Halloween costumes for your inner child

Halloween is quickly approaching, and if you’re like me, you always leave costume decisions to the last minute. For me, figuring out a costume has gotten harder as I’ve grown up because I feel like I have already done everything, even though I definitely haven’t. The costumes I wore as a kid feel so much more fun than anything I could do now, but that shouldn’t stop any of us from revisiting those costumes now that we are older. Here are some exciting costume ideas that will fulfill your inner child and also make Halloween a ton of fun, whether for yourself, you and your bestie or your entire friend group.

Costumes inspired by childhood books

“Rainbow Magic” Fairies Book Series

If you were anything like me as a child, you certainly read the “Rainbow Magic” book series, short stories about different kinds of fairy characters. This costume idea is perfect for a large group of friends because there are so many fairies to choose from. Some simple fairy wings and a dress or outfit to match the colors of the fairy you pick will work perfectly.

“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”

A solo costume idea from a childhood book is the mouse from “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.” This costume is simple and easy to put together. All you’ll need is a pair of denim overalls, some pink and black makeup for a mouse face, mouse ears and of course, a chocolate chip cookie or an object that looks like one.

“Jack and Jill”

“Jack and Jill” is an iconic children’s story we have most likely all heard at least once. This story and its illustrations have been redone many times so you could base this duo costume off of any of the editions, but my personal favorite is the 1960s version. In most of the versions, Jill is seen wearing a red dress and Jack is seen in primarily yellow, blue or red. You will also need a bucket or pail of some sort for the supposed water. This is a great costume for a couple or even a pair of best friends.

Costumes inspired by childhood movies

“Tinker Bell” 

I obviously had a thing for fairies as a child but I couldn’t give costume ideas without mentioning the iconic “Tinker Bell” as well as all of her friends such as Silvermist, Rosetta and Vidia. This is an ideal group costume since there are six main fairies. Some light blue/white fairy wings and a dress for each color the fairies wear would work great for this costume.

“The Wizard of Oz”

“The Wizard of Oz” is a Halloween costume that has surely been done before, but it is always reliable and looks amazing for any group. You could also dress as just Dorothy if you are looking for a solo costume, but the full group gives the entire picture and these costumes are easy to access. Many places such as Spirit Halloween, Party City and Amazon have these costumes already made and easy to find. You could also DIY them if you wanted something more unique, either way works. 

Disney Princesses

Although this may be considered a little basic, dressing up as a Disney Princess for Halloween has never failed anyone before. Each princess has their own dresses and colors so any would work for either a group or a solo. One good thing about the Disney Princesses is that they are almost always instantly recognizable. You could dress up as any princess and most people would know exactly who you are.

Costumes inspired by childhood shows 

Snoopy and Charlie Brown from “Peanuts”

Snoopy and Charlie Brown are easily one of the most memorable duos from childhood television. They are one of the best duo costume ideas for a couple or a pair of best friends. This could even be adorable for siblings. You may have to DIY a little for this costume to achieve Charlie Brown’s black lining on his shirt but Sharpie or tape should work. As for Snoopy, an all white look with his ears makes the costume. Both characters could also work by themselves, especially Snoopy.

“Strawberry Shortcake” 

Strawberry Shortcake and her large group of fruity friends makes for a great group costume. Including Strawberry Shortcake herself, there are seven friends to choose from for your group. You could also use this as a solo costume for any of the characters. All of the characters wear the cutest colors, and adding along a toy fruit basket (or real, I don’t make the rules) to match each one makes for an awesome Halloween costume. There are also different versions for each character, especially Strawberry Shortcake, as she has changed throughout the years. You can make any of the versions into the ideal Halloween costume.

Dipper and Mabel from “Gravity Falls”

“Gravity Falls” remains my all-time favorite cartoon, even as the 19-year-old I am now. Dipper and Mabel are such a great duo, and this costume would work for siblings or best friends. Their iconic outfits are pretty simple to recreate even if you cannot find the exact items. The main components to really make the costume theme are Dipper’s hat and Mabel’s bright pink sweater.

Coming up with a Halloween costume is one of the highlights of my year, every year. If you are struggling with a costume idea, try one of these and make it your own. Costumes are meant to be unique and fun, and all of these have ways in which you can make them different from the original and put your own touch on them. If you need more ideas, Pinterest and TikTok are always my go-to places. TikTok can help you find a costume idea, and Pinterest can help you find clothing pieces to put it all together. Have a Happy Halloween.