[ot-caption title=”Seniors Isabelle Turner and Jordyn Elliott dress up as a ladybug and a sailor for Halloween. (via Ana Simon, sophomore)”]

As people start to take down their Halloween decorations and get in the spirit of Thanksgiving, it’s time to reflect on the dazzling costumes that stood out with originality and the trite costumes that failed to impress. Generally, finding the perfect outfit to post pictures of on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook can be a daunting task. Whether people took the safe route with a typical witch costume or took a risk with something new, Halloween costumes from this past weekend made their mark on social media, along with the influence of pop culture figures and current events.

The days leading up to October 31st can truly be frightful not because of spooky decorations and haunted houses, but because choosing a costume can be a worrisome process. Every year the number of cats, ghosts, and skeletons seen on Halloween are countless because these costumes can be put together with ease. What many people don’t realize is that creating an original costume can be more simple and facile than expected.

For example, this Halloween many people chose to don satirical costumes that clearly made a statement. A popular costume this year among sports lovers and athletes was Tom Brady and a deflated football. In January of 2015, the NFL investigated the New England Patriots team to determine why 11 of the 12 game balls they provided for a championship game were under-inflated by two pounds per square inch each, an event that sparked quite the controversy. To make the most out of the bad situation, adults and children alike wore a New England Patriots #12 jersey and carried a deflated football for some laughs.

In addition, celebrities were a great choice this year for Halloween costumes. Singer Taylor Swift has risen to extreme fame, being arguably the most popular artist of the year. Swift appeared to be the perfect costume choice for those trick-or-treating with a group of friends. Swift’s music video for “Bad Blood” broke Vevo’s 24-hour viewing record, with 20.1 million views within the first day of its release. One of the reasons for its surge of popularity was its star-studded cast that included countless famous figures such as Cara Delevinge, Cindy Crawford, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, and many more. To pull this costume off, trick-or-treaters were able to throw on black leather clothing and black go-go boots with their friends for an enviable squad look.

With the presidential election coming up next year, poking fun at political figures was all the rage on Halloween among adults. Dressing as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was quite the hit. Although there was a great array of adaptations to this costume, many chose to throw on a suit, carry an American flag, and wear a crazy, disheveled blonde wig. The look would not be complete without an assortment of Trump-like quotes. To make this costume even better, women dressed as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with a pantsuit, American flag, and blonde wig for a great couples costume sure to win a contest.

Even Pine Crest seniors got in on the Halloween fun, as they were given the privilege of wearing their costumes to school last Thursday. This tradition is always a favorite because students enjoy seeing how creative and original the seniors can get. Some favorites this year included various inmates from the popular Netflix show Orange is the New Black, a couple that dressed as eggs and bacon, and even someone dressed as “life” who gave people lemons.

Whether or not someone enjoys dressing up in a creative costume on Halloween night, it is always fun to see others’ ideas posted all over social media the following day. Next year, if creating a costume becomes a last minute cram as October 31st nears, pop culture figures are always a go-to for inspiration that will bring a good laugh.

Sources: CNN, Billboard, IMDd