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If Halloween is indeed gay Christmas, that means it’s time to start getting ready for the holiday already. The best-prepared queers start plotting their costumes in September (or earlier), sourcing the perfect pieces for their ensemble. Before you head to the thrift store, though, you might want to do some soul searching to figure out who you really want to be. Much like Billie Eilish on the Barbie soundtrack, you can sit down and ask yourself what you were made for, selecting a persona that reflects your truest and most shadowy self. Or you could can just pick an extremely on-trend costume from our annual list — something that says, “I once used the service formerly known as Twitter” — and go with it!
Each year, the professional meme curators and trend watchers here at Them assemble a brain trust to curate a list of suitable looks for your nearest spooky season party. And speaking of Barbie, we expect dolls will be the big theme this year, but don’t forget that M3GAN technically came out in 2023, too, meaning you can either be a plastic person experiencing an existential crisis or… a murderous plastic person experiencing an existential crisis. And there are plenty of other distinctly 2023 costumes you can choose if you want to stick out from the virtually guaranteed crowd of Barbies, Kens, and Allans.
This has been a truly nightmarish year; why not literally embody the hyper-specific nightmare that’s plagued you in 2023? From dolls to aliens to furry hackers, find our favorite suggestions below. — Samantha Allen
M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android)
You might be tempted to think, “M3GAN came out in January. She’s old news.” But if there’s one thing we learned from the delightful horror comedy, it’s that you can’t just wrap M3GAN up and put her in the corner. No, she demands an audience. She has to sing. She has to dance. She has to moodily play the toy piano. For every twenty Barbies this Halloween, there will be one murderous doll in sunglasses ready to attempt a cartwheel. And if you need to brush up on the choreography, we’ve got you covered.
What you’ll need: Beige dress, Mary Janes, and dance lessons. — Samantha Allen
Barbie, Ken, Allan, Midge, and More
It might have been the year of “Barbenheimer,” but girls and gays alike picked their side: Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was the de facto movie of the summer, so why not keep the good pink vibes going? Given that there are roughly a million Barbies and Kens (not to mention Allan, Weird Barbie, and even Midge), the possibilities here are endless. Just be prepared to trade a lot of “Hi, Barbie!” and “Hi, Ken!” greetings when you head to your local gay bar.
What you’ll need: If you’re willing to endure your own personal Hunger Games at Spirit Halloween, you can pick up a variety of looks from the movie, including Barbie and Ken’s gloriously retro ’80s rollerskater get-ups and a Weird Barbie two-piece that looks like it was ripped straight from a ’90s bowling alley carpet.
Of course, you can also recreate looks on your own. Grab some pink Western wear to go as Western Ken or Barbie, or keep an eye out for a pink gingham dress (or pink jumpsuit) to channel Stereotypical Barbie’s high femme fashion. Or grab a striped shirt, some trademark Michael Cera dorky charm, a splash of red hair dye, and voilà, you’re the one and only Allan. — Abby Monteil
Nuns
Nuns (and sacrilege in general, really) are having quite the moment. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence made national headlines earlier this year when the Los Angeles Dodgers hired, then fired, then re-hired the nun-themed drag troupe for a Pride game. Not to mention the fact that The Conjuring spinoff The Nun is getting a sequel that drops later this month. Queer people reclaiming the sisterhood makes sense during a time when old-school Christian homophobia/transphobia is extremely en vogue again. Also, let’s face it: nuns have always been sexy and sapphic, something that Paul Verhoeven understands on a deep level.
What you'll need: Kinda depends on how much accuracy you’re going for. Obviously, at a minimum, you will need a habit, but whether or not you wanna go “sexy nun” is up to you. Cross-patterned fishnets, a strategically placed rosary necklace, perhaps even a Virgin Mary-shaped wooden dildo à la Benedetta? The world is your oyster! — James Factora
Sydney from The Bear
Between Bottoms and The Bear, Ayo Edebiri has had quite the year. And what better way to celebrate the young star’s rise than by stealing her look from the FX kitchen drama? Sydney Adamu, the sous-chef at The Original Beef, has quietly become an everyday style icon. There are countless posts on the show’s subreddit from users asking where they can buy her sweatshirt, her crew necks, her tote bag, her headscarf, her patterned tops, her work look, and basically everything else she has ever worn. (We know we can’t actually live in The Bear, right? Still, there’s no harm in cosplaying as kitchen staff for one night so long as you leave generous tips at restaurants for the rest of your life.)
What you'll need: See the posts above for clues on where to find Sydney’s specific looks, but for the classic kitchen get-up, find a headscarf and a blue apron. Is it an easy costume? Yes, chef! But it’s an instantly recognizable one, and that’s often what matters most on Halloween. — Samantha Allen
Viral Gay TikToker Kevin Leonardo
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If you remain unburdened with the knowledge of who Kevin Leonardo is, please for the love of God keep scrolling. For the rest of us, let’s recap: if you’re gay and on TikTok, the ramblings of this chaotic twink have almost certainly crossed your FYP. Just one example from this compilation of his TikToks: “when you shart his jizz out on the toilet after being bred in the butt,” said with such utter confidence. “Sharts” are a frequent topic of discussion on Leonardo’s account, where he posts detailed, minute-long reviews of his daily excavations, and seemingly leaves little else off-limits. We’re not sure if Leonardo is the sex-positive icon we need (he does offer a three-tiered bottoming course), but he’s definitely the sex-positive icon we deserve.
What you’ll need: I’ll tell you what you won’t need: a shirt. If you don’t have abs, feel free to Sharpie some on. Leonardo has both a “stretch kit” (available for $69.69, har har) and a douche kit available in his store, so if you’re in need of some bottoming essentials and/or really committed to the bit, you could carry a douche or something around with you all night. Finally, make sure to plaster a huge uncanny smile on your face at all times in the rare moments when you’re not oversharing information about your sex life with the closest person around. — James Factora
Aliens
I hesitate to share my unpopular belief that we are alone in the universe. But despite all the news stories about UFOs, and the (grainy, largely inconclusive) footage being shared on social media, it’s hard for me to get past the Fermi paradox: in an incomprehensibly vast universe, there’s a high probability that a spacefaring civilization would have found us by now. That doesn’t mean aliens won’t be all the rage this October anyway. Whether you want to be a classic Gray or a Little Green Man, there’s never been a better time to look like you strutted straight out of Area 51. Just try to walk fast enough that no one can ever seem to get a clear picture of you, somehow.
What you’ll need: Get creative. Face paint, googly eyes, glow-in-the-dark bodysuits? The only limit is human evolution itself. — Samantha Allen
Nonbinary Water
This year, Disney continued one of its most time-honored traditions: bragging about LGBTQ+ inclusion onscreen, only for its queer characters to show up for about two seconds, sometimes not even mentioning their identity at all. The latest example of this trend? Pixar’s Elemental, which introduced a nonbinary side character named Lake who wears an earring and met their partner at art school, which is… well, it’s not inaccurate. Voiced by nonbinary actor Ava Kai Hauser, Lake is an anthropomorphized water being who shows up briefly as a member of main character Wade Ripple’s (Mamoudou Athie) family. Still, why not use Disney’s latest attempt to market to the queers as a conversation-starting costume?
What you’ll need: Some blue attire, a dangly earring, and an eagerness to explain how we can all support strikes against the House of Mouse overlords for the foreseeable future. — Abby Monteil
The Rotting Corpse of Twitter
Twitter (I refuse to recognize it by its new name) is like Schrodinger’s social media platform, simultaneously alive and dead. Ever since Elongated Muskrat bought the platform, it’s been on a rapid decline. In April, Twitter removed its policy against misgendering and deadnaming, and yet “cis” is now considered a slur. Throughout Pride Month, Musk liked and platformed some of Twitter’s most virulently anti-trans figures. As was to be expected, the site’s ad revenue has plummeted in tandem with its right-wing death spiral. Yet some of us (me) remain on the ever-more-broken site, occasionally posting into the void, yearning for the vibrant source of online queer/trans connection that Twitter once was.
What you’ll need: Depending on how macabre you want to go, you could wear a shirt with the old bird logo on it, but make sure to rip, tear, and otherwise distress the shit out of it. Then, you can don some zombie makeup and slowly shuffle around all night. Bonus points for mumbling your old favorite tweets out loud in your best impression of the undead. — James Factora
Ariana DeBose at the BAFTAs
Angela Bassett may have done “the thing,” but Ariana DeBose’s viral BAFTAS rap became The Thing this year. You know, The Unimaginable Cursed Thing that haunts your waking hours, lurking just at the edge of your perception. For months, whenever I closed my eyes, I could hear the breathlessly delivered lyrics, feel the forced rhyming of “did the thing” with “my Woman King,” and see DeBose’s mesmerizing hip wiggle. Bring that moment back this Halloween and you’ll ensure that everyone around you gets the cringey awards show number stuck in their head all night. They’ll hate you for it.
What you’ll need: Two words: pink jumpsuit. OK, two more words: gold heels. Also, run a quick 5K before attempting the rap to try to replicate the conditions under which DeBose was operating. Incorporating choreography into live performance? It’s not easy! — Samantha Allen
Blue Ivy Renaissance Tour Look
Arguably, the real star of the Renaissance World Tour is Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé’s firstborn. Certifying her status as the coolest 11-year-old in the universe, Carter has served as a backup dancer for Beyoncé on a handful of dates in the past few months, beginning with Paris. She reportedly only had one week to prepare for that performance, and has only continued to step it up since then. Blue Ivy has also been the subject of aspirational summer vacation memes since 2018, and that’s clearly not stopping anytime soon.
What you’ll need: The coolest pair of sunglasses you can find. Blue Ivy has served a number of looks during this tour, but her red jumpsuit and jersey moments are certainly among some of the most iconic. Periodically smile and wave throughout the night before flawlessly executing the Renaissance tour choreography that you must also commit to memory. — James Factora
Bottoms Fight Club Member
The success of Emma Seligman’s indie summer hit reaffirms what many of us have long known to be true: Lesbian fight clubs are real cinema. Bottoms centers around two dorky friends who set up a fight club in hopes of hooking up with cheerleaders before high school graduation, which gives you plenty of opportunities for group costumes, solo costumes, or couples’ costumes.
What you’ll need: Corduroys and baggy T-shirts to go as the titular bottoms, or a cheerleading costume to go as one of their new recruits. While you’re at it, grab some fake blood and dark eyeshadow shade to get your own DIY gay fight club look. — Abby Monteil
Furry Hackers
In June, a group of self-described gay and trans furry hackers publicly claimed responsibility for a series of hacks on a number of state governments’ computer systems. The group, SiegedSec, said that they had “decided to make a message towards the U.S. government,” targeting Texas specifically because of its ban on gender-affirming care. And back in January, maia arson crimew, a trans furry hacker, iconically leaked a 2019 version of the U.S. government’s no-fly list. In the words of SiegedSec, “gay furries pwn the government.”
What you’ll need: I mean, the obvious answer is a fursuit but those things are not cheap. So unless you’ve got upwards of $2000 and/or a desire to make a real lifestyle change (assuming, of course, that you’re not already fursuiting), you’ve got to get creative. You could get one of these terrifying-looking but cheap furry heads off Amazon, or just put on some cat ears and wear one of those fluffy tail keychains. Maybe grab yourself a pithy hacker-themed graphic T-shirt and some cool ‘90s movie-esque sunglasses, and you’re in business. — James Factora
Grimace
This was the year I discovered that every member of Gen Z is apparently David Fincher with an iPhone. I’m talking, of course, about the grisly videos they made as part of the Grimace Shake TikTok trend, a sequence of words I never anticipated writing in my life, and kind of regret having written already. In case you missed it — or in case you, too, are rapidly aging out of the social media monoculture — many McDonald’s connoisseurs decided to celebrate Grimace’s purple birthday confection by imbibing it, and then pretending that it poisoned them, often in dramatic short films that appeared to have an entire-ass budget. I simply would have drunk the milkshake, but I respect the indie filmmaking hustle.
What you’ll need: You can go all-in with a mascot costume that costs hundreds of dollars, but for environmental reasons, I’d prefer to see more bespoke interpretations of Grimace: Wear head-to-toe purple. Tell everyone it’s your birthday. Say that you are the “embodiment” of a milkshake, which is a real thing the McDonald’s brand account once said. — Samantha Allen
The Che Pasa Focus Group Member from And Just Like That… Who May or May Not Be Based on a Them Staffer
In episode five of season two of And Just Like That…, the dreams of everyone’s favorite nonbinary comedian are crushed in one fell swoop by “a genderqueer person from Brooklyn,” as Che Diaz refers to them. After a test screening of the Roseanne-esque pilot for Che Pasa, the aforementioned focus group member scoffs that Che’s character “was like a walking boomer joke that felt so fake to me.”
“Just some phony, sanitized, performative, cheesy-ass dad joke bullshit version of what the nonbinary experience is,” they say, in words that seemed to hold a faint echo of something I’ve read (perhaps even… written?) before. Showrunner Michael Patrick King has since confirmed that the scene was a direct response to those who criticized the way Che was written in the first season. If my suspicions are correct (and I kind of hope I never find out if they are), that easily makes this the scariest costume on this list to me, personally.
What you’ll need: First, you’ll need to be a plus-sized Asian with short black hair and square glasses. Next, you’ll need to wear a patterned fleece (might as well go all the way and cop one from queer Asian brand Sundae School) and, for some reason, a graphic tee with a single green croc on it. That’s what the Zoomers are into these days, right? — James Factora
Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece
With Netflix’s hit live-action adaptation on every anime nerd’s lips, there’s never been a better time to come out to your pals as Short King of the Pirates. In years gone by, most of your normie friends might have beheld a One Piece costume with dazed incomprehension, but now that Iñaki Godoy has become a rubber boy in living color, you have free reign to tell everyone at the party about your definitive ranking of Devil Fruit superpowers. With only a few pieces of clothing to find, it’s a great costume to put together on a budget, too! Just stay away from swimming pools and 23-foot-tall dragon men.
What you’ll need: Take a trip to your local thrift store and go ape. Apart from Luffy’s round-top straw hat (essential), be on the lookout for red button-up shirts or vests, blue jean shorts, a yellow scarf (for your waist, obviously) and flip-flops. Bonus points for painting a big “X” on your chest where Luffy got burned by lava that one time; top surgery kings may choose to rock their real scars instead. — Samantha Riedel
Nepo Baby
New York magazine’s infamous “nepo baby” cover story didn’t come out in time for last year’s Halloween. And nepo babies have very much remained at the center of our cultural consciousness since then, with the phrase working its way into headlines about virtually every industry, from politics to modeling to the culinary world. The criticism is clearly continuing to hit nerves. Ben Platt reportedly ended a Rolling Stone interview early when he was asked about his image being on the “nepo baby” cover — and that happened this July, which means he had seven months to figure out an artful way to laugh it off. Point being: some of the more clever costume wearers out there will hopefully figure out a way to pull off “nepo baby,” whether it’s imitating the cover, or channeling the sort of affected casual-chic attire of an industry heiress.
What you’ll need: Browse this Harper’s Bazaar slideshow for ideas. Initial observations: nepo babies dress in white, always carry a beverage, and like to wear sunglasses because they’re just soooooo certain they’ll be recognized. — Samantha Allen
Troye Sivan’s “Rush” Look
If you felt the urge to live in the sexy, summery music video for Troye Sivan’s recent single “Rush,” why not chase that high well into October? If there’s any time you should claim “king twink” status for yourself, it’s Halloween.
What you'll need: If you’re going as Troye, you’ll need bleached hair or a wig, a red muscle tank, and some leather pants. If you’d prefer to do a group costume to portray the extras in the video, just make sure to channel the energy of a Bushwick queer who’s put way too much thought into their outfit before a night of clubbing. — Abby Monteil
priDEMONth
Like I said earlier, sacrilege in general is having quite the moment. Back in February, Sam Smith and Kim Petras took home a Grammy for “Unholy,” making trans history in the process. And although the performance could have been a little flashier, the artists still brought Satanic Panic chic to the stage. (Very few performances that reclaim Christian imagery can hold a candle to Lil Nas X’s “MONTERO” video, though.) In a very meta incident, a conservative activist posted a meme that highlighted the “DEMON” in the phrase “Pride Month” back in June. But as it turns out, the meme was actually created by a queer trans artist named Veya, who was quick to claim credit for the graphic.
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What you’ll need: You can cop your very own PriDEMONth shirt from Veya’s Redbubble store, where the design is available in a number of different Pride flag variations. To add to the “costume” bit, you could also don some devil horns and/or paint your body red. Maybe wave around a little rainbow flag (or Pride flag of your choosing) for good measure. You could, of course, go all the way and summon your very own demon to temporarily possess your mortal coil for the evening, but your mileage may vary. — James Factora
Women’s World Cup Soccer Player
I have a soft spot for what I like to call “lazy lesbian costumes.” And there is truly nothing lazier than donning the jersey of your favorite queer soccer player and calling it a day. It’s so simple: get something from the Megan Rapinoe collection and you’re done. How many butches throughout history have convinced themselves they’re putting in a ton of effort by donning the same piece of polyester they wear to every single NWSL match? Countless! It’s a proud tradition. Just give into it.
What you’ll need: OK, if you really want to go the extra mile, I’d recommend doing a creative interpretation of the Women’s World Cup relationship chart. Got a sandwich board, some pushpins, and access to a printer? Make it happen. Show the world you can spend more than 10 minutes on your costume. I believe in you. — Samantha Allen
Gerri and Roman Succession Couples Costume
Does any couple in the Succession-verse capture the sexually charged power struggles, deranged interpersonal dynamics, and feral scrambling for position that characterize the show as well as Gerri and Roman do? Logan Roy’s general counsel and his youngest son spend a fair chunk of the series tangled up in a flirty dynamic that has elements of a mother-child and a dom-sub relationship. The psychosexual dynamic is too complex and unknowable to pick apart but it’s absolutely perfect for meme-ing, which means it’s ideal for Halloween.
What you’ll need: For Gerri, you’ll need a dark suit and tasteful jewelry. Pearls and small gold hoops will do. Don’t forget glasses and a hairdo that started as a sensible updo but, after hours and days of wrangling Roys and massaging out unfortunate legal situations, is now a little messy. For Roman, go preppy and tailored: a button-down shirt and slacks, or a suit with no tie. Whichever you choose, remember Roman wears his shirts fitted, bordering on too small, so make sure you’re snug. — Sally Tamarkin
“Behind Every Gay Person Is A Gayer, More Evil Person” Meme
In January, a viral meme prompted us to remember a truth universally acknowledged: “Behind every gay person is a gayer, more evil gay person.” The online trend was a fun reminder of how much we love a good queer villain, and it also happens to be a great basis for a two-person Halloween costume.
What you’ll need: You could base your costumes on one of the many iconic evil gay duos the queer internet brought up as examples for this meme, from Killing Eve’s Eve and Villanelle to Hannibal’s Hannibal Lector and Will Graham. If you’re short on time or looking to serve money, you could even write “Gay Person” and “Gayer, More Evil Gay Person” on some T-shirts. Most importantly, make sure that one of you stands ominously behind the other… for the theatrics, of course! — Abby Monteil
Gay Fruit Flies
Our world is burning. Microplastics are lodged deep inside our bodies. And the air we breathe is literally poison. But hey, at least climate change is making fruit flies live up to their name. As we reported in detail here at Them dot us, German researchers discovered that an increase in air pollution could be making male fruit flies more likely to court each other. (It has to do with the way ozone affects our pheromones or something. Look, I’m not a scientist; there’s a reason I work for a gay website.) Unleash the homosexual insect inside this year. It’s what we all should do at the end of the world.
What you’ll need: Get some wings (fabric ones, preferably, because plastic is, you know… ruining the world.) The gay part is up to you. — Samantha Allen
The Members of Boygenius
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Boygenius — the supergroup composed of queer artists Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker — got back together in 2023, releasing a new album called The Record to the delight of sad, very online gay women across the land.
What you’ll need: Simple white button-up shirts, black shorts or skirts, and black ties. An air of melancholy, soft singing, and self-deprecating humor is also encouraged. — Abby Monteil
The Antler Queen from Yellowjackets
Was Yellowjackets season two quite as good as season one? No. Is the antler queen still the most iconic toxic girlie look this side of a Midsommar cultist? Absolutely. This costume is a great way to tell your closest friends, “I would eat you in a pinch.”
What you’ll need: Find a white dress. Go roll around in some dirt, or down the nearest hill, to really give it that “I survived a winter in the Canadian wilderness” wear and tear. And then get some antlers! Did you know you can buy deer antlers on Etsy? Those handmade art freaks sell everything, and we’re better off for it. — Samantha Allen
Several The Last of Us Characters
Queer television got off to a strong start in 2023 thanks to HBO’s The Last of Us, which introduced the original video game’s host of beloved queer characters to an even wider audience. Because the series takes place in a post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested world, the characters opt for staples that are probably already in most gay viewers’ wardrobes. Just watch out for mushrooms!
What you’ll need: A ringer T-shirt, some jeans, and a red jacket for Bella Ramsey’s precocious Ellie; some flannel, strawberries, and tissues for Bill and Frank; or a headband, cargo jacket, and backpack for Ellie’s first love Riley. — Abby Monteil
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