Global fashion search platform Lyst has crunched its data to predict this year’s 10 hottest pop culture inspired Halloween looks. By analysing the online shopping behaviour of more than 104 million shoppers across 12,000 fashion brands and retailers, along with social media mentions and engagement statistics worldwide since the beginning of the year, we’ve identified the celebrities, characters and political references you can expect to see at a Halloween party near you.
While there is still over a month to go until the big day, searches for Halloween costumes have increased a staggering 813% since July, suggesting shoppers are planning their looks earlier than ever this year.
#1
Pop Politics
This year, Halloween could be extra scary for Brits, with October 31st the current Brexit deadline. Whether in celebration or commiseration, Union Jack prints are currently trending hard in the UK. Union Jack prints are currently trending on Lyst, being responsible for an average of 2,000 searches a month since July. In fact, page views on clothing, shoes and bags featuring the British flag have increased by 138% year on year. Men’s waistcoats are a particularly popular way to get the look right now; searches have increased 400% over the past two months.
While, in the US, the Squad is currently the most searched for outfit inspiration for group costumes, with online searches for “the Squad Congresswoman” up +70% from the beginning of September.
#2
Lizzo
Halloween is the perfect excuse to dress up as royalty, and this year, Lizzo-inspired looks will be taking the crown when it comes to fierce costumes. While the American star never stops inspiring us, there is one particular outfit that keeps on driving demand: the yellow sparkly swimsuit she wore for her MTV VMAs performance last month.
In just 24 hours, Lizzo’s good as hell performance sparked a 717% increase in social media mentions, while all things yellow generated over 10,000 views on Lyst in the two weeks following the VMAs. Searches for yellow one-piece swimsuits spiked 160% in the week that followed.
#3
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
With whispers of Oscar nominations and stylish ’60s costumes it won’t be a big surprise to see Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as one of this year’s biggest Halloween inspirations.
Demand for ’60s-inspired calf-length boots, mini skirts and leather trench coats have been peaking in the US and the UK since August, while fashion searches including the key term “60s” have increased 71%. Global searches for white patent boots, as worn in the film by Margot Robbie, grew by 31% in the two weeks following the film’s release. With over 1.1 million mentions on social media, and a suitably bloody ending, this movie is made for Halloween.
#4
Little Women
The latest adaptation of Little Women — brought to the screen by co-screenwriter and director Greta Gerwig — has yet to be released in cinemas, but the film’s trailer has already sparked great interest thanks to its all-star cast and beautiful costumes.
After a Summer defined by prairie dresses, the style — as worn by the four heroines of Little Women — remains a breakout trend. Demand for feminine prairie and milkmaid-inspired dresses has grown a further 45% since the beginning of July, with floral patterns and pastel colours being the most popular options among shoppers. In terms of accessories, searches for “basket” and “woven” bags were up 60% over the last month, while searches for straw hats are currently up 37% year on year.
#5
Old Town Road
With over 313 million views on YouTube and a history-making 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, the award-winning song “Old Town Road” has become a strong Halloween costume inspiration thanks to the now iconic Western ensembles worn by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus in the accompanying video.
Lyst data shows that searches for cowboy hats are up 250% year on year, with demand steadily rising since June. Online searches for fringed jackets have also seen increased by a staggering 371% since August, with “suede fringe jacket” and “leather fringe jacket” being the most searched for keywords. Meanwhile, cowboy boots are proving to be one of the hottest shoe styles of the year so far: they have been searched for over 5,000 times on Lyst since July, with metallics and white being the top trending colours.
#6
Karl Lagerfeld & Choupette
Iconic designer Karl Lagerfeld’s passed away in February, and we predict fashion fans from all over the world will pay homage to the designer this Halloween.
Classic all-black suits were searched for over 4,000 times in September alone, while demand for high-collar white shirts has been up 67% since July, and black ties have seen a 13% month on month growth. Karl Lagerfeld’s products featuring the designer’s beloved cat Choupette have also generated over 15,000 views on Lyst since July.
#7
Aladdin’s Genie
This Summer’s release of the live-action version of Aladdin introduced the world to a brand new Genie played by Will Smith, and sparked a 1,600% rise in social mentions on topics regarding the Disney character.
On Lyst, fashion searches for blue wide-leg trousers and red belts have since been on the rise. A breakout trend of its own, chunky gold jewellery has been taking over the fashion world over the past few months, with searches for Genie-inspired chain necklaces and bangles having collectively increased by 168% since July.
#8
Rocketman
While scary Halloween costumes remain an obvious choice for some, others prefer to be as comfortable as possible during the night. Thanks to the release of the biopic Rocketman starring Taron Egerton, Elton John has rocketed back onto the fashion radar.
Searches for large square-shaped spectacles, as endorsed by both Elton and Gucci, are up 25% since June. Team with a striped dressing gown or a flamboyant suit for peak Elton vibes. Lyst data shows that striped dressing gowns have been trending, with searches for men’s bathrobes in particular being up 201% over the past year.
#9
Scoops Ahoy, Stranger Things
Since first hitting our screens in 2016, Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things has almost become synonymous with Halloween costumes. This year however, fans will be looking to the Scoops Ahoy sailor uniform worn by Steve Harrington during the show’s third season for outfit inspiration.
While “sailor suits” have seen a 250% rise in online searches over the past 3 months, Lyst data shows a 355% year on year increase in searches including the key word “sailor.” Over the last month, demand for breton tops and sailor pants grew by 54%; meanwhile, sales of red low-top Converse sneakers have grown by 19% since July.
#10
The Addams Family
As searches and engagement for anything Addams family-related peek every year in October, Wednesday Addams has become a classic Halloween costume that never fails to deliver — and with a new adaptation of the horror comedy being released later this year, interest has already been growing.
Online fashion searches including the keyword “Addams” have steadily been rising since August, with searches for Wednesday Addams showing a 120% increase. On Lyst, global demand for black items are up 28% year on year, with total black outfits being searched 12,000 times a month.