Fall is America’s favorite season, offering us all the occasion to soak up that gorgeous fall foliage, scare ourselves silly with horror movies, indulge in all the candy, and of course – impress friends and family with the very best Halloween costume.
Life is serious enough as it is, but Halloween is the perfect opportunity to release all that bottled up creative energy. Finding the best Halloween costume of the year can be pretty simple as long as you follow a few guidelines: pop cultural relevance, timeliness, and by all means – please steer clear of costumes that may offend anyone!
One recent poll shows that nearly half of parents (45%) say they now regret wearing certain Halloween costumes in the past, as some now consider them inappropriate or offensive. Since then, nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) have been more careful with their families’ costume choices because they don’t want to offend anyone.
StudyFinds set out to compile a simple list of the best, timely, creative, and crowd-pleasing Halloween costumes this season. For our findings, we visited 10 of the leading pop culture websites to see which Halloween costumes are sure to impress this year. Our list is ranked based on the best costumes across these sites.
The List: Top 5 Halloween Costumes For 2022
1. House of the Dragon
“Game of Thrones” became a worldwide sensation for not only its intricate plot and acting, but also for its incredible costume design. The show has inspired thousands of Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow knock-offs throughout the years, with the latest spin-off “House of the Dragon” giving fans a new opportunity to get creative.
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“The highly-anticipated Game of Thrones prequel is brimming with fantastical Westeros-inspired costume ideas,” writes Cosmopolitan.
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“The costumes are equally as impressive in ‘House of the Dragon,’ and they’re just as important to the plot. Since the prequel series deals more with Westerosi politics and nobility than its predecessor, the outfits worn by the characters are vital in alluding not only to their political ties, but also to their coming betrayals,” Looper writes.
2. “Stranger Things”
Whether it’s Max, Eddie, or the harrowing demon Vecna, dressing up as one of the characters from Netflix’s mega-hit “Stranger Things” surely won’t disappoint. Eighties fashion paired with terrifying supernatural forces, what’s not to love?
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“’Stranger Things’ fourth season introduced us to Eddie Munson, the Dungeons and Dragons–obsessed, Metallica-playing super senior who (accidentally) stepped into the world of the Upside Down. He’s the series’ latest breakout star, “ New York Magazine writes. “You can imitate his metal look with a copycat Hellfire Club tee, denim vest, and, of course, a curly wig (hairspray not included).”
“Grab yourself an ’80s sports jacket plus over-ear headphones and you’ve got everything you need for a cool Stranger Things costume. Singing Kate Bush’s ‘Running up that Hill’ all night – well, that’s entirely up to you,” Cosmopolitan writes.
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3. “Bridgerton”
Everyone loves a good period piece, which is why Bridgerton is inspiring many fans to put on their Sunday best and enjoy the finer things in life.
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“If your Season 2 ‘Bridgerton’ binge made you nostalgic for Regency Era fashion and desperate for your own Anthony Bridgerton romance, you aren’t alone. While you can’t travel back in time to 19th century England, you can dress up in your own dramatic ball gown to channel the lovable and powerful heroine, Kate Sharma,” Variety writes.
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“Give Lady Whistledown and the town something to really talk about by going all out and channeling your most extra self this Halloween. We’re talking elbow-length gloves, corsets and lashings of jewels,” Cosmopolitan writes.
4. Beyonce’s Renaissance
In terms of modern-day cultural relevance and icons, it doesn’t get much better than Beyonce. While this costume is more on the high-maintenance side, if you do pull it off, it’ll be one for the ages.
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“Beyoncé’s Renaissance drop was an event — and the album’s cover art perfectly matches the disco sounds heard on the tracks,” New York Magazine writes. “Though you probably don’t have a horse on hand, you could carry around [a] silver pony — then add a Rapunzel-like golden wig and a rhinestone-encrusted ensemble (and maybe some silver strappy sandals) to seal the deal.”
“The word ‘iconic’ perfectly describes Queen Bey’s Renaissance album cover. As for the outfit execution, go for mega-long, Lady Godiva-esque hair extensions, a silver cut out dress, and carry around a toy horse,” Cosmopolitan writes.
5. Barbie & Ken
Barbie and Ken have always ranked high among the best Halloween costumes, but this year you can take it to a new level after drawing inspiration from the highly anticipated 2023 “Barbie” film.
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“One of the best parts about a Barbie Halloween costume is the numerous iterations you can go with — from Robbie’s bright pink retro exercise fit (brownie points if you include roller blades) to a vintage version from the ’50s. If you have your own Ryan Gosling to play the part of Ken, then you can also check out this great couple’s costume,” Variety writes.
“Who else is stoked for the Barbie movie to finally come out? If these behind-the-scenes photos from the set are any indication, the fashion is going to be just as fun as the plot. All you need is some neon-toned athleisure and a fake tan,” Marie Claire writes.
Sources
- Variety
- Cosmopolitan
- Billboard
- Marie Claire
- New York Magazine
- Woman’s Day
- People
- CNN
- Looper
- Pop Sugar
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.