Costume Ideas To Stand Out At A Halloween Party

It’s time to start thinking about Halloween costume ideas for that inevitable Halloween party you will be invited to. When you are invited to a Halloween party, at work or at a private home, it is likely organized by the type of person who waits all year for their favorite holiday to come around.

There are two types of people when it comes to Halloween: those who live for dressing up and have their own costume chest, and those who loathe the holiday. There is rarely someone who feels tepid about Halloween. If you fall into the first category, the holiday can still create some anxiety — how will you impress the crowd this year? Will you be able to come up with unique costume ideas that no one else has already tried?

To stand out at a party of fellow costumed party-goers it will take some pre-planning on your part. The stakes are even higher if there is a costume contest. Don’t worry, we have some costume ideas to help you stand out and be noticed at your next Halloween party:

Everyday Objects

Starting at a basic level will help you not to stress about what your Halloween costume will be. Simply look around wherever you happen to be sitting right now and chose any object to dress up as. Just like that, you have costume ideas. The fun part is finding the materials and designing the costume to emulate an everyday object. Play off the idea of the ketchup and mustard costumes, or find other objects costumes like office supplies or furniture. The simplicity of it will have people cocking their head to the side and just asking themselves how you got so creative with your costume ideas.

Little-Known Historical Figures

Coming prepared with a costume that will keep people guessing is a great way to meet people if you find yourself as the odd (wo)man out. Try choosing a relatively obscure historical figure and having some talking points ready for when people ask about your costume ideas. You can choose anybody and play someone else for a night. You could really jazz it up by impersonating their accent and mannerisms if appropriate. If you have ever been told that you look like a historical figure, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to live out that person’s life for a night. Take it to the next level and bring props and maybe even some quotes to share with the other partygoers.

The Pun

Puns, also known lovingly as dad jokes, are typically very simple costume ideas that pack a lot of punch. Most people will ask what you are and then walk away shaking their heads with a smile on their face. Those that guess what you are will feel like the smartest person in the room for getting it right. The following are some of my past favorites that I have pulled off with success.

• Smart Cookie: a cap and gown with cookies attached
• Holy Guacamole: Halo and angel wings and a shirt with avocados on it
• Hawaiian Punch: Hawaiian shirt paired with boxing gloves
• 50 Shades of Grey: A collection of gray paint samples attached to a shirt
• French Kiss: A mime outfit with the band KISS-style makeup
• Grateful Dead: Zombie-style makeup with a shirt that reads “Thanks”

Conversation Starter

Creating a Halloween costume that can not only win you the best costume award, but also double as a conversation starter, is an art form. One of the best ones I have seen was a woman pairing her office attire with running shoes and sweatbands on her head and wrists. You may be asking, “what is the conversation piece?” She was a woman running for office. In the past decade, more women have been running for political seats than ever before in United States history. This is a safe but engaging way to talk about women, political science and the future of women in the political realm. If you are stuck on an idea, simply scroll through your news feed and find a hot topic that you can build your costume around. This is one of the best costume ideas that work well for outgoing people.

Push the Envelope

If you are going to a Halloween party with a crowd that knows you very well, choosing something outside of your comfort zone is sure to cause a stir. If you are always giving one of your friends a hard time for their comic book or anime obsession, dress up as one of their favorite characters to get a laugh. If you are known among your friendship circle for being modest, take the opportunity this Halloween to finally bring out your inner Catwoman. You can still maintain your modesty and stay covered up while squeezing into a skin-tight leather suit! The more that you step outside your day-to-day norm with wacky costume ideas, the more shocking and attention-getting the costume will be.

So, which type of person are you going to be this Halloween? Are you going to be the Grinch of Halloween and not dress up for the party, or are you going to go all out?

Halloween is supposed to be about having fun and being silly. Seize the opportunity to do it, just for one night, and try one of these fun costume ideas!