Halloween is a rotation of fancy-dress tropes: the witch; the ghost; the cat; the purge, but this year we have added one more: Squid Game. If you haven’t heard Jung Jaeil’s haunting soundtrack or been inundated by videos of the creepy doll in your socials, Squid Game is Netflix’s latest binge-worthy hit. A South Korean survival drama series, it is structured around a set of traditional children’s games, given to the players for the chance to win a lot of money (45.6 billion Korean won to be exact!). Sounds simple, right? The twist: each game has death(ly) consequences.
So why might Squid Game become the latest Halloween craze? Here are four reasons why we think that Squid Game costumes are set to be the latest Halloween hit:
They’re easy to assemble
Unless you’re really dedicated to the holiday, as a rule of thumb Halloween costumes should be easily sourced and quickly constructed. If you’re opting for a Squid Game costume this year, the simplest option is to dress as a Contestant: wearing an elementary uniform of a green tracksuit, a plain white T-shirt, and white trainers. Although any pair of white plimsolls will emulate the look, sales for the authentic Vans Classic Slip-on Trainers in White Mono have risen since the K-drama was released on Netflix in September, seeing a 7800% spike according to Sole Supplier. Meanwhile, for the tracksuit, a Google search of Green Tracksuits will generate many variations on the now-famous evergreen look. Due to the popularity of the show, you can now buy the actual costume through retailers like eBay. However, if you decide on sourcing your own clothes, once paired together – perhaps even with some iron-on numbers if you’re really wanting to go the extra mile – these commonly found pieces make a high-street friendly and time-saving Halloween look.
- Squid Game Contestant Halloween Costume – £9.98
- New Balance Green Tracksuit Hoodie- £36
- Reebok x ASOS Green buttoned down shirt £30.35
- Office White Slip On Vans – £25
They’re reusable
Halloween is all fun and games until you have a crumpled witch’s hat and dusty cat ears falling out of your wardrobe for the remaining 364 days of the year. Will Squid Game be popular next year? Maybe not. But are the Squid Game costumes reusable? Definitely. Part of Squid Game’s popularity this Halloween season is its simplicity, the fact that each look is made up of ‘household’ items in anyone’s closet. For example, take the ‘murdering doll’: her orange dress and yellow T-shirt are not only perfect for Halloween but are very transferable for a fun summer look. The beauty of this Halloween theme is that you can use what you already own, if you happen to have an old fencing mask sitting in your garage now is the time to dig it up and dress as one of the game workers. Who knows, it might even reignite a love of fencing! However, don’t get too carried away by this Squid Game obsession. Whilst tracksuits and trainers are amongst the most re-wearable items, wearing a mesh face mask to your local supermarket is not the best idea and might land you some funny looks. You win some you lose some!
- boohoo – Strappy Skater Dress – £14.40
- Monki Yellow top with Peter pan collar – £6
- Move Dancewear White Knee Length Socks – £3.50
They’re actually scary
Although highly commercialised and fuelled by fun, the festival of Halloween is rooted in being scary: wearing masks and outfits to trick evil spirits from recognising you. So, although dressing as a pretty Disney princess might be cute and fulfil childhood fantasies, it doesn’t exactly bring the spooky factor. However, if you have seen this K-drama these Squid Game looks (most notably the face-disguising blacked-out masks) are guaranteed to give you chills this Halloween.
They’re fresh, current and a fun conversation starter
Currently ranked number one in US Netflix streaming charts and expected to have been watched by 82 million subscribers in its first 28 days, Squid Game is a big Netflix hit. By Halloween weekend, therefore, it’d be rare that any fellow partygoers haven’t at least heard of the South-Korean thriller. Although increasing the look of unexpected twins this Halloween, the show’s popularity guarantees an easy topic of conversation. This is not only reassuring (nobody likes awkward silence, yet alone when in fancy dress) but is also refreshing. Whilst devil horns are a traditional crowd pleaser, you can never go wrong by injecting some new blood into the annual Halloween fashion parade.
Whether you don’t want to spend a lot, dislike uncomfortable clothing, or are afraid of overly committing to fancy dress, the Squid Game Halloween trend is the perfect option for you. This year, forget overpriced costume companies and turn away from the worn-out trends because Halloween 2021 is all about the Squid Game look.
Hannah Emery
