As Halloween creeps up on us, students may struggle to find the perfect costume for the spookiest night of the season. Rather than stopping by Spirit Halloween for a Scarlet Witch wardrobe or planning a Party City trip for a Ted Lasso fit, there are plenty of do-it-yourself costumes from 2021-2022. Here are some of the best costumes from recent pop culture you can make for this Halloween.

“The Batman’s” Catwoman holds the title for one of the most recognizable superhero costumes of the year. The film renders Zoë Kravitz’s Selina Kyle in a pared-down version of her iconic costume. The outfit holds some similarities to Catwoman’s “Batman: Year One” look, depicting an early version of Selina Kyle who has yet to fully settle into the Catwoman purr-sona.

This makes Catwoman one of the easiest costumes on the list. Simply wear black pants and a zipped-up black jacket, preferably leather for both if you have them. From there, all you need to do is cut an eye-slot out of a black beanie and wear it as a mask. 

For added effect, bring a partner dressed as Bruce Wayne’s drifter look — just wear a black jacket over a dark hoodie, pull the hood over a red or gray baseball cap, add a dark mask or scarf over your mouth and smear black eyeliner around your eyes. You don’t need to be a billionaire to dress as the bat and the cat.

Each new season of “Stranger Things” presents a slew of DIY costumes for dedicated fans. Eddie Munson, also known as Eddie the Banished, instantly broke out as one of the most loveable new characters of 2022. 

For people with long hair, dressing as Eddie is fairly simple. Wear ripped jeans for the bottoms and add a wallet chain if you have one. In the show, Munson wears a leather jacket under a denim vest, but just using the vest — or even a denim jacket — will also work. A Hellfire Club t-shirt is essential for this costume, but those certainly aren’t hard to find. Add a bandana if you want to go for his final look. For the extra mile you can carry around a prop guitar and play “Master of Puppets” from your phone to recreate one of the most metal scenes in TV history.

The Grabber (“The Black Phone”)

Ethan Hawke burst in as one of the most visually interesting villains of the year as The Grabber in “The Black Phone.” 

The Grabber leaves room for various costumes through his multiple looks. The essential aspects include wearing a red shirt (preferably a turtleneck, but not necessary) under a black shirt or jacket. The sleeves can either be rolled up or stay down, depending on what look you’re going for. Add black pants and an oval belt buckle if you have one. Possible accessories include either a top hat or The Grabber’s iconic devil mask.

For the mask you can either spring for an actual replica or spray paint a cheap devil’s mask white. If you opt out of the mask, you can also wear white face paint and/or sunglasses to complete the look. Oh, and maybe don’t offer anyone balloons.

Dr. Ian Malcolm (“Jurassic Park” Franchise)

This costume holds a special place in my heart as it’s a look I’ve recreated myself on multiple occasions, including but not limited to Halloween. “Jurassic World: Dominion” (2022) welcomed Jeff Goldblum’s Ian Malcolm back as a main character in the “Jurassic Park” franchise. In the new movie, Goldblum wears essentially the same outfit as he did back in  “Jurassic Park” (1993) –– even recreating the famous “sexy” pose from the original film in a “Jurassic World: Dominion” promotional photo.

The costume is simple. Wear black pants with a black button up shirt tucked in. Unbutton at least half the buttons on the shirt and roll up the sleeves. Add spots of fake blood to parts of your chest, face and left hand, where you should also wear a watch.

If you want to dress specifically as “Dominion’s” Malcolm, mix in some gray hair spray for a salt-and-pepper look. Tie a white, fake-blood-covered cloth around your left knee and you’re good to go. A costume so easy it takes no discipline to attain it.

Two seasons in, “Euphoria” remains a hit television series –– especially within college-aged communities. With Zendaya just taking home her second Emmy for portraying the character, Rue Bennett makes for another perfect and easy Halloween costume. 

Your best bet would likely be wearing Rue’s iconic red hoodie, a cheap and comfortable option that many people would recognize. You could either model a shirt after one of Rue’s in the show or simply leave it zipped up. From there, the costume really only needs a bit of makeup, such as runny mascara.

And if you’re wanting an even easier HBO-inspired costume this Halloween just put on a suit and say you’re from the show “Succession.”

 Taylor Swift (“All Too Well: The Short Film”)

Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well: The Short Film” became a massive hit after releasing last November –– currently sitting at 4.3 million likes on YouTube. With lead actress Sadie Sink garnering more critical acclaim projects this year, such as “Stranger Things” and “The Whale,” her portrayal of Swift makes for another famous-yet-painless costume idea.

The outfit sported in the short’s big confrontation scene easily makes for the most recognizable look while still being incredibly simple to assemble. It only requires a black turtleneck and black mom jeans as far as clothing goes, though red lipstick is an essential addition. From there, you can add simple gold rings and some form of auburn hair if you so desire. If you want to really commit, bring a bearded friend in a dark blue and black button-up for the weirdest couples costume since 2016’s Joker and Harley Quinn.

Celebrate the scream queen of 2022 by dressing as Jenna Ortega’s Tara Carpenter, a final girl from the latest “Scream” film. Ortega’s terrified portrayal cements itself as one of the best horror performances of the year with a character who spends the whole movie being put through the ringer. Carpenter provides another straightforward costume with the added Halloween fun of being a horror movie victim.

Dressing as Carpenter’s appearance in the film’s opening scene is an iconic option, as the “Scream” franchise is known for its cold open massacres. Blue jeans and a long-sleeve pink top comprise the clothes, completed by a stray strand of hair hanging in front of either side of your face. Add some more smeared mascara to help sell the final girl fear. Be sure to pick a shirt you don’t love, as fake blood on the left of your stomach rounds out the outfit. For maximum effect, spend the whole night talking about how much you prefer “elevated horror” like “The Babadook” to anyone who will listen for more than 10 seconds.

Red carpet events usually come with a slew of looks and outfits that turn into instant, if fleeting, icons. While promoting the upcoming “Bones and All” at 2022’s Venice International Film Festival, actor Timothée Chalamet became the topic of many social media conversations for an outfit you can make yourself.

This look will take perhaps the most liberal approach on this list. Primarily, you’ll need red pants –– cheap sweats will do fine –– and a lot of red felt or fabric. 

Cut out a head-sized hole so you can hang the fabric from your neck, draped over your chest like a sort of vest or overly large bib. Then tuck the fabric into your pants, perhaps safety pinning it to the waistline. Top the look off with a red scarf or tie –– and you’re attending the red carpet on a budget. 

If anyone confusedly asks what you’re supposed to be, you can also save time on an explanation and say it’s a throwback to Mr. Tumnus from Narnia.

Follow Casey Loving on Twitter, @CaseyMLoving   

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