Ready to win Halloween [1] this year? If spooky, gory, or witchy costumes [2] aren't exactly your thing, perhaps a tongue-in-cheek, meme-inspired costume is more your speed! From Dolly Parton's viral LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Tinder meme [3] at the beginning of the year (why does that feel like five years ago?), to the Bernie Sanders "I am once again asking for you..." meme, there were a few moments in 2020 that managed to make us laugh, so why not translate that into a costume that'll make all your friends and family smile, too? Here you'll find some of the best memes from 2020 and how to create a winning Halloween costume [4] inspired by them. For all of these, materials you probably already have at home will work, and you can even make group costumes [5] for you and your roommates. Keep reading to see them all now, and get your acceptance speech ready for when you win all the costume contests!
Cow on the Beach
The "physically I'm here, but mentally I'm..." meme, where people compared their current mental state to this cow on the shore of a beach, is hilariously accurate for 2020. Poke fun and the heaviness of this weird year by channelling this meme for your costume.
- What you need: Create your own cow costume by wearing anything cow print (or draw cow spots on plain sweats), and either buy or make a cow ears headband. Finish the look off with something related to the beach, like a towel, flip-flops, or even a bathing suit.
Everything Is Cake
While detailed cakes have become increasingly popular in recent years, this year they were taken to a whole new level when we were confronted with a possibility we had never considered: is everything cake? Are we . . . cake? After a few illusion cake videos became viral, showing everything from hyper-realistic remote controls to human hands being cut into, it became a bit too much to handle.
- What you need: Make something related to cake you can wear on your head, either a baker's hat or a headband with a cake slice on it. Wear a t-shirt and write "Am I Cake?" in block letters in the front (or print out a paper with the words that you can just tape on yourself).
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston Table Read
Jennifer Aniston [6] and Brad Pitt [7] made everyone go a little crazy over their recent reunion for a Fast Times at Ridgemont High table read, resulting in memes circulating about how Brad looks like a divorced aunt who runs a community theatre [8]. If you want to channel one of pop culture's most iconic former couples (and current friends!), this meme costume is for you.
- What you need: For this costume, pair up with your best friend. For Brad Pitt, wear a green t-shirt or sweatshirt, necklaces, and tousled hair. Jennifer Anniston just needs a white tank top with a red bikini top over it, a red neck bandana, and glasses. Both should be holding a "script," and make sure you continue to exchange flirty glances.
Bernie "I Am Once Again Asking For You..."
Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders turned into a viral meme after a video was released of him saying, "I am once again asking for your financial support" in regards to his campaign. Because it's the internet, people began to change the words to just about everything under the sun, including "for you to stop buying skincare from third-party Amazon sellers." (Nope, not guilty at all!)
- What you need: A brown/grey parka, jacket, or hoodie, wire glasses, a white wig, and a print out paper with "I am once again asking for you..." (you fill out the rest with your favourite one!) taped on your jacket.
X Æ A-12 Musk
When Grimes and Elon Musk had their baby X Æ A-12 this year, you could say the world couldn't let that pass without heavily meme-ifying it. Although the name has an interesting significance [9], memes emerged showing the baby driving himself in his stroller and floating around school.
- What you need: To dress up as X Æ A-12, wear your typical baby costume (a dummy around your neck or a baby bottle in hand), but with a twist. Put batteries in your baby bottle, carry around a remote control, or have a Starbucks cup with the name on it [10].
What Animal Are You
Accounts began to circulate on Instagram this year that showed you what animal or object you were according to your name. A fun exercise to ward off social-distancing boredom, there are thousands of accounts in every language that present you your own mini meme, such as the hilariously random @what_frog_you_are.
- What you need: Paint your face green or wear frog ears (that are really frog eyes) and don a cottagecore-style outfit. On the front, just tape your name in colourful letters.
Furby on Fire
This is definitely a favourite meme of 2020 because it sums the year up quite perfectly: a Furby on fire. Nostalgic, weird, random, and filled with existential dread, it's 2020 in a nutshell and hilarious for good measure. Yup, this is how emails find us now, thanks!
- What you need: For this costume, you have two options: either be the laptop with an Apple logo on the front of your t-shirt, carrying around a Furby doll you draw fire on, or be the Furby with fluffy ears and paws, carrying around a laptop (a picture of one is fine) and some matchsticks.
Nate From The Devil Wears Prada
The internet was in a frenzy earlier this year creating contrasts between movie-presented villains and actual villains, especially winning with this The Devil Wears Prada one. Even though Nate made an incredible grilled cheese, he was low key a bit annoying and stunted Andy's professional dreams.
- What you need: Another great option for couples for friends, one person has to be Nate, wearing the relaxed attire of a worn-down henley t-shirt and baggy jeans (extra points for a scruffy beard and curly, short hair). The other has the fun job of dressing up as Miranda, with a simple, elegant sheath dress, a white wig, cat-eye glasses, and a permanent pout.
The Office's Kevin and His Famous Chilli
Who doesn't love a good costume inspired by The Office? This year was perfectly defined with this meme, showing Kevin's plans for his amazing famous chili and the death-defying spill that occurred right after. We feel you, Kev.
- What you need: For this costume, wear a brown suit with a tie and white shirt, and carry around an enormous silver pot that says "Famous Chili."
Robert Pattinson in a Tracksuit
This photo of Robert Pattinson [11] in a tracksuit in a kitchen was basically made to become a meme. There were tons made with this photo, but the most popular seemed to be one drawing a comparison between Pattinson and the ubiquitous cousin who helps you get more folding chairs from the garage. Just perfect.
- What you need: A brown tracksuit jacket, camo pants, hiking boots, and a ponytail or bun. Extra points for bringing a folding chair.
Crying Cat
The Crying Cat perfectly represents how a whole lot of us may be feeling right now, but in a cute way.
- What you need: An all-white outfit and cat ears (either a headband or homemade), and tears drawn on your face.
Dolly Parton Challenge
Dolly Parton created a viral challenge earlier this year that everyone had so much fun getting on board with, collageing the different photos she would use for her LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Tinder profiles. Soon enough, everyone was posting them, which basically just proves Dolly is still a legend and now a meme genius.
- What you need: For this costume, each part of your outfit has to represent the different Dolly social media profiles. A blazer for LinkedIn, Playboy bunny ears for Tinder, a guitar for Instagram, and jeans for Facebook. You can either make signs for the different profiles, or add or remove certain layers to reveal different profiles throughout the night.
Billie Eilish at the Oscars
Billie Eilish [12] became the new Kacey Musgraves with this hilarious reaction to Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph singing at the Oscars [13], which can pretty much be applied to everything that's happened this year.
- What you need: Some neon green hairspray, a baggy outfit, fake nails, and a "What the actual hell?" look on your face.
Tiger King Memes
Netflix's Tiger King [14] took the country by storm earlier this year with its wild story, and all the memes that followed about Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin were pure gold. Channel your favourite character this Halloween [15] for a hilariously relevant costume.
- What you need: For Carole, get a long blonde wig, a beaded headpiece, and leopard print clothes. Oh, and be sure to talk in her signature quiet tone and say "Hey all you cool cats and kittens" wherever you go.
Ariana Grande Eating
Ariana Grande [16] is known for her signature look (high ponytail, knee-high boots, baggy sweatshirts), so channel the "7 Rings" singer in a funny way this Halloween [17]. Since she usually uses her sweatshirt to cover her hands during interviews, do the same thing with a little bit of a twist: add food!
- What you need: A high ponytail and an oversize sweatshirt that can cover your hands. Add the finishing touch by dipping the sweatshirt sleeves in food (or just draw food on it so you don't have to deal with having food on you all night).