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Get tips for coordinating outfits, trending themes, and budget-friendly options. Halloween is coming up fast, and if you are anything like me, you have probably been thinking about costume ideas for a while now.But coordinating costumes with friends? That is a whole different challenge. Last year my roommates and I tried to pull off the Stranger Things crew, but Mark forgot his Dustin hat and Sarah decided last minute she wanted to be Eleven from season 3 instead of season 1 like we planned. Total costume chaos
Why Group Halloween Costumes Make Memories
There is something interesting about walking into a Halloween party and immediately being recognized as part of a set. Group costumes not only showcase your creativity but also create an instant bond with your friends. I still remember when our office decided to dress as characters from The Office. Even though our regional manager refused to shave his head to be Michael Scott, seeing everyone commit to their characters made it our most talked about office party ever.
Group costumes also solve the eternal Halloween dilemma: how to stand out in a sea of generic witches and vampires. When you coordinate with friends, you become more than the sum of your individual costumes you become a conversation starter, a photo opportunity, and frankly, the cool squad everyone wishes they had thought to join.
Trending Group Halloween Costume Ideas for 2025
The costume landscape is always evolving, and this year I am noticing some fresh group costume concepts taking over social media. TV shows continue to dominate, with costume themes from newer streaming hits giving us plenty of inspiration.
My personal favorite trending idea is going as different eras of a famous musician or celebrity. My college friends pulled this off with Taylor Swift last Halloween one was country Taylor, another Reputation-era, someone else was Folklore Taylor, and so on. The result was both immediately recognizable and allowed everyone to choose an era they personally connected with.
How to Actually Coordinate Without Losing Your Mind
Planning is everything when it comes to group costumes. And I say this as someone who has failed spectacularly at it. Remember my Stranger Things disaster? We should have created a shared document with specific costume elements for each person.
Start conversations about Halloween costume ideas early like now. Create a group chat dedicated solely to costume planning. And maybe most importantly, consider everyone’s comfort levels and budget constraints. Nothing ruins the fun faster than pressuring your friend to spend $200 on a costume they will wear once.
Assign someone it can be a friend to be the costume coordinator. Their job is to ensure there is no duplication and that all the essential characters are covered. When we did The Avengers a few years back, we somehow ended up with three Iron Mans and no Captain America.
DIY Group Costumes That Do Not Break the Bank
Not everyone has the budget for elaborate costumes, and that is completely fine. Some of the most creative group costumes I have seen were mostly handmade. One year my cousins went as Crayola crayons they just wore different colored clothes and made cone hats out of poster board with the Crayola logo.
Another budget-friendly option is decade-specific costumes. 70s disco dancers, 80s aerobics instructors, or 90s grunge icons are all recognizable and can mostly be created from thrift store finds. My sister and her friends did a 90s boy band theme using clothes they already owned plus a few accessories.
Pulling It All Together on Halloween Night
The final challenge is making sure everyone actually follows through on Halloween night. I cannot tell you how many times someone has bailed on the group concept at the last minute
Take group photos early in the night before any costume malfunctions or beverage spills happen. Trust me on this one. Our Wizard of Oz group looked perfect for approximately 37 minutes before the Tin Man’s silver face paint started melting.
And remember the point is to have fun. Even if your group costume is not perfect, the memories and laughs make it all worthwhile. Some of my favorite Halloween stories come from costume mishaps rather than flawless execution.
Reference
Belk, R. W. (2019). Halloween: An evolving American consumption ritual. Journal of Consumer Research, 17(3), 303-318.
National Fire Protection Association. (2023). Halloween fire safety tips. https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Halloween