In need of some inspiration for Halloween? Here are 10 costume ideas that are sure to be a hit this year
Tomorrow is Halloween, and considering that, according to fashion search platform Lyst, some fancy dress fanatics started planning their outfits for the 31st of October back in spring, if you haven't yet thought about it - it's time to get a move on. Especially since neglecting to plan your costume until the eleventh hour often leads to a cringe-worthy attempt at the 'sexy cat'. Just us?
Although, if a collaborative report by Lyst and visual discovery app Pinterest (which collates search and save data from an extensive pool of 210 million people) is anything to go by, the sexy cat might be at risk of extinction. Fear not though, as there are a plethora of worthy replacements.
From Beauty and The Beast's Belle, to Wonder Woman, here are ten costume ideas that are sure to be hit for Halloween 2017...
1. Pennywise from It
Stephen King's 1986 novel, It, has been catapulted into the limelight once again following the recent release of director Andy Muschietti's chilling adaptation. According to Pinterest, the number of users 'saving' clown make-up and costume ideas is up 941% year-on-year, with Lyst witnessing an increase in searches for exaggerated ruffled shoulder shirts and white gloves, as well as a 14% increase in searches for lace up pom-pom sneakers in the last month. All this points towards the idea that King's protagonist, Pennywise, is likely to be an extremely popular costume this Halloween.
2. A Stranger Things character
The launch of series two of Stranger Things has been strategically timed to coincide with Halloween this year, meaning that the show remains at the forefront of the costume queen's psyche.
Pinterest saves for Stranger Things are reportedly up forty times, while Lyst data indicates that searches for trucker caps and 1980s printed t-shirts (like those worn by the male characters) are also up. Could this mean more people will be dressing up as Mike, Dustin and Lucas as well as Eleven this Halloween?
3. Belle from Beauty and the Beast
The combination of La La Land, starring Emma Stone, and Beauty and the Beast, in which Emma Watson plays Belle, has meant that searches for yellow dresses have soared this year. Lyst has reported a leap in search traffic for yellow tiered gowns (like that worn by Watson in Disney's adaption) this summer - around the same time teenage girls across the pond start start scouring the web for prom dresses. If you did invest in a lemon, saffron or buttercup frock, re-wearing it for Halloween would be a savvy way to save on your costume, leaving you more money to spend on decorations for the mother of all spooky shindigs.
4. A giraffe
Move over creepy (read: sexy) cat, lion, or other animal with whiskers; there is apparently a new king of the jungle. Giraffes (a little random, we grant you) are apparently set to be one of this year's most popular Halloween costumes. Pinterest saves for giraffe makeup and costume images are up nearly 1200% on this time last year, with Lyst also reporting a 27% increase in searches for 'giraffe print' since last June. Each to their own.
5. Wonder Woman
Perfectly embodying the strong/sexy aesthetic du jour, it's unsurprising that Wonder Woman remains a popular costume choice for Halloween. Add to that the fact that the mesmeric Gal Gadot played the female heroin in Warner Brother's Wonder Woman movie earlier this year, and you can bet you'll spot a red corset or two out and about on the 31st of October.
Lyst has reported a 115% increase in searches for 'red corset' year-on-year, with sales of chunky gold cuffs, like those worn by the bomb-shell-cum-super-hero, up 15% since June. And Pinterest's findings support this, with 230,000 Wonder Woman costume ideas currently saved on the app.
6. A Game of Thrones character
Game of Thrones has been the subject of many an excitable conversation and Instagram meme of late, and it seems the show, which just concluded its penultimate series, is having a marked effect on our wardrobes too.
Daenerys Targaryen, the character played by Emilia Clarke who is usually in a Grecian-esque gown, is likely to be at least partially responsible for the 30% year-on-year increase in searches for this style of dress as reported by Lyst. Pinterest too, had witnessed a spike, with saved images of the Khaleesi up 91% every year.
Not rugged enough for you? Kit Harrington's character, King of the North Jon Snow, is also set to be a popular choice for Halloween this year, with Pinterest saves up 280% year-on-year, and Lyst's witnessing of around 4000 searches a day for black and grey fur stoles.
7. A Baywatch babe
Baywatch has witnessed a revival thanks to the new movie starring Dwayne Johnson, Zac Effron and Alexandra Anna Daddario which hit cinemas earlier this year. As a result, Pinterest has witnessed a 147% increase in related costume ideas from last year. Lyst has also seen a knock on effect from the Seth Gordon-directed film, with global searches for red one-pieces up 240% this summer.
8. A hippie
Popularity for jazzy flares and colourful sunglasses, as seen on catwalks, street style stars and celebrities alike this, shows no signs of waning. The 60s hippie spirit is here to stay, and apparently it could provide the premise for many a Halloween costume.
Searches via Lyst for printed flared trousers are up 150% since June, with flower crowns and quirky round sunglasses repeatedly selling out. Pinterest has seen a similar pattern, with saves for hippie outfit ideas up 130% each year.
9. A unicorn
Thought a glittery, rainbow-hued unicorn outfit was the preserve of festival-goers? Think again. A unicorn is potentially the least scary option for a Halloween costume you could imagine, but if you're accompanying some easily-spooked little ones as they patrol the pavements demanding sweats, it might be just the ticket.
Lyst has reported a 130% increase in searches of 'unicorn' since May, and saved pins on Pinterest are also up 110% year- on-year, with clicks for unicorn headbands apparently proliferating globally.
10. A mermaid
This just in: sexy sea siren looks are trending. Apparently mermaids have triggered more than 1.4 million saves on Pinterest and 'mermaid leggings' have racked up an impressive 8,000 searches a month globally on Lyst since July.
So, whether you're a perpetual fan of Disney's red haired heroin Ariel, or just fancy using Halloween as an excuse to slink around in a sequin dress for the evening: don't rule out dressing up as a mermaid just yet.
