Style Diaries | 10 Office Appropriate Halloween Costumes

It’s spooky time my friends! Did you celebrate Halloween this weekend? I did! I dressed as Meredith Grey from Grey’s Anatomy. I’d wanted to dress as Meredith for years + just decided to bite the bullet + rock scrubs at a bar crawl in Chicago. No freaking regrets! Why? I was so stinking comfortable and warm, though it wasn’t too terribly cold Saturday night. I’ve frozen my tush off for many a Halloween in costumes where a coat doesn’t work with it. As a kid, mom would force me to wear it anyway. As an adult, I’ve just chosen to be cold. Not this year though! However I could have been even warmer + more comfortable as so many were out in what I call sleeper + the rest of the world calls a “onesie.” In my mind, a “onesie” is a body suit for a baby. But we’ll just have to disagree on that one for now.

Tomorrow is Halloween! Do you get to celebrate at work? We do but we call it our “Spooktacular Event.” I guess not to offend people + I’m totally for that most of the time but about this I’m kind of like “meh.” If you don’t do anything, do you still dress up? Our event is today but you can bet I’ll still be in costume tomorrow! Even if you work doesn’t “do” Halloween, I wanted to share some fun ideas for work appropriate costumes that hardly differ from acceptable office attire. One of them is even my actual Halloween outfit from last year… no one even realized I was in costume! Many of these costumes you can probably put together with pieces in your closet and/or grab what you need from Target/Forever 21/H&M. All photos are from Pinterest unless otherwise noted.

Rosie The Riveter

One of my roommates in college dressed as Rosie my senior year! She rocked the double denim. But if your office doesn’t allow jeans, I’d wear a blue shirt, blue dress pants, nondescript shoes + a bandanna or even a wide red ribbon in my hair.

Morton Salt Girl

How freaking cute is this?! I’ve already decided this is going to be one of my costumes next year because I’m such a salty betch! Time to bust out that yellow sundress for one last spin. The Morton Salt girl has yellow shoes but I think you could get away with white ones. I’d wear this with tights because a) it’s cold + b) it’s October at work. Plus I just love tights. Umbrella + salt canister optional.

Mary Poppins

How cute is this Lauren Conrad throwback?! I get so excited for her costume announcement every year! White blouse, black skirt, black tights + black shoes (heels if you’re adventurous) are all staples in my closet. Complete the look with a red bow tie or red ribbon bow + a vintage black brimmed hat.

Minnie Mouse

I opted for this option once the year I taught, but it wasn’t this cute. I was told not to wear a costume by my department chair so that morning when I stopped at Walgreen’s on my way to work for candy, I figured I’d pick up a pair of cat ears. I was wearing all black so it was fitting. I ended up finding a pair of small Minnie witch ears + I was set. Take your Minnie ears to the next level with a black fitted shirt + red skirt. I have too many red skirts + none with polka dots so I might have to find this cute number.

Mime

If I dress as a mime can I pretend I can’t hear anyone? Kidding! This one would be slightly harder for me to pull off since I maybe own one shirt with horizontal stripes. They aren’t my favorite print. But if you have something striped, this should be easy. Pair your stripes with black pants, beret + a red lip for a (hopefully) quiet Halloween.

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”

This was my official Halloween costume in 2014. I was working three part time jobs + had no money for an elaborate costume. I already had the dress. black flats + my grandma’s pearls. I spent $20 total 0n the tiny tiara + gloves at Claire’s. To date, one of my least expensive but most favorite costumes. It was also the first costume I put together myself.

Where’s Wilma

Another easy costume whether or not you can wear jeans! Red + white striped shirt/sweater, navy dress pants/jeans, nondescript shoes! Wilma wears a striped beanie, which are definitely out in stores now!

Snow White

Aside from the yellow skirt, I could go home + put this costume together myself. Luckily it seems Forever 21 has several yellow skirts if you need to grab one. For an added edge, add non-prescription wayfarer glasses to your red sweater, blue tank + skirt for a hipster look. My sister + I were just hipster Ariel + Cinderella at Disney which was so fun!

Hermione Granger

Well the tie might give this one away that it’s a costume if you’re typically not a tie wearing person, but it’s still fun nonetheless. I’ve been Hermione twice in my life, once for Halloween in sixth grade + once for one of the movie premieres. If you can’t steal a red + gold tie from your dad, brother, friend, child, significant other, every party store that sells costumes carries them. This will work with a grey cardigan or pullover sweater, white blouse + skirt. Just remember, it’s LeviOsa, not LeviosA.

Blair Waldorf from “Gossip Girl”

I think this might be my absolute favorite costume EVER. Would you believe I owned every piece of this costume except the tie? A year later, I should have asked my male grade school friends if any of them still had their navy ties from school (the girls ties matched our uniform plaid). I bought my blouse, blazer + skirt a month prior, all from Banana Republic Factory without even considering them for a Halloween costume. The headband was a Kate Spade sale find + the white Target tights are a winter staple for me. The navy heels came from Amazon of all places + they were so uncomfortable! Not one of my favorite Amazon finds. But all in all, this costume came together + the only person who knew I was even in costume was a barista at Starbucks. Everyone at work thought I looked “so cute.” Granted, Blair’s style + mine are very similar, however I hadn’t worn a tie to work before + haven’t since so thanks, guys.