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50 Work-Appropriate Halloween Costumes You Can Wear to the Office
You won't be crossing the line by wearing any of these costumes.
Halloween may still be months away, but if you know your office is big on the holiday (a costume contest with prizes to win, an annual office costume party, or a tradition of employees dressing up to celebrate Halloween), then it's not too soon to start thinking about work-appropriate Halloween costume ideas for 2022. When it comes to dressing appropriately for work during the Halloween season, there are a number of factors to consider. Obviously, you probably shouldn't wear anything too revealing in an office setting. It's also important not to wear a costume that could offend your coworkers, customers, or clients. While you should do this when choosing any Halloween costume, it's even more important that you consider others' backgrounds, groups they belong to, and identities before picking a costume that you'll be wearing in a professional setting. In general, you should stay away from anything that may be deemed as cultural appropriation.
You also want to think about comfort: Try to pick a costume that you can still sit and work in. After all, you'll still need to get your job done, even though it's Halloween. Similarly, we would stay away from any costume that is too distracting to your coworkers. Fun can be had, of course, but you might want to rethink a giant inflatable dinosaur outfit that doesn't fit in your cubicle. In addition to these "don'ts," though, DO have fun! You can even dress up with other coworkers for a fun group costume. Here are 50 ideas for work-appropriate costumes to inspire you — including both store-bought and DIY costume options.
'Nothing Scares Me More Than Bad UX' T-Shirt Costume
'Nothing Scares Me More Than Bad UX' T-Shirt Costume
If you know, you know. And if you know, then your coworkers will likely also appreciate this hilarious T-shirt that doubles as an easy Halloween costume for the office.
School Lunch Costumes
Take it back to the lunchroom with these adorably creative costumes that are easy to DIY. Pick your favorite (we love the juice box!) and grab your closest coworkers to join in on the group costume fun. Plus, you now have no excuse not to take your lunch to work on Halloween.
Get the DIY School Lunch costumes tutorial at Studio DIY.
'Troop Beverly Hills' Costumes
If you've never seen the movie Troop Beverly Hills, you should stream it ASAP. To honor this rad 1980s movie, dress as the Girl Scouts-like troop for your office party. Feel free to do the "Freddie" and sell pretend cookies to really capture your costume's essence.
Get the DIY Troop Beverly Hills costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
La Croix Costume
If you and your work friends bonded over your shared love of flavored sparkling water, this iconic La Croix costume will turn heads at the office Halloween party. For an easier take on the costume, you can use a solid colored T-shirt dress as the base of your costume and skip the hula hoops.
Get the La Croix costume tutorial at A Kailo Chic Life.
Burger Costume
Love burgers? You are what you eat, as they say. You'll need a brown or beige dress to present as a bun, then just DIY your seeds and a belt that resembles the burger topped with lettuce, cheese, and tomato.
Get the Burger costume tutorial at Lovely Indeed.
Princess Leia Costume
All white, plus a vest, plus brown boots = Princess Leia, the beloved heroine from the Star Wars franchise. Easily recognizable for an office Halloween party, but effortless is key!
Get the Princess Leia costume tutorial at Lovely Indeed.
Starbucks Unicorn Drink Costume
Remember when Starbucks came out with the adorably pinkish-purple unicorn drink? Who knows what was even in that thing, but now you can dress like it for your office Halloween party.
Get the Unicorn Drink costume tutorial at Made with Happy.
Instant Pot Costume
Arguably one of the funniest costumes on this list, this Instant Pot outfit will wow your coworkers. By now, everyone knows what an Instant Pot is. Show your love for your favorite kitchen appliance by DIY-ing this cool costume.
Get the Instant Pot costume tutorial at Made with Happy.
If you don't want anything too fussy for your office party, the simplest route would be to wear a T-shirt with your favorite Sesame Street character. Choose from Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar, Cookie Monster, Grover, Ernie, and more. If you and your work family want to do a low-maintenance team costume, this is also a great option!
This 1990s-inspired ensemble is as chic as it is fun. If you loved the movie Clueless, this outfit will turn you into Dionne (played by Stacey Dash in the classic flick). Pair it with a big black top hat and white knee-high socks to capture the true '90s teen essence.
Carnival Game Costume
Bring the fun to your office party with an interactive Halloween costume. This carnival game ensemble is so cute. You'll need a white parasol to make the wheel, and a dress you don't mind ironing and painting on.
Get the Carnival Game costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
Hot Cocoa Costume
Do you and your coworkers congregate at the Swiss Miss station in your office? If so, this fun costume is perfect for Halloween at the office. Let's just hope you don't have to do a lot of sitting in the office the day of the costume party.
Get the Hot Cocoa costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
Pasta Costume
Pick your favorite type of pasta, make it out of foam padding, and attach it in front of your regular clothes. Voila: Pasta costume! This costume idea can also work well for a family costume on Halloween night.
Get the Pasta costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
Chill Pill Costume
When it comes to office costumes, the best kind are ones that easily incorporate your regular office wear. This chill pill can be easily recreated with a work-appropriate top and bottom in different colors. Just cut the letters for the word "chill" out of felt to complete the costume.
Get the Chill Pill costume tutorial at Studio DIY.
Beach Ball and Palm Tree Costumes
Even though Halloween happens in the fall, bring summer fun to the day by dressing up as a beach ball or palm tree. Go in on this pair costume with your work bestie to make it a beach duo.
Get the DIY Beach Ball and Palm Tree costumes tutorial at Studio DIY.
Balloon Garland Costume
This Halloween costume may look high maintenance, but this balloon garland is easy to put on when you want to showcase it and take off when you're sitting at your desk trying to get work done.
Get the Balloon costume tutorial at A Kailo Chic Life.
If you've ever wanted to don pajamas for work (outside of WFH, of course), now's your chance. This shark onesie is warm and cozy, perfect for a chilly Halloween workday.
Ysolt Usigan is a lifestyle writer and editor with 15+ years of experience working in digital media. She has created share-worthy content for publishers Shape, What To Expect, Cafe Mom, TODAY, CBS News, HuffPo, The Bump, Health, Ask Men, and Best Gifts. A working mom of two, her editorial expertise in parenting, shopping, and home are rooted in her everyday life.
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