Halloween is confusing for twenty-something year olds. There seems to be an uncanny sense of pressure behind every potential Halloween costume. So long are the days of dressing up in generic childish store-bought costumes (you can and will be judged for your lack of originality). Instead of dressing up as a poorly executed Emoji or a sexy-anything, we have a few costumes ideas that are not only original, but also sophisticated.
Happy Halloweening, everyone!
1. Andy Warhol (Pink Marilyn), Pablo Picasso (Girl Before a Mirror) & Roy Lichtenstein (Crying Girl)
These iconic pop artists may have unintentionally created some of the greatest Halloween costume ideas out there.
Materials: vintage dresses, body paint and wigs. FYI, don’t use acrylic paint on your face or body, it’s terrible for your skin.
2. Yayoi Kusama (‘Give Me Love’ Obliteration Room)
You can either dress up as Kusama herself or as her phenomenal summer show at David Zwirner. “My life is a dot lost among thousands of other dots” -YK.
Materials: White clothes and colorful polka dot stickers. To be Kusama herself just slap on a red cropped wig!
3. Gustav Klimt (Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I)
This painting is legendary for a few reasons, although most people now know that cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder added it to his art collection in 2006 for a casual $135 million. Helen Mirren also starred in a film, “Woman in Gold” which revealed the story behind this piece. Now you can all act the part on Halloween this year.
Materials: Black wig, gold dress, sparkly gold jewelry, and black acrylic or fabric paint (and some serious patients and painting skills)
4. Marina Abramovic (The Artist is Present)
The performance artist’s show at MoMA, “The Artists is Present,” catapulted her into the public consciousness years ago.
Materials: Red Snuggie, long dark braided wig (furniture optional)
5. Frida Kahlo (Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird)
Obviously it will be hard to out-do Beyoncé’s rendition of Kahlo, but we have faith. Get creation here – and don’t forget the unibrow!
Materials: Big earrings, mascara (for unibrow), and flowers. Over achievers can also add butterfly hair clips, fake birds and twigs.
6. Banksy (Flower Thrower)
Yes, it is possible to dress up as street art! This dude did it so you can too.
Materials: Flowers wrapped in white paper, black clothes, blank bandana, and white paint.
7. Jeff Koons (Seal Walrus [Trashcans])
In case you don’t have a spare garbage bin laying around we advise you dress in fishnets and throw an inflatable pool toy around your waist if you want to look like a classic Koons work.
Materials: Fishnet tights/ garbage bin and pool toy.
8. JR (Inside Out Project)
JR made news this week with his “Ellis” film recently but he’s best known for his Inside Out Project of city dwellers all over the world.
Materials: Black fedora, black Ray-bans, cardboard and black/white paint
9. Cindy Sherman (basically any photo)
As Sherman’s photos are primarily self portraits of herself posed as ridiculous alter-egos, you can basically dress up as creepy as you can and call it an homage to a Cindy Sherman work.
Materials: Thrift store bargains, gross wigs, makeup
10. Yoko Ono (Cut Piece)
Yoko’s iconic 1964 performance “Cut Piece” consisted of her letting the audience slowly cut away her clothing…this sounds perfect for a Halloween party.
Materials: Dress, scissors, underpants.
11. Basquiat (Boy and dog in a Johnnypump)
Pull this off and send us a photo.
Materials: black braided wig, black body suit, white and red paint
