The most anticipated Halloween costumes of 2023

 As Halloween lurks around the corner, students across campus are preparing their outfits for the one night a year people can dress in quirky, expressive costumes. 

“I think that our campus is pretty unique in the sense that everybody is doing their own thing,” Selam Mekbeb-Gillett, a senior studying psychology and sociology, said. “In the general scope of what’s been popping right now, there definitely will be a Barbie/Oppenheimer crew.”

This year was a huge success for plenty of movies and TV shows, including “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” “The Bear” and “One Piece.” Students expect that there will be a range of well-known pop culture costumes this year, particularly Barbie-inspired outfits. 

“I know we’ll see a lot of Barbie, because that was a really big movie,” John Mcgaughey, a junior math major, said. “Or maybe even Taylor Swift-themed stuff, because she is trending more than ever.” 

Mcgaughey is being Bojack Horseman — from the television series “Bojack Horseman” — with his friend Elise Fiorita, who is dressing up as Sarah Lynn — another character from “Bojack.” As people plan their Halloween costumes, many are planning to do cohesive costumes with their friends. 

“It’s definitely a group thing, it always has been,” Mcgaughey said. “For college students, it’s all about going out together. Or, even as a trick-or-treater, I always wanted to trick-or-treat with my friends. Whether you’re partying or getting candy, you’re still getting a treat with people you know.”

Ivy Fox-Hays, a first-year biology major, and her friend Brooklyn Seitler, a first-year majoring in molecular biology, have multiple costumes planned for “Halloweekend.” They are planning on being a cowgirl, Britney Spears and Magic Mike, while also doing a group costume as Care Bears.

“People are going to have multiple costumes,” Fox-Hays said, “A group costume is always in the plans for a good friend group, but then you also want time to pull out an individual costume.”

“If you’re a gorgeous group of people, a group costume is needed,” Seitler said, “Every year we see Disney princesses, and it’s so good.”

Whether it’s deciding which trends to follow or budgeting your costumes, there is a lot that goes into developing the perfect costume ideas. Still, Mekbeb-Gillett prioritizes matching with friends rather than spending a lot of money.

“You don’t have to be really extravagant,” Mekbeb-Gillett said. “It’s more about the connection you’re making with your friends instead of the singular outfit that you’re having.”

Mekbeb-Gillett is planning on doing one group costume, one single costume and possibly a couples costume. Although they haven’t all been solidified, she is sure that her friend group will be dressing up as Destiny’s Child this holiday. 

“I think Halloween is a beautiful holiday for people to be themselves,” Mekbeb-Gillett said. “It’s the one time out of the year where we can’t be judged for what we look like. It’s a great thing to take advantage of.”

Sara Hussain, a junior political science and economics major, planned four different costumes for this Halloween — Barbie, a cat, Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly with a friend plus Raven and Starfire from “Teen Titans.” 

“I wanted to be Barbie because I saw it on TikTok and knew it was in trend,” Hussain said. “It’s going to be easy, because honestly I just need a pink dress and a ‘B’ necklace. It’s quick and then everyone will know what I am. I’m just excited to see my friends.”