3 Fun & Nostalgic Halloween Group Costume Ideas

Written by Ashley - Assistant Editor 27 Comments

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Halloween is just over a week away and if you and your friends are still stumped what dress up as this year, you’re in luck because I’ve come up with three unique, creative and totally nostalgic group costume ideas.

Stand out in a sea of Kardashian and Jersey Shore group costumes with one of these three Halloween getups:

Idea #1 — Daria

Okay, so this group costume idea may or may not have been sparked by the fact that I’m currently in the middle of watching Daria: The Complete Animated Series, but I’m convinced that this would be a one-of-a-kind group costume for Halloween.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the series, it follows the brainy, deadpan Daria Morgendorffer and her equally sarcastic bestie Jane Lane as they navigate (and make fun of) the high school experience. Every high school sterotype is present on the show, from clueless cheerleaders and dense football jocks to Daria’s popularity-obsessed sister Quinn and her band of “Fashion Club” cronies. The key to this group costume is to have everyone really play the part and mimic the character of their choosing.

Surprisingly, many of the character’s outfits are comprised of items that you and your friends probably own already, like basic tees, jeans and boots. Plus, any extra items you need to snag to make your look complete can definitely be incorporated into your wardrobe in the future. Talk about a win-win!

To see what I mean, check out these three outfits, inspired by Daria, Jane and Quinn:

Daria Product Info: Tank Top, Hoodie, Skirt, Glasses, Boots
Jane Product Info: T-Shirt, Jacket, Shorts, Tights, Boots
Quinn Product Info: T-Shirt, Jeans, Belt, Boots

Idea #2– The Baby-Sitters Club

Ah, The Baby-Sitters Club. As a kid, I used to devour these books like crazy and now I think Stoneybrook’s premier sitters would make a totally retro-cool group costume for Halloween.

For costumes, I recommend having at least four people, but bonus points if you can find enough girls to represent all seven of the baby-sitters. Once you’ve recruited your best gal pals, have everyone pick their favorite sitter — between athletic Kristy, eco-conscious Dawn and fashionista Stacey, there’s truly a match for everyone — and plan outfits accordingly.

Try scoping out your local thrift stores for some authentic late ’80s/early ’90s gear and skim though the BSC books to get a sense of everyone’s style, because Ann M. Martin wrote some very specific outfit descriptions. For example, here’s something the artistic and eclectic Claudia wore:

“At the moment I’m wearing lavender plaid cuffed pants with suspenders over a green shirt with buttons down the front, a matching lavender beret (and not just because I’m at my easel), and fleece-lined, high-top sneakers which I must admit are uncomfortably hot, but they look great. Also, I’ve got on earrings shaped like Christmas tree lights that actually blink on and off. I’m not sure why I chose to wear them, since it’s nowhere near Christmas, but I love jewelry, like to make my own sometimes, and have pierced ears.”

Oh, Claudia. Never change.

Need some more outfit ideas before you start rummaging through the Goodwill bins? Here are three Baby-Sitters Club looks to get the creative juices flowing:

Kristy Product Info: Top, Jeans, Hat, Sneakers
Mary Anne Product Info: Sweater, Skirt, Socks, Loafers
Claudia Product Info: Blouse, Leggings, Earrings, Vest, Boots

Idea #3– Hey Arnold!

Ever since Nickelodeon implemented their new programming block, “The ’90s Are All That”, all of our favorite childhood cartoons are more popular than ever. So show some love for one of your favorite old school shows by grabbing some friends and dressing like the gang from Hey Arnold!.

This group costume is sure to garner some buzz at any party and will definitely get people reminiscing about the “good ol’ days” of the ’90s. You can either rope your guy friends into dressing like Arnold and Gerald or create a female version of the duo, like I’ve done below. And don’t forget about Helga, Phoebe, Harold, Rhonda and the rest of the kids from P.S. 118!

So, where will you find some similar duds to the ones on the show? Lucky for you, I’ve put together some nearly identical and super-stylish outfits inspired by Arnold, Gerald and Helga:

Gerald Product Info: Top, Jeans, Iron-on Numbers, Sneakers
Arnold Product Info: Dress, Sweater, Tights, Hat, Flats
Helga Product Info: Dress, Headband, Blouse, Belt, Flats

Your thoughts?

What do you think of these costumes? Would you wear any of them? Have you ever been part of a group costume? What are you wearing for Halloween this year? Remember to leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

Posted on on October 23, 2011 / Filed Under: Fashion Tips / Tags: 1980s, 1990s, Books, Costumes, Halloween, TV

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