I will be honest, some of my absolute favorite Halloween memories do not involve the scariest haunted houses or the best candy haul. No, they are all about showing up with my best friend, completely in sync, and watching that wave of recognition and delight wash over a party. Crafting the perfect best friend Halloween costume is an art form that celebrates your unique bond. Remember that one year my best friend and I decided, at the very last minute, to be salt and pepper shakers? We literally wore black and white dresses and glued cardboard shaker tops to headbands. It was ridiculously low-budget, but let me tell you, we have never gotten more compliments. People loved it because we were having an absolute blast, fully committed to our silly, simple idea.

That is the real magic, isn’t it? Coordinating Halloween costumes with your bestie is not about having the most expensive or elaborate getup. It is about that shared glance across a crowded room that says, We did this, and we are awesome. The best ideas are the ones that feel like your friendship, packed with inside jokes and that unique dynamic only the two of you understand. You can never, ever go wrong with a classic duo. The beauty here is in the instant recognition. Think peanut butter and jelly, ketchup and mustard, or even bacon and eggs. I am a huge fan of these when I want a low-stress, high-impact costume. A little felt, some fabric paint, and a dose of creativity are all you need. The goal is to make the connection between your two costumes crystal clear. You are a team, a matching set. Then you have the iconic movie duos and TV show partners. Thelma and Louise, Wayne and Garth, Romy and Michele these are the characters we have grown up with and loved. What makes these so fun is that you get to put your own spin on beloved characters.

You are tapping into a shared cultural memory, which guarantees you will be the hit of the party without having to explain your costume all night long. Now, if you and your best friend are the type who want to truly stand out from the crowd, this is where you can get wonderfully weird. Conceptual costumes require a bit more brainpower, but the payoff is massive. One year, I managed to convince my friend to do a “before and after” theme. She went as a pristine, perfectly put-together Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, and I went as post-tornado Dorothy, with a tangled wig, a torn dress, and one missing ruby slipper.

It was a conversation starter all night. Another route I adore is embodying complementary concepts. Think day and night, sun and moon, or even fire and ice.  These pairings are less about specific characters and more about a vibe, allowing both of you to interpret the theme in a way that suits your individual style. You can go minimalist and elegant or over-the-top and dramatic. And let us not forget the wonderful world of food pairings beyond the basics. Who would not want to be a perfect slice of avocado toast with their bestie, or a glass of wine paired with a wedge of cheese? The charm is in the relatability and the sheer fun of it.

For those of you who live and breathe the current trends, pop culture is your best friend costume goldmine. This is where you can capitalize on that hot new Netflix series, a viral TikTok meme, or the summer’s biggest blockbuster. The only catch with these trendy costume ideas is that their shelf life can be short. But if your party is happening at the moment, that relevance is a powerful tool. And we can not forget music duos. From the legendary Sonny and Cher to modern pairs like Twenty One Pilots, dressing as a musical act gives you built-in props and an instantly cool aesthetic. You can recreate a specific look from a famous music video or just channel the general vibe of your favorite band. It is all about capturing that shared energy. Alright, let us get real for a second. The hardest part of a best friend Halloween costume is not the crafting or the shopping. It is the actual coordination. I have seen it happen too many times. The grand plan falls apart because one person did not order their part in time or had a last-minute change of heart. To pull off a truly great friend Halloween costume, you have to commit. My number one piece of advice? Set a budget and a comfort level early on.

Nothing creates resentment faster than one person dropping a fortune while the other throws something together from their closet. And if your friend hates wearing face paint or can not stand the itch of a wig, for the love of all that is spooky, pick a different idea. The best costumes are the ones where you both feel confident and comfortable enough to truly own the look. In the end, the specific idea matters less than the joy you bring to it. I have seen incredibly intricate costumes fall flat because the people inside them looked miserable. And I have seen two people in matching t-shirts become the life of the party because their energy was infectious. So grab your partner-in-crime, start brainstorming, and create something that feels uniquely you. Halloween only comes once a year, but the memory of nailing your best friend’s Halloween costume? That lasts forever.

References

National Retail Federation.“Halloween Spending to Reach Record $12.2 Billion”

 Psychology Today. “What does the social psychology of self-presentation have to do with Halloween?”

Smithsonian Magazine.“When Halloween Was All Tricks and No Treats”