The potential for Halloween costumes is endless. So far, Kent, Ohio, has seen people dress up based on this year’s most popular pop culture trends.
Google’s “FrightGeist” platform lists the top trending costumes of 2024 based on search data both nationally and locally. The top 10 reflect a list of both scary and cute costumes, all based on what has gone viral this past year.
- Shrunken Head Bob (“Beetlejuice”)
- Raygun (Australian competitive breakdancer)
- Catnap (“Smiling Critters”)
- Delores (“Beetlejuice”)
- Pomni (“The Amazing Digital Circus”)
- Envy (“Inside Out”)
- Red (“Descendants”)
- Dr. Doom (Marvel Comics)
- Sabrina Carpenter (American singer and actress)
- Lady Deadpool (“Deadpool and Wolverine”)
This year’s popular costumes are more specific and niche than the list released last year, which included “Barbie,” princess and “Spider-Man” in its top three.
Samara Vasiloff, a sophomore fashion merchandising major, gave her prediction for the most trending costume this year, aligning with Google’s list.
“I think Beetlejuice will probably be the most popular,” Vasiloff says. “Particularly Beetlejuice himself, Lydia or some of the more famous dead characters like Miss Argentina.”
Kaitlyn Phillips, a graduate student getting her master’s in fashion industry studies, also predicted specific pop culture characters to be popular, including the Wicked Witch and Bridgerton characters.
With “Wicked” releasing Nov. 22 and Bridgerton having released its season three this past summer, its characters are certainly relevant.
Cidney Tabler, a freshman fashion merchandising major, predicted a popular costume to be Terrfier, saying, “I’ve already seen it at the movie theaters.”
FrightGeist also lists trending costumes in regions, and in Cleveland, OH, the top five costumes don’t stray far from what is popular nationally.
- Deadpool (“Deadpool and Wolverine”)
- Lydia Deetz (“Beetlejuice”)
- Buzz Lightyear (“Toy Story”)
- Wolverine (“Deadpool and Wolverine”)
- Dorothy (“The Wizard of Oz”)
Phillips says she is going as either Daphne from “Scooby Doo” or Patrick Bateman from “American Psycho.” Balancing the cute and scary Halloween aesthetics, she might be seen in a purple dress, green scarf and red wig, or a dark suit, red tie, long white coat and axe.
Tabler says she is going to be Clawdeen from “Monster High,” wearing wolf ears, fangs, a pink and black striped tank top, purple skirt and purple and black striped knee-high boots. She found her costume from Dolls Kill, an online boutique.
Hundreds of trends are sure to be recreated this Halloween, creating a fun and memorable year for all.
