Fashion Is Obsessed With “Gay Halloween—Here’s How To Do It Properly

Ok, we simply must discuss Gen Z’s obsession with the ultra-niche Halloween costume. Cast your mind back a few years and dressing up for spooky season was all about channelling the “sexy siren”, think Kendall Jenner as a Pamela Anderson in Barb Wire or Kim Kardashian in a blue Morph suit to channel Mystique from X-Men. It was only really Heidi Klum that embraced the weird and wacky for spooky season (and I’m still not over her worm look). But beyond the celebs, the fashion set didn’t fare much better, relying on a rotation of Bambi-inspired deer looks, dead cheerleaders and the inevitable Cher and Dionne from Clueless. But this year all that has changed, and the new golden rule is simple: the more bizarre, hilarious and niche the better.

Dubbed by the internet as “gay Halloween”, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill sexy looks. No, this genre of dress-up is a direct descendant of pop culture chaos—ranging from meme-worthy moments on The Real Housewives to the punniest pop-art social moments. So whether you got a tickle out of Bethany Frankel in white pyjamas and metallic goggles, sand-swept and holding on for dear life at Burning Man, or remember the woman directing traffic at the Met Gala in red ballet flats, this year, our inspiration comes from the surreal; prim and polish be damned. And what’s better, you can really “win” at this trend simply by assembling a look from pieces that are already in your wardrobe.