Chloe Gerhard | Writer
September 28, 2023
In a little over a month, Halloween will finally be here. All spooky season enthusiasts are fixed on one lingering question: “What costume will I wear?”
Luckily, 2023 has been a year of phenomenal movies with show-stopping characters to pull from. The summer blockbuster, Barbie is the perfect choice to find a costume leaning more towards fabulous than frightening. There are numerous different looks in the Barbie movie to pull from, but Western Ken and Barbie are some of the most recognizable. This is a perfect couple or individual costume that will be recognized by all and is pretty simple to recreate. For all the Kens, this is not the only look to sport on Halloween. Another great option is Ken’s campy fur coat look during the iconic “I’m Just Ken” song sequence. For those looking for another Barbie look, the 80s workout attire that Barbie wears while rollerblading back to Barbie Land is a great option!
For those wanting to take their Barbie costumes in a more unique direction, looks can also be drawn from the hit Netflix animation series, Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse. Drawing from characters from the TV show, senior Cameron Contreras expressed, “My friend Erin and I want to be Barbie and Raquel.” This will be a dynamic duo costume ideal for all the blondes and brunettes.
Moving on from fabulous to frightening, another recognizable costume to wear this year is M3GAN from the campy horror film M3GAN. This costume is the perfect mixture of comedy and horror. It’s perfect for any Halloween event on the calendar. This costume is also shockingly easy to recreate as all that is needed is a tan dress, a white, red, and blue bow, a striped shirt, and white tights. To take this costume to the next level, doll-like makeup and a dirty blonde wig could also be added to the look.
If going solo is not your style this Halloween, there are plenty of group costumes to choose from. A group could be all different A24 characters. A24 is a film entertainment company behind critically acclaimed movies like Lady Bird, Midsommar, and Everything Everywhere All at Once. A group dressing as any character from this beloved entertainment company gives plenty of creative freedom to all involved and there is no minimum or maximum number of people for this group costume, which makes it extraordinarily inclusive.
While shopping for this year’s Halloween costume, it is important to consider overconsumption and its ramifications on the planet. It has been estimated that around 7 million costumes are thrown out every year which are mostly made of polyester. Instead of purchasing a cheaply made costume that will only be worn once, consider thrifting or turning to your own closet. Get crafty with the pieces you already have or pieces you thrifted. Senior Roxana Hernandez voiced, “Thrifting is a great and environmentally safe way to find a Halloween costume.”
Finally, it’s 2023 and costumes should be ethical and culturally appropriate. When considering a costume, it is important to question if it is mocking or appropriating a culture. In addition, steer away from making light of a tragedy or using disability devices as a prop. If unsure, it is better to choose the most respectful option to make Halloween safe and enjoyable for all.
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