Basic Halloween Costumes Are Just Fine!

Somewhere along the way, Halloween costumes got complicated. Suddenly, getting dressed up required a deep dive into TikTok trends, a last-minute online shopping spree and the kind of DIY commitment usually reserved for a home renovation. I hate (read: love) Gay Halloween too (IYKYK). But what happened to the good old-fashioned Halloween costume? The witch. The ghost. The cowboy. The mouse. All the easily accessible classics.I’m making a case for bringing back the basic Halloween costume. And, honestly, your closet is probably begging you to do the same, too. If you’re feeling the pressure, you do not need to do a niche pop-culture reference, a $150 costume set or an outfit that takes three business days to assemble to have a great Halloween. Much respect to those among us who commit like that—I do appreciate your contribution. But for the rest of us, sometimes the best costume is the one you can pull together in 15 minutes with things you already own.Last Halloween I wore a mini denim skirt and a jean jacket from my closet, my cowboy boots and the giant belt buckle I already owned and had the best night with my friends. I looked good and the best part is I didn't spend any money and everything I wore has been worn again. I think because of how flashy celebrity and influencer culture has made Halloween costumes we’re all consumed with doing the most to rack up likes or compliments from strangers on the street. But the most fun part of Halloween is figuring it out yourself. Slicing an old shirt in your closet in half, letting your makeup do the talking, and enjoying the spooky night without blowing out your bank account.In a world where every outfit feels like it's auditioning for the internet’s virality, a classic costume lets you participate without making Halloween another project to optimize for someone else’s consumption.A black dress, boots and a pointed hat? Witch. A white bedsheet with two eye holes? Ghost. Black leggings, a black top, some DIY ears and a little eyeliner for whiskers? Mouse (Duh!). Put on that lingerie you have in your closet with a silky robe and you’re a pre-runway Victoria’s Secret Angel.And there's something wonderfully refreshing about leaning into that style of Halloween costuming this year. In a world where every outfit feels like it's auditioning for the internet’s virality, a classic costume lets you participate without making Halloween another project to optimize for someone else’s consumption. It's playful, it's nostalgic, it's low-effort in the best possible way. And it leaves more room in your budget for the actual fun—like going out, eating candy, and having a second drink.So before you panic-shop at CVS for a super niche 2026 reference you'll wear once and forget about, take a look at what you already have. Raid your closet. Borrow a belt from a friend. Find that old flannel that’s been balled up in the bottom of your drawer. This is still creative! Let Halloween be just another night playing around in your closet. Because you never know: that playfulness might lead to a new style combination you’re wanting to rock in the days after.Aiyana Ishmael is the style editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In her work, Aiyana focuses on the culture of fashion and how it intertwines and shapes the zeitgeist. She is an award-winning journalist from Miami, Florida, and a graduate of the historically Black university, Florida A&M. She is a 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30: Media honoree, and her debut romance novella PASSING GAME is set to release March of 2027 (831 Stories/Simon & Schuster).