The group text has gone out; the shared Pinterest board has been pinned to. All signs point to a group Halloween costume for the ages.
The state of the squad may be in flux, but October 31 always brings the gang together under a shared mission to be funny, be punny, and win the Best Group Costume prize at your local haunt. It's an art form that's been perfected over the years — and documented extensively on the internet. While the ideas shift from year to year, the consensus on this category remains the same: The best group get-ups definitely don't come from a big box store. Rather, they're made with lots of love, good ol' elbow grease, and a healthy dose of humor. It's definitely a team effort.
Even if you haven't spent weeks bouncing ideas back and forth, there's still time to come up with a truly memorable Halloween look for you and your closest pals. We've done some of the brainwork for you, rewinding the clock to recap all the memes and talking points from 2016 that are primed to be costume-ified — from the LaCroix craze to Lisa Frank's glorious, glorious comeback. Rally your crew and draw up a game plan: You're about to own Halloween.
Lisa Frank Reunion
Now, Lisa Frank's motley crew of technicolor animals have held a special place in our hearts, even long after we hung up our branded backpacks and Trapper Keepers. Recently, though, we've been reintroduced to our old friends, be it through new products or nostalgic DIYs. (The world of Lisa Frank is starting trends to this day — except, now, they're born on social media rather than in school hallways.) In honor of this ever-influential cast of characters, gather your fellow '90s kids and stage a full-blown reunion. Hunter the Leopard Cub, Rose the Ballerina Bunny, and the White Tiger are all coming back for a seriously throwback-y Halloween. Get your face makeup on point and dig up your old Lisa Frank school supplies (let's be real — you've been meaning to do the latter, anyway), and bring the #TBT IRL.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
LaCroix Family
An obsession that's bordered on absurdity, LaCroix has come and conquered 2016 — a feat that we would've considered beyond unlikely before this summer. But we all sipped on the sparkling water, debated the correct pronunciation of the brand's name, and even made our own. The future of the now-beloved beverage company is uncertain at the moment. But if you, too, find yourself stocking up on various LaCroix flavors every time you go to Whole Foods, consider channeling your love for carbonated beverages in the purest of tributes: the group costume.
It shouldn't be too hard to recruit folks for this particular get-up. Once you choose your favorite flavor, transform a round, collapsible laundry bag into a can and deck out its exterior to look like those pastel-hued watercolor-like designs. It may require steady penmanship (and some elbow grease), but you'll surely amuse your fellow costumed folk on Hallow's Eve.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Celebrity #SponCon
For every #OOTD and #TBT we get from our favorite celebrity's social media presence, there's a #spon post that helps fund it. Some are subtle about it; others, too much so — and some are comically overt. This sort of Insta-promotion of seemingly random products may seem ineffective, but it definitely plants a seed. (The plethora of "I tried FitTea " articles and explainers on the web are proof.) So, channel your favorite #influencer — and maybe even try to make some money — by pushing your favorite #sponcon brand to anyone and everyone you encounter. Don't knock the hustle.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Sorority Door Stack
The "door stack" has long been a part of Greek life, especially around recruitment season — although, it feels like the internet just caught on recently. If you haven't watched one, essentially, it consists of students arranging themselves in a pyramid-like formation inside the door frame of their house and performing their chapter's cheer. Some have been skeptical about this tradition for a while now, according to the Atlantic. Now that a handful of these clips have gone viral, though, those who may not have encountered the "door stack" on campus feel a little confused, or even frightened, by it. Regardless of your involvement with Greek life, bring together your right-now sisterhood for a group costume for the ages. You know you've always wanted to get T-shirts to commemorate your squad, anyway.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Hillary Pantsuit Rainbow
Each politician has a wardrobe emblem. Donald Trump has his red tie, and Hillary Clinton has her pantsuits. Always sharp, almost always monochromatic — the presidential nominee has long enjoyed a good matching set in every color of the wheel, much to the public's amusement. (Hey, Clinton herself is in on the joke.) So, during an election cycle that feels more dark every day, be a Hillary pantsuit rainbow.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Yayoi Kusama & Her Pumpkins
At some point in your life, it's very likely you dressed as a pumpkin for Halloween. This was probably between ages 0 and 4, which means it's time to revisit this timeless costume. In 2016 and with a crew, this means creating a Yayoi Kusama-fied patch. Create a seasonally appropriate get-up that's less orange, more mustard-hued and polka-dotted — and have your squad leader personify the artist herself. All your arty friends will be seriously impressed.
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.
Drake, Rihanna, & The Proposal That Never Was
It was a love story for the ages — or, at least Summer Sixteen. It was the long-documented friendship turned publicly-speculated relationship between Aubrey Graham and Robyn Fenty. The saga came complete with matching tattoos, on-stage proclamations, and a fake (rumor-fueling) website — before coming to an abrupt end in mid-October. Alas, we'll always have the memories and the memes. Grab the Drizzy to your Bad Gal, and reminisce on the good ol' days that were still largely invented by Twitter. (Extra points if you procure an Ain't Laurent heart-shaped coat.)
Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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