Halloween isn’t all about the scares. For some of us, it’s about the costumes. From characters in cartoons, horror movies, action thrillers, or classic black and white films to animals and food items, the options for a good game of dress-up really are endless. Even if you think the practice is childish and unnecessary, it’s a great way to enjoy yourself and adopt a new personality for a day. If you’re up for the idea, but don’t have any ideas for what to dress as, here are a ton of halloween costumes to make your day this year.

Costumes from this year’s movie and TV releases: Cruella de Vil was a master of turning heads in the Disney movie Cruella that was released earlier in 2021. Don a black and white wig, some black makeup, and an epic outfit and call it a day. A similarly cool and achievable outfit could be Beth Harmon from Queen's Gambit whose red hair and formal dresses are recognizable anywhere. For the guys, a red jumpsuit and a signature Dalí mask is all you need to dress up as everyone’s favorite antiheroes in honor of the final season of Money Heist dropping.

Costumes inspired by the times: The scariest of all costumes is possibly the Zoom disaster getup which includes pajama pants, a dress shirt, unmatched socks, and a laptop that never shuts up. You could also be the political satirist of the party and dress up like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk — keeping in mind that discussions on wealth inequality are sure to ensue. Braver and more beneficial than any Marvel or DC superhero is Dr. Anthony Fauci. White hair, a sharp suit, and a face mask of course, and you’re good to go.

Throwback costumes that never get old: Marilyn Monroe is a must at any halloween party, with a flowy white dress, red lips, and windswept hair. The characters of Pulp Fiction are also a recurring costume year after year, from Vincent Vega to Jules Winnfield.

Do you just want to pick up a costume set and call it a day? Here are a few local shops selling halloween costumes:

• Bal Masqué has a ton of costumes and accessories to make sure that you are all set for halloween. Dinosaur costume anyone?
• Neverland Costume is filled to the brim with costumes for kids and adults.
• Amazon has a collection of outfits you can put on, but we’re not always confident about the quality.
• You should definitely check out online store Lil and Kim. We love their Darth Vader costume.
• The Party Station has great outfits for all ages. You can usually find the store at gas stations if you need to pick up a last minute outfit on the go.