12 Pop Culture-Inspired Halloween Costume Ideas for 2023
From Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner to Barbenheimer, there are endless pop culture moments of 2023 that serve as the perfect Halloween costume inspiration.
Now that October is here, the Halloween season is officially underway. There are countless iconic, unforgettable pop culture moments from this year, sourcing from all of the music, TV, movies, and celebrity moments of 2023, which means endless opportunities for unique costumes, simple or extravagant in scope. Whether you're the type to keep a running list of costume ideas throughout the year or someone who tends to wait until October 30th, here are some of L'OFFICIEL's favorite pop culture-inspired Halloween costumes for 2023.
Barbenheimer
Barbie and Oppenheimer, two highly anticipated, blockbuster films opened this year on the same day, resulting in a massive cultural phenomenon, known simply as "Barbenheimer". Fans joked online about the huge difference in aesthetics, content, and humor between the two films, with many people opting to watch the two movies as a double feature.
The one thing that the two films have in common is a unique, distinct visual aesthetic, especially in the costuming, which inspired fans to arrive at theatres dressed up for the occasion, often combining bright pink, feminine pieces of clothing with dark, vintage-inspired menswear pieces. As seen in the photo above, it's all about pairing the two seemingly clashing aesthetics — the hyper-feminine Barbie pink look with muted vintage menswear tones, like camel or black. For this extremely versatile look, all you need is to combine the two drastically different aesthetics or a "Barbenheimer" t-shirt, which went viral earlier this year in anticipation of the dual releases.
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner
Of all the celebrity couples that debuted this past year, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner are perhaps the most surprising. Dating rumors began circling online earlier in 2023, but with no photos together or public appearances, fans online were hesitant to give credit to the gossip. However, in early September, the two were spotted getting cozy with one another at Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour in Los Angeles, confirming the rumors once and for all. Since then, the two have been spotted together several times. To channel this couple's outfit, all you need is Chalamet's black hoodie and a basic t-shirt, with a cigarette in hand, and Jenner's updo hairstyle, figure-hugging outfit, and gold hoops.
Selena Gomez with her blanket
In an August Instagram story post, a friend of Selena Gomez shared this photo of her, looking cozy and comfortable in a teal blanket. Within hours, the photo went viral, and users online posted thousands of memes of Gomez. This hilarious costume is easily recognizable, low-effort, and perfect for Halloween. After all, who doesn't want to be wrapped up in a blanket while still staying on trend? For this look, all you need is a minimal, natural makeup look, and the iconic blanket in question.
PinkPantheress 'Mosquito' Music Video
British musician PinkPantheress has become known as a Y2K style star as of late. With her 2022 single "Boy's A Liar" reaching number two in the UK charts, and the remix of the same song with Ice Spice reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, PinkPantheress has definitely seen more of the spotlight in 2023. As a result, she has become revered both for her music, as well as for her signature Y2K, Bratz-eque style.
Recently, the singer released a music video for her song "Mosquito", in which she somehow channels both Breakfast at Tiffany's and Y2K It Girl in a trek around New York City along with actresses Charithra Chandran, India Amarteifio, and Yara Shahidi. The video features the four strutting side-by-side down the street, shopping bags in tow, and thanks to the visuals and the catchy pop song, the video exudes that highly sought-after iconic It girl, Bratz, Y2K energy. This could be a great look to emulate this Halloween, especially if it's a group costume. All you need is three friends, shopping bags, a mini skirt or low-rise jeans, and a statement hat to make this look work.
Taylor Swift Eras Tour
Forget 2023, thanks to the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift has become one of the most iconic parts of pop culture this decade. Her influence is undeniable and can be seen in many trends this year. The Eras Tour brought us a congressional hearing on Ticketmaster sales, several world tours, and some of the most iconic outfits seen on the pop star to date. Swift is known for her bodysuits, sparkly tights, and knee-high boots — all matching of course — and this look could be perfect for a stunning costume this Halloween.
Of course like Swift, you could even opt for outfit changes throughout the night, taking inspiration from some of the singer's other eras. For an Eras Tour-inspired costume, you could opt for the bodysuit look, or even a flowy white dress, a la Folklore, a Fearless-inspired sparkly dress and cowboy boots, or a fierce, bold red and black number for Reputation. Whatever route you choose to take, there's endless inspiration to be found in the Eras Tour outfits.
Rihanna Super Bowl Performance
The annual Super Bowl performance is always a moment to be remembered throughout the year, but the 2023 performance was especially memorable thanks to Rihanna's captivating performance. Decked out in a red monochromatic look consisting of a Loewe jumpsuit and bustier under a matching red Alaïa jacket, Rihanna stunned as she delivered a packed set full of the singer's most iconic songs. Perhaps even more impressive than the visually engaging costume she wore, the singer performed while suspended in the air, and as she later revealed, while she was pregnant. For this unique look, all you need is a red overcoat, baggy red pants, and a matching red top.
Succession Season 4's Ludicrously Capacious Bag
Succession has had its numerous pop culture moments throughout the series' reign on HBO, and this year was no exception. Season 4, released earlier in 2023, delivered some of the most viral memes of the year, with Tom Wambsgams' scathing remarks on Cousin Greg's date's Burberry bag being one of them. The ludicrously capacious bag — capable of holding flat shoes for the subway and a lunch pail — became recognizable overnight, making it a perfect choice for an easy, but iconic Halloween costume this year, because really all you need is a monstrous, gargantuan purse or tote bag.
M3GAN
M3GAN, a horror film released this past January, went viral earlier in 2023 after a scene from a trailer featured the killer doll dancing to music, altering the film's reputation from a run-of-the-mill creepy doll horror movie to something new, adding new layers of humor (and horror) to the already scary movie. Both the dancing sequence, as well as the doll's creepy, human-like appearance, have made M3GAN — the doll and the movie — an iconic part of pop culture this year. In order to recreate M3GAN's outfit, all you need is a blonde wig, a striped shirt, neutral neutral-colored dress, and if you want to go above and beyond, maybe bright-blue contact lenses.
Nepo Baby Controversy
The term Nepo Baby has been floating around the Internet for a while, but 2023 was a big year in particular for the phrase. Although it is usually used pejoratively in reference to celebrities, many embraced the label this year, with one such example being Hailey Bieber. The model stepped out wearing a "Nepo Baby" baby tee along with light-wash denim jeans, a chic black shoulder bag, and an understated makeup look. This iconic look makes for a unique, memorable costume and all you need to achieve Bieber's laid-back, yet stylish look is a pair of vintage jeans, a black bag, and the iconic baby tee in question.
Olivia Rodrigo's Guts
Olivia Rodrigo has had her fair share of pop culture moments since her debut several years ago but with the release of her sophomore album, Guts, in early September, her popularity has only grown. The album, which has been positively received, was accompanied by the announcement of a world tour, which sold out quickly. Guts introduced a new persona for the singer, one that leans into feminine chaos, confidence, and courage, and the album cover, featuring Rodrigo decked out in silver rings, a bold red lip, chipped black nail polish, and a sharp eyeliner look, would make for a perfect Halloween costume to commemorate one of 2023's biggest pop culture figures among Gen Z.
Choupette
What better way to dress to the theme of the 2023 Met Gala — honoring Karl Lagerfeld — than by drawing inspiration from the designer's beloved cat, Choupette? The red carpet at the Met Gala this year saw several looks inspired by Choupette, and all of them are memorable in their own way. Celebrities such as Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Jared Leto, and more showed up sporting these distinct styles, and even months later, we can't stop thinking about them. All you need for a Choupette-inspired look is a white or silver dress and a chic, classy feline makeup look.
Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour
There are no words to describe the impact of Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour, as it's been named the highest-grossing tour by a female artist ever. While her sound is one of one, her tour became a fashion show in its own right. At every stop Beyoncé unveiled a new outfit, ushering in a variety of some of her now most iconic on-stage looks that fans have already been quick to replicate. From silver sequined jumpsuits to hand motif embellished catsuits, channel your inner alien superstar this Halloween. (If you want to extend the costume idea for a matching best friend's moment, look no further than Blue Ivy Carter's looks.)