10 Best trends of 2025 for Halloween costumes

Social media trends/news

First, let's start with the social media trend research we conducted. This qualitative analysis allowed us to identify three distinct, emerging costume ideas based on rising online engagement and micro-trends. We used Social Media to do the research and verified it by Google Trends to get the results.

Tears music video – Sabrina Carpenter

We start off with the music video of Sabrina Carpenter. It went completely viral on all social media platforms. If there’s one pop culture moment that defined the softer side of 2025, it’s Sabrina Carpenter’s Tears music video. The visuals are dreamy yet powerful; a modern reimagining of early Victoria’s Secret glamour mixed with pop-star sparkle. The standout look: the silver-string outfit feels instantly iconic. It’s playful, glossy, and a little daring; exactly the kind of costume that lives rent-free on social feeds.

For Halloween, it’s the perfect costume to DIY: pair silver or white lingerie-inspired pieces or a dress with crystal straps or sequins, metallic heels, and glowing skin. Style it with soft curls, glossy lips, and maybe a rhinestone tear under one eye for that signature Sabrina touch.

On TikTok, the #SabrinaCarpenter hashtag has 91k posts in the past 30 days in the U.S. and over 3 m posts globally. On Google Trends search term “sabrina carpenter costume” started growing significantly in october because of approaching halloween and high visibility in pop culture, making it a trendy choice for anyone looking to dress as a current icon for the holiday.

Louvre Heist – Musée du Louvre / Lupin filming

October’s unexpected real-life drama, a daring jewelry heist at the Louvre in Paris, became one of the most talked-about events of the season. Reports claimed a group of thieves stole €88 million worth of jewels using a mechanical lift and disappeared within minutes. Fans quickly drew parallels to Netflix’s Lupin, with some speculating it could even be a marketing stunt ahead of the new season. Whether real or orchestrated, the timing was perfect: it reignited fascination with high-society crime and sleek mystery.

It has already been a trend on TikTok to dress up as the gang, so why not also use it as your Halloween costume? A black turtleneck, leather gloves, dark trousers, a beret, and a fake diamond necklace are all you need. Carry a museum tag or prop “blueprint” for fun. This look blends sophistication with rebellion: stylish, recognizable, and a little dangerous. From a marketing perspective, the popularity of this event shows how real-world spectacle fuels pop culture instantly; audiences love a story that blurs reality and fiction.

This event is relevant, because it blew up. Everywhere on the news sites and on social media people started talking about it. On TikTok, the hashtag #louvre has 216k posts, with 17k in the last 7 days. Google trend analysis shows that there was a spike on October 17th for search term “louvre heist costume” in USA. This surge in online activity clearly confirms the event's significant viral reach and cultural impact.

Kylie Jenner’s King Era - “2026 is the new 2016”

Kylie Jenner’s quiet return to her “King Kylie” era, with metallic minis, flash photography, and Tumblr-era attitude, has reignited the internet’s obsession with 2016s aesthetics. What once felt outdated now feels daring again. Gen Z is reclaiming 2016 style not ironically, but intentionally, which means a full-circle moment for influencer culture.

When dressing up as King Kylie for Halloween, use the iconic accessories of that era; metallic dress, faux fur jacket, overlined lips, and heels. Bring your phone for mirror selfies and flash photos, because half the costume is the pose.

From a cultural perspective, this revival says a lot about where fashion and digital identity are headed. We’ve entered a phase where self-awareness is part of the costume: people are dressing up as an era. For marketers, it’s a sign that nostalgia cycles are accelerating faster than ever, and that authenticity now includes irony.

On TikTok, the hashtag #kingkylie has 87k posts, with 12k posts in the last 30 days. Even Kylie herself used it on 14 October 2025.. Down below you see the keyword volume of the query king kylie. You can tell that it spiked around the date that she posted her own video. And we expect the keyword volume will go up in the future.

Aherfs keyword research results

Moving from qualitative social trends to quantitative data, we conducted an extensive analysis using Ahrefs keyword research. This helped us see exactly how often people are searching for the top costume ideas. The data confirmed which costumes are truly in demand this season and gave us a clear look at what everyone’s searching for.

The Summer I Turned Pretty - Conrad vs Jeremiah (596K)

You might have heard about the show The Summer I Turned Pretty. It’s a very popular show that is soft, emotional, and just the right amount of dramatic. After three seasons, the series has evolved visually and emotionally: Belly is no longer just the shy girl at the beach house; she’s grown into a more confident, self-aware version of herself whether she’s in Cousins on the sand or exploring Paris with her new make-over.

For Halloween, there are two clear directions. The first is Belly at the Beach House: think light blue sundress, shell jewelry, natural waves, and a touch of sunscreen glow. Add a Polaroid camera or a book as a prop, and you’ve nailed the nostalgic coastal vibe. The second option is Paris Belly: sleek outfit, glossier makeup, red lips, and a soft blowout; the elevated “post-breakup glow-up” look. Both are easy to recreate, but they each tell a different story: the before and after of growing up on screen.

If you’re going out as a group, the Conrad vs Jeremiah love triangle practically designs itself. Conrad’s outfit is moody prep: navy sweater, white tee, tousled hair, and that distant-but-charming energy. Jeremiah’s vibe, on the other hand, is very upbeat and more frat-boy: linen shirt, open collar, lighter tones, and confidence that feels effortless.

Wednesday - Season 2 (552K)

The Netflix show Wednesday has evolved from a streaming success into a full-blown aesthetic movement. Season 2’s return has reignited the gothic-feminine wave that dominated fashion and TikTok in 2023, proving that darkness never really goes out of style. The unapologetic individuality of the main character, Wednesday, makes her a timeless muse: mysterious, dryly funny, and quietly powerful.

To recreate her look this Halloween, go for the modern gothic schoolgirl vibe: black collared dress, white cuffs, pigtail braids, heavy boots, and matte lipstick. And if you are able to, remake Thing, the iconic hand-creature of Wednesday. You could even take it a step further by coordinating as the Addams family: Gomez (father), Morticia (mother) and Pugsley (brother).

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K‑Pop Demon Hunters (331K)

This August, the musical urban fantasy film K-Pop Demon Hunters came out. And it’s no surprise that it immediately went viral worldwide. Not just because it looked incredible, but because it felt alive. The story follows Huntr/x, a K-pop girl group who fight demons between sold-out concerts, fusing glittery performance visuals with supernatural chaos. Reviewers have called it “a visual feast,” praising the way its music pushes the story forward instead of just decorating it. Each track acts like its own emotional scene, and that musical integration is what sets the film apart from standard pop-animation fare.

The aesthetic is loud, fearless, and unapologetically hybrid. For Halloween, that translates perfectly: metallic fabrics, cyber-inspired accessories, LED or holographic details, and bold eyeliner that screams main-character energy. Add platform boots, hair gems, and a mock microphone for full effect. It’s a costume made for flash photography and stage lighting: dramatic, kinetic, and rooted in performance culture.

Labubu trend (4.9M)

The Labubu phenomenon started as a niche collectible and spiraled into a fashion movement. It's a weirdly, but also slightly creepy cute plush; with its big eyes, fuzzy textures, childlike absurdity. The popularity of Labubu hit its peak in August 2025, reaching over 2.1 million Google searches and it’s still trending. The whole reason why these Labubu’s are famous is because of the designer Kasing Lung’s collaboration with Pop Mart. They used the addictive appeal of blind boxes (those mystery packaging collectibles), which created the character’s growing presence across social media feeds and streetwear culture.

As a Halloween costume, Labubu is joyfully chaotic. Oversized hoodie or onesie, pastel colors, exaggerated features, and a mischievous smile. Add some glitter or patchwork for a personal twist. It’s funny, endearing, and weirdly photogenic.

Superman Reboot (386K)

The Superman reboot that came out in July 2025 was - and is - definitely a major pop culture moment, not because it’s reinventing the hero, but because it’s rehumanizing him. Audiences and critics have praised the film for its emotional depth, with a Clark Kent who feels more grounded and self-aware than ever. This version of Superman trades dominance for empathy; his power isn’t about invincibility but resilience, kindness, and choice. It’s a refreshing shift that aligns perfectly with the cultural mood of 2025, where strength and vulnerability finally share the same space.

For Halloween, the costume remains effortlessly iconic. Go classic with the full blue suit and red cape, or keep it subtle with a “Clark Kent reveal”: crisp white shirt, glasses, and the Superman logo peeking through. It’s a look that never needs explaining.

From a branding and storytelling perspective, this reboot is a case study in how to revive legacy IPs without losing their soul. Instead of chasing reinvention, it focused on emotional recalibration; giving audiences a familiar symbol with renewed meaning. Nostalgia works best when it’s honest, and that’s exactly what keeps Superman relevant: a timeless reminder that hope still sells, especially when it feels human.

Wicked 2 - Coming November 2025 (236K)

The return of Wicked is already shaping the cultural landscape, months before its release. The first film reignited fantasy fashion, and now Wicked 2 is pushing it further with its color symbolism, duality, and feminine power all rolled into one. With Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the forefront, this sequel is more than a movie; it’s a mood.

For Halloween, dress up as Glinda or Elphaba (or get a matching outfit with your friends). For Glinda, get a bubblegum pink gown, sparkles, and a wand. And when you dress up as Eplhaba, use emerald skin, dark gown, and fierce eyeliner.

Stranger Things - Season 5 (441K)

As Stranger Things prepares for its final season this November, the cultural nostalgia cycle comes full circle. It’s more than a show now: it’s a shared generational memory. Fans have grown up alongside the characters, and that emotional continuity makes it perfect Halloween material.

For costumes, you can go in many directions. The 80s-core Hawkins look: denim jacket, vintage band tee, walkie-talkie or the darker Upside Down aesthetic with eerie makeup and neon lighting. Group costumes always work best here: one Eleven, one Dustin, one Demogorgon, and a synthwave playlist to tie it all together.

Methodology

This research was conducted using keyword data from Ahrefs. We searched for various keywords related to the topic and based the analysis on those findings. Google Trends, social media analytics and Ahrefs were consulted between July 2025 and October 2025.