Halloween 2025: Celebrity costumes that ruled the night, Mariah Carey’s seasonal switch, and last-minute costume tips

Spooky season peaked with a star-packed Halloween 2025—flashy red carpets, themed house parties, and streets filled with pop-culture tributes. If you’re searching “halloween costumes,” “halloween store,” or trying to see what your faves wore, here’s the definitive roundup from this year’s festivities—plus practical advice for anyone still hunting a look for weekend events.

Halloween costumes 2025: who wore what and why it popped

Paris Hilton went full family fantasy. The entrepreneur delivered multiple themed looks through the week, culminating in a cinematic, coordinated set that doubled as an Instagram-ready family portrait. The mix of nostalgia and detail—the kind of tailoring and accessories you’d expect from a movie wardrobe—shows how family costumes can tell a single story across four outfits without losing personality.

Cardi B kept the spectacle bar high. The rapper is known for precision beauty looks and sculptural silhouettes on Halloween, and 2025 was no exception. From hourglass gowns to character transformations, her choices leaned into exaggerated shapes, flawless wigs, and hyper-specific props—proof that a single bold element (silhouette, hair, or accessory) can carry the entire look.

Ensembles beat singles. Across A-list parties, the biggest impact came from duos and squads: couples recreating iconic music-video moments, casts from cult films, and teams pulling off era themes (Y2K, ’80s glam, and early-2000s R&B were everywhere). Expect that momentum to carry into next year’s planning: less “character roulette,” more cohesive sets with shared color palettes and matching finishes.

Beauty told the story. Lace-front precision, chrome nails, and airbrushed body makeup were the quiet MVPs. Even minimalist costumes landed when the glam did the heavy lifting—think monochrome eyeshadow that matches the outfit, or temporary hair color to lock the illusion.

Mariah Carey on Nov. 1: the viral baton pass from Halloween to holiday

As clocks flipped to November 1, Mariah Carey once again turned the cultural page with her now-traditional “It’s time” moment, signaling the unofficial hand-off from spooky season to sparkle season. The annual gag—Halloween melts into holidays at midnight—has become part of the calendar itself, and it reliably spikes searches for both her catalog and festive décor. If your feed suddenly shifted from cobwebs to twinkle lights overnight, that’s why.

What’s trending for halloween costume keywords right now

• Music-video recreations continue to dominate: metallic showgirl styles, archival tour outfits, and early-2000s pop references are easy wins for groups.

• Nostalgia IP: animated classics, ’90s sitcom casts, and retro game characters pair well with neon and latex for a modern twist.

• Villain glam: campy capes, corsetry, and vinyl—dramatic but achievable with a single statement piece.

Last-minute halloween store playbook

If you’re still searching “halloween store” after October 31 because your weekend party hits now, you’re not alone. Here’s how to pull a look fast:

• Anchor one hero item. A floor-length coat, colored catsuit, or statement wig instantly reads “costume.” Build everything else from your closet around it.

• Prioritize accessories. Sunglasses, gloves, a toy prop, and one bold piece of jewelry can transform basics into a character.

• Buy makeup over clothes. A $15 face-paint palette or metallic shadow can out-perform a rushed outfit; pair with all-black or all-white to let glam do the work.

• Think color blocks. Iconic characters are often a palette: lime+purple, red+black, powder-blue+white. Match the palette and keep silhouettes simple.

• Comfort check. If you’re club-hopping, swap stilettos for platforms, pack blister strips, and choose breathable layers.

Halloween costume ideas you can assemble in under an hour

• Y2K Pop Star: Low-rise pants, sparkly crop, tinted sunnies, frosted gloss, butterfly clips.

• Cartoon Villain: Black turtleneck, vinyl skirt or pants, dramatic cape or trench, red lip, cane or toy dagger.

• Retro Space Diva: Silver leggings, foil-taped accessories, mirrored shades, hair slicked with gel and glitter.

• Glam Vampire Ensemble (group): Everyone in monochrome black with one accent color each (crimson, emerald, amethyst); fangs and matching nails tie it together.

• Music-Video Muse (duo): One goes full jumpsuit or bodysuit; the other mirrors in complementary color, both with synchronized gloves and headsets.

What’s next after Halloween 2025

• Weekend overflow parties mean the costume conversation isn’t done—expect more celebrity reveals over the next 48 hours.

• Holiday pivot is officially underway, with playlists and décor trending as early as Nov. 1.

• Costume resale spikes this week; if you invested in a high-quality piece, list it now while demand is hot.

Whether you’re here for star looks from Paris Hilton and Cardi B or for Mariah Carey’s midnight tradition, Halloween 2025 proved—again—that the best costumes are stories you can tell at a glance. If you share your vibe (era, character type, or color palette), I’ll map a custom, shoppable kit you can assemble today.