For us, the weeks leading up to Halloween involve equal parts reviewing every meme and pop-culture moment in the past year and figuring out how to translate said moment into costume form. The latter is easier said than done. (Hence, you'll likely run into eight different Harley Quinns while out and about on Hallows' Eve.) That, paired with the fact that it's an election year, makes the line between "topical" and "predictable" even blurrier this time around.
But then again, 2016 was the year Daniel got damned, millennials rediscovered pink, and Rihanna proved the best way to accessorize is taking your wine to go. In what has been an objectively terrible year, these moments brought a little lightheartedness to the news cycle (and probably sucked up a little too much of our time). So, now, we commemorate those viral tidbits in the best way we know how: by turning them into Halloween costumes. You've got your fashion-girl looks down. Ahead, check out eight punny getups that are on-topic and on-point for whatever you have planned for October 31.
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Damn Daniel'd
Someone's back at it again...and with a vengeance. It was the meme heard 'round the world — and one that still makes us instinctively go, "Back at it again!" whenever someone approaches us wearing white slip-ons. It's been months since Josh Holz and Daniel Lara changed the way we look at our Vans, but we're still feeling the effects of the viral video. One could say we've been "Damn Daniel'd" — our lives totally overtaken by a teen-fueled meme. So, break out all the white Vans you bought in the aftermath of said video, and wear 'em with pride: on your feet, on your hands, over your shoulders, or on your head. It'll definitely make fellow partygoers go, " Daaamn."
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Clickbait
Sometimes, you just have to know what Kendall Jenner said to so-and-so, or what Rihanna was wearing — whether you'll believe it or not. In the era of clickbait, it's sometimes all too easy to fall for the allure of a few keywords. Hey, you could say we're a little #selfaware — but we've also #beenthere. So, this Halloween, dress as the internet's favorite trickster: Pick out a few of the most hate-myself-for-being-interested-in-this headlines from across the web (a quick search on Twitter will produce enough examples) and carry around an oversized hook, to really drive the point home.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Millennial Pink
If you're a millennial or have spent any time on Tumblr over the past year, you know this specific shade of pink. In fashion, it was first associated with Acne Studios' boxy shopping bags. It then went on to become Glossier pink. Now, there are entire fashion brands and even restaurants color-coordinated in that dusty hue. Whatever you call it, it's everywhere — and, since you probably already own at least a few things that fall on this end of the pink spectrum, simply pile them all on. You'll be trendy without even trying.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Carpool Karaoke
We're forever grateful to James Corden and The Late Late Show for taking what we already do in the car, by our lonesome selves in evening traffic, and showing us that celebrities are kind of the same, too. Whereas we're still waiting for our invitation to belt out to some Céline Dion with, well, Céline Dion, we can bring the concept with us to the Halloween-party circuit. Simply make your own "windshield" (or a large rectangle that frames you and a "passenger" in about the same dimensions as a YouTube video) and hook it up with mics. Walk around wherever you are and have guests hop in to sing along with you (watching out for pedestrians, of course). Hey, you can't always count on a karaoke machine.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Rihanna's Favorite Accessory
Yes, Rihanna and Drake have provided much fan-fiction fodder this year. But the real #relationshipgoal has been that between the performer and her wine glass — which she makes sure to always keep handy, wherever she goes. She'll treat it as an accessory. She'll go to great lengths to protect it. And, with her dexterous grate-walking skills, she never spills. Now, that's skill. So, put on your best Fenty-inspired getup and raise a glass to your fellow Bad Gal. It's what Rihanna would want.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Fast Fashion
Fast fashion remains one of the most talked-about, rightly controversial topics in the industry. Often, though, we find ourselves falling back on the H&Ms and the Zaras of the world to scrounge a last-minute costume, turning a pussy-bow blouse and black skater skirt into an Eloise #OOTD and an assortment of saturated yellow garments into a "vitamin D" getup. There is, however, a more meta approach for those who enjoy a little wordplay: Suit up in your favorite track set and bust out your off-brand T-shirts and flashy, super-stylish wares. Take a few laps around the party. Luckily, track is back.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Shade
If you're the partygoer who prefers to hang by the sidelines, sipping some punch and silently conducting their own costume contest (filled with witty commentary and an overall unimpressed disposition), this one's for you. Expert shade-throwers will hang back in their head-to-toe black looks, shielding their gaze with a pair of opaque sunglasses, and carrying around an oversized umbrella to cover the recipient of one's subtly unfavorable opinion in a shadow. Honestly, truly.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
You In 2006
In case you missed it, Juicy Couture's velour tracksuits are back, Ugg reintroduced its classic boot with water-repellent capabilities, and Starbucks Frappuccinos are still delicious. Wait, is it 2016 or 2006? Sometimes, we forget. But, seeing as we've resurrected some of our most beloved items from the early aughts, we might as well bring them back together for the big 10-year reunion. It'll be the coziest Halloween ever, jamming to FutureSex/LoveSounds from our iPods in our tracksuits and Uggs.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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