current romantic one

Are you in your Eras era? It's honestly hard not to be this year, even if you haven't personally engaged with the pop star's local economy–salvaging tour, record-breaking concert film or chart-topping musical catalogue. Recently, the singer has also become a staple at beau Travis Kelce's NFL games and started going out for dinner with her girlies in great coats again, renewing her status as a gossip fixation. 

It's Taylor's current omnipresence that makes her such a perfect Halloween muse. There are endless directions you can go with your getup, and chances are, no matter how niche you take things, there will be at least one Swiftie in the crowd who'll clock your reference — and love it. 

• Take your cues from legions of concert-goers and channel a specific Taylor Swift era (think big curls, big dress, big guitar for Fearless or a black fedora, red lips and a white tee for Red). This costume works alone or in a group — just make sure you snap a pic in the style of the LWYMMD video.
• You could also take things up a notch by homing in on a reference to your favourite lyric or song. For example, you can simply be a Lavender Haze in all-purple gauzy attire, or don some un-ironed linen to dress as the crumpled up piece of paper from All Too Well. Don't be afraid to DIY with this one! It's all about the details.
• For a Current Taylor look, go full KC red-and-white with bright lips, a vodka-cran in one hand and your own personal Travis Kelce/Sophie Turner/Blake Lively on the other. 

A salute to Scandoval (but mostly the revenge dress)

Revenge dressing has given us a whole genre full of great celebrity outfits worth replicating, especially if you think you might run into your ex at some point during the weekend. But arguably, the most memorable look in recent history is the now-iconic bright red "dress" (technically it's a two-piece) that Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix wore to the show's reunion this May. 

ICYMI: in the spring of 2023, a mid-tier Bravo show deep into its 10th season suddenly swept the monoculture when a particularly salacious cheating scandal erupted amidst its cast members. One of its most shocking details even involved Halloween; Tom Sandoval — who had been cheating on Madix, his partner of nearly a decade, with their mutual friend and castmate Rachel Leviss — dressed up as Leviss last year while the affair was ongoing, in an outfit that involved both merch for his own bar and a necklace that was said to symbolize their secret love. And while you could always go that route with your own costume this year, if you'd rather steer clear of the messiness, consider following Madix's cues:

• You'll need either a floor-length cherry red dress with padded shoulders or a matching bandeau, jacket and skirt that you can mould in the style of Madix's look. The original version features some daring cut-outs that may take some scissors and sewing to accomplish, but honestly, they aren't necessary in order to really nail it.
• If you do want to DIY some cut-outs, you could get creative with mesh, like the team on Dancing with the Stars did when recreating the outfit for Madix's first dance, or simply throw on a skin-coloured bodysuit underneath for warmth throughout the night.
• Neutral makeup, an icy blonde wig and an even icier stare will really help complete the costume. And of course, be sure to draw the cat-eye sharp enough to kill a man. 

Ice Spice

Between appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 seven times this year, releasing the song of the summer, picking up the award for Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards and performing on SNL, Ice Spice has also given us countless looks to emulate this year. If her ensemble from "Munch (Feelin' U)" feels more 2022 than 2023, revisit one of her myriad of already-iconic videos and performances for inspo. 

But for a particularly autumnal-themed costume, opt for the outfit the 23-year-old rapper and self-proclaimed "Dunkin' girl" wears in the commercial for her new collab with Dunkin' Donuts. Here's how: 

• Carrying around a coffee all night is a must. Since you likely won't have a Dunkin' nearby and can't pick up your very own frozen coffee with pumpkin spice doughnut holes in it, any blended coffee will have to do. But it should have whipped cream on top, and you must scratch out whatever brand name is on the cup and write "Dunkin'" instead. 
• Wear a black sweater set with fur trim on the collar and sleeves, a diamond "Princess" necklace (you may have to DIY one), a long strawberry blonde wig and pink nails. 
• Bonus points if a friend dresses as fellow Dunkin' spokesperson Ben Affleck.

A bedbug who went to Paris Fashion Week

Bedbugs are everywhere (not just Paris), and apparently they have great taste in fashion, seeing as how they were one of the biggest celebs to attend Fashion Week this September. To channel this annoying icon, you'll need to go high fashion. Luckily, we've got some Spring 2024 Fashion Week trend reports to turn to. This one covers the top style trends and this one is an overview of the top beauty trends. Here's how we envision turning this popular pest into a costume: 

• Wear a brown turtleneck and add two extra "legs" by stuffing some pantyhose and attaching them to your ensemble.
• To really achieve the "bug" element, you'll obviously need antennae. Opt for a couple pipe cleaners on a headband. (Make it a sleek one to make it fashion.) 
• Other beauty looks include: precise ponytails, dark lip makeup and glossy waves. 
• Sport a duvet cover (or sheet) to achieve the "bed" part of the bedbug. Drape it over your shoulders for the night to keep you warm and still leave space to show off your outfit … 
• … which could either be inspired by one of the runway trends — such as a dress over pants, next-level florals or something lavender — or keep things au courant with some statement tights, sportswear or flats to mimic the street-style trends for this fall.

Selena Gomez wrapped in a blanket

For someone who recently proclaimed that she'll "never be a meme again," Selena Gomez sure has a knack for going viral. Case in point: this candid photo of the Single Soon singer simply … sitting in a chair wrapped in a blanket, which was suddenly plastered all over the internet this August after being shared by Gomez's friend. 

The reason this image became so heavily memed is exactly why it would be so fun to emulate in costume form: the look on Gomez's face seems to convey an unshakable — and truly enviable — level of peace. And, after all, who doesn't want to be unbothered for Halloween? Here's how you can begin to pull it off:

• Start with the basics: throw on jeans and comfy shirt, grab your sparkliest purse, laminate those brows and give yourself a glossy blowout. 
• Most crucially, you must find a cavernous blanket to wrap yourself in (the exact Mexican-style one that Selena donned is available here, though it is still available in other colours). 
• Plop yourself down on the comfiest couch at the party, escape to your mind palace and bliss out.

Your own personal Spider-Verse

Multiverses have been having their movie moment for a while, thanks in no small part to the beloved 2018 animated superhero film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its 2023 follow-up, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. And while dressing up as Miles Morales's Spider-Man has been a no-fail choice since he first hit the Marvel Comics universe over a decade ago, we recommend going full multiverse this year with a group costume that pays tribute to all your favourite Spideys — from Peter B. Parker to Jessica Drew and Spider-Ham. Here's how:

• Each person dresses up as a different version of Spider-Man from the films or comics. That means multiple Spider-Man masks and suits will likely be needed to pull this off. Luckily, they're often available at secondhand, big-box and dollar stores alike, making it an ideal low-effort costume option even if you're short on time.
• Then, have fun adding accessories that are unique to your version of Spidey!
• Be sure to take a pic in this position, because if not, what was it really all for?

Girl dinner

A dinner for one can most certainly be a costume for many. This year's hottest dining trend took off on TikTok back in May when Olivia Maher (@liviemaher) dubbed her spread of cheese, bread, pickles and grapes "girl dinner," and a meme was born. After a summer of snack plates that are not charcuterie boards (an important distinction), 2.3 billion views of #girldinner on TikTok, and endless takes, this chaotic meal has enough cultural clout to be a serious contender for your 2023 group costume. 

It's another low-pressure, easy-to-conjure ensemble because anything goes; everyone just dresses as their fave component of their interpretation of girl dinner. Here are a few suggestions to help you get it right: 

• One of you has to be tinned fish, another buzzy food on TikTok. Whether you use tin foil and cardboard or go with a store-bought costume, it's a must. 
• Get out your glue guns! Take inspo from these no-sew costumes from our archives that rely on poster board, paint and homemade headpieces to achieve the look without a sewing machine in sight. Some potential food picks: pickles, salami, chips, a hunk of bread, a stray olive, a single square of chocolate or any smattering of fruit.
• When someone asks you what you're dressed as, assemble and sing "girl dinner" by TikTok user Karma Carr (@karmapilled).

M3GAN 

Creepy dolls and Halloween go together like PB and J, but it's not every year that we find ourselves in the presence of one who can sing a pitch-perfect version of Sia's Titanium on command. 

When M3GAN — a delightfully campy horror movie about an evil robot babysitter who looks suspiciously like Elizabeth Olsen — hit wide release back in January, it had already gone viral a few times over, thanks to a savvy marketing campaign and a trailer that featured the titular killer doll's equally killer dance moves. Thankfully, the film itself did not disappoint, giving us not only our first real laugh-and-scream-out-loud theatre experience of 2023, but a new entry in the pantheon of porcelain villains who's sure to be inspiring our October costumes for ages (or at least through 2025, when the sequel's set to come out). Here's what you need to really bring M3GAN to life:

• White tights; a striped long-sleeved shirt; a beige babydoll dress; and a navy blue silk scarf that you can tie in a bow around your neck. Adding Pretty Little Liars–style barrel curls and icy blue contacts will amp things up even further.
• Keep your lips pursed and your most cutting quips ready — M3GAN suffers zero fools and you shouldn't either.
• If you really want to go all out, enlist a few friends and start practicing your choreo so you can enter the party like so.

La dolce vita lifestyle

Leave it to the Kardashians to give us plenty of ideas for Halloween, again. Sure, there's Kourtney's "Travis I'm pregnant" moment from back in June, but we've got our eye on another, equally easy-to-achieve idea inspired by a viral moment from this summer. 

In an episode of The Kardashians titled "Deeper Than Dolce" (a.k.a. one of the most quoted and memed TV moments of the year), Andrea Bocelli stan Kim mocks Kourtney's suggestion that Kim had stolen her "dolce vita lifestyle." Kourt's reasoning? Kim served as creative director for the Dolce & Gabbana show during Milan Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2023 not long after Kourtney's wedding in Italy, and Kourtney thought the show looked too similar to her ceremony's vibe. 

You don't need to know the full story to embody this feud, but there are a few key points to getting the costume just right: 

• Don a long blonde wig, black turtleneck and an expression that conveys complete bewilderment. 
• Ideally, memorize Kim's entire monologue. But if you're short on time, the essential lines to repeat throughout the night are, "But I'm copying her dolce vita lifestyle. 'Kay."
• For a more complete visual portrayal, have someone dress as Kourtney from her Portofino ceremony, channeling either the white lace train with short white gown look or her corseted black and red look.