Possibly the only thing more enjoyable than choosing a Halloween costume for yourself is deciding on a costume theme with a group. But finding that perfect theme is not always easy. This article offers 50 suggestions for group costumes. Maybe one of them will work perfectly for you, or maybe after reading these, you'll be able to come up with an even better idea on your own.
BOOKS.
1. Harry Potter. Harry Potter is likely to be a popular Halloween theme for many years.
2. The Bible. The Bible offers a wealth of fascinating figures that lend themselves to relatively easy costumes (robe, sandals). Why not have someone dress as Moses with the Ten Commandments, or Sampson with his long hair, or Joseph with his many-colored coat? Just be sure that Adam and Eve wear their fig leaves.
3. Fairy Tales. Have everyone in your group dress as a character from his or her favorite fairy tale. Or, select one fairy tale and have everyone dress as a character from that story. If you select Cinderella, for instance, you could have Cinderella, Prince Charming, the evil stepmother and stepsisters, the king and queen, the fairy godmother, etc.
4. Anne Rice's Vampire Series. Are you a quiet, introspective Louis or a bratty, attention-seeking Lestat? Have your group pay homage to this dark, brilliant series and unleash their inner vampires at the same time. Period costumes are a plus, and don't forget white face paint and fake blood.
5. Little Women. This is a great theme for a mostly female group, or for a male group who wants to cross-dress for the occasion.
TELEVISION SHOWS
6. Star Trek. It's only logical. Costumes are easily available from most costume shops, and the members of your group can dress as simply (think Captain Kirk, original series) or as elaborately (think Borg, Romulan, Klingon, etc.) as they'd like.
7. The Brady Bunch. Perfect for groups of six (kids only), eight (kids and parents), or nine (kids, parents, and Alice the housekeeper). If your group has more than nine members and still wants to use this theme, go for the bit players like Sam the butcher or the disappearing dog Tiger.
8. The Simpsons. Yellow skin, blue hair, wildly popular, how can you go wrong?
9. Survivor. If you've ever wished you could go to go to a party in your rattiest clothes with your hair unwashed and uncombed, the Survivor theme is for you. Dress like your favorite Survivor contestants, or just show up looking desperate. Makeup can be used to paint insect bites, scratches, and boils on your skin.
10. Gilligan's Island. This works best with groups of seven, with each group member assigned a different castaway. For real fun, try assigning the men female roles and the women male roles. You'll never look at Mary Ann quite the same way again.
MOVIES
11. Star Wars. More than a quarter of a century after the original film (Part IV, for you purists) was released, Star Wars costumes remain popular. You may not win many points for originality, but at least your group can carry around those cool lightsabers.
12. Indiana Jones. These lively movies offer a wide variety of costume ideas. There's the hat-wearing, whip-toting archeologist himself, of course, as well as a huge cast of supporting characters. Don't forget the bad guys!
13. Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Wicked Witch of the West, Glenda the Good Witch of the North, Munchkins, and a magically-challenged wizard, not to mention Uncle Henry and Auntie Em. Everyone in your group should be able to find some character from this classic movie that appeals to him or her.
14. Disney Animated Movies. A great theme for kids and grown-ups alike. You can have each person dress as their favorite Disney character, or pick one movie and have everyone dress as a character from that movie.
15. Gone With the Wind. Many people find this movie offensive, so use this theme with caution--know your audience, so to speak. Multicultural groups often enjoy blurring race and gender lines, e.g., having an Asian man dress as Scarlett and a Black woman dress as Rhett.
HISTORICAL FIGURES
16. Henry VIII and his Six Wives. This is a great idea if you have a mostly female group. Much has been written about Henry, so you shouldn't have trouble getting costume tips from the web or from the many books on the subject. Since this IS Halloween, feel free to have Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, who met their ends on the block, come headless.
17. Famous authors and poets. Are you a dapper Mark Twain in his white lecturing suit? Or do you see yourself as a disheveled, tormented Edgar Allen Poe? Or maybe a quiet, introspective Emily Dickinson. (Note: since not everyone reads, it might not be a bad idea to make a book that your character has written a part of your costume. For instance, Sylvia Plath could carry around a copy of The Bell Jar.)
18. Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Female roles are sparse (pretty much confined to Maid Marian), so this theme will probably work best if you have a group of men or a group of tomboys. Don't forget those green tights!
19. Actors and Actresses. This is your chance to spend the evening as a beautiful, fragile Marilyn Monroe, or a suave, handsome Cary Grant. You might consider selecting an even more specific theme, like Actors and Actresses of the Silent Era, or Actors and Actresses of the 1950's. Gender-bending is welcomed.
20. Titanic passengers. Borrow an old dress from Grandma or suit from Grandpa, rent or buy a life preserver, and you've pretty much got these costumes nailed. (You certainly won't need to worry about bringing a life boat.) If you want to be more elaborate, assign certain members of your group to dress as famous passengers, like Mollie Brown or John Jacob Astor.
MUSICAL FIGURES/GROUPS
21. The Village People. This group has inspired countless Halloween costumes. Go online to fan sites get an idea of how the band members dressed. (Hint: Your group will be especially popular if you sing (or lip sync) the words to "Macho Man" or "YMCA.")
22. The Beatles. Wigs, suits, and these costumes are pretty much done. Female group members can dress up as a Beatle or come costumed as groupies. No underwear throwing, please.
23. Modern Day Divas. Have everyone dress as--and act like--their favorite diva. Tight tops and temper tantrums will make your group the belles of the ball.
24. C & W Stars. It's been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well, this theme offers your group a chance to flatter your favorite C & W stars. You know, the ones that make you cry when you're in love and comfort you when you've had a bad breakup. After you've selected your favorite singer, research costume details on his or her fan site.
25. American Idol. Over the last few years, this program has given us the best and the worst. Have each member of your group dress as his or her favorite (or least favorite) American Idol contestant or judge. No fair putting devil horns on Simon.
BROADWAY
26. Cats. Whether your group dresses in full Broadway regalia or gray sweats with homemade ears and gloves for paws, this is a fun, easy Halloween theme. Feel free to burst into song whenever the muse strikes.
27. Phantom of the Opera. A deformed genius, an ingénue in a flowing gown, a hapless suitor, a haughty diva, and plenty of chorus girls and boys. You won't have any trouble picking a fun costume from these larger-than-life characters.
28. The Sound of Music. This is a great theme for multi-generational groups. The kids can dress as the Von Trapp children while the grownups can tackle Captain Von Trapp, Maria, and the singing nuns.
29. Oklahoma. Another Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. Think cowboy and farmer costumes for the guys, frontier chic for the gals (or vice versa, if you want to liven things up a bit). Extra points if you know all the words to "People Will Say We're In Love."
30. Hairspray. Yes, this was a movie first, but the Broadway version adds a unique brand of style and charm. And just think how much fun your group will have getting their hair exactly right.
ERAS
31. Ancient Rome. Give new meaning to the words "toga party" by having your group dress in costumes from the height of the Roman Empire.
32. The Renaissance Period. Ornate gowns, headdresses, suits of armor, codpieces, and crowns. With a Renaissance theme, you can let your imaginations run wild. There are many websites devoted to the Renaissance era where you can find costume ideas and suggestions for authentic details.
33. The 1920's. Think gangsters, molls, flappers, Al Capone and Eliot Ness. Bring along a bootlegger and be the toast of the party.
34. The 1960's. Calling all flower children! Dust off your peace pendants, shake out those long wigs, and think bell bottoms, hip huggers and culottes.
35. The 1980's. Izod shirts, paisley, parachute pants, and white knee socks were in. So were leg warmers, big hair, and colored mascara. What were we thinking?
MONSTERS, GHOSTS, GHOULS, AND OTHER HORRORS
36. Monsters. Have everyone in your group come dressed as his or her favorite monster. Frankenstein monsters (with or without bride), aliens, vampires, werewolves, banshees, ghouls and hobgoblins are all welcome.
37. Ghosts of famous people. Your group can be as classy or as gruesome as you like, depending on the mood of the party.
38. Zombies. A gang of flesh-eating undead are guaranteed to liven up any party. Research your costumes by watching a classic zombie flick, like Romero's Night of the Living Dead.
39. Death. Music, art, and literature have shown us many faces of death, from a spider woman who delivers a deadly kiss, to a skeleton with a scythe, to a suave, smooth-talking Joe Black. Have everyone come dressed as their favorite death symbol. Your group will be the…er…life of the party.
40. Bad guys and gals. Have each person in your group come dressed as his or her favorite villain, fictional or real-life, living or dead. If you want , you can narrow this topic a little more by specifying a category, such as "bad guys in movies" or "bad guys from the Wild West."
VIVA LAS VEGAS
41. Showgirls. Form your own chorus line with short skirts and huge hairpieces. Male group members can join in the fun as one of the chorus girls or as a male dancer (don't forget the tights and glitter).
42. Elvis Impersonators. Elvis is still king in Las Vegas, and he can be king at your Halloween party, too. Have each member come dressed as a different Elvis "look." Women, don’t be shy. There are several talented female Elvis impersonators. Or, if you'd rather pass on the Elvis look, you can come dressed as a significant female in Elvis' life.
43. Vegas Personalities. Liberace, Wayne Newton, Penn & Teller, Siegfried and Roy, Melinda the First Lady of Magic, Benny Binion. …Vegas is chock full of fascinating characters, past and present. Pick your favorites. Just remember, dressing your housecat up as a white tiger is considered cruelty to animals.
44. Casino staff. Casinos rely on huge staffs to operate. Uniforms range from the downright skimpy (cocktail waitresses), to utilitarian (dealers, cashiers), to extremely classy (pit bosses, dealers at high roller tables).
45. Tourists. What would Vegas be without 'em? Have everyone in your group show up with the tourist look. Of course, you're bound to see lots of Bermuda shorts and cameras, but don't forget to represent the high rollers, the professional players, and the elegantly dressed men and women who come to Las Vegas more to shop than to gamble. (For an added touch of authenticity, someone in your group can wander around dazedly with a large cocktail in one hand--just be sure that person isn't your designated driver.)
MISCELLANEOUS
46. Medical staff. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, dentists. This is a tried and true theme, not particularly original, but always a hit.
47. Law enforcement. Just about everybody looks good in uniform. Add a few pairs of handcuffs and let the fun begin!
48. Charlie Brown. Great for kids as well as adults, and the costumes--shorts, simple dresses, baseball caps, etc.--are things you probably already own.
49. Politicians. Have each member of the group come dressed as his or her favorite--or least favorite--political figure. If this promises too much controversy, modify the theme a bit. For instance, have each group member come as a political figure from a foreign country, or from the nineteenth century.
50. Dilbert. This is an especially fun group theme for those who work in cubicle purgatory.
