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Do you hear those eerie bells tolling somewhere across the hills, deep into the forest? They can only mean one thing: Halloweekend is here. Be afraid, ye who have not yet thought of a good last minute costume idea that will impress all your friends and get attention on the dance floor.
Halloween may be “gay Christmas,” but there are always a few chaotic queens, demon twinks, and procrastinating queers caught unprepared for the holiday each year. For those of us still in need of outfits for spooky season, we’ve compiled a list of queer last-minute Halloween costumes that you could probably find in your closet. From easily recognizable TV and film characters (Pray Tell! Velma!), to puns. to classic easy-peasy costumes, here’s a list that proves you don’t need to spend months crafting the perfect look to scare up a fun Halloween.
Lou from Love Lies Bleeding
This is not just because it’s awesome when masc lesbians wear tank tops that show off their arms. It’s also because it’s awesome when they’re covered in blood. Kristen Stewart pulls off a ton of super hot looks in this movie, and all of them are probably already in your wardrobe with a few alterations. Throw on some fake blood and it’s like you’re in the movie. Thank you to KStew for another year of easy-to-assemble costume options.
Any (or all) of the Love Triangle from Challengers
This one is for all you sporty gays in the crowd. Pull out your short shorts, tennis shoes, and maybe even a racket. Your choice of character can be based entirely around what type of sports gear you own, even if all you have is a sweaty tank top. If you have some time to spare, you can level this costume up by making sock puppets of Art Donaldson and Patrick Zweig, then dressing up as Tashi Duncan and making the sock puppets kiss in front of you. Not so last-minute, but still super fun.
Owen from I Saw the TV Glow
Finally! A costume for anyone who wants to dissociate and feel dysphoric on Halloween. Wander around the outskirts of the party in an oversized hoodie and jeans looking vaguely distraught. If you’re going out with a friend who also needs a last-minute costume, have them dress up as Maddy. Force them to try and make you have fun as you turn your haunted gaze around the room. No need to take a break from feeling blue just because there’s a party to go to!
Background Dancer from Charli XCX’s “Guess” Music Video
This music video has a ton of dancers in it, and they’re all wearing outfits that, with some intention, you can assemble from your dresser. Just accentuate the whale-tail or make sure you’re otherwise bringing cute underwear to the table. Carry some extra pairs to throw in the path of any errant steam rollers (hopefully piloted by a masc lesbian), just for added pizzazz. If you really want to impress, see if you can figure out the infinite handkerchief trick, but with underwear, and show it off on the dance floor, and please get somebody to record you doing so.
Sofia Lin from Shortbus
That’s right, baby! This is the perfect combination of Y2K revival outfits and 2024 office siren looks. A topical throwback for when you’re getting ready to throw it back. Show up to the club looking like a disgruntled therapist and dance your cute little heart out. With a little bit of luck you, too, can engage in non-simulated sex. And yes, this queer classic movie is still in; just ask everyone who attended the live Club Shortbus sex cabaret this year. Throw on that pink button-up shirt and get ready to undo a lot of buttons.
Jonny from My Animal
If you want to embody queer skater, primary love interest energy, this look from 2023 werewolf thriller, My Animal, is sure to impress without requiring a trip to your local Spirit Halloween. Jonny has a plethora of fits to choose from, and most of them only require some nice jewelry, a stylish jacket, and being Amandla Stenberg. No, seriously, only go for this look if you’re ready to get bitten by a werewolf girlfriend and serve like Amandla Stenberg does.
Nella from The Other Black Girl
Nella’s outfit with the pink pants, brown sweater, and gold jewelry is both easy to find at home and chic. Sometimes, the only way to escape the horrors of work and the racist publishing industry is by dressing well, and Nella shows how to do it. Alternatively, if you have a multicolored houndstooth jacket, throw it over a striped shirt to recreate that one fit she rocks in episode 4 when she bumps into Shani on the train (fans of the show will know). That jacket is a showstopper.
Roronoa Zoro from the Live Action One Piece
Ready to dye your hair green, put three dangly earrings in, and wear a super low v-neck shirt? You’ve pretty much got Zoro in the bag. Sure, it’d be handy if you had three katana, but nobody can blame you for not wanting to carry all that metal around. Just tie a big green scarf around your waist, add black leather pants, and you’re the perfect pirate twink — I mean, swordsman.
Any character from the Bottoms poster
Well, any outfit from Bottoms really, because these freaks are making out, punching each other, and killing football players in normal clothes. What more can you ask? Dress up in a gray sweatsuit with a red hat and shriek “YES QUEEN! SLAY!” at midnight. Just remember to add bloody makeup to your face — that’s crucial.
Timlin (Kristen Stewart) from Crimes of the Future
This is an easy way to say that your costume was inspired by Cronenberg without gluing prosthetic ears all over your face. As a timid beaurocrat living in the dystopian future of the director's latest film, Crimes of the Future, Timlin has three major looks: blue scrubs, a fun little half-white collared shirt and gray checkered pants, or a white linen collared shirt with a skirt that could be gray tweed or black leather, depending on how good the movie’s resolution was when you watched it. While the outfit itself may be tame, Timlin’s fixation on grotesque surgical procedures gives this costume all the creepy it needs for Halloween. Also, you get to say disconcerting things in a little mousy voice, like “surgery is the new sex.” What fun!
Any (or all!) the Scooby Doo gang
This is a relatively easy and fun one. All you need to find is a few articles of clothing with the right color scheme and this works as a group costume! Typecast your friends into their respective Scoobysonas (I was Shaggy, with the requisite green shirt and brown pants, though mine were tight-fitted), and you’re good to go. Plus, now that Velma is finally out and proud as a lesbian in the latest Scooby Doo movie, Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!, this idea has even more queer cachet. But just because Velma’s openly queer doesn’t mean you can’t claim other characters in the franchise; you could don a handsomely butch yellow ascot like Fred, or those dog ears you have for perfectly normal and non-sexual reasons for Scooby. This idea is easily recognizable and a breeze to pull off, the perfect combination for a successful Halloween.
Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring of Heartstopper
This is a great choice because these two queer boys wear normal clothes. Put on some skinny jeans and a flannel or a cozy striped sweater and rugby-style shorts to emulate their looks on the cover of Heartstopper: Volume 2. Or put on a little jacket and white shirt to show off that school uniform style. Nice and simple!
Pray Tell from Pose
There’s no doubt about it: Pray Tell had some incredibly gorgeous and intricate costumes on Pose. That said, we’re not here for those; leave those costumes to the people who prepared for Halloween weeks (or months) ahead of time. We are here to highlight some of the more laid-back looks, like that houndstooth sweater over a black and white polka dot shirt, white pants, and red slippers, or any piece of extravagantly printed loungewear you can find ahead of time. Just bring enough personality to make it clear you’re worthy of the look.
Either Juliette or Calliope from First Kill (2022)
Who can’t appreciate the lesbian tension between a vampire and a vampire hunter? Plus, these girls are living their high school lives wearing absolutely normal clothes, like that blue shirt and pink sweatpants number on Calliope when she kisses Juliette’s neck, who wears a fun little green and blue striped tank top and blue jeans. Easy, simple, and a good way to mourn a lesbian YA vampire show tragically struck down after the first season.
Lingerie with some animal ears
A tried and true classic. As long as you look hot nobody will question your commitment to the vibe, and how better to achieve that than leaning into some catboy maid shenanigans? Put on those fox ears you’ve been afraid to wear in public. This is a judgment-free zone.
All leather all the time
Another easy out for the leather community: throw on a collar, some handcuffs, and a jacket, and make a whole leather outfit for the night. Show off that collection, baby! Just make it feel special and you’ll be an eye-catcher.
Transmasc Werewolf
This one is for the furry transmascs in our midst. Wanna put that peach fuzz to use come Halloween? Just add fangs!
A Heterosexual Person
It might be a challenge for some queers, but all you need to do for this look is find incredibly normie and boring clothes. We’re talking polos, boat shoes, and a lot of pastel.
Any fun pun-based outfit you can think of
Bring a little hand mirror with you and stare into it all night — you’re Gay Pride, baby! Or maybe you want a pun with a message; carry around some cat grass and ask people around to touch it if they’re saying words that seem only fitting of the deepest pits of queer Twitter discourse. Hating puns is not the vibe, so let’s embrace a little bit of wordplay this year.
Just dress as freaky and gay as possible
Look, dressing as something specific is traditional, but that doesn’t mean you have to! It’s okay to just put on an outfit you’re excited about — and the more over the top it is, the better. Strap on a million chains and accessories, wear those massive platforms that have been sitting in your closet all summer, and put on some clown makeup, some goth eyeshadow, or fake blood. If anyone gives you flak for not wearing a specific costume, just laugh at them. (Prescriptivist dorks!)
Regardless of what costume you pick, it’s important to remember the true spirit of Halloween: have fun and get up to some mischief. You can do that in a last-minute costume or in your everyday clothes, so try not to stress so hard about waiting to find an outfit. Stay safe, have fun, and don’t be mean. Happy Halloween!
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