In a world dominated by screens, it's fitting that some of the best Halloween costume ideas would come from the media we've consumed all year long. Behold, a collection of pop culture-inspired costume ideas (think: meme-ified album covers, cinematic ensembles and iconic red carpet looks) perfect for all your Halloween hangs — whatever shape they may shift into this year. 

Calling all fashion girls, goths, stage managers: if you're the kind of person whose closet is already full of black clothing, this costume is for you. After a hiatus in 2020, the Met Gala traded the first Monday in May for the second Monday in September, conveniently gifting us with a new crop of celebrity looks just in time for Halloween. The night's standout ensemble was arguably Kim Kardashian West, stepping out alongside designer Demna Gvasalia, in head-to-toe black Balenciaga.

Kim's getup did what all great Met Gala looks should: it provided one of the more interesting takes on the night's theme and inspired some of the evening's funniest memes. 

As a Halloween costume, KKW's outfit checks off even more boxes: it's chic, warm, requires no makeup (though she did full glam anyway) and offers the kind of playful anonymity you'd get at a masquerade. It's also the kind of look that can mostly be cobbled together from what you already own. 

Here are a few elements you'll need to really pull it off:

To bring along a pal as your Demna, be sure to grab: 

Lil Nas X was responsible for look after internet-breaking look this year. The award-winning artist wore all white with a crown of roses for his album-release maternity shoot, suited up in three layers of gold for last month's Met Gala and stripped fully down on the album artwork for Montero, to name just a few.

But there are two looks we feel are particularly fitting for a Halloween homage this year: Lil Nas' pole-dancing ensemble in the video for Montero (Call Me By Your Name) — a perfect reference for the most devilish day of the year (it even inspired a new wave of Satanic Panic) — and this bridal moment from the video for Thats What I Want. Besides keeping you a little warmer at outdoor gatherings, the latter look can also be pulled together pretty easily — wedding dresses from the '80s and '90s remain a staple at most thrift stores.

For the costume inspired by Montero (Call Me By Your Name), you'll need:

Turn it into a couples costume and have your partner dress as a hot devil.

To recreate the Thats What I Want look, you'll need:

Every now and then there's a meme so ubiquitous that it nestles its way into the collective consciousness. The image of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders at then president-elect Joe Biden's inauguration this past January — sitting socially distanced on a black folding chair, masked, arms crossed, while wearing a parka/dress pants/knit mittens combo (perhaps best described as waiting in line at the post office-chic) — became just that. It also gave his brown knit mittens instant icon status. 

While the meme itself may have become oversaturated fast, the argument for channeling Bernie's look this Halloween is clear: it's so damn cozy, perfect for a year when many gatherings will still be happening outdoors. 

Here's what you'll need:

The second season of Ted Lasso, the feel-good soccer show that was this year's Emmy winner for outstanding comedy series, just finished airing on Apple TV+. If you're already missing the crew from AFC Richmond, you can take inspo from almost any one of the characters in the loveable lineup — but our pick is the show's title character. Start by raiding the closet of a football-loving friend to channel TV's nicest coach.

Here's what you'll need:

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continued its mighty sweep of our mortal Earth in 2021, this time taking to our television screens with a slate of buzzy new shows on Disney+, beginning with WandaVision. In this decade-jumping love letter to sitcoms, superhero lovebirds Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) cycle through a range of perfectly retro and contemporary looks, providing plenty of inspiration for a couple's costume. 

Haven't dressed up in a while? Break out a cocktail dress, a string of pearls, slacks and a cardigan to nod to the I Love Lucy-inspired 1950s looks from the show's first episode. For duos looking to make a more dramatic statement, there's their superhero looks — whether you opt for the comic book-style outfits they sported on the show's Halloween episode or the sleeker, more modern Scarlet Witch and Vision ensembles we see in the finale. 

While you can pick up a store-bought Marvel getup from practically any place that sells costumes, these looks are pretty easy to put together yourself.

For 1950s Wanda, you'll need:

For 1950s Vision, you'll need:

For the classic comic-style Scarlet Witch, you'll need:

For the classic comic-style Vision, you'll need:

We anticipate that Shang-Chi from Marvel Studios' Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be one of the biggest costumes of the year. After all, the Simu Liu–starrer is a global phenomenon and reportedly the biggest-grossing film of the last two years (yay for the return of movies and yay Simu!). And while you can purchase a Shang-Chi costume from a store, we have some ideas on how you can make this MCU superhero's ensemble at home.

Here's what you'll need:

Turn to tutorials on YouTube for how to make your own version of Shang-Chi's bo staff (like this one that uses PVC pipe, poster board and a flashlight), or pick up a ready-made version from a toy store. 

After its year (if not decade) of total domination, the MCU earns a third entry on our list with two more beloved characters. Channel Kathryn Hahn as WandaVision villain (and runaway star, who reportedly nabbed her own spinoff) Agatha Harkness in all her big haired, brooch-wearing glory, or throw on an ultra-warm, full-body alligator suit in homage to one of the most beloved Lokis we had the pleasure of meeting this year.

For Agatha Harkness, you'll need:

For Alligator Loki, you'll need:

Get out your ball gowns and finest coats and tails for this fancy, Regency-inspired group costume. Back in very early 2021, it seemed like the whole world was burning for this steamy show (Netflix announced it was the platform's most-watched original series shortly after its debut), but since we just got tossed a teaser for next season, this still feels like a very of-the-moment costume. Here's how to channel Bridgerton's vision of the London social season. 

Will the couple the internet can't get enough of become the Halloween costume the world can't get enough of? The jury's still out, but given how collectively captivated we are by Bennifer's inexplicable-yet-inevitable reunion after 17-plus years apart, there's no denying that the Gigli stars will be inspiring their fair share of couples' looks this year. 

While the outfit options are almost beside the point here — pack on the PDA and evoke the energy of being on a yacht and you'll be fine — the comfiest way to channel these two is via the matching beige athleisure looks they sported this summer in the Hamptons. 

For Jen, you'll need:

For Ben, you'll need:

God, it's brutal out here... but locking in a Halloween look doesn't have to be. Olivia Rodrigo gave us some of 2021's buzziest singles, sweeping both TikTok and the Billboard charts in January before releasing her stardom-cementing first album, Sour, in May. The singer seems to have a natural talent for uniting zoomers and millennials — something few on the internet are able to do — by making them feel all the feels.

Along with Rodrigo's album came two Halloween-worthy looks that echo the artist's ability to channel the angst and outfits of eras past while still feeling achingly of-the-now: her album cover look and her good 4 you video look. Bonus: they're both pretty achievable ensembles, regardless of the generation you belong to. 

For the Sour look, you'll need:

For the good 4 u look, you'll need: 

"Father, Son and house of Gucci" — when Lady Gaga uttered those six words using that Italian accent in the trailer for the upcoming House of Gucci film, everything changed. And by "everything" we mean our ability to concentrate on anything other than the movie's hotly anticipated release in November. But we don't need to see another frame to know that Gaga's portrayal of Patrizia Reggiani is worthy of paying homage to this Halloween season. 

Go it alone by sporting a similar all-red snowsuit (if you happen to own one, how could you possibly resist?), or grab a friend and recreate Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci's coordinating '80s aprés-ski looks. 

For Patrizia, you'll need:

For Maurizio, you'll need:

The late Princess Diana had many iconic looks. Back in 2019, we suggested channeling "running errands" for Halloween, but this year, we're inspired by Kristen Stewart's black and red ensemble in her portrayal of Diana for the upcoming film Spencer. 

While many of us won't have the chance to see the film until after Halloween (it's mainly been screened at film festivals, including Venice and TIFF, thus far), considering that people have been whispering "Oscar" alongside Stewart's name since the first still from the movie dropped, it's safe to say you'll be right on time with this costume. 

Get the onscreen look with: 

Stuck on what to wear this Halloween? (Sorry, we had to.) This container ship stopped the world in its tracks and spawned endless memes while we all waited for it to finally be freed. So if you're in the market for a costume with "big impact," this may be the one for you. 

The Ever Given is also an ideal costume if you've been craving a crafting session. Here's how to make it happen:

The Weeknd's 14-minute set at the Super Bowl LV halftime show featured his signature After Hours look — and honestly, if you plan to spend your Halloween night shredding up the dancefloor, where Abel's songs are almost certain to play, it's hard to think of a more fitting costume. To make yours Super Bowl–specific, you can pull inspo from the dizzying mirror-filled part of the night, or turn it into a group costume for your whole crew by mimicking the outfit below and grabbing some white drama masks from the dollar store. 

Here's what you'll need:

If you're looking for an easy last-minute group costume, take inspo from another release that spawned a million memes: the emoji-filled cover of Drake's latest album, Certified Lover Boy. This look works especially well for Zoom parties, allowing you to truly recreate that grid. 

You can go as any of the subsequent iterations, but here are the basics of what you'll need:

For added cohesion, get the whole group to don shoulder-length bob wigs. 

Sure, this acclaimed HBO drama chronicling the misadventures of the prickly Roy family and their increasingly precarious media empire has already had its time in the Halloween limelight. But with the launch of the highly anticipated third season, there's no doubt it's going to be the show on everyone's lips come the 31st. 

The real beauty of this costume is in its versatility: you can go solo or as a group; there's a plethora of characters to choose from; and if you've ever worked in an office, chances are you can source everything you need right from your own closet. While this makes the Waystar Royco clan particularly perfect inspiration for dress-up day at the office, Succession does air on Halloween night, so you can even stream the latest ep while donning your on-theme outfit. Synergy! 

For Shiv, you'll need:

For Kendall, you'll need: 

For Roman, you'll need:

Of all the festivities October tends to usher in — from fall feasts to haunted hayrides — Fat Bear Week, described as "an annual tournament celebrating their success in preparation for winter hibernation," may be our absolute favourite. To dress as the recently crowned four-time champ, 480 Otis, don a big, cozy bear suit and be as relaxed as he seems to be. 

Here's what you'll need to get the look of the fattest bear in the Katmai National Park and Preserve: 

Squid Game is the Korean Netflix drama that is truly on everyone's mind (and screen) right now. It's currently No. 1 on Netflix in 90 countries, has been dissected by seemingly every podcast out there, has surpassed Bridgerton to become the platform's most-streamed show, and at the time of publishing, the hashtag #squidgame boasted a truly wild 43.4 billion views on TikTok. We think the show's most frightful look to go for is obviously the giant robot doll. 

Here's what you'll need to transform yourself into this 10-foot terror:

You can yell out the occasional "red light!" or "green light!" throughout the night. Transform this into a group costume by making your friends don teal track suits and white sneakers — easy and comfy! 

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you.

To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.

By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Join the conversation  Create account

Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6

Toll-free (Canada only): 1-866-306-4636

It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges.

Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem.