Halloween will be here sooner than you know it (somehow it’s already October???) and the pressure is already on to have a great costume. Luckily, with Prime Day upon us, you can get your outfit hunt out of the way now—on sale, too—so you’re not rummaging through a Spirit Halloween at the last minute. Below, we’ve rounded up a few suggestions to kick off your costume search this season.
Moo Deng
Oh you want to dress like the hottest It girl right now? That would be Moo Deng, the baby Pygmy hippo going viral for being adorable and ever-moisturized, biting her handler, and embodying overall Babygirl behavior. There’s no better icon to emulate in this moment, I fear.
Elphaba
With Wicked season and spooky season overlapping, there’s no better time to get witchy. A classic black dress, pointed hat, and tights should do the trick—but don’t forget the most important step: the green body paint.
Harley Quinn
Hopefully, your Halloween fares far better than Joker: Folie a Deux did at the box office. But perhaps the best part of the film and its press run, Lady Gaga’s take on Harley Quinn’s style (on screen and on the red carpet), is worth recreating this season. Think harlequin prints, heavy eye makeup, and pops of red.
Tashi Duncan
Lives were changed when Challengers hit theaters this year, many thanks to Zendaya’s Tashi Duncan, a tennis pro, coach, and master manipulator. Her I TOLD YA T-shirt, designed by Loewe’s Jonathan Anderson, has become a symbol of the film, and it’s easy to incorporate a similar style into your costume this Halloween.
Harper Stern
If you’re missing your Industry Sundays after that season 3 finale, it’s time to tap into your inner Harper Stern. The young banker played by Myha’la isn’t flashy; she wears a lot of neutrals and suits so she can keep her focus on her cutthroat business. But her simplicity makes your costume search even easier: pull one of your office outfits out of the closet and throw on a headset, and you’re good to go.
Charli XCX
It’s easy to channel the queen of brat summer with a lime green and black color palette, but if you want to get even more specific, try going for slinky outfits with an indie sleaze flair, paired with boots and dramatic gloves. For an extra 365 Party Girl touch, smudge your eye makeup.
Nicole Kidman’s AMC Commercial
The Patron Saint of Cinema, Nicole Kidman, specifically in this 2021 AMC Theatres ad, is prime costume material. If you have a pinstripe suit, heels, and your hair tied up in a chignon, you’re ready to come to this place for magic. Bonus points if you have the full monologue memorized.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she’s listening to Lorde right now.
