Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a creative couples costume? Whether you’re attending a party, trick-or-treating, or just want to impress your neighbors, coordinating outfits with your significant other can be a fun and memorable experience. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 couples Halloween costume ideas for 2024, ranging from classic duos to trending pop culture references. Let’s dive in!
1. Barbie and Ken
With the massive success of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie in 2023, Barbie and Ken costumes are set to remain hugely popular for Halloween 2024. This iconic duo offers endless possibilities for interpretation, from classic 1960s looks to more modern styles inspired by the film.
For Barbie, the key is to embrace all things pink. A hot pink mini dress or jumpsuit paired with blonde hair (natural or a wig) is a great starting point. Add some oversized sunglasses, pink heels, and plenty of sparkly accessories to complete the look. Don’t forget Barbie’s signature bright smile and peppy attitude!
Ken’s costume can be just as fun. Go for a preppy look with pastel colors, or channel Ryan Gosling’s movie version with an open shirt, faux fur coat, and bleach blonde hair. The beauty of Barbie and Ken is that there are so many variations to choose from – you could even recreate a specific movie scene or outfit for added recognition.
DIY Tip: For a budget-friendly option, visit thrift stores to find pink and pastel clothing items. Add some glitter or sequins to make them more “Barbie-esque.”
Where to Buy: Many retailers are offering Barbie and Ken costumes due to the movie’s popularity. Check out Hicostume, or Amazon for ready-made options.
2. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
The whirlwind romance between pop superstar Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce captured hearts in 2023, making this an ideal couples costume for 2024. This pairing allows for a fun mix of glamour and sportiness.
For the Taylor Swift half, choose from her many iconic looks. An easy option is to recreate one of her Eras Tour outfits – perhaps the shimmering blue bodysuit or the gold fringed dress. Don’t forget to add some red lipstick and, if you’re feeling crafty, attach some handmade friendship bracelets to your wrists as a nod to the fan tradition at her concerts.
The Travis Kelce costume is straightforward – don a Kansas City Chiefs jersey (ideally with his number 87), pair it with some football pants or plain white pants, and add some eye black stickers. Carry a football as a prop to complete the look.
Accessory Idea: For an added touch of humor, have the Taylor Swift character carry a small toy microphone, while the Travis Kelce character carries a football with “Anti-Hero” written on it in reference to Swift’s hit song.
Where to Buy: For Taylor’s look, check out fashion retailers like ASOS or Fashion Nova for sparkly bodysuits or dresses. For Travis’s costume, sports stores or NFL are your best bet for authentic jerseys.
3. Wednesday Addams and Thing
Thanks to the continued popularity of the Netflix series “Wednesday,” this creepy and kooky duo makes for a perfect Halloween costume. It’s also a great option if one partner prefers a more subtle costume.
For Wednesday, the look is iconic: a black dress with a white collar, black tights, and black shoes. Braid your hair into two plaits, and perfect that deadpan expression. The key to nailing this costume is in the attitude – channel Wednesday’s dry wit and unamused demeanor.
Thing, the disembodied hand, is a fun and easy costume for the other partner. Wear all black clothes to blend into the background, and create a box that looks like a pedestal for your hand to rest on. Paint your hand to look pale and slightly decrepit, and practice some expressive hand gestures to really bring Thing to life.
DIY Tip: For Wednesday’s dress, you can easily modify a plain black dress by adding a white collar (either sewn on or attached with safety pins). For Thing, a simple cardboard box painted to look like wood can serve as the perfect “base” for the hand.
Where to Buy: Cosplaylab offers a great Wednesday Addams costume that includes the dress and wig. For Thing, you might need to get creative with makeup and props from craft stores.
4. Chani and Paul Atreides from Dune
With “Dune: Part Two” hitting theaters in 2024, costumes inspired by the sci-fi epic are sure to be a hit. Chani and Paul Atreides make for a striking and recognizable couple’s costume.
For Chani, focus on earthy tones and practical desert wear. A tan or light brown bodysuit or fitted outfit works well, accessorized with a rust-colored scarf or shawl. Add some blue contact lenses for her signature Fremen eyes, and consider carrying a prop crysknife.
Paul’s costume can be based on his Atreides uniform or his Fremen stillsuit. A dark, fitted outfit with some armor-like elements works well. Add a toy knife or sword as a prop, and style your hair to match Timothée Chalamet’s tousled look from the films.
DIY Tip: Create a “stillsuit” effect by adding tubes and small pouches to a dark bodysuit. Use EVA foam to craft armor pieces for a more detailed look.
Where to Buy: While specific “Dune” costumes might be hard to find, you can piece together the look using items from outdoor and tactical gear stores. Blue contact lenses can be found at costume shops or online retailers (always follow proper eye care guidelines when using costume lenses).
5. Yin and Yang
For couples who prefer a more abstract or symbolic costume, consider dressing as Yin and Yang. This classic Chinese philosophy concept represents the interconnected nature of seemingly opposite forces – perfect for a couple’s costume!
One partner dresses entirely in white, while the other dresses in black. Each person then adds a circle of the opposite color somewhere on their outfit – traditionally on the chest or back. This could be done with fabric paint, a sewn-on patch, or even a cleverly placed prop.
The beauty of this costume is its simplicity and the opportunity for creativity in how you represent the concept. You could go for a sleek, minimalist look, or add some flair with face paint, accessories, or even light-up elements.
DIY Tip: Use black and white clothing items you already own. Create the contrasting circles using felt or fabric paint. For a 3D effect, stuff the circles slightly before attaching them to your outfits.
Where to Buy: If you prefer a ready-made option, Rasta Imposta offers a Yin & Yang Couples Costume that includes both outfits. Alternatively, you can easily put this look together with basic black and white clothing items from any clothing store.
6. Joker and Harley Quinn
For couples who love a bit of mischief and mayhem, the Joker and Harley Quinn from DC Comics make for an exciting and recognizable costume duo. This pairing allows for various interpretations, from classic comic book looks to more recent movie adaptations.
For the Joker, the key elements are green hair, white face paint with exaggerated red lips, and a purple suit. You can go for a more traditional comic book look or opt for a grittier style inspired by recent film portrayals.
Harley Quinn’s look has evolved over the years, but some common elements include a red and black color scheme, face paint or makeup, and her signature pigtails. You could choose her classic jester outfit or go for a more modern interpretation with shorts, a ripped t-shirt, and a baseball bat as a prop.
DIY Tip: Thrift stores are great for finding colorful suits and clothing items that can be modified. Use temporary hair dye spray for the Joker’s green hair, and create Harley’s makeup look using face paint or regular makeup products.
Where to Buy: Many Halloween stores offer Joker and Harley Quinn costumes. MuFree has a couples costume set that includes outfits for both characters.
7. Futuristic Couple
For sci-fi enthusiasts or those looking for a more unique costume idea, consider dressing as a futuristic couple. This concept allows for a lot of creativity and can be tailored to your personal style and comfort level.
Think sleek, metallic fabrics, LED accessories, and unconventional shapes. You could go for a matching set of “space suits” or create contrasting looks that complement each other. Add some futuristic makeup, perhaps with metallic accents or geometric patterns, to complete the look.
DIY Tip: Use metallic fabric paint or spray paint to transform plain clothing items into futuristic garments. LED strip lights can be attached to clothing for a high-tech effect (just be sure to hide the battery pack).
Where to Buy: Etsy offers some great futuristic couple costumes, like the “Futuristic Couple Costumes for Halloween, Armor Costumes for Couples” listing.
These custom-made outfits can provide a unique and eye-catching look.
8. Vampire Couple
Vampires never go out of style for Halloween, and a vampire couple costume allows for both elegance and spookiness. You can opt for a classic Dracula-style look or go for a more modern, “twilight-inspired” vampire aesthetic.
For a traditional vampire look, think dark colors, capes or long coats, and Victorian-inspired clothing. Add pale makeup, fake fangs, and perhaps some fake blood for effect. For a more contemporary vampire style, you might choose sleeker, more modern clothing while still maintaining the pale skin and fangs.
DIY Tip: Thrift stores are great for finding old-fashioned clothing that can be modified for a vampire look. Use white face paint or powder to create a pale complexion, and don’t forget the fake blood (which can be made at home with corn syrup, water, and red food coloring).
Where to Buy: AliExpress offers a “Halloween Vampire Couple Costumes” set that includes outfits for both partners.
This can serve as a good base that you can then customize with additional accessories and makeup.
9. Ketchup and Mustard
For couples who prefer a more lighthearted and humorous approach to Halloween, dressing up as ketchup and mustard can be a fun and easy option. This costume idea is simple, recognizable, and sure to bring smiles to people’s faces.
The basic concept is straightforward: one partner dresses in all red (ketchup) while the other dresses in all yellow (mustard). You can either wear clothing in these colors or use large cardboard cutouts shaped like condiment bottles that you wear over your regular clothes.
DIY Tip: For a more elaborate version, use cardboard to create large bottle shapes, paint them red and yellow, and add details like labels and caps. Cut holes for your head and arms, and wear the “bottles” over your clothes.
Where to Buy: AzureBuy offers a “Halloween Adult Couples Mustard Ketchup Jumpsuit Costume” that provides a ready-made option for this fun idea.
10. Bob Ross and a Happy Little Tree
For a costume that’s both recognizable and wholesome, consider going as beloved painter Bob Ross and one of his “happy little trees.” This costume is sure to bring smiles to faces wherever you go.
For Bob Ross, the key elements are his iconic perm (achievable with a wig), beard, and blue button-down shirt. Carry a painter’s palette and brush as props. Don’t forget to practice your soothing voice and positive affirmations!
The “happy little tree” costume offers room for creativity. Start with a brown outfit as the trunk, then add green elements for the foliage. This could be done with attached fabric leaves, green tinsel, or even balloon “leaves” for a more cartoonish look. Add a happy face to really capture Bob Ross’s cheerful style.
DIY Tip: For the tree costume, start with a brown shirt and pants. Attach various shades of green fabric or felt cut into leaf shapes. Use face paint to add a happy expression to your face.
Where to Buy: While specific Bob Ross and tree couple costumes might be hard to find, you can easily put this look together with items from costume shops and craft stores. Look for a Bob Ross wig and beard set, and get creative with the tree costume using materials from a craft store.
Tips for Pulling Off Great Couples Costumes
- Plan ahead: Start discussing ideas and gathering materials well in advance of Halloween. This gives you time to order any specific items you might need and to make any DIY elements.
- Consider comfort: While looking great is important, remember that you’ll likely be wearing these costumes for several hours. Choose materials and styles that you can comfortably wear for extended periods.
- Practice together: If your costumes involve specific poses, catchphrases, or interactions, practice these beforehand. It’ll make your performance more natural on the night.
- Be prepared to explain: Some costume ideas might be less immediately recognizable than others. Have a quick explanation ready for those who ask.
- Coordinate, don’t match: The best couples costumes complement each other without being identical. Think about how your costumes interact and tell a story together.
- Add personal touches: While recreating a known character or concept is fun, adding your own creative twists makes the costume uniquely yours.
- Consider your plans: If you’re going to a party, an elaborate costume might be perfect. If you’re trick-or-treating with kids, you might want something more practical.
- Don’t forget makeup and hair: These elements can really elevate a costume from good to great. Practice any complex makeup looks ahead of time.
- Think about photos: Halloween is a prime photo opportunity. Consider how your costumes will look in pictures and plan some fun poses in advance.
- Have fun: Remember, the point of Halloween is to have a good time. Choose a costume idea that you and your partner will genuinely enjoy embodying for the night.
Whether you choose one of these top 10 ideas or come up with something completely unique, the key to a great couples Halloween costume is enthusiasm and teamwork. Use this opportunity to bond with your partner, showcase your creativity, and make some spooktacular memories. Happy Halloween!
