Global data and business intelligence platform, Statista, predicts Americans will spend $3.8 billion on costumes this Halloween season. That staggering statistic became a fun challenge for the Focus Waukesha family and some friends to select our favorite do-it-mostly-yourself costume ideas on a small budget. While we decided to focus on costumes for couples or duos, some of the ideas could also work for children or pets. Grab your hot glue gun, a loaded stapler, a pad of construction paper, and a few colorful tees as we share our favorite classic and contemporary Halloween costume ideas with you. 

Focus Waukesha’s Family & Friends Favorite Picks A to Z

Your closet and your local thrift shop or dollar store are great places to begin putting together quick and reasonably priced do-it-mostly-yourself Halloween costumes. Scour your garages, basements, and attics for just the right accessory, like an old broom, which can be used simply with its well-used patina for a classic witch costume or spray painted for a more contemporary version. With a little imagination and a dash of humor, you’ll be on your way to a Halloween to remember.     

Check out the Focus Waukesha family and friends’ favorites and some DIY hints. Enjoy!  

A. Avocado & Toast. A green tee with a large cream-colored construction paper oval hot glued to it and a tan t-shirt is all you need. If you’re hungry for more, top the toast with a construction paper sunny-side-up egg. Other tasteful ideas: Andy Warhol & Campbell’s Soup, Adam & Eve, Abbott and Costello, and American Gothic.  

B. Beer Pong. Staple red Solo® cups and hot-glue ping-pong balls to black tees. More dynamic duos:  Batman & Robin, Beetlejuice & Delores, Belle & The Beast, Bert & Ernie, Barbie & Ken, Bonnie & Clyde, Bacon & Eggs.

Cruella de Vil, the eccentric, fashion-obsessed villain from 101 Dalmations. Photo courtesty of Patricia Puccinelli.

C. Cruella de Vil & Henchmen Jasper or Horace. Start with a black dress from your closet, add chunky glittery black jewelry and red gloves. Top with a black and white synthetic wig (available online starting at about $8.00) and green eyeshadow. For the henchmen, toss on a turtleneck, an old sport coat, and a brown cap. Some friendlier ideas: Chicken & Egg, Cleopatra & Antony, Captain Kirk & Mr. Spock.  

D. Dorothy & Scarecrow. Start with a white blouse topped with a blue and white gingham check dress. Carry a basket with an oil can for the Tin Man and some apples. For Scarecrow, wear a pair of jeans topped with a burlap sack and a felt hat. More famous pairs: Doc & Marty, Danny & Sandy.  

E. Emoji. Paint or hot glue a paper cut-out of your favorite emoji on a tee. The crying-laughing emoji and the thumbs-up emoji are the most popularly used today. If those are a thumbs down consider: Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Darcy, Elton John & Kiki Dee.

F. Flaming Hot Cheetos & Nacho Cheese. This could be as simple as an orange tee with individual Flaming Hot Cheetos bags hot glued to it paired with another orange tee covered in orange boa feathers. Other hot options: Freddy Mercury & Brian May, Felix & Oscar, Fred & Wilma Flinstone.  

G. Chip & Joanna Gaines. Toss on grey tees and flannel shirts, jeans, work boots/booties, and work gloves. Carry a sledgehammer. Other constructive choices: Ghosts, Grumpy & Snow White. 

H. Home Depot Employee & Painter. All you need is one orange apron, an old white tee splashed with leftover paint, and a used paintbrush for fun. Or consider: Hot Dog & Coke, Han Solo & Chewbacca. 

I. Ice Ice Baby (with your baby). Wear white or clear trash bags with the word ICE painted or pasted on them and filled with crumpled white tissue paper. Dress your baby in a headband and sunglasses for a quick photo op. Other cool options: Iron Man & Captain America, Hulk, Spider-Man, Pepper Potts, Thor, or Black Widow. 

Unconventional and quick-witted Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. Photo courtesy of Lukas Holzbauer.

J. Jack Sparrow & Elizabeth Swann. For the iconic Jack Sparrow, braided wigs are available online starting at $8. Add a red bandana and use old necklaces to add flair to the braids. Combine with a white shirt and multiple beaded bracelets. Elizabeth Swann has a variety of looks, but a tri-corner hat with a white blouse, leggings, and boots may be all you need. Other “characters”: Joker & Batman, Joey & Chandler 

K. Ketchup & Mustard. Start with one red tee and one yellow tee. Make red and yellow cone hats from construction paper. Carry a bag of hot dog buns. Other delicious options: Kit Kat & Mars. Kermit & Miss Piggy. 

L. Loofah & Bar of Soap. For the loofah, pin bunches of your favorite color tulle to a tee and add a rope tie. For the bar of soap, use two sheets of white poster board held together with straps to create a sandwich board. Write the name of your favorite soap brand on the front board. Another clean couple: Lucy & Ricky Ricardo.

M. Mary Poppins & Bert. For Mary, wear a white blouse, a long black skirt and booties. Top off with a construction paper black hat and carry a large bag. For Bert, wear a dark, baggy sweater, slacks and a cap. Spray paint an old broom black and smudge your face with dark eyeshadow. More delightful duos: M&Ms, Mad Hatter & Alice in Wonderland.

N. Negroni Sbagliato & Prosecco. An orange slice made of construction paper pinned to an orange dress or tee serves as Negroni. Attach a bunch of white balloons to a green dress and you have Prosecco. Less bubbly alternatives: N’Sync & Microphone, Napoleon & Josephine.

O. Olive & Martini. Slip on a green dress or tee topped with a red knit cap and you have an olive with pimento. Make a white triangular-shaped sandwich board and wear it over a white shirt and pants to mix your martini. Remember to shake. Alcohol removed alternative: Obi Wan Kenobi & Anakin Skywalker.

Strong man Popeye and his love, Olive Oyl. Queen bee, bumble bee, and beekeeper keep things buzzing. Classic rag dolls, Raggedy Ann & Andy. Popeye & Olve and Raggetty Ann & Andy photos courtesy of Doug Phillips. Bees and beekeeper photo by Patricia Puccinelli. 

P. Popeye & Olive Oyl. A white sailor hat, a can of spinach, and a corn cob pipe are all that’s needed for Popeye. There are even YouTube videos if you’re up for making your pipe out of an ear of corn. A red sweater, black skirt, and red lipstick turn you into Olive Oyl. Cut a white collar out of an old pillowcase. Other strong options: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Paint Swatch & Painter.  

Q. Queen Bee & Bee Keeper. The Queen bee just needs a comfy brown sweatshirt and a yellow tee decorated with cute felt bumble bees. Baby bee wears a yellow tulle tutu and a felt cap. The beekeeper wears a white cap covered in black netting and a white jumpsuit or tee. Add more felt bees. More royalty: Queen & King of Hearts. 

R. Raggedy Ann & Andy. Use bright red yarn to create two wigs for this brother and sister duo. Red and white striped socks and white caps can be found online starting at $2.50. Consider just using a white hair bow for Raggedy Ann. Romantic duos: Rip Wheeler & Beth Dutton, Romeo & Juliet. 

S. Snoop Dogg & Martha Stewart. For Snoop, almost any colorful clothing will work, but make sure to wear sunglasses, flashy jewelry, and sneakers. For Martha, use your most comfortable professional attire covered by a kitchen apron. Less unlikely pairs: Starbucks & Cake Pop, SpongeBob and Patrick, Shrek & Donkey, Sherlock & Dr. Watson, Scooby-Doo & Shaggy. 

T. Thelma & Louise. Summer tanks, jeans, sunglasses, and a cowboy hat for each partner and you’ve got it. These had to be said: Taylor Swift & Jason Kelce, Thing One & Thing Two, Tom & Jerry.

U. Umpire & Baseball Player. Wear black pants, a shirt, and a backward baseball hat. Use face paint to draw an umpire mask on your face. Just grab your favorite baseball jersey and cap and maybe a bat and ball. Other worldly option: UFO & Alien. 

The world’s most famous kiss.
Photo courtesy of Leslie Buchheit

V. V-J Day Kissing Couple. He could wear a white sailor hat and she could wear a white dress. Or, simply strike the famous pose and kiss for a no-cost costume. Much less fun: Vacuum & Mop.

W. Wine & Cheese. Attach a bunch of purple balloons to a tee to become wine. Make a yellow sandwich board and cut round holes into it for Swiss cheese. Less tasty options: Wayne Campbell and Garth, Wonder Woman & Etta Candy.

X. X-Ray & Doctor. For the X-ray, paint a large open-bottom box black. Cut holes into it for your arms and head. Paint a white rib cage on it. For the doctor, wear a white shirt open over casual clothes. Borrow a child’s toy stethoscope. Other “X”-citing ideas: Xena Warrior Princess & Gabrielle, Xenomorph Warriors, Xu Xialing & Katy. 

Y. Yin & Yang. Cut a large white Yin shape and a large black Yang shape out of cardboard. Attach cardboard cutouts to black shirts and wear black pants or leggings. Say “yes” to these too: Yeti & Coffee, Yoda & Luke Skywalker.

Z. ZZZZs & Alarm. Use fabric paint to draw a series of Z’s on an old white pillowcase. Cut holes in the pillowcase for your head and arms. Make a sandwich board and draw an analog or digital clock face on it. And finally: Zookeeper & Zebra, Zeros & Ones.

2024’s Top-Searched Halloween Costumes

If you’re curious about what costumes are trending this year, Frightgeist uses data based on what users look for in Google’s search engine to predict top costumes throughout the U.S. and by geographic region. Costumes based on animated movie and television characters dominate the list, which is sprinkled with a few classics. Check out Frightgeist’s top 15 “duo” or couple’s costumes for 2024:

#1.    Wolverine & Deadpool – characters from the Marvel Comics movie of the same name. 

#2.    Velvet & Veneer – Velvet and her younger twin brother Veneer are doll-like creatures from the animated movie Trolls Band Together.

#3.    Janet & Rita – grandmotherly characters in the Australian animated preschool television series “Bluey.”

#4.    Jack & Coke – short for the popular adult beverage Jack Daniels whiskey and Coca-Cola. 

#5.    Lightning McQueen & Sally – animated stock cars from the Pixar movie Cars. 

#6.    Kim Possible & Ron Stoppable – main characters in the animated television show “Kim Possible.”  

#7.    Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde – main characters in the animated Disney comedy movie Zootopia. 

#8.    Max & Roxanne – animated dogs from Disney’s musical comedy-adventure movie A Goofy Movie. 

#9.    Mordecai & Rigby – animated blue jay and raccoon from the television series “Regular Show.”

#10.  Deer & Hunter – no need to explain this duo to Wisconsinites. 

#11.  Snoopy & Woodstock – beloved fictional characters from Charles Schulz’s comic strip “Peanuts.”

#12.  Lady & The Tramp – cocker spaniel and a mutt from the animated musical romance Disney film. 

#13.  Garfield & Odie – cat and dog from Jim Davis’ comic strip “Garfield.” 

#14.  Cop & Prisoner – simply the good guy and the bad guy.

#15.  Frog & Toad – characters from the children’s book series by Arnold Lobel teaching people to understand and appreciate their individuality.  

Happy Halloween From Focus Waukesha’s Family & Friends

If you’re celebrating Halloween this year, Focus Waukesha’s family and friends wish you a spooktacular time!