THE JOURNAL
From left: Mr Bernie Sanders. Photograph by Mr Brend Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images. Mr Park Hae-soo in“Squid Game” (2021). Photograph by Mr Youngku Park, courtesy of Netflix. Mr Kanye West. Photograph by Mr Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
The scariest part of the Halloween season? Figuring out what to wear at the ookiest, spooky time of the year. But don’t worry, we’ve got you. Whether you’re trick or treating, sitting in for a horror-movie fest or heading out to a fancy-dress bash, we’ve surveyed the style and cultural landscape of the past 12 months to come up with seven last-minute costume ideas that will be the talk of the monster mash.
01.
Mr Bernie Sanders at the inauguration
Mr Bernie Sanders at The US Capitol, Washington, DC, 20 January 2021. Photograph by Mr Brend Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
During President Joe Biden’s inauguration, one man stole the show. Mr Bernie Sanders became an instant meme with his military green Gore-Tex coat and hand-knit mittens made and gifted to him by a teacher in Vermont – so iconic, they now have their own Wikipedia entry. If you want to be a cosy king this Halloween, look no further. Dust off your best Gorpcore and your finest mitts, put on a pair of glasses, a face mask and grab a nice chair to sit on for the whole night. It’s a look that says: “He’s not antisocial, he’s just committing to the part.”
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02.
Moe Szyslak in The Simpsons’ Balenciaga show
Moe Szyslak in The Simpsons Balenciaga (2021). Photograph courtesy of 2021 20thTelevision/Balenciaga
In an unexpected turn of events for the fashion week audience this autumn, Balenciaga creative director Mr Demna Gvasalia presented a 10-minute episode of The Simpsons where the characters travel to Paris and walk for the Balenciaga runway. In this light-hearted collaboration, our personal favourite man of the night was Moe Szyslak in a boxy oversized camel coat over a white shirt and brown knee boots. His look can be easily replicated in your everyday street style, but it can also elevate any Halloween party with the fashion nod of the season.
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03.
Mr Rami Malek in No Time To Die
Mr Rami Malek in “No Time to Die” (2021). Photograph courtesy of Universal Pictures UK
There are no shortage of masked eviltons in the cinematic vaults to choose from for Halloween capers. But timeliness is a virtue when it comes to fancy-dress, so why not take the new James Bond film’s release as an opportunity to arrive at the party as _No Time To Die’s _villain-in-chief? In this highly anticipated blockbuster, Mr Rami Malek stars as the masked antagonist that goes by the name of Safin. This end-of-level bad guy sports a snow-camouflage white parka with matching trousers and mask, a fit perfect for scaring off the haters in any Halloween event.
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04.
Squid Game’s leisurewear
Mr Park Hae-soo in“Squid Game” (2021). Photograph by Mr Youngku Park, courtesy of Netflix
A teal tracksuit and white slip-on Vans will be instantly recognisable come Halloween night. Perhaps not the most original idea, but no Halloween 2021 costume roundup would be complete without Squid Game, now Netflix’s most-streamed show. The Korean series’ “player” uniform has already reached cult status, while sales of the mandatory white Vans have rocketed almost 8,000 per cent. All this means it is unlikely you’ll be the only player at your Halloween bash in a Squid Game costume – but that feels in keeping with a show about being trapped in the system, man.
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05.
Mr Kanye West’s Donda looks
Mr Kanye West at a “Donda” listening event, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 22 July 2021. Photograph by Mr Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
After that absolutely last-minute, low-effort party outfit? Mr Kanye West’s (OK, Ye’s) looks for his new album drop, Donda, are easily reproduced for Halloween purposes. You will need a red puffer jacket, matching red bottoms and orange shoes (bonus points if they’re Yeezy), and pull some tights over your head, for the second Balenciaga-inspired costume of the spooky season. You might not be able to see well, but Halloween fashion needs sacrifices.
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06.
Mr Jeff Bezos coming back from space
Mr Jeff Bezos walks after flying into space, Van Horn, Texas, 20 July 2021. Photograph by Mr Joe Raedle/Getty Images
If you find yourself queuing at the fancy-dress shop and in dire need for Halloween costume inspiration, why not take a leaf out of Mr Jeff Bezos’ playbook? When the executive chairman of Amazon, “CEO, entrepreneur”, launched himself into space this past summer, he rocked up in his regulation astronaut gear and a cowboy hat for the press conference. You can pull off the billionaire space cowboy look with a blue jumpsuit and a fine cowboy hat.
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07.
Mr Frank Ocean at the Met Gala
Mr Frank Ocean at the 2021 Met Gala, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, 13 September 2021. Photograph by Mr John Shearer/Getty Images
When Mr Frank Ocean arrived at the Met Gala with his lime-green robot baby in his arms (both wearing Prada), thoughts immediately turned to this as the perfect Halloween costume of the night. The ensemble itself is simple: a white T-shirt underneath an all-black knit vest, trucker jacket, trousers and baseball cap. To complete the look, you will need a lime-green toy, for which we suggest spray painting a baby doll. If it’s good enough for Frank…
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