27 Best Pop Culture Halloween Costume Ideas For 2023

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The best pop culture costume ideas for Halloween 2023

The Evening Standard’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The most interactive holiday of all is right around the corner, and for those who love to dress up, dress down or just judge, it really is like all your Christmases have come at once. Much like how the Queen had a half birthday so she didn’t get sad mid-way through the year, we have Halloween to tide us over until the next Met Gala.

Of course, Halloween last year was a memorable one, largely because of its oligopoly of costumes: we had a slew of Pam and Tommy’s (even though that costume proves to be pretty morally dubious), a handful of Stranger Things characters, some Elvises and, of course, Heidi Klum as a worm.

This year will bring forth the likely suspects, from the seemingly unkillable Harley Quinn to the low-effort, low-budget Wednesday Addams, but also some 2023 staples. Expect Barbenheimer galore, even more Beyoncé space cowboys and plenty of visual puns about Lost Mary vapes.

For those looking to go a little less predictable, we have the answers. Here are the best pop culture costume ideas for Halloween 2023.

Sydney from The Bear

When you’ve got a supper club at 6pm but a Halloween party at 9pm: this is the multifunctional costume for all those trendy London foodies. All you need is some cheap chef whites (custom Thom Browne not required, thankfully), a jazzy bandana, a prop knife, Birkenstock clogs and a constant cacophony of you shouting “CORNER!” and “BEHIND!”

Boygenius

The easiest costume ever — borrow an oversized shirt and (ideally red) tie from any man you know and just remember to stick to your mates all night in case you end up looking like a lonely canvassing Labour politician or a Sean of the Dead who’s lost his name badge.

Tanya from The White Lotus

For this, Ariana Grande’s Jennifer Coolidge impression is mandatory homework. Otherwise, just talk really slowly, get a bit drunk, purse your lips and make sure to wear the biggest sunglasses and most colourful kaftans you can find. It’s not my fault if you get mistaken for Peppa Pig.

Obscure Barbies only

Cowboy Barbie, Mojo Dojo-era Ken and Rollerskating Barbie will be everywhere this Halloween so to set yourself apart from the crowd, go as a lesser-thought-of Barbie character, like Allan or Midge. For Allan, you’ll need a rainbow-coloured polo shirt, and for Midge, a floral flock, red wig and fake baby bump. Voilà!

Kendall Roy

He’s the eldest boy! If you’re looking to pay homage to Succession this Halloween, Kendall is essentially the only recognisable character to dress as, unless you happen to have short red hair and an ass that won’t quit. Try and dress up as anyone else and you’ll just be… a person in a suit. Thankfully, Little Lord Fuckleroy has some pretty distinctive clothing items, though you’ll need to work to find good enough dupes, because the real things cost a bomb. The best option is looking online for an L to the OG jersey, which they are actually selling on Etsy these days.

2000s Posh and Becks

The success of Pam and Tommy last year proves that the Y2K-era couple costume is still thriving, and this is your 2023 update. Hot off the release of David Beckham’s Netflix doc, everyone’s reminiscing about these two in their prime, but now you can become them. The Victoria of this couple may need to undergo a dramatic hair transformation (or, more reasonably, wear a wig) and the Becks might need a few highlights, but otherwise, it’s just sunnies, low-rise jeans and Y2K vest tops all round. Maybe even a little flat cap, while you’re at it. Birkin and bombastically expensive engagement rings are optional.

Britney and her knives

Britney recently treated fans to another one of her spirited dancing videos on Instagram, this time with the addition of two kitchen knives, because why the hell not! The memorable video has spawned discourse, memes and now, finally, costume inspo, as it only furthers the recognisability of a core 2020s Britney look. It’d be obvious enough from the blonde hair, thick kohl eyeliner, cropped puff-sleeved shirt and lack of clothes on your bottom half, but the knives really complete this look.

Pop culture halloween costumes

27 Best Pop Culture Halloween Costume Ideas For 2023

Best Pop Culture Halloween Costumes 2023: The Met Gala Cockroach

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The final guest to walk the red carpet at the Met Gala, this cockroach, but he refused to tell us who he was wearing #metgala #tiktokfashion #nyc

♬ original sound – the cut

At fashion’s biggest night this year, an uninvited guest was the talk of the town — and this guest just so happened to be the instantly legendary Met Gala cockroach. The insect sparked countless memes and reactions after it appeared on the red carpet, and a roach Halloween costume is sure to provoke some laughs as well as a few shivers. For this costume, you’ll want to wear all brown as well as a headband with antennae; a few cardboard cutouts attached to your back can serve as this glamorous roach’s extra limbs.