Which looks and references from pop artists would make great Halloween costumes?

[u/Ghost-Quartet]

We're about two weeks to go until Halloween so the time to start scraping together an outfit is NOW, and just for funsies and inspiration, let's dive into the world of pop music and try to get some ideas from there.

I find this question interesting because lying beneath it is a second question of which artists have served up "looks" that are creative and memorable enough to become a reference point for a costume, and sometimes that line is on a razor's edge.

For example, if you were to throw on a white tank top and jeans and say "I'm dressed up as Sigrid" (nothing against her) people would be like what? Those are just clothes. But then add a cunty blonde bob with a bedazzled hairclip and say "I'm Carly Rae Jepsen in the "Too Much" music video" then suddenly you're the coolest person at the party (I must assume).

I've taken the liberty of cooking up five different categories just to get those creative juices flowing:

1. A really obvious "GP friendly" costume everyone would recognize

2. A "popheads friendly" costume that dedicated music fans would recognize

3. An obscure "I hate gay Halloween" reference that would confuse all but the obsessed and terminally online

4. A no-budget look that you could do for relatively cheap

5. A group Halloween costume

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[u/ArugulaBeginning7038]

My Gay Halloween look last year was Lana Del Rey waiting tables at Waffle House and it was a huge hit at the party

[u/Frajer]

Obvious - Baby One More Time

Less obvious- PinkPantheress, which can also be reused as Cher from Clueless

Easy- 22 Taylor Swift

I hate gay Halloween why are you Ariana Grande and a donut

Group costume- brat cinematic universe

[u/HowDoIWhat → u/Frajer]

I went to a bar in college where it was Britney Spears night (or Halloween? It’s been a while) and all the female bartenders dressed up in different Britney looks, flight attendant, (feather) boa, etc.

[u/Federal_Card307 → u/HowDoIWhat]

Britney is in a rare category where even outfits she wore in paparazzi pics are iconic enough to be easily recognizable ex. the “dump him” t-shirt and beret. You could have a party with 15-20 people and you could find a recognizable Britney look for each of them

[u/penguinpilates → u/Frajer]

I did slave for you britney last year and it was very fun

[u/funsizedaisy]

For 3, there's gotta be some bird-Kelly-Clarkson costumes this year. Maybe add in a 3rd person dressed as the store clerk holding a coffee cup.

[u/whateverfloatsurgoat]

I know they're metal but still have some J-Pop element so imma go with Babymetal's battle armour.

Especially the 2013-2017 ones which are easier to reproduce - and the red tutus are instantly recognisable

[u/Ghost-Quartet]

1. GP Friendly: Beyonce in the "Countdown" video, all you'd need is a hat and leotard or some fierce bangs if you think you can pull it off.

2. Popheads friendly: "Angel of My Dreams" JADE look, there are so many to choose from but as long as you have the wings and that makeup/hair it feels like it would read pretty well.

3. Gay Halloween: Hilary Duff on Good Morning America

4. No budget look: Meghan Trainor in the giraffe onesie from the "Me Too" music video would be easy to get, comfortable, and you could wear it again later.

5. Group costume: The Vengaboys

[u/webtheg]

Dua Lipa in the red trackies and black bra. Ticks all of your points

[u/racloves]

1) obviously recognisable: Madonna - cone bra and blonde wig. Various Gaga looks like meat dress. Kylie Can’t Get You Out Of My Head white look (unless you’re American I guess). Freddie Mercury - Yellow jacket and fake moustache. David Bowie with the zigzag face paint. Chappell Roan - red curly wig and pink cowboy hat.
2) a monkey costume and say you’re Robbie Williams
5) group costume: various TS eras.

[u/dr_franck]

1. GP friendly - Lady Gaga in Bad Romance

2. Popheads friendly - Orville Peck, any look

3. Obscure, Terminally Online - the Hannah Montana boot pillow

4. No-budget - Justin Bieber in Yummy M/V

5. Group costume - Spice Girls

[u/clawsinurback]

I went as Mica from Mag Bay last year. Did the blue paint and everything. 

[u/Roxy175]

Easy and obvious would be Billie Eilish in the green roots era. Just need a neon green shirt and shorts and a wig.

[u/keylimekiwi]

Telephone gaga w the coke cans in her hair would be so fun—her and Beyoncé would be a great duo costume

[u/1koolspud → u/keylimekiwi]

Convinced a friend to wear a body suit and dress as Caution Tape Gaga one year for Halloween. 10/10 low budget costume if you are brave.

[u/EJB515]

I have my main Halloween costume but I’m trying to figure out a secondary costume for a more casual event. And literally googled “Melatonin Halloween costume.” So I’m not dressed as Tinashe but it would be a reference to her. And I have not figured out how to do that yet.

But one of the Google related searches was “How stressful are Halloween costumes for the ADHD community?”

“Omg you people can’t do anything” indeed.

But a Melatonin costume would be both Popheads friendly and veering into Gay Halloween.

[u/EducationalExtreme61]

Gaga has some looks people can easily reproduce, Kylie has the cgyoomh white hooded dress and the fever tour metalic look, Beyonce has some looks but you can't do her without the hair...

[u/Latrans_]

Katy Perry's whip cream bra. Lady Gaga's Bad Romance look.

[u/Giesi85]

Beyoncé‘s yellow Latex dress and Cowboy hat from the Telephone video.

[u/Hopeful_Book]

On the subreddit for WWWY fest, I once saw a picture of somebody dressed up as "Black Parade" Hatsune Miku, so I'm gonna go with that

[u/Temporary_Cap5927]

1. Zara Larsson in the Midnight Sun music video

[u/SylveonFrusciante]

Well, I was Chappell back in 2024 when she was blowing up and that costume was a huge hit in my circle. This year, I keep joking I’m gonna recreate Gaga’s meat dress with slices of bologna and now I’m afraid it’s too late to back out. I guess I’m prepared to be the worst smelling person at any Halloween party I attend.

[u/penguinpilates]

My friend had Electra Heart in her list but I think they ended up going with evil tooth fairy.