eleven in Stranger Things 1

10 Easy Costumes for a Stress-Free Halloween

Easy peasy! Maybe?

Happy happy Hallow—oh wait, it’s not Halloween yet. That means there’s still time to form a costume if you have a party to go to (or are hosting one). And yes, I’ll be that person to remind you that we’re still in a pandemic. So, stay safe if you are doing either of those. Now let’s get back to the topic at hand, which is about stress-free Halloween costumes.

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Some of these costumes may seem difficult, but in my eyes they aren’t. Creating a good costume is sometimes about improvising. And believe me when I say, thrift stores are your friends if you have 0 access to a Party City (or store that’s similar). Get ready for a range of Halloween costumes that are all horror because why not? Also clothes are clothes, so you can have any gender identity and wear these costumes. Slap on some cruelty-free makeup for good measure.

Simple Halloween costumes

Rosemary Woodhouse

rosemary woodhouse in Rosemary's Baby
(Paramount Pictures)

Movie: Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

This is the og horror movie about being gaslit and treated like shit. Not only does Rosemary (Mia Farrow) go THROUGH IT, but she also doesn’t get a happy ending. Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin‘s Imogen (Bailee Madison) wore this costume during the Halloween episode, which is clever because of her being pregnant and also the costume isn’t too complicated. Literally you can go to a thrift store and find a nightdress that looks similar or like this. That’s a very cheap costume if you have a good eye while shopping secondhand!

Jeryline

jeryline in Demon Knight
(Universal Pictures)

Movie: Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight (1995)

There’s no forgetting about Jeryline (Jada Pinkett Smith) once you watch Demon Knight (1995). She’s still very underrated, though, and it’s a shame because she’s a Black final girl. Which is still not as common as it should be. Nevertheless, her outfit is suitable for a costume! Again, a thrift store will have most if not all these items (if you don’t already own some of these items). Don’t remember what her costume looks like? Visit this site for inspiration and ideas.

Casey Becker

casey becker in Scream
(Dimension Films)

Movie: Scream (1996)

It’s redundant to talk about how iconic this movie is and how Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore)’s chase scene is chef’s kiss. As far as her costume? It’s not too difficult to put together. If you own a knit white or off-white sweater and some light wash jeans? You’re practically good to go. Again, a thrift store or even a regular clothing store (or clothing section of a store) will have some if not all of these items.

Hot Vampire

tara as a vampire in True Blood
(HBO)

Show: True Blood

Obviously you don’t need to dress like vampire!Tara (Rutina Wesley) this Halloween. I just thought using True Blood as a reference was cool, alright? Dressing up as a hot vampire doesn’t have much requirement. You can wear almost any outfit, put on some fangs, and go to town. Maybe even literally.

Maxine

maxine shushing pearl in X
(A24)

Movie: X (2022)

X (2022) is without a doubt one of the best original horror movies. Period. We haven’t gotten a slasher that’s very much hagsploitation. Maxine (Mia Goth)’s outfits are so fucking cute throughout the film. Even her little overalls work! It’s not too difficult to find cute/comfortable overalls nowadays either. So, go downtown and find somewhere that has short overalls for sale.

Last minute Halloween costumes

Oz

oz's "costume" for "Fear Itself" Buffy ep
(The WB)

Show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I couldn’t not include a Buffy costume on this list, you know? Oz’s costume consists of a name tag that says “GOD.” This costume is barely a costume and that’s sort of why it’s brilliant? You may very well be someone who is nonchalant about picking a costume. If you happen to be a Buffy fan, then other fans will recognize your “costume.” Just go to the dollar store, Staples, or somewhere that sells those “Hello my name is” labels and go to town. You may have Christians coming up to you and getting mad. But what else is new?

Moira O’Hara

moira winking in American Horror Story: Murder House
(FX)

Show: American Horror Story: Murder House

As simple as it is, the outfit is really iconic for Murder House. Moira (the young version played by Alexandra Breckenridge)’s costume is very simple to execute. You can go to a Party City or a sex shop if you so wish for this costume! And if you want to make it sexy then do it. No shame around here.

Eleven

eleven in Stranger Things 1
(Netflix)

Show: Stranger Things

Out of all the Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) outfits, the pink dress and blonde wig? Absolutely! Eleven has more iconic outfits than this (sorry, not sorry). Though it’s one of the easiest costumes to come up with. A thrift store may have something like this, Party City, or even a Walmart. Pair that with a jean jacket and a blonde wig (if you wish) then you’re Eleven!

“A” or Just a Plain Old Pumpkin

"A" in PLL: Original Sin
(HBO Max)

Show: Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin

No, you don’t need to dress up like “A” in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, though it’s a pretty scary costume he sports during one of the episodes. Someone walking around with a pumpkin mask that looks busted up? Scary. Hit up your local party shop or a Party City and find this mask (unless shipping is quick for you).

Literally Anyone from Bodies Bodies Bodies

the gang in Bodies Bodies Bodies
(A24 and Stage 6 Films)

No matter what you think about Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), it certainly surprises if nothing else. Not to mention that dressing up as anyone from this movie shouldn’t be hard. If you’re Gen Z then it may be a matter of looking through your closet (this isn’t a diss by the way). Just grab some neon necklaces, throw some fake blood on yourself, and dress really hot all night.

(featured image: Netflix)


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Author
Image of Vanessa Maki
Vanessa Maki
Vanessa Maki (she/her) is a queer Blerd and contributing writer for The Mary Sue. She first started writing for digital magazines in 2018 and her articles have appeared in Pink Advocate (defunct), The Gay Gaze (defunct), Dread Central and more. She primarily writes about movies, TV, and anime. Efforts to make her stop loving complex/villainous characters or horror as a genre will be futile.