Something Wicked This Way Comes: Predictions for Halloween 2025 and How to Conquer the Ghostly Holiday
The Fashion Stock Market here, your one and only source into the hottest style trends and fashion events. Unless you live somewhere down south (in which case I am seething with jealousy) fall is upon us and winter is quickly approaching (since transitional seasons no longer exist?). Seemingly overnight, the air has lost its sweet warmness and given way to the bitter, freezing cold of late October. For some, this is a signal of excitement, with the holidays around the corner and, yes, the promise of winter’s first snow! But before we get ahead of ourselves, there’s one more gift the season of fall, despite the wind chill and bare trees, has to give fashion lovers across the world. Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve to true fanatics, arguably belongs to the fashionistas. A holiday where the main focus is to dress up in elaborate costumes and eat candy? What could be more thrilling?
Photo: Pinterest
When I was a kid, I’d dress up to become my favorite Disney princess or movie character. My mom would drag me and my sisters to Party City, where we would get traumatized by the creepy decorations and sort through the various costumes for sale. Often, I would go out trick-or-treating and see another little girl wearing the exact same costume as me (which would make me feel like I was on the kids’ version of a “who wore it best” spread). My days of perusing the aisles of Spirit Halloween are over, and as a college girl I’ve learned Halloween is an entirely different monster. Everyone seems to DIY their costumes and they are less character-based and more conceptual. And forget about only doing one costume; with three nights of Halloweekend (including Thursday, duh), many people scramble to pull off a handful of different ensembles for the occasion. Last year, I was a ballerina, Padme from Star Wars, and the Tin Man (if he was a sexy 20-year-old girl with taste). I found most of my costume pieces from a mix of Amazon and Depop sellers, and of course asking my friends if they’d lend me any extra accessories I needed. The key to a good Halloween costume these days is not just originality, but making the costume your own. Going with a classic like a cheerleader, for example, is fine; but are you going as a Jennifer’s Body or a Euphoria kind of cheerleader?
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You want to be recognizable, but also stand out from the sea of bar-hoppers that may be dressed as the same character as you. If my Halloween rulebook is daunting and intimidating, don’t start cancelling your weekend plans to rethink your flight attendant costume. I am going to tell you everything you need to know about what’s in and what’s (potentially!) out, so you can strut into the club like the stylish star you are. To do so, let’s look back at the most loved costumes of Halloweens past.
Photo: Pinterest
Last year, many costumes were inspired by pop culture moments, especially movies that were recently released. Saltburn characters like Felix were highly popular, especially because the pieces can be put together with items people likely already had (minus the golden wings). Many blondes took to getting a blowout and wearing something short and sweet to become Sabrina Carpenter, while brunettes like Kaia Gerber opted for a flirty and fun Dallas Cowboys cheerleader look. Were some of these overdone? Maybe, but they’re like a pop culture snapshot of the year 2024. No two Maxine Minx costumes were alike, just like the girls who dressed up as Victoria’s Secret Angels. Let’s face it, it’s fun to play into what’s popular. However, if you’re leaning towards something a bit more niche, you may have to help your Instagram audience out a little bit and include a hashtag or side-by-side comparison to get your point across. One of my favorite trio costumes was the tennis players from Challengers. If you’re in a love triangle, what could be a better proposition? (Disclaimer: do NOT ask your situationships to dress up as Art and Patrick unless you want to end up single on Halloween night). My point is, if someone has never seen the movie, they may not get the costume and you’ll have to scream over the loud party music to explain, so beware.
Photo: Pinterest
For this year, we can expect some 2025 references to make the list of trending costumes. So far, we’ve seen people dressing up as Labubus, showgirls (referencing Taylor Swift’s latest album), vampires (i.e. Sinners and Lily Rose Depp in Nosferatu), and Wicked characters. We can also expect revamped versions of the classics, like clowns and animals. Come to think of it, I won’t be surprised with the increase in popularity of patterns like leopard print, polka dots, and stripes of dalmatians, big cats, ladybugs, mimes, and sailors will be roaming the streets on October 31st.
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As for individual pieces, what’s popular now will likely somehow be translated into this year’s lineup of costumes. Knee-high boots, microshorts, tube/tank tops, lace and patterns, and lots of accessories can be expected. These items are the heart of Pinterest moodboards for the holiday, regardless of the freezing temperatures to be expected. Hypothermia can’t stop a Halloween photoshoot! However, layers are not left out of the equation, with big fur coats and leather jackets likely to make an appearance, because we have to be practical at the end of the day, fashionistas.
Photo: Pinterest
No matter what your desires or situation, there are ways to make your Halloween dreams come true. With social media and endless books, TV shows, and movies to draw inspiration from, you are sure to find a look that you’ll feel confident and slightly dramatic in this holiday. After all, Halloween awakens the inner theatre kid inside of all of us, doesn’t it? Don’t forget, the whole point of this holiday is to have fun. If you find yourself stressing over how to pay for three costumes and the drinks you’ll buy at the bar, or having panic attacks about your complicated Corpse Bride inspired makeup, take a deep breath and remember that you are completely in control. If you want to throw angel wings on and call it a night, or stay in and binge watch the Saw movies, you’re still probably going to have a great Halloween. And on the flip side if you want to have costume changes in between bar-hopping, best of luck to you! I for one can’t wait to see what you all come up with.
Photo: Pinterest
As for my costumes this year? That’s a secret I’ll never tell.
XOXO, The Fashion Stock Market
Cover Photo: Pinterest
