Still Looking For A Halloween Costume? Dress As Your Favorite New Yorker!

by Chiara Atik · October 18, 2010

There's a reason Halloween is such a big deal in this city: New Yorkers are weird, and will take just about any excuse to act and look even weirder. This year, why not find costume inspiration in some of the city's most colorful characters...-

Eloise

Is it inherently creepy to dress up like a six year-old girl? Hope not, cause this costume idea is amazing. Just don't be a slutty Eloise, okay?

What You'll Need: A black skirt, white button up shirt, suspenders, knee socks (preferably falling down), black patent shoes.

Extras: A small turtle or dog (Skipperdee and Weenie!), a Plaza room key, a copy of "Eloise At The Plaza"

[Photo via]

-

-

-

-

Donald Trump

Dressing like The Donald is easy enough, and a perfect excuse to walk around saying "You're Fired!" all night.

What You'll Need: Business Suit, some kind of toupee or easily malleable hair.

Extras: Any of his books.

[via]

-

-

-

-

-

Cher in Moonstruck

One of the best "New York" movies ever, and certainly the best Brooklyn one!

What You'll Need: A fabulous eighties dress, heels, a black coat, a black curly wig, dark lipstick

Extras: A program for "La Boheme" at The Met, a dude to go as Nicolas cage (fake arm and all), a penchant for slapping people and saying "Snap Out Of It!"

-

-

-

-

-

Courtney Love

You don't even have to wear clothes for this one, heh heh. But seriously, Courtney is like the new, slightly disheveled version of Barbie. You can be Socialite Courtney, dressed up for a gala, or Downtown Courtney, performing at Don Hill's.

What You'll Need: Cigarettes, disheveled blonde hair, runny make-up, then either a short black dress or some sort of ball gown.

Extras: Dedicated Halloween-enthusiasts could stay in character all night by memorizing a selection of Courtney's tweets, and reciting them all night.

-

-

-

-

Woody Allen

The problem with this costume is that you might just look like any other hipster, so be sure to quote him all night/hit on young Asian girls so people are clear what you are.

What You'll Need: A 70s blazer, thick rimmed glasses, a copy of any of his scripts (sold at those random kiosks on Broadway)

Extras: Get a friend to go as Annie Hall!

[Photo via]

-

Annie Hall

I dare you to find someone who doesn't like this movie, and this is an easy costume that you probably won't even have to buy anything for.

What You'll Need: Khaki pants, white button up, a tie and a vest, a hat

Extras: A microphone, a tennis racket, pot, a friend to go as Woody Allen!

[via]

-

-

-

-

Anna Wintour

Who wouldn't want to be Ms.Wintour for a day? Remember, the most important part of this costume is going to be the attitude!

What you'll need: Oh, you can wear almost anything for this! Your best outfit, but bonus points if there's fur, and NO slutty Wintour--Anna is a class act all the way. (Wig and sunglasses are essential, we'd say.)

Extras: A copy of Vogue, a picture of Roger Federer, a voodoo doll of Carine Roitfeld/Lauren Weisberger.

[Photo via Gawker]

-

-

-

A Diane Arbus Photograph

Ok, so only your most intellectual friends will get this, but won't they and you feel clever when they do!

What You'll Need: You can either pick a specific photograph to emulate, or dress in sort of a generic, grotesque 50s way. Bonus points if you keep your outfit in black and white tone, to match the pictures. Then, carry around a frame.

Extras: Carrying around one of Diane's photography books may help people "Get it" a little more...

-

-

Tinsley Mortimer

It's been a big year for The Tinz! She got divorced! She was on a reality show! She dated a scary Broadway actor and then finally found love. Celebrate by dressing up as her for Halloween.

What You'll Need: A sleeveless mini dress, clutch, long blond hair (she's been wearing it with little braids lately, but that's not essential), a chunky heel.

Extras: A portable red carpet and/or step and repeat.

John Lennon

It's the perfect year to be John Lennon, with what would have been his 70th birthday. Pay tribute to a man who really loved New York.

What You'll Need: Longish hair, an NYC t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, round sunglasses.

Extras: Oh, the extras on this costume! So many options. A Beatles record. A friend to go as Yoko. A guitar. A basket of Strawberries. (Ok, that one might be pushing it a little...)

-

-

-

-

-

Soup Nazi

Easy, fun costume for Seinfeld enthusiasts.

What You'll Need: A chef's uniform (Or just white pants, whit shirt, and a white scarf), a ladle, and a mustache.

Extras: Maybe a copy of the Seinfeld DVDs to help people make the connection, an angry expression, and unexpected bursts of "No soup for you!"

-

-

-

Justin Ross Lee

We came up with costume ideas for JRL earlier this month, at which point we realized he'd make a pretty good costume himself.

What You'll Need: Really bright colored outfit, or yachting outfit, or just a blazer and white shirt unbuttoned to your navel, sunglasses.

Extras: A buxom woman, or four, to accompany you everywhere, a first class airplane ticket and an iPhone with which to constantly and insistently ask people to take your photo.

-

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol has left an indelible mark on the city's art scene and it's nightlife. Also, it's a perfect excuse to t wild and kooky all night!

What You'll Need: Either a turtle neck or a striped shirt, long white hair or a wig, also white eyebrows.

Extras: Any of his prints, a can of Campbell's Soup

[via]

-

-

-

-

Group Costume Idea: Eating Lunch Above New York

This picture is iconic, and a pretty easy/fun thing to recreate with your friends.

What You'll Need: A couple of people, overalls, wifebeaters, caps, lunch pails, and a (not so heavy) rod you guys can carry around all night.

What You'll Do: Just carry the rod or plank around on your shoulders, and when you get to your destination, plop it down and all sit down on it.

-

Group Costume Idea: The Cast Of Rent

Come on, we know there are some major theater nerds out there who are squealing at the prospect of this idea (or at least people who would have squealed at this in High School?)

What You'll Need: A Roger, a Mark, a Maureen, a Mimi. Rent-heads will know which accessories go with which costumes (guitar for Roger! Red plaid, glasses, and video camera for Mark! Blue spandex leggings and leopard for Mimi!)

Extras: Cast albums, a candle for Mimi, and drugs?

Feedback