Skip to Content

10 One-Item Costumes That Will Elevate Your Whole Halloween Game

It really is incredible what an avocado can do.

By
Hat, Fedora, Headgear, Human, Fashion accessory, Facial hair, Cowboy hat, Beard,
HBO

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links.

Dressing up for Halloween is the best. Dressing up for Halloween and having 97 props and pieces with you is the worst. If you want the best of both worlds, a one-item (or if you're adventurous, two-item) outfit can be a killer way to impress at parties without having to juggle a fur coat and body armor. Think beyond putting a Superman shirt under a suit and telling people you're Clark Kent. Let's meet in the middle and get topical without getting complicated. Here's the best one-item costumes out there.

Post Malone

Reading Festival 2018 - Day One
Simone Joyner//Getty Images

Ah, yes, the pre-eminent rapper of our times, Post Malone. This year, he made a really great decision that he will absolutely not regret and got "Always" and "Tired" tattooed under his eyes. Genius! You too can have this look and wash it off before your next job interview. Land yourself a Sharpie and a nice braided wig, if you're really going for it, and call it a day.

Shop Permanent marker ($3) by Sharpie, amazon.com

Shop Braided wig ($20) by Kangaroo, amazon.com

Westworld's Man in Black

Hat, Fedora, Headgear, Human, Fashion accessory, Facial hair, Cowboy hat, Beard,
HBO

It's the hat that really sells it, right? All you need to do is dress in all black from head to toe and throw on that black cowboy hat to really pull the whole look together.

Shop Black felt hat ($25) by Sedancasesa, amazon.com

Head in a Box

Adaptation, Hand, Photography,
New Line Cinema

Hey, remember that terrifying scene at the end of Se7en when *spoilers* Morgan Freeman opened up that box and Gwyneth Paltrow's head was in it? Hilarious. If you want to go obscure '90s-movie reference, cut a hole in the bottom of a box, make a door for the front, and slide your head in. Boom! You're so close to Gwyneth that you could have your own bogus lifestyle website. Get crazy and add a fragile sticker, if you want.

Shop 5 x 5 x 5 Cardboard Box ($7) by Mesha, amazon.com

Shop Fragile sticker roll ($5) by Kenko, amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Jack from This Is Us

Hair, Face, Facial hair, Beard, Moustache, Head, Hairstyle, Human, Close-up, Eye,
NBC

This choice is for the mustache-inclined. Jack had quite a year. Bad news is, he ended up dead. Fortunately, he can live on in your Halloween costume, which really only requires a solid flannel shirt and pushed back hair. If you want to opt for the darker take, add a slow cooker into the mix. Bonus: You can use the slow cooker again. IF YOU DARE.

Shop Buffalo plaid flannel ($25) by Burnside, amazon.com

Shop Elite Gourmet stainless steel 1.5 Qt. slow cooker ($12) by Maxi-Matic, amazon.com

Wild Wild Country

Head, Human, Room, Fun, Portrait, Smile, Art,
Screenshot

For a minute this year, Wild Wild Country was a breakaway Netflix hit. The insane cult-doc followed the Rajneeshee followers on their journey of self-discovery all the way to corruption. Sounds like a fun costume right? All you need is to be maroon (or burnt orange) from head to toe. Yep. That easy. Also, you don't have to do the velour track suit we offered, but also, why wouldn't you?

Shop

Burnt orange velour track suit ($129) by Sweatsedo, amazon.com

The Most Interesting Man in the World

Businessperson, Suit, White-collar worker, Drink,
Astral

Do you look rugged? Do you have experience traveling in say, the Caribbean? Then this look might be for you. The most interesting man in the world calls for a good blazer, good alcohol, and an excellent head of silver hair. It's an easy look and one that gets more popular as the night goes on (see: tequila).

Shop Tequila blanco ($40) by Astral, winechateau.com

Shop Men's gray wig ($22) by Lydell, amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Antoni from Queer Eye

Face, Nose, Facial expression, Lip, Chin, Mouth, Eyebrow, Jaw, Cheek, Organ,
Netflix

Somehow, poor Antoni from Queer Eye got pegged as the avocado guy. So really, all you need here is an avocado and nicely styled hair. If you want to put it over the top, add in this T-shirt referencing A Little Life, which he wears at least twice in the series. Don't forget to tell everyone how an inventive vinaigrette can transform a simple salad.

Shop A Little Life character shirt ($19) by A Novel Lovers, amazon.com

Sia's Dancer

SIA 'Nostalgic For The Present' Tour - Auckland
Dave Simpson//Getty Images

Timeless and simple. Who would have thought after that "Chandelier" music video that we'd all still remember that two tone-wig and body suit? The wig alone should do the trick, but if you want to commit, the body suit will put you over the top. Confidence not included.

Shop Half blonde-half black wig ($18) by Topcosplay, amazon.com

Shop Men's Spandex Body Suit ($25) by Ensnovo, amazon.com

BBQ Becky

Social group, Eyewear, Fun, Community, Sunglasses, Travel, Tourism, Glasses, Grass, Tree,
Michelle Dione/YouTube

This is admittedly a tricky one because the worst thing you can do is act like BBQ Becky. Halloween is a look-sport, not a performative one. But if you want to mock one of 2018's biggest disaster cases, just set yourself up with some sunglasses you might use at a NASCAR sporting event and get yourself an ill-fitting hoodie and voila! You have the appearance of a racist busybody without any of the problematic behavior.

Shop Ill-fitting hoodie ($12) by Hanes, amazon.com

Shop Sport sunglasses ($20) by Duduma, amazon.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Omarosa Manigault

Celebrity Sightings in New York City - August 14, 2018
Raymond Hall//Getty Images

Omarosa has had a year, hasn't she? From the White House to Celebrity Big Brother to releasing a book to dropping hidden tapes of the Trump administration. The Devil works hard, but Omarosa is the one giving him direction. For this flawless Omarosa get-up, all you need is a pack of tapes. Just hand them out to people. It's a subtle play, but hey. If you want to put it over the top, you could (gulp) also buy her book?

Shop 7-pack of cassette tapes ($10) by Maxwell, amazon.com

Shop Unhinged ($17), amazon.com

Watch Next
 
preview for HDM All sections playlist - Esquire
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Halloween 2023

e

The 55 Best Horror Films From the '80s

vampires

The 25 Best Vampire Movies of All Time

best halloween tv episodes

The 34 Best Halloween TV Episodes of All Time

amazon halloween costumes

Amazon Has Your Next Great Halloween Costume

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below