45 Halloween Costume Ideas for Teens That Are Cute and Non-Cringe, Promise
Get inspired by some of your fave celebs.
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I don't know what's scarier—being a teen or being a teen who's scrambling for Halloween costume ideas. Trust, I was once in your shoes. Between juggling school, a social life, extracurriculars, and so. much. more, the last thing you want to take up your time is figuring out what you and your friends are going to be for the Halloweekend. Luckily, there are plenty of costume ideas to go around (you just need a lil inspo, right?). Whether you're headed to a Halloween party with your crew or need a look that's appropriate for school, you're gonna want an ensemble that screams, "Yeah, I didn't wait til the last minute to come up with a costume" (even if you did).
Ofc, the question is: what teen Halloween costumes are actually cool rn?? Depending on your vibe, you could go with a funny costume that's an instant crowd-pleaser. Or, maybe you prefer to march to the beat of your own drum and go for a punny 'fit that'll make people really think. Oh, and let's not forget about our teens looking for a budget-friendly costume cause same! Either way, you've come to the right place because below, I've laid out on-trend, classic, and pop-culture-inspired costume ideas for teens. Some of these ideas work as individual costumes, and some can also work as a starting point for a bestie costume, trio costume, and couples costume (it's the perfect time for a hard launch, btw). So, without further ado, presenting the best Halloween costume ideas for teens for 2024!
Charli XCX/Brat Summer
This one is dedicated to all the Charli XCX fans out there who are A) not ready to give up summer, B) love the color neon green, and C ) identify as brat. And if anyone asks—yes, I will be wearing this well after Halloween.
Sabrina Carpenter and Jenna Ortega in "Taste" Music Video
Sabrina may have worn a $1000 Versace corset top in the "Taste" music video, but you can get the same iconic look for wayyy less. Plus, this inspo will make for a great BFF costume.
Chappell Roan
Your favorite artist's favorite artist is sure to be a popular costume this year. Get all dolled up as the Midwest Princess and be fully prepared to perform "Pink Pony Club" all night long. Consider this your fair warning!
Dionne from Clueless
Cher may be the main character of Clueless, but Dionne was serving the lewksss throughout the iconic '90s movie. I mean, who else can pull off a statement hat like this one? Bonus points if your bestie wants to throw on a yellow plaid skirt suit and go as Cher.
Lola from Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Sabrina Carpenter dressed as Lindsay Lohan's character from the 2004 movie, so I'm dressing as the Lindsay Lohan character from the 2004 movie. Plus, I would 100% rock these same pieces well beyond the holiday anyways.
Juliet from Romeo + Juliet
Charli D'Amelio nailed this iconic look from Baz Luhrmann's 1996 Romeo + Juliet starring a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Even Jules' character from Season 1 of Euphoria donned this look for Halloween. Who can blame them? It's simple, ethereal, and so iconic.
Glinda and Elphaba from "Wicked"
Grab your bestie and the green paint to recreate your two favorite witches. Although the movie doesn't come out until November, if you're anything like me and can't contain your excitement, this costume is perfect for you.
Olympic Gymnast
This year's Olympic gymnastics was so damn inspiring with talented athletes from all over the world. With so many athletes like Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Rebeca Andrade, there's plenty of costume inspo to go around. Don't forget to add a gold medal (and sweatpants if you want extra coverage).
Mia Thermopolis from Princess Diaries
A princess?! Shut up! Grab your tiara and throwback headphones to channel your inner Princess of Genovia. Don't forget the gloves!
Emily in Paris
With the new season out on Netflix, you can bet we'll not only be binging the show, but studying Emily's...um, interesting Parisian outfit choices.
Jessie from Toy Story
Can we get a little bit of yee and a lot bit of haw? Channel your inner cowgirl and practice your yodeling to compete this costume for a beloved animated character.
Flamin' Hot Cheeto
Okay, it may be ridiculous, but if you really want to stand out and be original, what better way to do exactly that than as everyone's favorite guilty pleasure snack? Katy Perry may have been onto something here.
Britney Spears in "...Baby One More Time"
Brit's schoolgirl look from the "...Baby One More Time" music video is so iconic, and you just need a few pieces to bring it together, as demonstrated by Hailey Bieber.
Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz
With the debut of the new Beetlejuice, there's no better time to channel these spooky szn-ready characters. This one works great as a couple costume, but each is iconic enough to stand on its own, too.
Aaliyah
Channel the late '90s R&B icon in one of her most signature Tommy Hilfiger looks, as demonstrated by Zendaya. The best part? You can rewear all these pieces well beyond Halloween.
Sydney from The Bear
If you've seen The Bear, then you know Sydney is the absolute star of the show—plus, her look is suuuper easy to recreate for Halloween.
Taylor Swift
Taylor's Eras tour has provided fans with TONS of costume inspo, but the easiest one to copy has gotta be this Red-inspired lewk.
Frida Kahlo
Throw on a brightly-colored dress and floral headpiece and give yourself a lil unibrow to become legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
The Shining Twins
There's something awfully frightening about twins standing ominously in a hallway. I'll never forgive The Shining for scaring me at such a young age, but hey, at least it makes for a great costume!
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
Chaise Sanders is an Associate Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers anything from lifestyle and beauty to entertainment and style. Wanna upgrade your skincare game? She's got you covered with the best facial cleansing brushes. Or maybe you're in need of a new true crime show to binge? Got that covered too! Prior to joining the Cosmo team, Chaise was an editor at Country Living (also part of the Hearst fam) where she interviewed celebs like Dolly Parton, LeAnn Rimes and even Martha Stewart. Now, as one of the Big Apple's newest residents, there's a good chance that you can catch her checking out an Insta-worthy cafe or spending way to much $$$ in vintage stores.
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