Pop culture Halloween costumes inspired by The Little Mermaid, Barbie, and AI

Whether you’re headed to a party, trick-or-treating, or just hanging out with friends, finding the best Halloween costume can be a lot of fun. While you can always choose from an assortment of pre-made costumes, it can often be less expensive and more environmentally friendly to utilize pieces from your own wardrobe to put together a winning look. There are tons of easy-to-put-together pop culture costumes to choose from that are truly timeless, and there’s something especially fun about finding the perfect costume that everyone will recognize.

We did all the heavy lifting for you by pulling together ten ideas for Halloween costumes that will feel perfectly on-trend this year. From Barbie’s rollerblading look, to Megan’s terrifying doll dance, to the Twitter rebrand, these are the pop culture Halloween costumes to shop (and make) this fall.

For heading under the sea: Ariel from 2023’s The Little Mermaid

If you’re anything like us, the remake of The Little Mermaid has you wishing that you could be part of Ariel’s world all over again. The live-action film did a great job of capturing the lasting nostalgia for the 90s classic while bringing updated ideas and dazzling effects to the silver screen.

If you’re dying to recreate Halle Bailey’s mermaid princess this Halloween, it’s never been easier to do so. Grab a fin-style skirt and a purple crop top and pair it with some shoes worthy of the magical mermaid herself. If you’re up for some props, bring along a fork (or a dinglehopper, as we prefer to call it) in case your hair needs any help on a windy night.

For rebranding yourself: Twitter rebrands as X

Ever since Elon Musk bought Twitter, it seems like the social media giant has been in the news constantly. Though there’s plenty to talk about, one of the easiest and most unexpected news stories you can transform into a costume is the surprise branding change from “Twitter” to “X.”

Whether you’re a Musk fan or want to poke a little fun, this change is rife with costume possibilities. If you’re the creative sort, just grab a blue t-shirt and paint the old white Twitter logo over it. Then, use black fabric paint to paint the X over that, as though you’re crossing it out and showing off the logo in one. For those (like me) who aren’t very good at the whole art thing, printing out the logos and using iron-on transfers will be your best friend. Even if you only print the white bird and draw a big black X over it, most people will immediately get what you’re referencing.

Pro tip: If you’re looking for an official logo to print, or just for inspiration for your painting, there’s an official place to find it.

For Escaping the Real World: Barbie

Nobody has had a better year than Barbie, from a record-breaking box office hit to a Halloween costume gold mine. While there are a ton of places to pull from for this fashion icon, the rollerblading scene is one of the silliest and most recognizable from the movie. While we pulled pieces to show off the stereotypical Barbie’s look rather than Ken’s (because after all, he is “just Ken”), this costume set is perfect for any pair to show off their 80s glam.

Show off that Kenergy and your pink pride with this fun outfit. Who knows? Maybe you’ll roll right into Barbieland if you’re lucky.

For Cleaning Up at the Costume Contest: Mr. Johnson from Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary is one of the biggest comedies on television, and it’s a goldmine for costume ideas. Go as a group as the whole cast of public school teachers, or stand alone as the happy and hilarious school custodian, Mr. Johnson in the spirit of the student who emulated him so well.

The button-up shirt, slacks, and shoes can easily become individual wardrobe staples for work or events, and together they create everyone’s favorite custodian. Add a keychain full of keys and the essential Abbott patch and lanyard and you’re ready to go. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even make your own Mr. Johnson ID to make it clear at a glance exactly who you are.

For getting into the Halloween spirit: M3GAN

The horror movie Megan became an instant campy classic when it premiered at the start of the year, and with just a few carefully selected pieces, you can recreate the creepy doll’s signature style. Just grab a tailored tan dress, a striped long-sleeve shirt, some white tights, and Mary Janes. Don’t forget to add her bow for that final touch of childlike whimsy that makes the robot so unnerving. You can even commit fully by learning the dance that made M3GAN a true legend.

For a serious showstopper: Rihanna’s Superbowl halftime show ensemble

Rihanna’s Superbowl performance was memorable for a lot of reasons, from her set list of hit after hit to her use of the biggest stage in the country to announce her pregnancy. The way she proudly shared her baby bump in this instantly iconic outfit is just one reason to love the all-red ensemble. While you certainly don’t have to be pregnant to wear it (because everyone deserves to feel as fabulous as Rihanna), it is a nice change of pace to have a glamorous Halloween costume option for those busy creating a new life.

It’s easy to feel like the only girl in the world with this costume. Just pull together the coveralls, leotard, bustier, and shoes, and add some bright red lipstick to match.

For an out-of-this-world look: UAP testimony-inspired flying saucer

The highly anticipated congressional hearing about UAPs didn’t disappoint. While the language might have changed from UFO (unidentified flying object) to UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena), the base facts remain the same: there’s something out there that no human can explain.

If you’re ready to celebrate the potential for alien life forms, we’ve got an easy and fun costume ready for you. Just find a shiny silver skirt and either buy or make a way for it to stand out like your own wearable UAP. Pair it with some light-up pants (or just add some glow sticks onto your own pair in a pinch) and voilá, you’ve become one of 2023’s biggest headlines. Add an alien green shirt and some sci-fi-worthy glasses to complete the look, or wear all black on top to let the UAP be the star.

For continuing the birthday bash: Grimace

One of fast food retailer McDonald’s classic characters, Grimace’s birthday made quite the stir this year when his celebratory purple shake became the latest TikTok trend. From there, it was a quick rise to internet stardom on various corners of social media. If you want to recreate the fuzzy purple guy yourself this Halloween, it’s easy to do. Just grab a T-shirt or sweatshirt printed with Grimace’s face and vibrant purple color, and pair it with purple leggings and shoes. You’ll never have a cozier Halloween costume.

For recreating that “Uncanny Valley” feeling: AI-generated art

One of the biggest topics of 2023 is the debate around art created by artificial intelligence. Whether you love it or hate it, the fact is that all of us have likely encountered AI art at some point this year. While the technology is impressive, it still can’t quite hit the level of human artists, with elements like hands, hair, faces, and limbs proving particularly tricky for it to master. This, of course, became the fodder of endless internet jokes.

If you’re looking to poke a little fun at the emerging tech’s growing pains, grab the accessories below and pair them with any outfit that you love. Wear one of them or all of them, and use the hair gel to style your hair into anime-worthy spikes that go off at every type of nonsensical angle.