Certain costumes make a steadfast appearance each Halloween. Year after year, people of all ages return to a designated collection of classics – witches, ghosts, vampires, and the like. As the holiday approaches, I’ve been left to wonder what precisely constitutes a classic costume. Moreover, in a modern world hardly wanting for niche content, how and why do said classics remain so timeless?
Perhaps the answers lie hidden within the costumes’ histories.
10 Timeless Costumes & Their Haunting Histories
1. Witches
Witches are arguably one of the most classic Halloween costumes of all time. Transcending the holiday itself, the idea of the “witch” has fascinated people for centuries. Early European Christians associated witches with the supernatural and perceived them as evil beings connected to the devil.
Most often, popular culture portrays witches in pointed black hats, all-black garb, and occasionally with green skin. Today’s iconic witch costume, which we easily recognize, borrows from history, folklore, and historical fashion norms. The pointy hat likely draws inspiration from the 17th-century Quaker style, when women wore wide-brimmed, black conical hats. The all-black get-up and green skin may be due to the colors’ historical associations with all things evil, including the devil and black magic.
Pop culture has adopted the modern depiction of the witch, making it a timeless image. To name just two examples of pop culture further instilling the witchy look we all know and love, look to the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz or Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty.
However, the witch costume is not just iconic because of its deep historical roots and mysterious associations parallel to the spookiness of Halloween. Nor has it remained popular simply due to pop culture portrayals. Perhaps the most timeless assets the witch costume brings to the table are its simplicity and versatility. Anyone can throw together a witch costume (last minute, at that) and remain easily recognizable. Combining those factors makes for a timeless costume.
2. Ghosts
Dressing up as ghosts honor a tradition that dates back to the very first celebration of Halloween, originally known as Samhain. The Celts celebrated Samhain, an ancient festival, from October 31 to November 1 to welcome the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.” During Samhain, the Celts believed the barriers between the spirit world and the physical world weakened. Therefore, they would dress up as ghosts to disguise themselves and ward off unfriendly spirits.
On brand with the supernatural aura of Halloween and true to the holiday’s roots, it’s hard to go wrong with a ghost costume. Just as with the witch, the ghost is both a simple and versatile ensemble. You can go the easy, benevolent route with a bed sheet and a pair of scissors. Or, if you want something a bit scarier, you can look to pop culture or folktale references, such as Ghost Rider or The Headless Horseman.
Whichever ghostly getup you may choose, it will still allow you to tap into the paranormal and pay homage to the traditions of Halloween.
3. Vampires
Just like witches and ghosts, tales of blood-sucking vampires have been around for centuries. The first reference to a vampire comes from an Old Russian text written in 1047 A.D. However, the term “vampire” did not appear until 1725. Similar to other myths, the idea of the vampire stemmed from people attempting to explain frightening, mysterious phenomena. For example, vampirism was sometimes used to explain symptoms of the plague during the Middle Ages, which left victims with bleeding mouth lesions. Porphyria, which causes severe blistering on skin exposed to sunlight and was temporarily relieved by ingesting blood, also promoted the vampire myth.
Bram Stoker’s famous novel Dracula, published in 1897, further popularized the vampire, enhancing its existing association with all things spooky and mysterious. After that, vampires went mainstream.
Long-time members of the supernatural community, pop culture icons, and, once again, easy to depict, vampires make for the perfect costume choice. Plus, not only is the vampire a timeless option, but an alluring one. Over time, vampires have gone from terrifying to mysterious and seductive, which has coincided with society’s overall shift toward “sexy” Halloween costumes.
4. Cats
Cats are associated with the supernatural, as evidenced by some of the oldest superstitions in history. Ancient Egyptians regarded them as “divine,” and in Greek mythology, people associated cats with magic, sorcery, and witchcraft. That reputation followed cats, specifically black cats, well beyond ancient times. In the 13th century, the church declared cats to be both incarnations of the devil and witches’ companions. Even today, everyone is familiar with the saying that a black cat crossing your path is a bad omen.
The mysterious, mischievous, and supernatural qualities of the cat make it a perfect fit for the Halloween scene. However, dressing up as a cat is popular for other reasons, too. Not only is it a super easy costume for anyone to put together, but it can also be a cute and light-hearted outfit for those who prefer to keep their distance from the scarier options. After all, the idea that black cats are a bad omen is not a universal belief. In some cultures, black cats are signs of good luck and prosperity.
5. Pirates
Pirates have been around for over 3,000 years. Known as robbers and thieves, it’s easy to see why pirates may have fallen into the broader “villain” category that Halloween costumes are often drawn from. However, not all pirates were evil brutes. More likely, they were simply ordinary people forced to engage in criminal activity to make a living.
Pop culture and mass media popularized the pirate costume more than anything else. First popularized via print, the pirate is featured in renowned books like The Red Rover by James Fenimore Cooper, Moby Dick, Or, The Whale by Herman Melville; and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson sparked interest in the lives of pirates. They are also in popular movies like Peter Pan, The Princess Bride, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, and many others.
Popular, widely recognized, easily done, and versatile, the pirate is a great costume for all who possess a daring and adventurous spirit.
6. Clowns
You may be as surprised as me to learn that clowns have been around since the Fifth dynasty of Egypt. Clowns were also common in ancient Greece and Rome, though several different types of clowns have developed since then. The typical type of clown most people envision today (the hobo clown), did not become the dominant style until the mid 19th century, when circuses became more popular in the West.
In America, the takeoff of circuses happened during the same era in which dressing up for Halloween became the norm. And unlike the clowns of the ancient past, the newly popularized style of clown was much more appropriate for children. Non-coincidentally, clown costumes became a popular choice for children to sport on Halloween. The evil clown prototype did not emerge until around the 1980s.
After American serial killer John Wayne Gacy, otherwise known as the “Killer Clown,” was found guilty of 33 counts of murder in 1980, the perception of clowns took a sharp turn. Even worse for PR was Stephen King’s 1986 hit novel It, which featured the demon clown Pennywise. From then on, the evil clown remained a popular media archetype: Twisty from American Horror Story, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Zeebo, The Joker, etc.
So, though clowns were not always thought of as scary, pop culture transformed the clown into a killer, making it a perfect fit for the fun and frightening festivities of Halloween. Additionally, given the multiple types to choose from, the clown costume possesses great versatility. Silly or scary, the clown costume is intriguing nonetheless, thanks to its long history.
7. Mummies
Just like the costumes above, the mummy, too, emerges from an ancient and complex history. Originating from ancient Egypt, preserving bodies through mummification was once a widespread practice around the globe. To the Egyptians, mummification was not something frightening but rather a sacred practice. When considering the “mummy’s curse,” though, one may understandably feel unnerved.
According to folklore, disturbing a mummy’s tomb may lead to bad luck and even death. True or not, the story was sensationalized by the media, specifically around the time that King Tut’s tomb was discovered in 1922. Not surprisingly, another novel by Bram Stoker, The Jewel of Seven Stars, contributed to sensationalization as well, painting mummies as supernatural villains. Later on, Hollywood followed suit with movies like The Mummy’s Tomb and The Mummy’s Curse.
Though very real, creepy, and shrouded in historical mystery, mummies don’t share quite the same notoriety as other famous “monsters.” But that doesn’t mean they can’t still make for a great costume. Easy to put together, the mummy is still a classic go-to look for Halloween.
8. Zombies
Unlike other supernatural spectacles, mostly rooted in superstition and fear, zombies have a basis in fact. Since ancient times, people have feared the “undead,” and the Bible contains mentions of resurrection and reanimation. But more modern science has revealed that certain, very real viruses can cause zombie-like symptoms.
Though not quite the same, folktales about “real” zombies from Haiti have also circulated for centuries, and they are too prevalent to dismiss. Voodoo religion is practiced widely throughout Haiti, and many believe that zombies are people revived by voodoo practitioners. Additionally, several credible reports in medical journals over the years have described cases where people – zombies – have risen from the dead in Haiti.
Whether you believe it or not, zombies these days are almost inescapable, thanks to the media. They first appeared in literature in 1697 and notably in 1818, thanks to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (though Frankenstein is not technically considered to be a zombie). They then hit the film scene in 1932 with the release of White Zombie. Many historical films followed throughout the years, including Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, World War Z, and perhaps most popular, the TV show The Walking Dead.
Thanks to folklore, science, and pop culture alike, the haunting idea of the undead has been kept alive for centuries. Related to the mysteries of death and the afterlife and embraced by the spirit of Halloween, zombies remain a fascinating topic and a timeless costume.
9. Superheroes (& Villains)
The idea of superheroes is not necessarily a new one. In ancient mythology, tales of gods and demigods with superhuman powers were extremely common and part of people’s religious beliefs. The superhero archetype we think of today may have originated from those stories. But the idea of the modern superhero truly came about in America in the early 20th century. During an era saturated with the Great Depression, WWII, and immigration, people turned to superheroes as a form of both personal and national empowerment.
From newspaper comic strips to comic books, the first half of the 20th century produced famous characters like Superman, Batman, Captain America, and Wonder Woman. A bit later on came more notable superheroes, like the Flash, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and many others.
Extremely popular then, and still thriving today, the world of superheroes became a popular pool to pick from when it came time to dress up for Halloween. As it goes in the age of mass media, costume trends often reflect the culture of the time – and so superheroes became a classic choice. After all, everyone wants to feel like a superhero once in a while, and with the thousands of characters to choose from, why not?
10. Policemen & Firefighters
For the same reason people may want to dress as superheroes, they might also find a cop or firefighter costume suitable. That is because police and firefighters, though not superhuman, are considered everyday heroes by many. Dressing up as either may emanate that same feeling, or even be a way for you to show appreciation for those who serve your community (as long as you do so respectfully).
Even though firefighters and police-like entities have been around for a long time, that’s not necessarily the biggest reason they make a classic costume choice. More likely, they are widely available costumes that make for an easy (maybe last-minute) purchase. Also, a popular choice is the “cop and robber” duo, which makes for a fun and easily recognizable costume as well.
While policemen and firefighters are a common costume, it’s important to remember that impersonating an officer is still a crime. If you choose a cop costume, just make sure you don’t get too into character. Otherwise, you might find yourself in real handcuffs by the end of the night!
So, What Do All The Classics Have In Common?
Reading up on the classics and comparing them to each other made my question – what makes the classics so timeless? – much easier to answer. When we look at what each costume has in common, it’s easy to understand why they’re hard to beat. A timeless Halloween costume is going to check off most, if not all, of these boxes:
- Appeals to a universal theme of fear (of death, the unknown, etc.)
- Has strong historical roots
- Is iconic or widely recognizable
- Simple, versatile, and customizable: easy to buy or throw together on your own
- Is nostalgic or culturally relevant
- Can be spooky or fun — or both!
When a costume possesses those qualities, especially in combination, it has the power to remain forever relevant, despite changing trends. It becomes timeless.
But What If I Like Trends?
Don’t get me wrong, choosing a trendy costume is also a super fun way to celebrate Halloween! While I appreciate the classics, admire their fascinating histories, and applaud their ability to stay timeless, I also love a modern pop culture reference.
The great thing about mass media is not just its ability to repopularize old icons, but also its ability to create new ones. Since Halloween became popular in America, so many new and iconic costumes have been gifted to us thanks to pop culture. Though not listed as timeless quite yet, there are a handful of costumes popular now that are sure to be categorized as classics in the future. I can think of a few historical figures, celebrities, and movie/TV show characters who are sure to join the ranks.
With all that being said, I love to choose one classic costume and one trending costume each year to appease my indecisiveness. If you’re anything like me, you might be interested in hearing about this year’s trending costumes too, not just the classics. Here are some of the costumes I predict we’ll see this year:
- Beetlejuice characters (I would love to see some Lydia and Beetlejuice, red-wedding duo costumes!)
- Inside Out 2 characters
- X film series costumes (Pearl and Maxine)
- Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and JoJo Siwa costumes
- Love Island-inspired costumes
- Election inspired costumes
- Costumes based on concepts rather than characters (i.e. “dirty martini,” “party animal”)
