After the breeze has cooled and you’ve finally traded in your flip-flops for more sensible ankle boots, it’s time for another annual transformation: everyday you into spooky, sexy, up-on-your-current-events Halloween you. Overall, it’s been a bummer of a year headline-wise, but we were able to round up a few 2016-inspired looks for you and your fellow trick-or-treaters to try, no matter how you plan to celebrate. Unless, of course, you plan to celebrate as Sexy Harambe. You’re on your own with that one.
OLYMPIC FANBOY / FANGIRL
The Final Five
It’s semi-predictable, but after they absolutely slayed in Rio, dressing up in the patriotic flair and badass attitudes of U.S. gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian is always a go.
Ryan Lochte
Platinum hairspray, a Speedo or goggles, a pair of toy handcuffs and a permanently bewildered facial expression, and you’re good to go.
Katie Ledecky & gold medal
Is there a greater love story than that of superhuman swimmer Katie Ledecky and her passion for victory? Deck one half of your duo in swim gear and the other in all shimmering gold, accessorizing with four medals.
Shirtless Tongan flagbearer
True Olympic superfans will love the obscure reference to the dude who broke Twitter during this year’s opening ceremony. Your furry friend will just need a traditional necklace like oiled-up taekwondo athlete Pita Taufatofua sported on TV and, of course, a Tongan flag.
POP CULTURE ADDICT
‘Stranger Things’
This year’s buzziest cultural touchstones came complete with easily replicable heroes. A frilly dress and a bloody nose? You’re Eleven (shaved head optional).
Lemonade
Get your look in formation with a literal all-yellow homage to Queen Bey’s groundbreaking visual album (accessorize with a can of Country Time or a copy of the album if you think nobody will get it).
Harry Potter & the Cursed Child
Potterheads who camped out to get their hands on a copy of the new play when it was released in July can take their magical devotion to the next level as adult Harry and his stressed-out younger son Albus Potter.
Alexander Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit musical, which just kicked off its Chicago run, made the founding fathers cool again. With a pair of Revolutionary-era breeches or a powdered wig, your dog or cat or bunny can keep the theme going.
TASTEFUL TRIBUTE-IST
Gene Wilder characters
Willy Wonka? Skip Donahue? Dr. Frankenstein? Waco Kid? The late comic genius we lost in 2016 was known for his versatility, and you and your crew can give props to all his different facets at once.
Prince
Pay your respects to the flashy music legend the world said goodbye to this year—emphasis on “respect.” Nobody thinks Zombie Prince is funny, we promise.
A Butterfly & a Bee
Bring Muhammad Ali’s famous quote to life with an evening of floating and stinging accordingly.
‘To Kill A Mockingbird’
Author Harper Lee died in February, and her classic novel has plenty of colorful characters to choose from. Scout dressed as a ham, perhaps?
NEWS JUNKIE
Pokémon Go
Remember when Pokémon Go and its societal repercussions were all anybody could talk about? Us too. Designate a Charmander or Pikachu and have the rest of your posse bury their faces in their phones while walking down the street.
Brexit
An exit sign plus a Union Jack shirt.
Hillary & Donald
Just be ready to fistfight revelers you may encounter on the other side of the aisle (or bar). The election is just around the corner.
A Drone
A tied-on plastic propeller is plenty to get that whole “the future is now” idea across.
Anthony Rizzo & Kris Bryant
Celebrate the Cubs’ unfamiliar winning streak as two of the team’s stars.
