As you may have noticed, we like to keep it local around here at ATXtoday. Halloween is just days away and there’s still time to apply that unique Austin spirit to this year’s get-up.
Sure, you could be a basic witch or plain ol’ pumpkin, or you could wow your friends with a uniquely Austin-themed costume to ring in All Hallows Eve.
In order of effort, here are 14 Austin-themed Halloween costumes to try this year.
Taco
Wrap yourself in a tortilla blanket and call it breakfast.
Austin FC player
Don your favorite verde and black jersey and call it a night. Level it up: Drink from a soccer ball cup all night.
Bat
Dress up as Bat City’s unofficial mascot with a head-to-toe look in all black and some plastic party fangs. Pro tip: cut up an old cape or blanket to look like bat wings, and you’re ready to fly.
ACL attendee
If you attended the festival this year, congratulations: you already have your costume. If you didn’t go but still want to play the part, fake it ‘til you make it with some festival fashion inspiration.
Longhorn football player
Becoming Quinn Ewers for the night is as easy as putting white duct tape on an orange T-shirt and carrying around a pigskin.
Level it up: Honor the stars off the field by recreating one of Loreal Sarkisian’s (aka, the First Lady of Texas Football) fire game-day looks.
Willie Nelson
Rock the Red Headed Stranger’s iconic braids + bandana, and you’re ready to get on the road again.
Level it up: Recreate your favorite Willie album cover — we suggest “Good Times” for a couples’ costume and “Always On My Mind” for a solo look.
Spy Kids
Planning a couples’ or friends’ costume? We suggest channeling Carmen and Juni from “Spy Kids,” the Austin-filmed Robert Rodriguez movie from 2001, with an all-black look complete with spy glasses and a leather jacket.
SXSW Logo
This is a true last-minute costume that only requires a T-shirt and some paint or tape with which to draw the iconic arrow logo. You don’t have to stop with the shirt, you could also add it to pants or even draw it on your face.
Matthew McConaughey
Alright, alright, alright. Throw it back to the Texas actor’s breakout role in “Dazed and Confused” with a pair of salmon pink trousers, a white graphic tee, a fake mustache, and some cowboy boots.
Level it up: Do you have a burnt orange or all-verde suit? Now’s the time to wear it.
Peter Pan from Peter Pan Mini-Golf
Honor the 77-year-old Austin staple by recreating his original look. It’s as simple as cutting up a green tee and pairing it with tan pants + a brown belt — top off the ‘fit with a crown of leaves.
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Pay homage to the musician, a staple of Austin’s 1970s-era music scene, with a black hat, western shirt, and cowboy boots.
Level it up: Recreate Vaughan’s outfit in the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial statue on Lady Bird Lake, opting for grey items, and paint yourself silver.
Glen Powell
The heartthrob celebrity has been making waves since he moved back to Austin, and luckily, dressing up as him is fairly easy. All you need is a cowboy hat, good pair of blue jeans, gold pendant necklace, western jacket, and an award-winning smile.
Pro tip: this costume also works for Matthew McConaughey.
Texas Rollergirl
If you already own a pair of skates, all you need are some knee pads, a helmet, and some serious grit to pull off this cool-as-cauldrons look.
Construction crane
Building news in Austin is nearly impossible to keep track of. Show off your local development knowledge and your crafting skills all in one with this DIY construction crane look.
What are you planning to dress up as for Halloween? We’re dying to know.
