Life
16 Punny Halloween Costumes That Are Totally 2016
The year 2016 has been, admittedly, kind of a huge mess. Between the cartoonish election cycle and the ridiculous number of untimely celebrity deaths, we need this Halloween to be a lighthearted one. Let's resolve right now to make Halloween 2016 the punniest one yet. That means you'll need plenty of punny Halloween costume ideas that are topical AF to sift through. Because nothing is more fun than deconstructing pop culture and turning the year’s more ridiculous moments into wearable puns.
And these aren't your run of the mill wordplay costumes. All of these ensembles are ripped from the headlines, are trending-topic inspired, and totally 2016. And you might be pleased to know that a certain tiresome presidential candidate didn't make the cut since racism and misogyny aren't funny at all. Invite your funniest friends to a pun battle-themed Halloween party, and spend the night laughing at each other's scorching wit. Test the theory that the more sugar you consume, the funnier the jokes will get.
If you haven’t already picked out your costume, and you’re on board with my plan to wear your snark on your sleeve, strap in for these devastatingly clever, occasionally dad jokey costume ideas to keep your Halloween 2016 hilarious.
1. The Final Five
Oh... no, not those five. I mean, that could be a great squad costume, but I mean this Final Five.
Show up to the party with your friends as the gold medal team of fast food establishments: Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Chipotle, Dairy Queen, and McDonald's.
For Starbucks:
- Starbucks Frap Tee, $29, Amazon
- Green Tutu, $14, Amazon
For Dunkin' Donuts:
- Doughnut Top, $8, Amazon
- Pink Yoga Pants, $19, Amazon
For Chipotle:
- Chipotle Tank, $14, Amazon
- Royal Blue Tutu, $13, Amazon
For Dairy Queen:
- Dairy Queen Tee, $24, Amazon
- Yellow Leggings, $10, Amazon
For McDonald's:
- McDonald's Tee, $14, Amazon
- Red Tutu, $13, Amazon
2. Star Wars
You know, this pair of stars that is always doing battle, be it on stage at the VMAs or on social media. Kanye West and Taylor Swift just can't seem to get along.
Channel Taylor in a green dress, pink wayfarers, and blond hair. In true Kanye fashion, be wearing as much Kanye merch as you can find. To top it all off, bring a VMAs trophy to fight over throughout the night.
For Taylor Swift:
- Green Crinkle Cocktail Dress, $140, TOPSHOP
- Pink Wayfarers , $18, A mazon
- Blond wig, $11, Amazon
For Kanye West:
- Kanye West Tee, $15, Amazon
- Boyfriend Jeans, $15, Amazon
- Kanye Pin, $15, ShopBop
3. The X-Files
Never has a breakup been made so public on social media than the one between Iggy Azalea and Nick Young. So, in another TV-meets-news mashup, I give you, The X-Files — the costume.
You've even got some file folders if anyone needs some pop culture remedial education on this one.
What you'll need:
- File Folders, $12, Amazon
For Nick Young:
For Iggy Azalea:
- Mulder Tank, $20, Amazon
- Cher's Outfit, $40, Amazon
4. Vodka + Lemonade
Shoutout to Beyoncé for inspiring 50 percent of this Vodka + Lemonade costume.
What you'll need:
5. Bieber's Instagram Account
If you've been alive and on the internet lately, you probably caught wind of the fact that Justin Bieber deleted his Instagram account after his fans went all in on reported girlfriend Sophia Richie. Celebrate the end of the Bieber selfie era with this easy to assemble costume.
What you'll need:
- 404 Error Tee, $17, Amazon
- Instagram Tote, $29, Macy's
- Justin Bieber iPhone case, $17, Amazon
6. Fashion in the age of technology
Remember the Met Gala when the world's brightest stars dressed in gowns covered in motherboard parts and CDs? Celebrate the real fashion in the age of technology with the teleworking uniform — fancy dress shirt and pajamas, cup of coffee, and takeout delivered for lunch.
What you'll need:
- Blue Bow Blouse, $9, Amazon
- Cheetah Pajamas, $36, River Island
- Chinese Takeout Purse, $20, Shein
- I Am Very Busy iPhone Case, $16, Amazon
- Blue Dinosaur Slippers, $10, Amazon
7. Arya Stark
Don't wear a costume at all, and every time someone asks you who you are, respond, "a girl is no one."
8. Hillariveter
So you want to get political this Halloween after all. I mean, I understand — the election is just a little more than a week after All Hallows Eve. Celebrate girl power with this Rosie The Riveter-inspired costume, complete with actual Hillariveter shoes and official Woman Card.
What you'll need:
- American Flag Cutoffs, $18, Amazon
- Denim Shirt, $19, Amazon
- Hillary Clinton Rosie Shoes, $68, kayciwheatley/Etsy
- I'm With Her Buttons, $2, Amazon
9. Notorious RBG
This lady has been a champion of women's rights since she could form complete sentences, and this year, she served up some sassy language in her majority and dissenting opinions.
Help her live up to the Notorious moniker with this costume that channels everyone's favorite Supreme Court Justice with a dash of Biggie Smalls.
What you'll need:
- Satin Black Robe, $12, Amazon
- Sleeveless Ruffle Top, $23, Amazon
- Grey Wig, $9, Amazon
- Gold Crown , $8, A mazon
10. Steel Bluegrass Tyson
Can't get much punnier than this rhyme-inspired costume. It's a mashup of jangly steel bluegrass and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson
What you'll need:
- Galaxy Dress, $15, Amazon
- Slim Black Blaze r , $15, Amazon
- Steve Madden Boots , $36, Amazon
- Planet Studs, $16, Nylon Shop
- Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries , $27, Amazon
11. Poke-Mon Go
No two things had a bigger 2016 than poke bowls and "Pokemon Go." Dress up in bright tuna-pink with dashes of green and orange for toppings, and bring a Poké ball to throw at any Pokemon that you run into on Halloween night!
What you'll need:
- Pink & Green Scarf, $4, Shein
- Ombre Green & White Leggings, $32, ArtsAdd
- Pink & Green Bracelet, $5, Shein
- Pink Fish Scale Crop Top, $12, FioForma
- Pokemon Trucker Hat, $7, Amazon
- Pokeball Plush, $10, Amazon
12. A Dell
Part Windows personal computer, part British pop powerhouse Grammy-collector, this awesome costume will have your friends giggling and singing "Hello" all night long.
What you'll need:
- Pink Faux Fur Coat, $80, Amazon
- Dell Computer Logo Tee, $12, Amazon
- Union Jack Leggings, $13, Amazon
- Union Jack Flask, $19, Amazon
- Replica Grammy, $60, Alibaba
13. All of the Snapchat filters
Go big or go home! You're a dog in a flower crown, vomiting rainbows, covered in emojis, and doodling everywhere with marker. I think that pretty much covers the bases.
What you'll need:
- Snapchat Tank, $35, RageOn
- Flower Crown, $13, Amazon
- Selfie Stick, $26, Amazon
- Kate Spade Emoji Earrings, $48, Zappos
14. Slaaay Queen
This costume is the trifecta of pretty, confident, and hilarious. Dressing as an idiom pretty much guarantees you a win in the punniest costume at the party category.
What you'll need:
- Scythe, $20, Amazon
- Beige Princess Dress, $35, WSdear
- Queen Robe, $29, Amazon
- Tiara, $10, Amazon
15. Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and beast rolled up into one fierce feminist package! Because you don't need a strong, hairy dude to balance out your good looks.
What you'll need:
- Beast Mode Tank Top, $13, StylesForLess
- Blue Flared Skirt, $12, Amazon
- Blue Hair Bow, $5, Amazon
- Rose Earrings, $13, Amazon
- Chip Cup, $6, Disney Store
16. Game of Cones
Head to toe ice cream, and a deck of playing cards — also with ice cream. You'll be like royalty when you show up to the Halloween party as game of cones!
What you'll need:
- Ice Cream Stud Earrings, $27, Amazon
- Ice Cream Tank Top, $15, Zulily
- Ice Cream Phone Case, $10, Amazon
- Softserve Socks, $8, Sock Drawer
Images: Polyvore; Getty (5); GingesBeCray