Smartphone-inspired Halloween Costumes

The end of October can be a stressful time. Maybe you thought you’d stay in this Halloween, but you got invited to a party last minute. Perhaps the 31^st of October just snuck up on you. Whatever the case, the days before Halloween are often marked by the sudden panic of realizing that you don’t have a costume yet. Then the scramble begins. Do you rush out to the store to buy an expensive pre-made costume? Or do you rifle through your closet, looking for accessories that could potentially disguise you for a night? It’s a yearly struggle for people in all corners of the country.

Costume ideas are all around us though. In fact, you don’t have to look farther than your mobile phone. Take a look at some of these simple smartphone-inspired costumes.

Snapchat filters: Snapchat has really taken off in popularity since last October, and the app is perfect for costume ideas. If you’ve never used the photo app, it uses face-mapping technology to change your face into different characters. With a little face paint, or a simple flower garland, you can easily transform yourself into your favourite filter. Need a reference photo? Just open the app to selfie mode.

Emojis: You might think that it’s hard to become a yellow smiley face, but there is a lot more to emojis than that. There are a lot of these pictograms on your phone, and more are said to be on their way. This Halloween, try letting your keyboard be your inspiration. You could be a dancer, an athlete or paint yourself up to represent any number of emotional states. If anyone is curious about what you’re supposed to be, you only have to direct them as far as their own smartphone keyboard.

Memes: It has been a big year for memes, as well. Organizations like the Cincinnati Zoo and the Anti-defamation League are making it their business to keep memes under control, while more and more businesses are incorporating these cultural touchstones into their marketing strategies. Whatever your stance on these popular Internet images might be, as a costume, they’re funny, recognisable and depending on which one you pick, easy to plan in a short amount of time. Still not clear on what exactly counts as a meme? Click here to find out.