By: Emily Spotts
All right, let’s settle this debate: literally anything in this universe can be made into a Halloween costume. If your Halloween costume can be found on every other person at the party, it might be time to go back to the drawing board. Every October, social media feeds fill up with costume inspiration, stores stock their shelves with the usual accessories, and people begin planning their looks for Halloween night. While some costumes never go out of style, others have been done so many times that it’s hard to get excited about them anymore. From the classic cat ears to recycled trends from social media, there are a few costumes that deserve a break this year. If you’re still looking for inspiration, here are some overdone Halloween costumes we hope to leave in the past.
01. Harley Quinn & Joker
We get it, they’re iconic, but how many Halloweens can we watch the same chaotic duo make an appearance? Between the colorful makeup, Harley’s signature pigtails, and the Joker’s infamous grin, this couple’s costume has been done time and time again. With so many creative characters and new pop-culture trends to choose from, maybe it’s time to put these two back in Arkham Asylum for the year and give someone else a chance in the Halloween spotlight.
02. Inflatables
At what point does a Halloween costume become more of an inconvenience than a costume? Inflatable dinosaurs, giant chickens, and oversized celebrities might get a few laughs, but they also take up half the room and make it nearly impossible to navigate a crowd. Sure, they’re funny for about five minutes, but when everyone’s wearing an oversized inflatable suit, the joke starts to lose its charm. Maybe this year, we can leave the giant costumes in storage and give everyone else some breathing room.
03. Clowns
Remember 2016, when people dressed up as creepy clowns and wandered through neighborhoods, parks, and streets just to scare unsuspecting strangers? What started as a bizarre viral trend quickly became a nationwide phenomenon, with reports of clown sightings spreading across the country. Nearly a decade later, the creepy clown look is still making appearances every Halloween.
Between the sinister smiles, fake blood, and oversized shoes, the costume has become more predictable than frightening. Maybe it’s time to leave the creepy clown craze in 2016, where it belongs, and give some new Halloween ideas a chance to take center stage.
04. The ‘Generic’ Black Cat
Every Halloween, without fail, someone reaches into their closet, throws on a black outfit, grabs a pair of cat ears, and calls it a costume. While there’s nothing wrong with keeping things simple, the black cat look has become the ultimate last-minute Halloween backup plan. It’s easy, it’s recognizable, and practically everyone has done it at least once. But with so many possibilities out there, maybe it’s time to let the cat out of the bag and try something new this year.
05. Cop & Robber
The officer outfit and the bright orange jumpsuit? A fashion emergency. Groundbreaking, really. This couple’s costume has been a Halloween party staple for years, and at this point, it’s starting to feel like a tradition that needs to end. Between the fake handcuffs and the oversized prisoner uniform, it’s hard to tell whether the couple planned their costumes weeks in advance or grabbed
whatever was left at the Halloween store. With so many creative couples costumes to choose from, maybe it’s time to let this duo serve its sentence and lock up the idea for good.
These are just a few of the costumes I don’t want to see this year. I really want to see a lot of creativity, people making costume ideas their own! It’s more fun than choosing the most viral costume from Halloween the year before.
Emily Spotts is a sophomore student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. She has a role in the Honors Program, is a board member for Habitat For Humanity, and a second year Tri-Lite member, she plans to graduate in the spring of 2029.
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