The approach of Halloween fills many fancy-dress enthusiasts with anticipation, glee, and excitement. And then there are those among us who, frankly, kinda dread it. Are you actually supposed to ride the subway or show up at the office on mandatory costume-contest day in some kind of cosplay regalia? Do you really need to research all of this year’s pop-culture moments to come up with something clever? If your answer is yes, that's cool — but if finding (and putting on) a getup feels like pulling teeth, then you're in the right place.
We’ve put together a list of “one-ingredient” costumes — ensembles that make you look like the Halloween enthusiast that you decidedly are not in a single step. (Full disclosure: some are two-ingredient.) Click through to check out the suggested pieces you can throw on last minute for a costume that won’t get you turned away from the party. Hey, you might even win an award this year. (But probably not.)
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Little Monster
All this costume requires is your simplest LBD. With the addition of Haus Laboratories’ elaborate face stickers, you can transform at a moment’s notice into one of Lady Gaga’s ardent acolytes.
Haus Laboratories HAUS LABORATORIES by Lady Gaga: ARMOR MASQUE NO. 1, Face Masque Armor Sticker, $, available at Amazon
Waldo
You probably already own this long-sleeved red and white top (and if you don’t, the $13 price tag significantly lowers the barrier for purchase). Top it off with a recognizable knit beanie and literally any jeans that you own, and suddenly, you’re Waldo.
ASOS Striped Long-Sleeve Tee, $, available at ASOS
CinnamonCedarDesigns Waldo Hat, $, available at Etsy
Sleepover
Women of a certain age, we have some real talk for you: the Snuggie is like, vintage now. You may already be in possession of this cherished piece of mid-aughts cultural phenomena, but if you aren’t, they can somehow still be had on Amazon for a mere $20. Add a bowl of popcorn to your look and you will be the most popular person at the costume party.
Snuggie Snuggie: The Original Wearable Blanket, $, available at Amazon
Dancing Lady Emoji
If you’re comfortable dressing up just a little, bust out your flowy-est red dress and, for good measure, a yellow wig. Voilà! You are an iconic Unicode character.
Lulus Heavenly Hues Red Maxi Dress, $, available at Lulus
Party City Glamorous Long Yellow Wig, $, available at Party City
Iris Apfel
No one will mistake you for anyone other than the 98-year-old fashion icon, as long as you’re rocking her signature oversized spectacles. To drive this costume home, apply a pink lip and accessorize with every single piece of jewelry that you own. Easy!
zeroUV Vintage-Inspired Round Eyeglasses, $, available at Amazon
Butterfly
Wear anything you please underneath this eye-catching, full-body printed shawl. No one will question your base outfit — you’re a butterfly, duh.
YXwin Halloween Costumes for Women Butterfly Wings, $, available at Amazon
Donatella Versace
The iconic Italian designer told us back in 2013 that “my style is not that big — I wear heels, tight pants and I wear diamonds.” Okay, Donatella! She also wears a signature mile-long blonde mane, tons of eyeliner, and a concentration of fake bake that you, mere mortal, could only hope to achieve in this lifetime. Pair this lengthy wig with your gaudiest mini and LOTS of self-tanner — if you dare. (If you don’t dare, bronzer can also do the trick.)
St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse, $, available at Ulta
Dead _____________
Don’t underestimate the power of being the “dead” or “bloodied” version of whatever you happen to be wearing on Halloween. Fake blood and clothes that you don’t care about will do the trick — for good measure, buy a half-gallon.
Spirit Halloween Fake Blood (Half Gallon), $, available at Spirit Halloween
Hello Darkness, My Old Friend
Sure, your friends know you, but do they know goth you? Shell out a whopping $7 on a tube of noir lipstick and kohl-ifying your lids with your cheapest eyeliner, and your gothically inclined alter ego is born.
Makeup Revolution Haunted Lipstick Collection, $, available at Ulta
Roseanne Roseannadanna
Dressing as Gilda Radner’s iconic Saturday Night Live character won’t require much more than a wedge-shaped wig to emulate the gross-out “news” commenter’s flyaway strands. The other components of her look — a matching skirt and blazer, floral top, and hastily applied red lip — are likely already in your closet.
ELIM Roseanne Roseannadanna Wig, $, available at Amazon
“I Woke Up Like This”
Grab your favorite (cute) robe and find an astrologically appropriate mask for a costume that, while obvious, is sure to be a conversation-starter. (Are we giving you a thin excuse to buy this super-luxe, worth-every-penny 100% silk sleep mask? Um, yes.)
Slip Pure Silk Sleepmask Zodiac Edition, $, available at Sephora
Blue Man Person
Possibly the easiest costume in the world, all that’s required to dress as a member of the Blue Man Group is an all-black outfit and a thorough, thorough application of blue face paint. Throw a box of blue latex gloves into your Amazon order if you really want to commit to this costume. Bonus: this is a great costume for groups of Halloween-avoidant friends.
Handy Art Handy Art Face Paint (Blue), $, available at Amazon
SemperGuard Blue Nitrile Disposable Gloves, $, available at Amazon
Mystery Bunny
Radiate allure and confusion with lace-adorned bunny ears. Oh, what’s my costume? Can’t you tell? (At this point in the conversation, you vanish into the night.)
Nasty Gal We Don't Find It Bunny Veil Ears, $, available at Nasty Gal
I Did My Best
This year, it’s just not going to happen. Here's a festive tee that will defray the rancor of anyone ready to costume-shame you.
Junk Food Peanuts Halloween Tee, $, available at Urban Outfitters
Nothing's scarier than a last-minute costume scramble. Click on over to Spooky Town now and shop our editors' curated collection of Halloween outfits and accessories. We even included some tasty treats!
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