I THOUGHT HALLOWEEN COSTUMES HAD TO BE SPOOKY OR SULTRY...
But not anymore
Every year, it’s the same dance. I go hunting for Halloween costume ideas, only to be met with two extremes: the over-the-top productions and the barely-there ensembles. Take Heidi Klum, for instance—the queen of Halloween. Her costumes are nothing short of cinematic masterpieces, clearly requiring months of planning and an entire crew. I admire it from afar—I’m just not that committed.
On the flip side, we have the other type of costume—the sexy, barely-there numbers that fill the racks of every Halloween store.They’re stunning, but for me? Not so much. I love to dance, even if I’m the only Latina without rhythm. That mini skirt? Let’s just say it’s not built to handle my moves. So, for me, it’s a hard pass.
What I’m after is something different—a little spooky maybe, but not scary. A little sexy, but without veering into "spanked nurse" territory. I want something quirky, something that sparks a conversation at the party.
So, if you’re like me, you’re probably searching for a Halloween costume that checks all the boxes: great for photos, fun for the party, and totally you. I spend hours finding mine, tweaking every detail to hit that perfect sweet spot. And if you’re nodding along right now, I’ve got you covered.
I scroll through my 112,857 camera roll photos and dig up my past Halloween costumes to share with you. Consider it your personal costume curation guide, designed to inspire your look this year.
And gentlemen, don’t worry—I didn’t forget about you. Naturally, I roped my husband into this too.
Enjoy!
Psst! I created a playlist on Spotify with a song to match each costume—it’ll make reading the newsletter even more fun! Tune in while you read. Here’s the link:
P.S. Apparently, liking posts works wonders for the algorithm, so if you enjoyed this issue and feel like tapping that little heart, it would mean the world!
Weird Barbie
The character 'Weird Barbie' in the Barbie movie was inspired by how many kids would customize or 'play rough' with their Barbies, leading to dolls with cut hair, marker-drawn faces, or contorted limbs over time. I thought this was funny because it’s true—I did it too. And it’s also a super easy costume to make.
Recreate the Look:
For the marker lines:
Pink Dress: My pink dress is no longer available, but I found this one that’s much more accurate and another one that’s super cute.
Clint Eastwood
As Blondie in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Clint Eastwood embodies the quintessential antihero. And while making this list, I realized something—my husband definitely has a soft spot for those rugged, morally ambiguous characters.
His cousin showed up as Forrest Gump that night, and his costume was awesome too.
Recreate the Look for Blondie:
Or, if you want an already-made version of the costume, you can find it here.
👯 People With Bunny Ears Emoji
This would make an awesome best friend costume! I gave it a little twist by swapping the bodysuit for a black dress.
Recreate the Look:
Clueless
This one’s a bit of a cliché, but I had to do it. I'm too much of a fan of movies like Clueless and Mean Girls to skip it just because it's popular. Instead of buying a pre-made costume, I decided to piece the look together from regular stores. Plus, I figured I could actually re-wear some of the pieces after Halloween.
Recreate the Look:
IT (The Poster)
I feel like anyone can pull off this look, and you probably already have most of the pieces—or something similar—in your closet.
Recreate the Look:
Ken and Barbie (Couples)
I know, I already showed you Barbie, but now it’s time for Ken! This particular Ken outfit was the most iconic from the movie—Bad Ken. My husband went all out to get the details just right: the watches, the bandana, and even the fanny pack (though you can’t see it in the photo). I thought it was super cool!
Recreate the Look:
Sunglasses (they’re amazing—now they’re mine!)
Clockwork Orange
This is one of my favorite Stanley Kubrick films, so I had to recreate the look. I put together an awesome makeup look (even though you can’t see it in this photo). This was from a few years ago, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned since then, it’s this: always take more pictures!
In the original outfit, they’re all wearing distinct codpieces over their pants, adding a theatrical and slightly unsettling touch. But I wasn’t quite ready to rock that at a party in Vegas. I thought people might not recognize the look without it, but to my pleasant surprise, they did!
The makeup was something like this:
Recreate the Look:
Dexter
I told you—he has a thing for antiheroes.
Recreate the Look:
Audrey Hepburn
This look is inspired by an iconic scene from Breakfast at Tiffany's. I made this costume a couple of years ago, but now they sell a set that's much cooler than the one I used. I'll link it below.
Recreate the Look:
Hippie
I pulled this one together with items I already had in my closet. If you've got a flowy dress, high boots, and a piece of fabric for a headband, you're all set!
Recreate the Look:
George Michael
On the left: my husband nailing the iconic George Michael look, complete with the leather jacket, sunglasses, and signature cross earring. On the right: George Michael himself in his legendary BSA jacket. The attention to detail here is spot on—definitely a 10/10 tribute to one of the greatest pop icons of all time!
Recreate the Look:
Makeup Inspiration
I’ve always been lucky to have talented makeup artists as friends, and every Halloween, it’s become a bit of a ritual to create looks together. These days, hiring a makeup artist for a special party is common. So, if that’s your thing, you might appreciate the skull makeup on the left, done by my friend Roberto Ramos, and the mermaid masterpiece on the right by Kali.
Risky Business
This is the kind of outfit you pull out for a last-minute party invite—quick, simple, and undeniably iconic.
Recreate the Look:
And don’t forget shoes—you’re gonna need them, lol.
This month, I’ll be releasing an exclusive article on Halloween photo tips, so if you’ve enjoyed this read, consider becoming a paid subscriber (for less than the cost of a coffee each month).
Thanks for reading.
With love,
Bonnie
P.S. Apparently, liking posts works wonders for the algorithm, so if you enjoyed this issue and feel like tapping that little heart, it would mean the world!
Love your hubby’s George Michael look!🔥 You look fantastic in the Clueless plaid. Adorable!💕