When it comes to bookish Halloween costumes, there are a couple rules of thumb I like to keep in mind. First, you want something recognizable. It doesn’t necessarily have to be recognized on sight; that “aha” moment when you give the name of your costume can also be a lot of fun. But you don’t want anything you have to explain too thoroughly. You also want your costume to be timely, clever, and/or not overdone. If you’re going with a costume that may be popular this year, you better be prepared to have the best version of it, or at least a fresh take. It’s going to be tough to celebrate the best holiday of the year during a global pandemic. Trick-or-treating is complicated, and big Halloween parties or bar crawls are definitely a no-go. But losing out on some of the celebrations means that it’s even more important to have an excellent costume. Be sure to share your bookish Halloween costume with us on Twitter and Instagram by tagging @BookRiot! And if you need a new book to read while you celebrate at home, may I recommend our October 2020 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations?
Bookish Halloween Costume Ideas for Every Sign
Leo (July 23-August 22): Black Panther
Black Panther has been a huge source of Halloween costume ideas since the film broke box office records in 2018. But as the country mourns Chadwick Boseman, this costume has even more meaning in 2020. Black Panther may not be a lion, but he’s still got big Leo energy as the star of the show and a beloved hero. With a good Black Panther costume, you’re sure to find yourself in the spotlight—Leo’s favorite place to be. Nobody loves the library like a Libra. I mean, look, it’s right there in the name! Libras value equality, justice, and accessibility, so they’re very at home at the library. Honor your favorite place by being a librarian for Halloween this year. And if a classic librarian isn’t exciting enough, spook it up with some zombie makeup and blood. Bonus points if you carry around a bunch of bloodied books about brains. A post shared by ANGELICA AVENDAÑO (@angelikmakeup) on Oct 7, 2019 at 3:39pm PDT
Scorpio (October 23-November 21): Inigo Montoya
If there’s one thing a Scorpio loves, it’s revenge. Just like Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride, you never forgive and you never forget. This costume is super easy to pull off. All you really need is the wig, the mustache, and the sword; the rest will fall into place. And of course, you’ll need to frequently repeat this most important line: “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
Capricorn (December 22-January 19): Dolores
Honestly, pretty much any look from Westworld is a great Halloween costume choice, as lots of characters have one memorable outfit they wear for most of the series. But when it comes to powerful, charismatic robots who want to take over the world (hello, Capricorn!) it doesn’t get any better than Dolores. Recreate this Old West look and live your Westworld fantasies this Halloween—but not in, like, a murdery way.
Pisces (February 19-March 20): Nurse Ratched
A fiercely loyal caretaker with a high emotional IQ? Nurse Ratched is a Pisces if I’ve ever seen one! Well…maybe a Pisces with a severely damaged moral compass. This new Netflix series starring Sarah Paulson is a prequel to Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It’s timely, and Nurse Ratched’s iconic turquoise uniform makes it easy to recreate. Just don’t actually kill any patients, okay? Looking for more bookish Halloween costume ideas? Try these:31 Amazing Literary Halloween Costumes50 Bookish Halloween Couples Costume IdeasEasy Bookish Halloween Costumes for Kids
