10 Halloween Costumes Inspired by a (sometimes) Scary 2017

At the risk of “politicizing” Halloween, these are scary times we live in. At this very second, your social media newsfeed is a scrolling horror show of nuclear threats, climate change and musings from the President of the United States. Do I digress?

One could argue that Halloween, by design, is an opportunity to make a statement — political, fashion or otherwise. Instead of being a pregnant Kylie Jenner or Beyonce’s twins, could you make insightful commentary on a woman’s right to choose or society’s insatiable appetite for consuming female bodies in the public discourse?

Or, you could also argue that Halloween’s theatrical illusion of innocence is an interlude from the very real terrors of everyday existence, and we should embrace its witchy whimsy as a sort of well-earned escapism. That, yes, for one night a year, you can be a sexy mouse and not think about how past generations have crippled the planet’s future.

Whichever camp you fall into, here are some easy Halloween costumes that are sure to please both the political and performative pop culture junkie among us.

Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) Game of Thrones
While Daenerys and her dragons often steal the spotlight, everybody knows its Cersei who runs the show. Ever since Lena Headey’s Machiavellian monarch cropped her hair and committed to an all-black wardrobe, she has been a fashion favourite. Emulate her elegance with a gown and a frown, and your friends will be saying, “Yaaaaas, queen!”

Kellyanne Conway (herself) The Trump Administration
Blonde hair, a blazer with strong shoulders and a cardboard TV screen around your face at all times is all that separates you from Trump’s media bulldog. Better yet, slap on some clown makeup and reinterpret Saturday Night Live’s mashup of Conway with Pennywise from It.

Melania Trump (herself) First Lady
Big hair, big sunglasses, big labels. In her first year as FLOTUS, Melania Trump has found herself an opulent outsider in the fashion world, with designers including Christian Siriano, Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford refusing to dress her. Aim for: expensive, off-the-rack and an expression that suggests you’re trying to focus on something in the distance.

Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) Wonder Woman
Yes, everybody will be Wonder Woman this year, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing. The film adaptation of DC Comics’ leading lady broke records, including become the highest-grossing film directed by a woman and the largest opening for a female-led comic book film, among others.

Renata Klein (Laura Dern) Big Little Lies
Laura Dern’s turn as the unhinged, unabashed Renata Klein made her the biggest star of Big Little Lies. Dern’s Renata Klein was never far from a glass of wine, and you can complete the look with some “cool mom” clothes that are more “Real Housewife” than Suzy Homemaker.

Joan Crawford and Bette Davis (Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon) Feud
How did people to get dressed for Halloween before Ryan Murphy? Perhaps we’ll never know. His latest series, Feud, recounted the famous rivalry between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis during the production of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Played by Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, you and your fave frenemy can get look with some nods to 1960s fashion: silk dresses, curled hair, gloves and pearl necklaces.

Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris) BoJack Horseman
While BoJack’s on-again, off-again agent and love interest Princess Carolyn may be a pink Persian cat, her struggle to balance her demanding career and personal life are at times the show’s most human moments. If you can get cat ears, a yellow cardigan, green fish-patterned dress and a penchant for putting other’s happiness before your own, you’re set for Halloween.

Offred (Elizabeth Moss) The Handmaid’s Tale
Hulu’s interpretation of Margaret Atwood’s classic novel A Handmaid’s Tale could not have been more timely, given the current climate. Protagonist Offred and her fellow Handmaids are blazing symbol of female oppression — opt for a red, hooded cape and an absurdly oversized white visor.

Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) House of Cards
Last year, America came so close to having a female president. Well, in the world of House of Cards, it actually did. SPOILER: Robin Wright’s iconic ice queen (or, president?) got the distinction of becoming a murderer this season, making her additionally appropriate for Halloween.

Cheryl Blossom Riverdale
Other than that time Betty went off the deep end, Cheryl Blossom was consistently the scariest student at Riverdale High School. The flame-haired, manipulative maven at times seemed to put the “killer” into “fashion killer”, though ultimately it seems all she really slayed was every episode’s wardrobe budget.

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