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The Best Group Halloween Costume Ideas For 2016
Given the opportunity to spend the holidays any way you like, I'm willing to bet that on Halloween, you're calling your BFFs. Sure, no one wants to be alone on Christmas, but to be solo on All Hallow's Eve is a young, mischievous extrovert's worst nightmare. Because the more does indeed make the merrier during this annual spookfest, you may be contemplating some group Halloween costume ideas for 2016. Coming up with the perfect cast of characters to impersonate while you bob for vodka-infused apple slices sounds easy, but the more peeps in your crew, the more needs you have to meet. (Katie is not going to be OK dressing as the Luigi to your Princess Toadstool again, FYI.)
Trust me, you're not alone. Every circle of friends is facing the same daunting group message right about now: "Did we decide on costumes yet?!?! Clock's ticking! <3" Remember, if it's not you deciding who or what you're going to be while hitting that house party on October 31, you're playing Russian roulette with your own wardrobe. There are situations where apathy is perfectly acceptable; when the nature of your Halloween costume — and subsequent social media posts haunting you in perpetuity — hangs in the balance, this is not one of them.
Check out these 18 group Halloween costume ideas below, and if something strikes you, today's the day you Reply All with confidence.
1. All the Pokémon
Pikachu Costume, $34, Amazon
It's time to jump on that pop cultural bandwagon that is "Pokémon Go," ladies and gents. Everyone can pick their favorite character and, together, you can help your fellow partygoers catch 'em all. Snag a Pikachu costume, or mix and match basic pieces like tanks and colored shorts for a DIY (and more human) twist on the iconic creatures.
2. The Cast of Hamilton
Colonial Costume, $30, Amazon
Though this option is probably best left to the die-hard Hamilton fans, it would still make a pretty bomb group theme for any crew, especially for girlfriends who don't mind donning a little faux facial hair in the name of American history. Costumes for both women and men can be fashioned out of a colonial dress, or its corresponding male version.
3. Suicide Squad Characters
Harley Quinn, $42, Amazon; The Joker, $39, Amazon
Given the popularity surrounding its release, it's likely Suicide Squad is going to be a popular choice for Halloween 2016, but popular's not necessarily bad. The Joker and Harley Quinn are going to be easy costumes to pick up, requiring just a little hair and makeup on top of the outfits themselves, although killer cosplay versions might cost you a bit. Get an exhaustive DIY guide to putting together a costume for every character here.
4. Your favorite GoT character from different seasons
Instead of chasing down elaborate costumes for the entire Game of Thrones cast, just chase down elaborate costumes for a single character! Big fan of House Targaryen? Check out Dany's looks across the seasons, and let everyone pick their favorite. It can be a unique twist on a popular choice; plus, everyone looks great in shades of blue. Pick up a sweet cape dress ($26.58, eBay.com) or go as Khaleesi in her Dothraki heyday ($89.99, Coswigshop.com).
5. Rio 2016 Olympians
There is serious cute DIY potential here. Instead of trying to match wardrobe item for wardrobe item, gather all your favorite Americana apparel and throw a gold medal over it. Do it up with Old Glory-inspired tights, tank tops, or go wild and paint up your entire body.
Gold Medals, $15, Amazon; American Flag Tights, $20, Amazon
6. The inmates from Orange Is The New Black
Orange Uniform, $35, Amazon
The beauty in these costumes is their simplicity and versatility. They're perfect for a big group. From Piper to Crazy Eyes, there's a subtle way to customize each otherwise bland orange uniform. Add a spiky wig for Red and your whole crew is golden.
Red Spiky Wig, $12, Amazon
7. Members of The Addams Family
Morticia Costume, $30, Amazon; Gomez Costume, $31, Amazon; Wednesday Wig, $18, Amazon
There's something for everyone in this group costume. Personally, Wednesday's been calling my name for years, but I never got a whole group of people to commit to the rest of the fam. A Morticia costume is easy to come by , as is Gomez. For the rest? Lots of black, a striped shirt for Pugsley ($25, CostumesGalore.net), some wigs, and you, too, can be a part of this lovable group of spookily average people.
8. A box of crayons
Crayon Costume, $18, Amazon; Crayon Box Costume, $40, Amazon
A classic and easy option for a group of people who aren't into a huge costume commitment, the box of crayons is always a solid choice. Get cute, or really a-sexual — it's totally up to you.
9. An array of Disney princesses
For the classy, sassy girl group who's ready to embrace their inner royalty, a Disney princess theme provides a few cool Halloween options. Whether you're a bookworm ($49.99, SpiritHalloween.com), a badass archer ($59.99, Miccostumes.com), or a mermaid at heart ($79.99, PartyCity.com), these costumes are pretty and recognizable. If you've always felt like you were the Ariel of the group, now's your chance to show everyone.
10. Dorothy and friends from The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy and her ragtag pals are classic and versatile. An all-girl cast would be great, as would a total gender reversal, with Dorothy played by the one guy friend surrounded by a female lion, tin (wo)man, and scarecrow. The possibilities are endless, and the outfits can be DIY'ed or picked up in complete form. Go with a classic Dorothy look for pretty cheap, and expect to pay around the same for the rest of the cast. If you have a ton of people in your group, there's always an endless number of flying monkeys to be portrayed.
Cowardly Lion, $40, PartyCity; Monkey Wizard, $40, PartySuppliesDelivered
11. Seven days of Shark Week
Shark Costume, $28, Amazon
With a simple shark costume and some fake blood, you and your friends can bring the dark humor to the party as Monday through Sunday of Discovery's Shark Week programming. Just print out the days of the week in simple black lettering, tack it to the back of your costume, and strategically splatter each other with the stage blood.
12. Girl Scouts
Roll up to the party with your posse of fellow Girl Scouts, and get lost in the childhood nostalgia. Little green uniforms are simple to procure ($52.49, CostumeSuperCenter.com), and this one even includes the beret. Bonus points if you can figure out how to procure some cookies out of season to bring as party favors. They don't make it easy to buy Girl Scout cookies online, but if you feel like going the extra mile...
13. A litter of 101 Dalmatians
If you feel like going the do-it-yourself route entirely, this costume is just what you need. A simple white ensemble and a bunch of fuzzy black pom poms are all you need. That and a glue gun.
White Dress, $17, Amazon; Black PomPoms, $2, Amazon
14. Tim Burton's leading (animated) ladies
Corpse Bride, $80, Amazon
To do this right, you're going to want to employ some great makeup, and a Burton-esque take on a few items of clothing that might already be hanging in your closet... Or you can go with a ready-to-wear version of each costume. A babydoll dress for Sally ($39.99,SpiritHalloween.com), a distressed bridal look for the Corpse Bride herself, and layers of lace plus a crazy red wig for the Queen of Hearts' look ($69.99, SpiritHalloween.com).
15. Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and the Lost Boys
Pretty Peter Pan, $30, Amazon
Do you never wanna grow up? Like, never, ever wanna grow up? Then this versatile children's classic and its cast of characters is the perfect fit for you and your friends, and it can easily be done with an all-female cast. Costumes for Peter, Tink, and Captain Hook ($29.99-$49.99, HalloweenCostumes.com) are everywhere, while Wendy, Michael, and John can be pretty easy DIYs. Add as many Lost Boys as your group requires, and you've got the potential for a huge, fun, group theme.
TinkerBell, $56, Amazon
16. Trolls
Nude Slip, $12, Amazon; Troll Blue Wig, $13, Amazon
Simple, nostalgic, and ready to steal the whole room's attention, going as a group of Trolls is probably the ultimate BFF Halloween plan. All you need are over-the-top brightly colored wigs and some nude slips or dresses. You don't want to detract from all the rainbow hair that's going on. The biggest pro for this group costume is also its biggest con: The ensemble works best when you're all together. Don't skimp on the group photos.
17. The kids from Stranger Things
The wildly popular Netflix series boasts a cast of characters with a lot of variety, which is exactly what makes a group Halloween theme a winner. Zero in on a signature aspect of each character's look and play that up, like Barb Holland's lucite glasses, or Will Byers' bowl cut; the rest can be snagged from your closet, or a friend's. Here's a thorough guide to what every Stranger Things kid should be wearing, for a good starting point.
Barb Holland's Lucite Glasses , $30, Amazon; Will Byers' Bowl Cut, $13, Amazon
18. The Scooby Gang
Want a fun and easy childhood throwback? You may not have been sure why fog was rolling out of the Mystery Machine, but you did know the Scooby Gang was cool, and that everyone had their favorite character. Get your Velma on, add a red wig to this Daphne costume, and figure out which friends make the best Shaggy and Fred. Don't forget Scooby, and make sure there's a ghost in the crew, for good measure.
Scooby-Doo Shaggy Adult Costume, $31, Amazon; Scooby-Doo Fred Kit Costume, $40, Amazon; Scooby-Doo Costume, $48, Amazon
Images: Getty
