As someone notorious for leaving things until the last minute, I’ve put together this list to help not only myself but also any girl out there who’s stressing about how to stand out this Halloween!
Starting with a childhood favorite!
- Hungry Hungry Caterpillar
This costume can easily be made using things you already have at home! The only thing you’d need to DIY is the hat, which is very simple to make: just add multicolored felt from your local dollar or craft store and pipe cleaners to a red beret or beanie. This one is definitely on my list!
2. Snoopy Pilot
This costume needs a bit more preparation, unless you already have a pilot hat and goggles lying around! Snoopy has had a big resurgence this year and would make the perfect Halloween costume!
3. Strawberry Shortcake
This year, I’ve been connecting with my inner child, so this one hits close to home. Most people wear a corset for this costume, but in my opinion, a cute baby-doll dress makes it look more thoughtfully put together!
4. Christine Daaé – Phantom Of The Opera
As a fellow theater geek, this was my costume choice from last year. It’s niche and weird, while also looking hot and lacy. If you have the time and are prepared to spend a little, this is a great option! If you’re still stuck after this list, I highly recommend checking out Sophie Silva (pictured) on TikTok; she has great taste in costumes!
5. Mad Hatter
This one is a classic. If you love to accessories, this will be great for you! You can do as much or as little as you want, but white face paint with fun eye shadow is always what I would suggest. It’s Halloween, so go all out!
6. Astrid (How To Train Your Dragon)
If faux fur and braids are your thing, this costume will unlock something inside you. As a blonde, the usual costumes are Disney princesses, so flip the genre on its head and try something fierce!
7. Clark Kent (Superman)
It’s been a big year for superheroes, so a subtle costume like this one is perfect! Using the logo makes it easily recognizable and will make everyone wish they’d thought of it too!
8. Peter Parker (Spider-Man)
Adding on to the last costume, you can do the same thing with Spider-Man! It was one of the biggest movies of the year, so this, or his iconic New York tourist outfit, would make all the geeks out there scream!
9. Paddington Bear
The way to make any costume go from basic to wow is through the preparation and care you put into it. It’s the little details, like the tag around Paddington’s neck and the lunch box! You can even pack a little marmalade sandwich for later in the night!
10. Carrie
I’ve gone as Carrie in the past, and it was a big hit! Carrie is the quintessential weird girl, so it’s perfect for scaring the competition away. It’s also a super easy costume to prepare!
11. Classic Wizard
A witch is basic, but a wizard is weirdly niche. All you need is a cape and hat, which you should be able to find at any costume store. Pro tip: for costumes that only include accessories, like a hat or cape, check the kid’s section!
12. Joan Of Arc
Joan of Arc was a feminist icon, so why wouldn’t you want to dress up as her? The rest of your outfit can be very minimal, as long as you have her signature headpiece and sword!
13. Lydia Deetz (Beetlejuice)
If you’re looking for something more gothic, Lydia is the girl for you! The musical costume has a softer look if you want to take the original costume in a different direction.
14. David Bowe
David Bowie was the king of rock and the perfect Halloween costume for showing everyone how cool you are. The face paint is instantly recognizable and easy to recreate!
15. Art and Patrick (Challengers)
This one can work as a duo or solo. Only cool people like Challengers; that’s a fact, but don’t forget the tennis rackets! If you’re feeling crazy, you could add Tashi into the mix.
16. Bad Case Of The Stripes
Another childhood classic! The only body paint you need is on your face, with rainbow socks and gloves for the rest of the outfit. Pair it with a white dress, and you’re done!
17. 60s Mod Girl
This one can be fully customized with your creativity. A magazine is also a great accessory for the outfit, and the beehive hair is key!
18. Lady Bird
Not like the bug, but the phenomenal movie directed by Greta Gerwig. If you’re reading this list, you probably relate to this character, which is exactly why it’s such a great costume choice!
19. Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson)
This one truly is that easy. All you need is the shirt and hat! If you’re dressing up as any of the other characters from the books or series, it can be even easier.
20. Alex (Minecraft)
This one is surprisingly niche, so I couldn’t find a good photo of it (sorry, Steve, for cropping you out!). If you wanted to, you could also dress up as a gender-bent Steve!
21. Default Roblox Girl
We’ve all been a Roblox bacon at some point, so why not pay homage to it with your Halloween costume? It’s easy to put together and comfortable too!
22. Chicken Little
Is the sky falling?! Oh, whoops, it was just this idea being so good that I thought it was! It’s very easy to put together and funny to anyone who knows the iconic childhood story.
23. Homeless Ant Meme
Every day, I feel closer to the infamous ant-with-a-homeless-sack meme. It’s very easy to put together for those last-minute decisions, and it gives you a handy place to carry your drinks around in!
24. Rodrick Heffley (Diary Of A Wimpy Kid)
Rodrick is an iconic character for iconic people who can bring him to life. Nothing is difficult to source for this costume, either. If you have younger siblings or friends, you can have a Greg and Rowley join you, or a Regina George, if you catch my drift.
Last But Not Least…
25. McLovin (SuperBad)
“And you settled on McLovin?!” This movie is one of everyone’s favorites. You could wear the most basic outfit, but if you have the fake ID, everyone will know who you are.
That concludes my top 25 picks for Halloween costumes in 2026. I’ll hopefully have other blogs up soon about duo and trio costumes, so watch out for that!
Girl with a keyboard signing out…
sooo cool! i have a bad case of the stripes and my doctor doesn’t wanna help me with it so i should probably embrace it! i also think that alex is such a fun idea! definitely niche but still recognisable!!!!!
Thank youu!! your support means the world!! <3