What Your Halloween Costume Says About You

Written by TFN Writer: Francesca Yoon

Halloween may be accredited as many college student’s favorite day of the year. For some, it's an occasion that is planned weeks, months, maybe even a year in advance and people are able to express their creativity for one night and we’re showcased with unique costumes every year. However, it's inevitable that there are particular costumes, whether they reflect current trends of that year or are just overall staple costumes, that are seen time and time again. Nonetheless, the Halloween costume you choose can say a lot about you as a person and I’m going to break down some of them.

1. Black Cat

Starting with the most common Halloween costume ever. If you dressed up as a cat this year it was most likely a last-minute decision as all your other costumes weren’t delivered on time. So you borrowed some cat ears from your friend (since every other person has a pair) and put on an all-black outfit and called it a night. You’re most likely an easygoing person who’s just in it for a good time, but please order your costumes in advance next year.

2. Playboy Bunny

If you’re dressing up as a Playboy bunny you want to be a bit different than the thousands of black cats you’ll see on Halloween. And sure you may be referencing Regina from Mean Girls or Elle from Legally Blonde but I can almost guarantee you’re going to walk into a room and be one of five people who stuck on some bunny ears and were thinking the exact same thing as you. But at the end of the day, it's another checkbox checked off on the inherently long list of college costumes.

3. Joker and Harley Quinn

Whether you’re doing this costume with a significant other, best friend or solo, this is one of the only costumes that I can confidently say had its time and needs to be retired. I swear there was a Harley Quinn renaissance after the initial release of Suicide Squad in 2016 and we haven’t been able to escape its grasp since then. You most likely went on Pinterest and looked up a couple of costumes and found this and loved the angsty Joker Harley love story and thought it was the perfect fit for Halloween, and maybe it was, but please it's 2023 there has to be more couple costumes out there.

4. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

Speaking of couples, the most iconic couple of the year (in my opinion, sorry Kylie and Timothee). You’re 100% a Swiftie and made a big deal about the fact that she’s now able to wear high heels with her 6 '5 boyfriend, and most likely have a vendetta against at least one ex. Somehow you convinced your significant other to put on a Jersey and do this costume with you and as much as this is a simple costume to do you think it’s an iconic pop culture moment from this year.

5. Firefighter/Cop/Swat/Construction Worker

The quintessential college Halloween costume that I myself have participated in. You can’t go through your four years of college without being at least one of these and if you yourself aren’t one, you’re going to see a whole bunch of these when you go out this year. I don’t know what it is about dressing up as basic professions but it really gets the college girls going. If you’re being any of the few listed above it's just a tick off a checkbox of the college experience. I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw an entire firemen squad on a night out.

6. Schoolgirl

Whether it's referencing the classic American academia or Britany Spears's iconic Hit Me Baby One More Time music video, this costume reigns as another staple in the college costume rotation. If you’re being a school girl this year it was probably a last-minute choice as you find a plaid mini skirt, borrow your business major friend's tie and throw it together before you head out the door. I can’t help but think this costume is a bit problematic but nonetheless, one we again see every year.

7. Barbie

Margot Robbie's cultural impact cannot be denied when it comes to Halloween costumes. Another iconic pop culture moment from this year, you either loved Barbie or love Margot Robbie. If you’re going as Barbie this year you have so many choices and have some major appreciation for the dozens of outfits that were showcased in the film. You’re possibly more on the feminine side and want to go all out and this is the perfect costume to do so.

8. Ballerina

While I'm sure some professional ballerinas may find it cringe, the ballet core trend of the past few years has finally made its way to be incorporated into this year's Halloween costume trends. You most likely took a few classes when you were young and love the pink feminine aesthetic of ballet. If you’re going as a ballerina this year, you’re most likely on trend and live on Pinterest. I personally can’t wait to see all the renditions of the costume this year.

Whether you go as one of the following costumes I mentioned above or thought of an idea that you’ve never seen before, Halloween is all about feeling good in what you’re wearing. It's undeniable how iconic pop culture moments trickle their way down to the masses and how they reflect on that year's costume choices. In the meantime, we can only wait to see who or what we’re going to see next year.