60 Best Teen Halloween Costumes of 2023 for All the Youths Out There
There's plenty to last you all Halloweekend!
Whether you've literally been planning your Halloween costume since last October or waited 'til the absolute last minute to put something together (relatable), there are plenty of costume ideas to go around. And for you teens out there, remember this: You're never too old to dress up (even if trick-or-treating isn't on the itinerary this year). Whether you're participating in your school's costume contest or headed to a Halloween party with friends, you're gonna want a costume that's perfectly you. Ofc, the question begs—what teen Halloween costumes are actually cool?? Depending on your vibe, you could go with a scary costume, a punny one, a Y2K-inspired one, or something else entirely—we've got plenty of ideas.
Some of these Halloween 'fits for teens involve a bit of prep work, but we also made sure to throw some last-minute costume ideas in the mix that you can pull off in no time ('cuz honestly, between school, friends, homework, extracurriculars, and everything else, you might not have time to make an elaborate DIY costume). And while some of these teen costume ideas work as individual costumes, a lot of these ideas could work as a starting point for a bestie costume, a couples costume, or even a group costume. So, without further ado, presenting some of the best Halloween costume ideas for teens for 2023!
Barbie
Barbie is going to be e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e this Halloween, and thanks to the live-action film, there are plenty of iconic 'fits to choose from. Our personal fave: Cowgirl Barbie.
Ariel from The Little Mermaid
Halle Bailey as Ariel in this year's Little Mermaid live-action remake is the perfect fresh spin on the classic mermaid costume. Grab a blue corset dress and sandals to go as human Ariel—or stick to mermaid Ariel with a sparkly green skirt and bikini top.
Hailey Bieber
Looking for a very ~of the moment~ costume idea? Here ya go!!
M3GAN
Sure, M3GAN came out in early 2023, but you better believe you can still take on this costume for October 31.
Belly from The Summer I Turned Pretty
Belly's signature style is cool and laidback—but if you're going to copy any season 2 look, then you've gotta take on her house party ensemble. Add some roller skates if you really feel like committing.
Jenna from 13 Going on 30
Even if you're much closer to 13 than you are 30, this costume is still SO much fun. Bonus points if you learn the choreo from the "Thriller" music video.
Mabel from Only Murders in the Building
You'll stay toasty-warm this Halloween if you dress up like the queen of coats, Mabel Mora.
Minnie Mouse
Get yourself a polka dot skirt, yellow heels, and a pair of mouse ears, and you've got a Minnie costume.
Taylor Swift
Taylor's Eras tour has provided fans with TONS of costume inspo, but the easiest one to copy has gotta be this Red-inspired lewk.
Portia from The White Lotus
Whether you loved 'em or hated 'em, there's no denying that Portia's outfits from season 2 of The White Lotus were *very* memorable.
Buttercup from The Princess Bride
Listen, we know this movie came out in the '80s, but it's still a classic, okay??
Alexis from Schitt's Creek
You can never go wrong with a Schitt's Creek Halloween costume, and this one will have you feeling a little bit single (even when you're not).
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish is constantly reinventing her lewk, but her bright green roots and oversized 'fits will always remain part of pop culture history.
Violet from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Wanna be comfy this Halloween? Don a blue tracksuit and paint your nose blue to become the gum-loving Violet Beauregarde.
Olivia Rodrigo
There are *tons* of ways to dress like Olivia Rodrigo, but her cheerleading uni from the "good 4 u" music video is probably her most recognizable look.
Frida Kahlo
Throw on a brightly-colored dress and floral headpiece and give yourself a lil unibrow to become legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
Beyoncé
The Renaissance tour 'fits have been...elaborate, to say the least—but everyone will get the picture if you don lots of sequins, fringe, and an oversized hat.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
I'm Cosmopolitan's Associate Fashion Editor and write about any and all trends, major celeb fashion moments, and why wide-leg jeans are basically the best. I originally moved to New York City to audition for RENT, only to find out that the play closed 10 years ago.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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