Ah, mid-October. If you have not already completely planned out every detail of your costume for Halloween, then you are far behind the curve. It is time for you to get your act (and costume) together, and soon. This is 2016 after all, so you will likely turn to the internet for inspiration. But which one do you choose? And which do you avoid (besides the offensive and distasteful options, of course)? Here are the top 5 of the most popular Halloween costumes for this year that make me cringe (and not in the good Halloween-like way).
5. Pokemon Go character.
While Pokemon Go is a supposedly wonderful game (I have personally never played it, so I can neither confirm nor deny), that has really blown up this year, I have seen some truly atrocious options out on the internet. Sexy Pikachu? Really? In addition, I would rather not be chased around by a partygoer who forgets that they are not looking at their phone, but at what is really in front of them. If you gotta catch 'em all, just be careful and double check who/what you are catching.
4. Political figure.
Yes, your costume makes the statement that this election is ugly or horrifying or whatever other adjective of your choosing, but do you really want to get into a heated political debate on Halloween? This could just get very ugly very quickly.
3. Harley Quinn.
I really do not have any huge objections to this costume beside a) the movie Suicide Squad was not good, and b) this costume is going to be obscenely overused for no reason. Honestly, dressing up as any current pop culture reference is overdone, and I know Harley Quinn will not be the only offender. Let's not forget Star Wars characters, Avengers characters, Harry Potter characters, television personalities...
2. Snapchat filter.
Along with emojis, this is just another one of those extremely overplayed cartoonish costumes. It also seems like a lot of wasted effort when you could just pull out your phone, set the filter of your choosing, and snap a picture, all with the same end result.
1. Harambe.
Why did this become a meme? Why are people still using it? And why do I see everything from costumes of a gorilla with a cage and doll to "sexy Harambe?" This costume (and meme) just need to go.
Trick or treat, and Happy (almost) Halloween!