Photo by  Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto LINK

 

Halloween has always been a time for tricks, treats, and transformations — but how we dress up has changed a lot over the years. From DIY ghost sheets to pop-culture costumes. Here’s a fun look at how Halloween costumes evolved decade by decade.

 

🍬🍭 1920s: Homemade Horror

Firstly, we start with 1920s. Back then Halloween costumes were mostly homemade, crafted from whatever materials were around. Ghosts, witches, and goblins were the go-to choices. The idea was more about spookiness than creativity — kids and adults would have masks made of paper mâché or old fabric. It was the start of what we now call Halloween, but way simpler.

 

Dennison’s Bogie book was one of few sources with ideas that people in 1920s could simply recreate – decorations, games, and even costumes. Costumes section included fabulous, detailed illustrations that were supposed to be used inspiration for the costumes.

 

🍬🍭 1930s: The First Store-Bought Costumes

By the 1930s, Halloween was starting to go big, and the first store-bought costumes hit shelves. These were simple, cheap fabric smocks with masks attached. You’d see classic monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, and witches, often sold by companies like Ben Cooper. Even during the Great Depression, people were finding ways to dress up.

 

🍬🍭 1940s: World War II and Creativity

During WWII, materials were scarce, so people got creative with whatever they had. Patriotic costumes were huge, and homemade outfits were crafted from old clothes or uniforms. Once the war ended, Hollywood flicks started to inspire costumes — Casablanca, anyone?

 

🍬🍭 1950s: TV Time

The 1950s brought the rise of TV, and with it, a ton of TV-inspired costumes. Superman, Zorro, and even the Lone Ranger showed up on Halloween night. The costumes were now recognizable, thanks to TV. This was also when trick-or-treating really became a thing, with families celebrating more than ever.

Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev: LINK

 

🍬🍭 1960s: Groovy Vibes

The 1960s were all about individual expression. People were dressing up as space explorers or hippies, and the groovy styles of the time seeped into Halloween too. At the same time, movies like Psycho and Night of the Living Dead gave rise to creepy costumes again. And comic book characters started showing up too.

 

🍬🍭 1970s: Monsters and DIY

The 70s were a mix of nostalgia and rebellion. DIY costumes became popular, with teens making their own looks from stuff they found at thrift stores. Popular costumes included monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula. After Star Wars came out in 1977, you were bound to see at least a few Luke Skywalkers and Princess Leias trick-or-treating.

 

🍬🍭 1980s: Pop Culture Explosion

The 1980s were huge for pop culture. Ghostbusters, E.T., and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” were everywhere. Costumes became even more commercialized, with kids wearing store-bought versions of characters from movies and music. It was also the rise of MTV, so we saw more music-inspired costumes — Madonna, anyone?

 

🍬🍭 1990s: Mix of Horror and Humor

The 90s were a fun mix of spooky and silly. Kids were dressing up as Scream characters, Power Rangers, or even Goosebumps monsters. Halloween got a little bit quirky with pop-culture references, and it was common to see a group of friends dressed up as The Addams Family or Beetlejuice.

 

🍬🍭 2000s: Movie Magic

By the 2000s, Halloween was a huge industry, and costumes from big films like Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean flooded the stores. People were also experimenting with group costumes — like The Incredibles or the iconic Mean Girls. Thanks to the internet, it was way easier to get a cute costume, but also easier to find DIY inspiration too.

Photo by Tim Mossholder: LINK

 

🍬🍭 2010s: Instagram and Nostalgia

With social media came the selfie culture, and Halloween costumes were no exception. People started creating Instagram-worthy looks, with detailed, creative outfits and tons of DIY flair. There was a resurgence of 80s and 90s nostalgia, and meme-based costumes became a huge hit. One of most popular costumes was Harley Quinn and Joker mostly from Suicide Squad, Elsa and Anna from Frozen and many more.

 

🍬🍭 2020s: The Age of Expression

Now, in the 2020s, Halloween costumes are all about personal expression. People are more likely to wear something that represents their personality — whether that’s a high-fashion costume, a sustainable DIY look, or a pop-culture reference (which Gen V loves). However, not everyone is making their own costumes from scratch. Quite a lot of people are buying them from sites like Target or Spirit Halloween. Most often we can see people combining sustainable sources like thrifting and  DIY-costumes with few elements of costumes from sites like Amazon or Shein.

 

No matter what, the goal is the same: to have fun and maybe, just maybe, get a great Instagram pic or cool Tiktok video with friends.

 

This year, the most trending costumes are probably characters from Kpop Demon Hunters, like Rumi, Zoey, and Mira, as well as the duo Glinda and Elphaba from Wicked. In 2023, Barbie was also a major phenomenon, thanks to the Barbie movie, which sparked the “Barbie Summer” craze. While in 2022,  just a year before, the Wednesday craze took over the word. Throughout the 2020s, we’ve seen a lot of people dressing up as Misa Amane and Light Yagami from Death Note and other anime characters that went viral on Tiktok. It was a time where cosplay started to become more mainstream.

 

Photo taken by cottonbro studio: LINK

 

Because of social media, characters from Euphoria, such as Maddy Perez, Cassie Howard, Jules Vaughn, Rue Bennet, and Kat Hernandez, have also been common choices at that time.

 

However, there are certain costumes that have remained evergreen through the years, consistently making an appearance year after year. Timeless classics like the black cat, witch, and ghost continue to be popular. Disney princesses also maintain their charm, while in the 2020s Monster High characters like Frankie Stein, Clawdeen Wolf, and Draculaura have seen a surge in popularity once again. The same can be said about Emily and Victor from Corpse Bride which remain as peak choices along with Scooby Doo protagonists.

 

🍬🍭 Wrapping It Up

From the ever-changing trends influenced by pop culture to the timeless classics that never go out of style, Halloween costumes have certainly evolved in some fun and unexpected ways. Whether you’re dressing as the latest viral character or rocking a classic witch look, Halloween remains the one night where anyone can be whoever they want to be. It’s the time to get creative, embrace nostalgia, and celebrate the spooky season in your own unique way. So, whatever you choose to wear this Halloween, just make sure it’s fun — and maybe a little bit scary! 🎃👻

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite: LINK

 

🍬🍭 Sources:

USA Today, Halloween Costumes Through the Decades

Cosmopolitan, The Halloween Costume Everyone Was Wearing the Year You Were Born

History Facts, Popular Halloween Costumes Throughout the 20th Century

Reader’s Digest, Popular Halloween Costume the Year You Were Born

Public Domain Review, Dennison’s Bogie Book for Halloween 1920

Business Insider, Halloween Costume Trends Throughout History

Yahoo, The Top Pop Culture-Inspired Halloween Costumes Over the Past Decade

 

🦇🕯️🍬 2025/2026 ©  Angelika Bojanowska, 2 rok, Pedagogika,  Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Koninie