Once Labor Day has passed, our mind is already on the next thing. And by next, we mean our all-time favorite holiday: Halloween. While we do love a good stuffing moment at Thanksgiving — and who isn't into the spirit of Christmas — what other holiday do you literally get to dress up and play pretend? None! Unless you count the man pretending to be Santa at the shopping mall (we're onto you, buddy!), which we do not. Halloween is a chance to let your "freak flag fly." You truly can wear whatever costume you want without feeling judged, because everyone is doing it.
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Now, if you're like us, you tend to put everything off until the last minute and just grab random things from your closet and call it your "Halloween costume." If that's you, once again, no judgment — you do you. But to help you out, we've decided to pull together 50 Halloween costumes for women.
1. Barbie
With Greta Gerwig's massive film Barbie being everywhere, there has never been a better time than to dress up as a Barbie for Halloween. And the best part of this is that there are so many Barbies to choose from. You can be Workout Barbie, Astronaut Barbie or even Totally Hair Barbie (which is a real thing — look it up). Even easier, grab your favorite pink fit and heels and call it a day.
2. Taylor Swift Eras
If anyone has won 2023, it's Taylor Swift. She truly is at the top of her game. Taylor's Eras Tour is breaking records everywhere it goes, and the Swifties are having a blast dressing up as one of her 10 eras. So we figured, why not bring that fun to Halloween? It can hopefully make those of us who didn't get tickets feel a little bit better about ourselves.
There is, obviously, a multitude of costumes to choose from. But since fall is for the folklore and evermore girlies, we're partial to Swift's autumnal looks. Embrace "sad girl fall" with a stunning gown (your version) that will make you stage-ready. If you want to go for comfy and cozy, you'll be everyone's favorite in your own handmade cardigan.
3. Wednesday Addams
Dressing up as an Addams is always a great choice for Halloween because they are such kooky and spooky characters. But with Netflix's hit show Wednesday, there has never been a better time than now to be Wednesday herself.
4. The Little Mermaid
The same thing goes for The Little Mermaid. Ariel is back in Disney's live-action version, making girls and women everywhere want to don the bright-red wig, purple seashell bra and shiny green tail.
5. M3GAN
Sticking to our movie theme here, you could dress up as M3gan from the movie M3GAN. The film came out in early January of this year, making it a niche pop culture moment for Halloween. We will also be your new best friend if you whip out the dance scene from the movie.
6. Rihanna's Halftime Show
Adam Bow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Another pop culture moment is Rihanna's iconic Super Bowl halftime show. You could dress up as Rihanna for Halloween with an all-red puffy suit (bonus points if you're pregnant). Or you could wear an all-white ensemble with sunglasses. Or even better, this would make the perfect group costume — just saying.
7. Anyone from Top Gun
Top Gun: Maverick was one of the best movies of last year, so grab some sunnies, a bomber jacket or a leather jacket and channel your inner Maverick for a super simple Halloween get-up.
8. The Bachelorette
ABC
Another easy costume for women would be to put on your favorite dress, buy a bunch of roses and then hand them out all night long, making you The Bachelorette of Halloween. Want to take this up a notch? For our single ladies out there, include your number on each rose.
9. Carrie Bradshaw
Brian Ach/WireImage
And Just Like That has just wrapped up Season 2, so of course being Carrie Bradshaw for Halloween is always a great choice. She has a million looks to choose from, but our favorite may still be her white tulle skirt and light-pink tank top.
10. Princess Peach
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a massive hit, so there is no better time to bring back the Princess Peach, Mario and Luigi costumes.
11. Anyone from Harry Potter
We are huge Harry Potter fans — always have been and always will be. So going as your favorite Harry Potter character for Halloween never goes out of style. Don't have a favorite? Just choose your house and rep it with pride!
12. A Superhero
With the Marvel and DC universes getting bigger than ever, there are so many options to choose from: Black Widow, Super Woman, Cat Woman — the possibilities are endless.
13. A Disney Princess
They might not technically be superheroes, but Disney princesses are always a solid choice for women at Halloween. Even better, grab a bunch of friends and roll deep into the castle — or apartment 4D.
14. Tinker Bell
She might not be a Disney princess, but she is a go-to choice for Halloween. Grab your fairy wings and pixie dusty, and you are Tinker Bell.
15. Harley Quinn
Why be a superhero when you can be a villain? One of our favorite villains has to be Harley Quinn. She is so chaotic and unhinged, and we are here for it. Dressing up as her for Halloween is a great opportunity for you to really let loose.
16. Cruella de
Vil
Sticking with the villain theme, we don't know if there is anyone quite as iconic as Cruella de Vil. Don your best black-and-white ensemble and add a wig for extra flair. Don't forget the red lipstick either.
17. Poison Ivy
The hold that Uma Thurman had on us as Poison Ivy, in the '90s classic Batman and Robin, was unparalleled. This could also be a very fun DIY Halloween costume: Just get yourself to the craft store and buy some vines and a glue gun, and you're good to go.
18. Velma from Scooby Doo
Oh, jinkies! Another simple idea is to get an orange turtleneck, a red skirt and some thick-framed glasses to be none other than the woman that is Velma from Scooby Doo. To finish off the look, get a bunch of friends to be the whole gang.
19. Kim Possible
This one is for the millennial readers. Kim Possible is another very simple costume to pull together that will have everyone singing, "Call me, beep me, if you want to reach me."
20. Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon is one of the greatest shows of all time — and if you don't agree with us, then you can fight us, just like the Sailor Scouts. In all seriousness, or as serious as dressing up as Sailor Moon could be, this is truly a dream Halloween costume.
21. Anyone from Clueless
As if! Dressing up as any of the girlies from the movie Clueless is always a great idea, but Cher's classic yellow plaid outfit is bound to turn heads and have everyone calling you a "total betty."
22. Princess Leia
If there's one thing that we know, it's that going as Princess Leia for Halloween is always a great idea.
23. Marilyn Monroe
Dressing up as Marilyn Monroe may be overdone, but that is because she's, well, Marilyn Monroe. Give us that Hollywood glam with a white dress, blonde wig and red lip.
24. Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany's
Hey Alexa, play "Moon River." One of the simplest and yet most classic costumes women can wear on Halloween is Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
25. Rosie the Riveter
We have been Rosie the Riveter for Halloween before and would do it again. And, honestly, we've probably been seen wearing a Canadian tuxedo and a red bandana around Brooklyn, too.
26. Flo from Progressive
We bet Flo from Progressive had no idea that she would become one of the most niche pop culture Halloween costumes of the decade, but here we are.
27. Elle Woods
Tracy Bennett/MGM Pictures
Dressing up like Elle Woods from the movie Legally Blonde is kind of like dressing up as Barbie with an all-pink fit, except for the addition of a briefcase and a Chihuahua.
28. Britney Spears
There are so many options when dressing up like Britney Spears. You could be the "Baby One More Time" Britney, or you could be "Oops I Did it Again" Britney in that red pleather moment.
29. Madonna
Madonna, another music legend who needs no introduction, is a great costume as well. She has had many styles throughout the years, so you could even coordinate with friends to go as your favorite Madonna "eras."
30. Dolly Parton
GAB Archive/Redferns)
We wouldn't be doing our job here at Wide Open Country without telling you to dress up as the queen that is Dolly Parton. After all, you know what they say: The higher the hair, the closer to God.
31. Spice Girls
Sticking to the music theme, grab your four best friends and be the Spice Girls. You can even get creative with this one and dress up as actual spices, such as thyme and saffron.
32. The Sanderson Sisters
It wouldn't be Halloween without Hocus Pocus and the Sanderson Sisters. And we wouldn't be doing our duty as women if we didn't dress up like them.
33. Minions
Another group costume for you and your friends would be to dress up as minions. All you need is a yellow T-shirt and a pair of short overalls.
34. The Golden Girls
You are never too old or too young to dress up as The Golden Girls. They truly are the OG girl gang. It's one of the best group Halloween costumes for women, in our humble opinion.
35. Anyone from Heathers
New World Pictures/Getty Images
Heathers had a resurgence in pop culture with the off-Broadway musical a couple of years back, and nothing says fun more than a brightly colored suit with massive shoulder pads.
36. Sandy from Grease
You can never go wrong dressing up as Sandy from Grease for Halloween. Get yourself a Danny and you're good to go. Actually, ditch the Danny and grab the fierce women in your life to be the Pink Ladies.
37. Jessica Rabbit
If you want to spice it up and be a little sexier this Halloween, you can't go wrong with Jessica Rabbit. All you need is a red wig and a red dress.
38. Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is a little bit more of an involved Halloween costume. But as a true OG fashion icon in the literal sense of the term, you can have a lot of fun with this. Just don't lose your head.
39. A Cowgirl
Of course, our country girls love to dress up as a cowgirl for Halloween. Whip out that flannel, put your hair in pigtails and call it a day. Yeehaw!
40. A Cheerleader
Another classic Halloween costume, you are never too old to dress up as a cheerleader. Make it a little game at any Halloween party you attend by making up a cheer for all the werewolves and zombies. Give me a Z! Give me an O! Give me a ... OK, we'll stop now.
41. An Animal
We may be stealing this from the early 2000s classic Mean Girls, but grab a pair of mouse ears and your cutest outfit and be a "sexy mouse." But here's the kicker: It doesn't have to be a mouse — you could be a "sexy cheetah," a "sexy cat" or even a "sexy elephant." That last one may be a bit of a stretch, but you get the point.
42. A Queen
Don any ballgown or crown, and you are automatically a princess. No, scratch that: You're the queen! This is a great costume to get at the thrift store. Make it a whole Sunday-fun-day thrifting with your best gal pals.
43. A Pirate
These next costumes on our list are Halloween staples for women for a reason. You can never go wrong being a pirate. Ahoy, matey!
44. A Witch
Witches are making a comeback, and the possibilities of what type of witch to dress as are endless. You could be a good witch, an evil witch, a sexy witch, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, etc.
45. A Vampire
The vampire fandom didn't end with The Twilight Saga. Going as a vampire for Halloween always draws a crowd — and blood.
46. A Greek Goddess
One of our favorite and most chic costumes is the Greek goddess. Grab some white attire, a gold belt and gold jewelry, and you're halfway there to being fabulous.
47. An Angel
Speaking of white, get yourself a halo and some wings, and you are an actual angel. Just be careful with the red wine, babes.
48. A Devil
We can't have an angel without a devil now, can we? Another simple costume with an all-black or red ensemble, devil ears and a devil tail.
49. A Corpse Bride
Sometimes, you don't want to be sexy or cute — you just want to be scary. Being a corpse bride allows you to have fun with that makeup, too.
50. A News Reporter
This is a simple yet genius idea. Dress up in a power suit, grab a microphone and interview every person you see as if they are their Halloween costume. "Barbie! Barbie! We love your work. How does it feel to be alive tonight?" The jokes and bits are endless.
READ MORE: 15 Magical Witch Costumes To Put A Spell Over The Neighborhood This Halloween
