Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images, Hulu, NPR Music
We’re still a couple weeks out from Halloween, which gives you plenty of time to forget about it entirely and panic on October 30 when you still have no idea what your costume should be. Chances are you won’t have time to find an exact replica of Australian Olympian Raygun’s breakdancing outfit, and turning your nails into Wolverine-inspired claws sounds painful. So, what’s a procrastinating partygoer to do? Fear not, for I come offering inspiration for low-lift Halloween costumes that don’t rely solely on corny wordplay. One can only be a Freudian slip so many times.
To truly be a lazy and/or last-minute costume, you should be able to recreate it with things you have at home. With that in mind, here are 20 costume ideas that require minimal effort and (hopefully) no last-minute trips to the store.
An Early-’00s Disney Channel Star
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
There is truly no way to do this costume incorrectly. Do you have jeans, a skirt, multiple tank tops, assorted jewelry, some scarves, a belt, a random bag, no shame, and maybe a hat? Wear them all at once, and you too can look like an early-’00s Disney Channel star.
Rihanna at the Airport
Photo: starzfly/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
It’s comfy! It’s easy! It’s an excuse to wear sweats on Halloween and call it a costume! Carry around a couple baby dolls and dodge questions about if you’ll ever drop a new album to really sell the look.
Colin Jost and His Infected Toe
Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
When Olympic surfing correspondent Colin Jost cut his foot on coral reef, he birthed a phenomenal Halloween costume as well as a staph infection. Simply wear a Hawaiian shirt, a navy blazer (Olympic logo optional, though encouraged), white shorts, and a bandaged toe. For an even lower-maintenance Olympian-inspired look, dress as the Turkish sharpshooter Yusuf Dikec who showed up to the Games looking like a dad about to do some yard work.
Zombie Girlboss
Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
The girlboss is dead, long live the girlboss. In honor of her #dailygrind, wear your girlboss-iest outfit — a pantsuit and “the future is female” tee are preferable — and slap on some zombie makeup. Bonus points if you carry around a notebook, tumbler, or tote bag that says something like, “Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss.”
Westminster Dog Show Trainer
Photo: Ben Hider/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Do you have a dog? Do you have any business casual clothes and a pair of sneakers? Are you ready to assume the posture of a dog trainer, run-walking with leash taut? Just slap a fake number on your upper arm, and you and your prize-winning pup are ready to prance around on Halloween.
Adam Sandler
Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images
This is technically two costumes in one. First, replicate Adam Sandler’s street style with baggy gym shorts, an oversized t-shirt, sneakers, and a basketball. Later in the night, ditch the basketball for a tie and a backwards baseball hat and surprise! Now, you’re Billie Eilish.
Taylor Swift’s Time Magazine Cover
If you don’t feel like rewearing your Eras tour outfit — which is also a solid last-minute costume option — dress as Taylor Swift in her Person of the Year era. Just wear a black long-sleeved leotard, black tights, and drape your cat over your shoulders all night.
#MomTok
Photo: Fred Hayes/Disney
Grab your closest frenemies, coordinate your most Utah-inspired outfits, and look up the definition of “soft-swinging.” Behold! You are now the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Spend the night doing TikTok dances at questionable times and asking each other if MomTok will ever recover from the drama.
Boygenius
Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella
Do you have a suit and two friends who also have suits? Congratulations, you’re Boygenius!
Princess Diana
Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
For an homage to the monarchy, put on some bike shorts, a big sweatshirt, tennis shoes, white socks, and a tiara if you’ve got one. Voila! The people’s Halloween costume.
Brat Summer
Photo: Katja Ogrin/Redferns
Time to put your “Apple” dance to good use. Spill red wine on a white tank top, put on black tights, forgo the pants, and lean into the Julia Fox of it all. For an even lazier Brat-inspired look, write “halloween” on a slime-green shirt.
Chappell Roan’s Band on NPR’s Tiny Desk
You may not have the time, makeup palette, or pile of red curly hair needed to recreate Chappell Roan’s look from her NPR “Tiny Desk” performance. But you probably have a pink top, black bottoms, blue eyeshadow, and red lipstick. Put that all together, smudge your mascara, and tell people you’re their favorite artist’s favorite backing band.
Mark Zuckerberg Surfing
Spooky! To re-create this iconic look, you’ll need a blue hoodie, black shorts, and a face full of sunscreen or white face paint. If you’ve got a surfboard, great. If you want a more manageable accessory, carry around a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s.
Carmy From The Bear
Yes, chef! For this costume, wear a white tee, black pants, a blue apron, and the thousand-yard stare of a man who doesn’t know if his beef shipment will get to the restaurant in time for opening.
The Roman Empire
Photo: Print Collector/Getty Images
TikTok has recently enlightened us all on how frequently men apparently think about the Roman Empire. (Or, more likely, the 2000s film Gladiator.) This means you can spend October 31 in a bedsheet toga and gold crown/headband, asking every man you see how often they think about you.
Very Demure, Very Mindful
Photo: The Hapa Blonde/GC Images
Do you have long hair and a cutesy attitude? Frame your face with two little braids and take a page out of Jools Lebron’s handbook for your Halloween costume. See how you didn’t spend an excessive amount of time trying to replicate Jojo Siwa’s black rhinestone outfit? Very mindful, very demure.
Rob From Love Island USA
Photo: Ben Symons/Peacock
Time to do your big one! All you need for this costume are a pair of overalls, a penchant for snakes, and a passive voice that makes women want to peel you like an onion. If you’re feeling bold but still want to pay homage to this season of Love Island US, put on a bikini and a fake mic pack, and spend the night screaming “FAWK AARON!”
Maxine From X
Photo: A24/Courtesy Everett Collection
Looking for a different overall-centric costume? Wear a tube top under some denim short overalls and put on a red bandana to dress as Mia Goth’s Maxine from the X franchise. Don’t forget to splatter yourself with some fake blood for good measure.
Tonia Haddix From Chimp Crazy
Photo: HBO
Please note: this costume requires blonde hair and a personal vendetta against PETA. To dress as the Tiger King director’s latest progeny, wear an all-pink outfit, pink sparkly nails, hair teased to the gods and/or put in a half-up ponytail, and smear some cream all over your lips. Make sure to accessorize with a bag of chocolate cake mix labeled TONKA’S REAL ASHES.
A Spooky Hot Girl
If all else fails, dress hot and put a pumpkin on your head.
This post has been updated.
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