Spooky Season is upon us, and if you haven’t figured out the perfect creative Halloween costume that will leave your friends wishing they had thought of it first, we’ve got your back. We are bringing you 20 meme-inspired Halloween costumes that anyone can do.
Memes objectively make great Halloween costumes. Depending on your personal flavor of niche internet subculture, there is a unique, nostalgic, relatable, and hilarious meme costume calling your name. In a world where humor exists online just as much as in real life (or more), why not bring some of these digital ideas to life?
We did our best to include some of the easiest-to-achieve meme costumes, recognizable meme content (e.g., Florence Pugh and her Aperol Spritz), and older and ever-relatable meme content (e.g., Jay Z drinking wine in a durag).
So let’s keep it fun and not problematic this Halloween with these 20 meme-inspired costumes!
1. Britney Spears “Dump Him” Tee
Source: @beysupdates
You don’t have to be going through a breakup to appreciate this classic moment from Britney Spears. With the resurgence of #FreeBritney in the cultural zeitgeist, this throwback couldn’t be more relevant.
What you need for this costume:
All you need for this fit is the iconic “Dump Him” tee, which you can find with a simple search online (there are many options on Etsy), a faux fur trim tan coat, a navy blue hat, a blond wig worn in pigtails, navy blue sweats, a hot Starbucks drink, and the attitude of a newly free celebrity.
2. Meg Thee Stallion Pumpkin Head *2024 update*
Image Source: @theestallion
What better way to celebrate Halloween than dressing up as the Pumpkin Queen herself, Meg Thee Stallion. Each year, Meg Thee Stallion gallops into Spooky Season wearing a large Pumpkin on her head, while doing Hot Girl things around the house. From reading with a mimosa in hand to watching TV in bed, this costume is for Hot Girl homebodies everywhere.
What you need for this costume:
All you need for this costume is a spooky carved-out pumpkin with a hole big enough for your head and hair, silky pink pajamas, and a wine glass filled with an orange drink of choice.
3. Joanne The Scammer
Source: @joanneprada
Joanne The Scammer is the evil hooded kermit in us all. If you don’t understand that metaphor, you’ll find answers in #17.
What you need for this costume:
All you need for this look is a faux fur coat, a quivering lip, your best caucasian voice, a messy wig and an even messier attitude.
4. Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar
Image Source: @enriquearayta
To say that Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s rap battle wasn’t a huge part of the 2024 cultural zeitgeist is an understatement. Between the many songs, videos, and memes, you can’t go wrong, no matter whose side you’re on.
What you need for this costume:
Your costume will be determined by who you deem the “winner.” But if you want to with the consensus of the population, you can sport a red hoodie from Kendrick Lamar’s famous “Not Like Us” performance.
5. Steve Harvey
Source: @kianatipton
In 2021, we saw the revival of Steve Harvey as a style icon. Harvey’s signature bald head and mustache make the perfect template for a unique but recognizable Halloween costume.
What you need for this costume:
All you need for this look is a bald cap and mustache, a monochrome green outfit including a trench coat, pants and tie, and black sunglasses. Steve Harvey gets a lot of fits off throughout the year, so check out his Instagram for more ideas.
6. Florence Pugh and her Aperol Spritz
Source: @FPDMedia
This meme involves Florence Pugh walking into the premiere of “Don’t Worry Darling” at the Cannes Film Festival, notably unbothered by the chaos and drama surrounding the film. If you’ve ever waltzed into work late, dressed better than everyone else, and with coffee in hand, magnetize that feeling by ten, and you get this viral mummified moment.
What you need for this costume:
For this costume, you’ll need a monochrome purple shorts set, matching heeled sandals and a purse, black sunglasses, a full wine glass filled with an Aperol spritz, and, of course, an unbothered attitude.
7. Bratz Doll with Wild Hair
Source: @betchesluvthis
This Bratz doll had a wild night, or took a very long nap, or maybe she just forgot to wrap her hair last night. Nevertheless, the internet had a lot of fun conjuring up ideas about what led to the infamous photo where her makeup remained perfectly intact but her hair looked like she got electrocuted.
What you need for this costume:
All you need to achieve this look is a full face of makeup, a pink scrunchy, and to put your hair up in the messiest way possible.
8. Ice Spice
Image Source: @gigiitheblackbarbie
You thought I was feeling you?? *laughs hard, cries harder*
After going viral as a TikTok sound, the phrase “You thought I was feeling you?” trended on Twitter and was referenced all over the internet. The song and phrase’s popularity is partly due to Spice’s distinct red afro and the catchy Instagram caption lyrics.
What you need for this costume:
For this outfit, all you really need is a red afro and a little bit of spite.
9. Arthur Fist
Image Source: @totomuffinman
Arthur’s Fist is a reaction meme featuring a screen capture of the protagonist character Arthur from the children’s television show. This meme came to represent various infuriating or frustrating circumstances.
What you need for this costume:
For this meme, you need a yellow sweatshirt, blue jeans, a clenched fist, big glasses, bear ears, and something to be mad about.
10. Anxiety from “Inside Out 2”
Source: @kianatipton
This classic meme captures the popularity of “Inside Out 2” and the very relatable new character that emerged as “Anxiety.” She was whimsical and nervous and had very understandable reactions to real-life experiences.
What you need for this costume:
To best encapsulate this meme, you need an orange shirt or sweater, and you can easily throw your hair up in a messy pineapple.
11. Alicia Keys and Usher at the SuperBowl
Image Source: @kerrysfitlife
Who didn’t love Usher’s iconic Super Bowl performance? He brought out Alicia Keys for a rendition of their duet “My Boo” and spawned hundreds of memes.
What you need for this costume:
For this costume, you can partner with your favorite friend or wear a red and white jumpsuit or pantsuit.
12. Ben Affleck and his Dunkin Donuts coffee
Source: @summeramorris_
Over the years, Ben Affleck has become well known for his taste for Dunkin Donuts, so this costume has options. My favorite rendition of the Ben Affleck meme is the one where he is carrying several packages with a large iced coffee on top, but Ben carrying several iced coffees wearing a Believe in Boston tee is a close second. You can also make this a two-person costume by adding J.Lo joining Ben for Dunkin.
What you need for this costume:
For this outfit, you’ll need a love of iced coffee, a slightly unkempt beard, and a nice local boy next door, a Boston fit.
13. I Love New York
New York, also known as Tiffany Pollard, is a reality star that we will never forget. Her hilarious antics on “The Flavor of Love” and her spin-off “I Love New York” not only made for great reality TV content, but she also gave us some of the most relatable meme content of all time.
What you need for this costume:
For this costume, you need a white tank top, pink-tinted sunglasses, black leggings or jeans, a pillow to lean against, and to cross your arms and look straight forward like you’re waiting on that “we outside” text from your friends.
14. Carmy in the Kitchen from “The Bear”
Source: @Wendys
Suppose you’re interested in TV Twitter at all. In that case, you’ve probably heard of The Bear Hulu and/or seen the hilarious tweets about people who can’t really cook using a photo of Jeremy Allen White as Carmy in the kitchen.
What you need for this costume:
You can rock the Carmy look with a fitted white T-shirt, blue apron, fake (or real) arm tats, and a silver utensil.
15. Jay Z drinking wine
Source: @JAY_Z_Daily
What you need for this costume:
Grey sweatpants + black durag + red wine = a regular Friday night in your 30s and also a great costume idea. You can’t miss this classic.
16. Will Byers Crying Meme
Arguably one of the most viral memes of 2022 so far, Will Byers’s crying in the car meme will be just recognizable enough with a side-by-side photo even if you haven’t seen the latest season of Stranger Things.
What you need for this costume:
The most important parts of this meme are the bowl-cut wig and plaid shirt. Anything else is just toppings.
17. Evil Kermit
Source: @auntricebag
“Hooded Kermit,” also known as “Evil Kermit,” points to our innermost demons or naughty thoughts. This is one of my favorite memes on the entire list because there are so many relatable versions. It’s like we all have the same inner demons!
What you need for this costume:
For this costume, you need a green bodysuit or frog costume, frog eyeglasses, and a black hoodie for evil Kermit. It could also work as a two-person costume.
18. Snoop Dogg at the Paris Olympics
Source: @kianatipton
Uncle Snoop was the talk of the town during the Paris Olympics this summer. His attitude, support, and unwavering ability to bring his candid personality when commenting on each sport made him a standout for the crowds and social media.
What you need for this costume:
Grab your favorite track suit, glasses, and a t-shirt of your favorite athlete and get to commentating!
19. Blue Sweatpants Girls
Image Source: @trapnation
If you were one of the thousands of women trying the “Tyla Dance,” you’ll recognize these famous blue sweatpants. The flips, hips, swirls, and curves are on full display for the woman who launched a dance that many hopeful social media users wanted to emulate.
What you need for this costume:
This is pretty simple; you just need a pair of blue sweatpants and a crop top or the baby tee that puts your hips front and center.
20. Old man from squid games
Source: @kianatipton
There are Squid Games costumes you can easily find online, but you can really take your costume to the next level by turning it into this hilarious meme featuring player number 001, Oh Il-Nam. This meme compares joy and despair, often in the form of “before” and “after.”
What you need for this costume:
You can find tons of new and pre-worn costumes online. Just make sure you look for one Oh Il-Nam’s number, 001. You can also get some white mask tape to cover the number and use a Sharpie to write 001.
What are you going to be for Halloween? Let us know in the comments below!
