Hey guys! As we start nearing the infamous last day of October, it’s time to start thinking about who/what we’re going to be for Halloween this year! And if you’re like me, and it’s your first year celebrating Halloween on a college campus, you want to make sure your outfit doesn’t disappoint. The basic fits won’t do anymore—it’s time to start thinking outside the box and go full throttle with your idea.

But, thinking of a Halloween costume is never easy, especially one which will make you stand out and still be affordable (don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten that most of us have three dollars in our bank account). Luckily, I’ve compiled a list of costumes I’m dying to see on campus this year, and costumes I think will help you stand out amongst the rest of your peers.

Squid Game

I’m sure you’ve heard of the most recent Korean Netflix show that’s taking the world by storm. Not only is its popularity fairly recent, but the costumes are fairly simple to create. Players only need a green tracksuit, a white undershirt, and white shoes, and if you want an added effect, some makeup to look like cuts/bruises could really emphasize your Halloween game. You could also buy the masks online to be the guards or the Front Man. Overall, no matter who you are from the show, people will know what you’re trying to reference.

Low Budget Disney Characters

Like I mentioned earlier, I haven’t forgotten that Halloween costumes are expensive. And if you’re like me and like to wait until the last minute to get your costume together, Disney characters are always an easy move. Yes, they’re a bit basic, but I think if you put a lot of thought into it, the costume could come out really cute. Not to mention, couples have the option of being Disney princesses/princes, which could make for some adorable Halloween Instagram posts!

As for where to look, Ragstock has a phenomenal selection of everyday clothes that can be blended into an outfit to match a certain character. For example, I recently bought a pale blue romper there and was planning on wearing it for a picnic with my friends. But upon further inspection, I realized it would make the perfect low-budget Cinderella dress, paired with white sneakers, and a blue hairband. To me, costumes made up of clothes you’d wear outside of Halloween night are one of the smartest financial moves you can make.

Marvel Characters

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know this year has been MASSIVE for Marvel. For those of you who may have forgotten, here’s the line-up of shows/movies from this year (both out and soon to be out) that you can pick a character from and dress up as:

• Wandavision
• Falcon and the Winter Soldier
• Loki
• What If
• Hawkeye
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Seven Rings
• Black Widow
• Eternals
• Ms. Marvel
• Spiderman: No Way Home

These costumes could be a bit more expensive, and you’ll have to do some digging, but if I see anyone dress-up as Kate Bishop or Yelena or anyone from Eternals, I’ll be INCREDIBLY impressed. Might even ask for a picture!

Dressing up as Someone in Your Friend Group

Since I just gave you guys an expensive option, here’s another low-budget suggestion for a costume. I know I have a lot of friends with very distinct styles (something I adore about us) and trying to compile an outfit to look like them is super easy and affordable since you could borrow their clothes! It’s also a great way to get a good laugh out of all your friends, which might be better than wearing something worth over 100$ for one night only.

Political Figures

Even though it may feel like a lifetime ago, the 2021 election came to a close less than a year ago, and the memes from it are still a big part of pop culture today. You can never go wrong with a funny political stunt such as Kamala Harris’s outfit when she famously said, “We Did It, Joe,” or the fly on Pence’s head or even Bernie sitting with his mittens on. The possibilities are endless, and depending on what you go with, these costumes can come from your friends/parents/siblings’ closet! Super affordable and super easy to have fun with!

Just Memes

Enough said. Find a meme and do it. You won’t regret it.

Everyone in your Group does Different Outfits But You’re all the Same Celebrity

This can be a bit tricky depending on the celebrity you choose. However, if you and your group are willing, you can do your research and find a way for each of you to have a memorable outfit and have fun coordinating it together. I can assure you, on the night of Halloween, you’ll have the best group costume out there and it’ll be a great bonding experience for you and your friends.

Children Show Characters

For my last suggestion, I saved one of my favorites, which I also think people are most afraid to go with. Children’s shows bring nostalgia, and people react well to things they recognize. Plus, there’s no shame in loving and appreciating shows meant to bring happiness (I am very much a Miraculous Ladybug and She-ra and the Princesses of Power stan) and I think it would be great to see who else appreciates those shows through recognizing a Halloween costume and geeking out about it with you.

P.S: If any of you are thinking of dressing up as Chat Noir, please contact me immediately. I NEED to see that costume in person!

I hope my suggestions help and I can’t wait to see everyone’s Halloween costumes! No matter what you wear, it’ll definitely be a night to remember.