If you're tired of the 'sexy nurse,' 'sexy cat,'and 'sexy witch' costumes endlessly offered at Halloween stores, it's time to make your own.
First of all, it's not that hard and second, there are ton of great ideas out there.
Here's a list of indie and cult classic films with memorable female characters, ready and waiting to be imitated.
1. Margot Tenenbaum
Reference: Gwyneth Paltrow plays Margot Tenenbaum in the 2001 Wes Anderson comedy-drama, the Royal Tenenbaums. Margot is one of three siblings of the Tenenbaum family.
Key costume elements: Cigarettes, red barrette, dark eyeliner, fur coat and a striped tennis dress.
Things she says: "I think we're just going to have to be secretly in love with each other and leave it at that." "I'm fine thank you." "Stay out of it." "I couldn't even begin to think about knowing how to answer that question."
How to embody Margot: Sophisticated, you light up a cigarette any chance you get, you remain extremely secretive, you enjoy tub time, and you refrain from extreme emotions, sticking with a straight-faced, melancholic expression, to which you always answer "I'm fine."
2. Enid
Reference: Thora Birch plays Enid in the 2001 indie drama, Ghost World. Enid, a neo-90's grunge kid and her mainstream, basic friend Rebecca (Scarlet Johansson), graduate high school and things get a little out of control.
Key costume elements: Cat-eye glasses, blue t-shirt with a raptor, awkwardly-fitting green and black plaid skirt, black lace-up combat boots and blue lipstick.
Things she says: "Bitchin'." "Everyone's so stupid." "If he's so weird, how come he's wearing Nikes?" "Oh my god. He just ordered a giant glass of milk."
How to embody Enid: Unimpressed by everything.
3. Val
Reference: Christina Ricci plays Val in the 1999 rom-com drama, 200 Cigarettes. Val and her young twentysomething friends are in the throws of sorting out relationships and everything else that goes with being in your 20's.
Key costume elements: Red dress, black tights, black and white fur coat, spiked choke collar, blue-grey eye shadow and red lipstick.
Things she says: "Yeah, yeah, yeah." "Hey, could we get some beers over here?" "Would you hold on a minute? I'm trying to get a beer." "Would You get a hold of yourself? Nothing terrible's going to happen to us, we're going to a party!"
How to embody Val: Determined, tough, no-nonsense with a heavy New Jersey accent.
4. Claire Standish
Reference: Molly Ringwald plays Claire Standish in 1985 comedy, drama, The Breakfast Club. Claire is one of the five students who ends up in Saturday detention. Claire skipped school to go shopping.
Key costume elements: Loose, pink, v-neck shirt tucked in; White scarf; Short, curly, messy hair; Long, brown, leather (or corduroy) skirt with thin brown belt; Knee-high boots.
Things she says: "Do you know how popular I am? I am so popular. Everybody loves me so much at this school." "Were you truly disgusted with what I did with my lipstick?" "I can't believe you can't get me out of this. I mean it's so absurd I have to be here on a Saturday!"
How to embody Claire: Entitled, stuck-up, rich and a snob to everyone around you.
5. Audrey Horne
Reference: Sherilyn Fenn plays Audrey Horne in the 1990-1991 TV series, Twin Peaks. A peculiar FBI agent investigates a murder in the quirky town of Twin Peaks. Audrey is very interested in Special Agent Dale Cooper.
Key costume elements: Pink sweater, yellow plaid uniform skirt, black and white saddle shoes, gold watch with red band and cigarettes.
Things she says: "God, I love this music. Isn't it too dreamy?" "Well, I'm Audrey Horne, and I get what I want." "In real life there is no algebra."
How to embody Audrey: Confident, strong, inquisitive, charming - but don't get on her bad side.
6. Katie
Reference: Katie is a counselor at Camp Firewood and is dating the obnoxious, Andy (Paul Rudd). Coop is trying to woo her but she's leading him on while keeping him in the friend zone.
Key costume elements: Denim shorts with brown belt, striped t-shirt tucked in, braided bracelet, barrettes or pig tales and pink zip-up hoodie.
Things she says: "Listen, Coop. Last night was really great. You were incredibly romantic and heroic, no doubt about it. And that's great. But I've thought about it, and my thing is this. Andy's really hot."
How to embody Katie: Nice, sophisticated and aloof.
7. Lindsay Weir
Reference: Linda Cardellini plays Lindsay Weir in the 1999-2000 TV series, Freaks and Geeks. Lindsay changes from a bright, top student to apathetic and questioning everything she knows after her grandmother dies.
Key costume elements: Olive-coloured army jacket, Lee Classic Fit jeans, striped long sleeve short, woven bag and plain, brown notebook.
Things she says: "Why did your staff reject my question? Are you afraid of an open discourse with the students?"
How to embody Lindsay: Insecure and frustrated, you now hang with burnouts but retain your sense of self.
8. Agatha
Reference: Saoirse Ronan plays Agatha in the 2014 adventure comedy, The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Key costume elements: Khaki-coloured dress with orange trim on the sleeves, blue apron, pink construction paper and blue ribbon for the Mendl's box, a crown dutch braid and the signature birthmark on the right side of your cheek.
Things she says: "You steal art?" "Zero, I'm a baker!" "I'm not a middle man. I'm not a fence, if that's the term. I don't trade in stolen property."
How to embody Agatha: Agatha is an honest, earnest, hard-working baker, who breaks a few of her moral codes when she starts helping her fiance Zero.
10. Cher Horowtiz
Reference: Alicia Silverstone plays Cher Horowitz in the 1995 film, Clueless.
Key costume elements: Yellow and black paid mini skirt with a matching coloured jacket and mustard-coloured cardigan. Don't forget the knee-high white socks and multiple shopping bags.
Things she says: "And in conclusion, may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P on the Statue of Liberty." "Hello! That was a stop sign."- "I totally paused." "I felt impotent and out of control, which I really hate."
How to embody Cher: Cher is a sweet, tough, entitled air-head who embarks on social crusades but often misses the mark.
11. Jackie Brown
Reference: Pam Grier plays Jackie Brown in the 1997 Quentin Tarantino film, Jackie Brown. Jackie is a female flight attendant who smuggles money from Mexico and into the US to make ends meet.
Key costume elements: Blue jacket with matching skirt, orange neck scarf, white dress shirt and gold flight pin.
Things she says: "Buenos dias. Welcome aboard. Welcome aboard." "Aw, the milk went bad while I was in jail."
How to embody Jackie: Stay poised at all times.
Best of luck on this year's costume endeavours!
Don't worry guys, your list of ideas is up next!
