5 Music-Inspired Halloween Costume Ideas

2023-10-27

Gwen Stefani wearing a hot pink, Western-style shirt and holding a cowboy hat.

Gwen Stefani – Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Jamie Nelson

Check out some music-inspired Halloween costumes, if you’re looking for a last-minute costume

Halloween is coming up very soon. If you don’t have a costume yet, you might be out of luck. After all, most of the good stuff is picked over at the Halloween chain stores. But, don’t worry, because we have you covered with some last-minute Halloween costume ideas, and these are inspired by music. Some of these do require you to run to your local Halloween costume shop, but others you can probably put together with clothes and makeup you have sitting around your place. We hope these options inspire you to have a fantastic Halloween.

Gwen Stefani from the No Doubt era

Gwen Stefani is a simple costume to pull off, even if you aren’t blonde and don’t have a blonde wig. Stefani’s trademark look from her No Doubt days includes red lips and a tank top. So, grab a tank top that you don’t care about anymore and cut it a little bit to show your belly, but not too much. Then, if you want, even put “Gwen” on the top with either stitching or an iron-on. Sport low-rise pants, and you’ll easily show off that 1990s Gwen Stefani look.

Slash from Guns N’ Roses

All you really need here is a wig, guitar and top hat. You can use a fake guitar, of course, and it’s much easier to carry around, for example, a blow-up guitar. For the wig, get super curly, long and black hair. Stuff all of that hair under a top hat, and you’ve got a bona fide Slash rocking out to all of Guns N’ Roses’ greatest hits.

Skrillex

If you have black, boxy glasses then Skrillex is a pretty easy costume. Just use those black glasses and pair them with a black, formal-looking suit and headphones. Slick your hair back, too. This is probably the easiest costume on here, but you definitely run the risk of nobody knowing your costume.

David Bowie

Okay, I admit that this costume is a bit more challenging to pull off than the others. It’s not an easy task to be David Bowie for a night. But, if you’re good with makeup, this could be your best bet to win a costume content. With makeup, paint Bowie’s legendary Ziggy red lightning bolt makeup over your face. Wear some really flashy, 1980s-looking outfit, too. Tight leggings and a tank top is enough with the makeup to pull off that Bowie style. Here’s a video of a TikToker who did a great job with the makeup and look.

Alice in Chains

I’m giving away my big secret here. I’ve won a costume contest doing this costume. I’ve also worn this costume a few years in a row at this point. Basically, purchase (or make) an Alice in Wonderland costume. Then, add big chains to the costume. So, you’re Alice in Chains. Get it? This is actually the only costume I’ve worn that’s won a Halloween costume contest, and it was a thrill. Check out my costume here, on the left.

Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Music, Rock, Rock News