The days of dressing as the classic vampire or witch for Halloween have far passed us. Nowadays, Halloween entails a strategic costume tailored to please friends and, perhaps more importantly, audiences via Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram. This results in some seriously heightened expectations for attire and therefore some seriously hilarious costumes shaped by social media trends. Twenty-sixteen bears the creation of quite a few replicable icons we are sure to see roaming the streets this October 31st, with my predictions for the most popular costumes being these key five:
1. Harambe
The gorilla, the myth, the legend. If you haven’t heard of this infamous animal, you are not a breathing human of the twenty-first century. Killed by the Cincinnati Zoo for dragging a rogue child through its enclosure, Harambe received wildly viral support from millennials who sought justice for what they saw as an innocent hero via Twitter. As far as costumes go, the Internet is already chock-full of Harambe-inspired costumes, including a widely advertised “Sexy Harambe” costume complete with furry heeled boots and a gorilla hat. Ultimately, you will be encountering some form of homage to the fallen icon this Halloween.
2. Stranger Things
Netflix and social media have combined to produce a hysteria surrounding the television series Stranger Things. Subsequently, friend groups this year will target the preteen squad of stars from the hit show, and you will likely witness crazed Winona Ryder lookalikes on your local street corner. Perhaps shaving one’s head would be too great a sacrifice to impersonate Eleven, but with these super fans anything is possible.
3. Clowns
The characters with the red noses, bright faces, and rainbow-infused fro’s have treaded down uncharted territory in 2016, and there will be costumes to reflect that this Halloween. The frenzy surrounding clowns erupted when clowns began sweeping through college campuses across the nation and terrorizing students. While some incidents were harmless, others included clowns carrying serious weapons such as rifles and machetes. The hype about such occurrences permeated social media, with thousands of students tweeting about supposed clown sightings at their schools. These recent events and their consequential tweets will contribute to a definite increase in clown costumes, whether they be humorous or horrifying, sported by college kids and therefore a successive increase in screaming by all those terrified of these creatures (myself included).
4. Clinton/Trump
You know it. I know it. Everybody knows it. With the presidential election right around the corner, Hillary Clintons and Donald Trumps of all shapes, sizes, and eras are bound to be flooding the streets this Halloween. Expect colorful pantsuits and the renowned Hillary do from the ladies and infamous orange skin and tufts of Trump hair from the gents. Also, get ready to be struck by the incredible influx of “Make America Great Again” logos everywhere you look. And beware: these may be worn seriously or ironically, so it is best you learn the difference before formulating an outward response.
5. Kenneth Bone
Presidential debates are remarkable events. While they rarely answer the genuine questions Americans possess regarding candidates and their platforms, they do produce incredible memes that liven your Twitter feed for weeks. One standout star from the debate on October 9, 2016, was Kenneth Bone, a lovable character who asked the candidates about how their energy policies aim to meet the energy needs of the United States. Do you remember the candidates’ answers to this vital question? Probably not. However, you definitely remember this man and possibly dusted off your red sweater, fake mustache, and glasses to wear on Halloween. If not you, still anticipate a sea of red that night when Ken Bone imposters will inevitably lurk the streets.
From political superstars to slain gorillas, this October 31st is bound to amaze or to terrify while ultimately inundating your phone with next-level pop culture hilarity. So happy Halloween! (Unless you’re being a clown, then please stay home!)
