Last year, Barbie, Taylor Swift, and Ted Lasso were among the most popular Halloween costumes. This year, things are a little edgier, but the queen of pop still makes the list along with some new ideas.
A few other predictions I considered but weren’t solid enough to make my list include Garfield, that breakdancer Raygun from the Olympics, Inside Out 2 characters, Jojo Siwa after her edgy transformation, minions, and the beloved Penelope from Bridgerton.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration or want to know which super trendy ideas to avoid, these are my Halloween 2024 costume predictions.
Beetlejuice
First up is Beetlejuice. The original movie came out in 1988, and it has been a fantastic go-to costume for the last thirty years or so.
However, thanks to the recent release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, we can expect to see an influx of Beetlejuice characters, from the creep himself to Jenna Ortega’s new character Astrid. Get those pinstriped suits ironed and ready!
Taylor Swift
Unsurprisingly, The Tortured Poets Department was a success, and Taylor Swift’s tour dates continue to sell out. So, plenty of people will dress up as her again this year, but now, we have a few more options. Her tour outfits are popular, from the glittery Lover bodysuit to the whimsical Folklore dresses.
But following her melodramatic album, I bet people will dress up as a tortured poet in goth Victorian clothing, very much like Taylor’s outfit in the “Fortnight” music video. Furthermore, Travis and Taylor will probably be another common couples’ costume.
Cowboy Carter
While Bey’s most recent album, Cowboy Carter, wasn’t as big of a hit as RENAISSANCE, her loyal fans will still be stepping out in cowboy getups.
Beyonce’s flavor of country is modern and sexy, so tight leather, revealing chaps, and all-black cowboy looks will be around on Halloween. Bonus points if you carry an American flag ironically or make your hair platinum blonde!
Charli xcx
The pop star is having her biggest moment since she collaborated with Iggy Azalea back in the day on “Fancy.” Her Brat era is a distinct one, with very toned outfits and a ragged, almost apocalyptic vibe.
Many people say she’s bringing indie sleaze back, and while I’m not sure if indie sleaze can ever truly come back as the way it was in the early aughts, I think we’ll see lots of Brat-inspired Halloween costumes.
Joker and Harley Quinn
I’m not going to lie, I’m such a hater about this one. When will it end? People love, love, love dressing up as these two freaks, and with the upcoming release of the newest film, Joker: Folie à Deux, on October 4th, I’m sure many will go as this twisted couple.
I will say that these Halloween costumes can be relatively easy compared to, say, crafting a Taylor Swift stage costume from scratch. However, I’m not excited to see one million Harley Quinn’s on Halloween.
Deadpool and Wolverine
I’m a hater about this one too, sorry. The Deadpool & Wolverine movie came out a couple of months ago, so comic fanatics will probably go as one of these characters.
The movie wasn’t the blockbuster some expected it to be — likely due to superhero movie fatigue — but dedicated fans are still hyped up about it. And to be fair, the movie was not a flop, just didn’t excite many people outside the fandom. So, get your claws and red mask if you’re one of those fans.
Trump and Kamala
It’s an election year, and you know what that means — political Halloween costumes. I suspect people from both political parties will have satirical, obnoxious, hilarious, and dark costumes, usually criticizing the other party’s candidate.
I can’t say I’m excited to see a bunch of tiny-handed Trumps at the function, but these Halloween costumes can be wildly funny.
Sabrina Carpenter
Another pop star? Yup! The lady pop stars dominated this year — and last year. Sabrina Carpenter is one of the hottest girls on the scene right now, and like Taylor and Chappell, she loves a flashy outfit.
Her staple tiny skirts and heart-shaped cutouts make it easy for people to mimic her look. A pair of gogo boots and some self-tanner and you’re good to go.
Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan’s meteoric rise to pop stardom means we’ll see many versions of her this Halloween. She has some flamboyant and eye-catching outfits that would be a blast to recreate as a costume.
The two that come to mind for me first are the biker, Kill-Bill-esque suit she wears for “Femininomenon” and the sassy, pseudo-pageant queen look from the cover of The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Her VMA looks were also stellar, so those could be used as inspiration too.
Lisa Frankenstein
The Lisa Frankenstein movie came out months and months ago and did not do well when it debuted. Like, it lost over $10 million at the box office, so, yikes. Nevertheless, Lisa Frankenstein is a cool character, and the movie put this costume idea on many people’s radars.
It’s a classic Halloween vibe, so even if the movie wasn’t extraordinary, the look will always be perfect for spooky season. Note that I haven’t seen the film, so can’t comment on its quality, but it does seem to have a small cult following online. Who knows, maybe it’ll be a cult classic in a few years.
Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders came out on Netflix a few months ago and has become a widely watched show. Again, I haven’t seen it, but people love talking about it, and this is an obvious costume opportunity.
We all know a raunchy costume on Halloween is a given (I wear ‘em too) and cheerleader uniforms are already cute and skimpy, so it’s a no-brainer.
Fallout Characters
My last major prediction is that we’ll see some Fallout characters from the new TV series, which premiered in April of this year.
From the blue suits to the noseless Ghoul, there are several options when it comes to costumes. Some of these characters’ costumes seem tricky to replicate, but that’s not my problem, I’m just here to make predictions.
The Pop Culture of it All
Halloween trends are driven by pop culture more than ever, so it’s not surprising that most costumes take inspiration from music, movies, shows, or celebrities.
We love a topical Halloween costume, but I won’t shame you for wearing the witch hat in your closet that you wore the last four years in a row. But if you want to get more into the spirit, these ideas are distinctly 2024-themed.
