10 Halloween Costumes Inspired by the Year in TV

By Addie Strong
October 19, 2010

Stir up the drama like the characters on your favorite TV series by costuming as one this Halloween. From reality shows to TV sitcoms and dramas, you’ve got plenty of choices depending on your fright night mood. Check out our top television Halloween costume picks for 2010 below. And if these don't satisfy, we've got more Halloween costume ideas from the year in movies and pop culture, too.

Mad Men

With "Mad Men" searches in eBay's DVDs and Movies section more than doubling in the past three months compared to the prior period, the fourth season of AMC's hit show may be its most popular ever. On Halloween, you can relive the glory days of 1960s New York when guys dressed like gentlemen and ladies fashion trends flattered even the most voluptuous figures. But don't let the glamour fool you: secrets and lies are buried just beneath the pretty surfaces on this show. Put on your best air of mystery when you dress up as a Betty, a Joan or another one of the employees of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Pin curl your hair for that vintage style vibe, and nab a dress from eBay that you'll wear way beyond Halloween.

Roll over items for details

Mad Men

60s Maribou Trim White Lace Cocktail Dress

(buy it now price, $89)

Nubby Wool Rothmoor Swing Coat

(buy it now price, $125)

60s Vintage Pillbox Black Womens Hat

(buy it now price, $14.20)

10 Halloween Costumes Inspired by the Year in TV

(Photo courtesy of AMC)

Treme

Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, the series' first season followed the characters' ups and downs in the first year after the storm. The producers earned critical acclaim for their extensive research on the Big Easy, which even locals agreed made the fictional New Orleans look authentic. Some of the best scenes (and the best Halloween party ideas) are Mardi Gras parades and the neighborhood brass band concerts. Look like a true New Orleanian with Mardi Gras beads, a decorated umbrella for secondlining and a plastic trumpet (instead of toting the heavy instrument itself).

Treme

150 Mardi Gras Beads

(buy it now price, $7.99)

New Orleans Music Groom Secondline Umbrella Parasol

(buy it now price, $36.50)

Plastic Trumpet

(buy it now price, $1.59)

(Photo courtesy of HBO)

Glee

Halloween is the perfect opportunity to dress up as the homecoming queen you never were. On “Glee,” that would be cheerleader extraordinaire Quinn Fabray. Just don't forget her baby bump under that outfit. (And for those of you who were lucky enough to be the homecoming queen and want to try out the other side of the cool kid spectrum, you can dress up as nerdy glee club leader Rachel Berry.) There are plenty of other cliques on the show to choose from, too: goth sweetheart (Tina Cohen-Chang), sensitive jock (Finn Hudson) and even hard-nosed gym coach (Sue Sylvester). Your group of friends can find all the high school clothing you need for a “Glee” group Halloween costume — cheerleader uniforms, letter jackets and dorky vests—on eBay.

Glee

Sexy Cheerleader Uniform Costume Black/Red

(buy it now price, $40)

Vintage Varsity Wool Leather Letterman Jacket

(buy it now price, $60)

Izod Golf Womens Argyle Sweater Vest

(buy it now price, $15.99)

(Photo courtesy of FOX)

Dancing With the Stars

Sequins, spray tans and slithery dresses? It's like a costume within a Halloween costume when you dress up as one of the decked-out contestants of the hit show “Dancing With the Stars.” No professional dance experience required for this television Halloween costume —luckily you don't have to have Nicole Scherzinger's moves to look like a Season 10 champion! Salsa into a flirty dress with plenty of fringe, slip on a pair of dancing shoes and carry your mirror ball trophy with pride!

Dancing With the Stars

Black Silver Latin Dance Dress

(buy it now price, $75)

Black Womens Ballroom Dance Shoes

(buy it now price, $22.95)

2 Party Disco Balls

(buy it now price, $19.99)

(Photo courtesy of ABC)

The Bachelorette

Most recently, we watched girl-next-door Ali Fedotowsky wander the globe with a gaggle of guys to find her Prince Charming. Even if you can't get your own group of male friends to dress in suits and follow you around, you can still channel Ali's style by mimicking her most dramatic outfit: the one she wore on the night of the last rose ceremony. All you need to be a Bachelorette on the show's finale is a drop-dead gorgeous gown, a final rose and some serious engagement bling for your ring finger.

The Bachelorette

Long Flowing Yellow Evening Gown

(buy it now price, $98.31)

Deep Red Silk Long Stem Rose

(buy it now price, $2.84)

Jumbo Fake Engagement Rings Cake Decorating Favor

(buy it now price, $5.29)

(Photo courtesy of ABC)

Dexter

Dexter Morgan lives a double life. By day, he's a forensics expert for the Miami police department with a family waiting for him at home. But at night, he's a coldblooded killer, murdering only the most evil criminals who—according to his own personal code—deserve their violent fates. As one of the most sensitive and sweet characters on TV, Dexter's probably the only murderer you'll ever root for. In fact, this antihero seems to be picking up more fans lately—total bids for “Dexter” in eBay's DVDs and movies jumped 58% this month compared to the prior 30 days. To dress up like Dexter for Halloween, find an inexpensive work shirt that you won't mind getting a little stained, and add a few inconspicuous smears and droplets of fake blood. Complete Dexter's look with a costume police badge, which he'd use to speed away from the scenes of his crimes.

Dexter

Eddie Bauer Buttondown Mens Shirt

(buy it now price, $3)

Graftobian Stage Blood

(buy it now price, $14.96)

Halloween Costume Police Badge

(buy it now price, $7.46)

(Photo courtesy of Showtime)

Jersey Shore

They say Halloween's a night to dress up like you'd never dress in real life. And unless you're a resident of Seaside Heights, NJ, you probably don't wear outfits like those seen on MTV's hit reality show "Jersey Shore" So hit the spray tan booth, paint on a six-pack like The Situation's and tease your hair—you're well on your way to Snookifying yourself. Snooki, JWoww and Sammi Sweetheart should hit eBay for their bouffant-style wigs, short leopard-print dresses and layers of shiny costume jewelry. And clearly they're not the only ones, since sales of listings with the term "Jersey Shore," which range from photos signed by the cast to "Jersey Shore"-style outfits ripe for the Halloween picking, are up 80 percent in the past 30 days vs. the prior period.

The Jersey Shore

Jersey Shore Snooki Wig

(buy it now price, $17.13)

Hot Pink & Black Mini Leopard Dress

(buy it now price, $25.48)

Multi-Strand Zebra Earrings & Necklace Set

(buy it now price, $19.79)

(Photo courtesy of Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Swamp People

2010's version of “Ice Road Truckers,” “Swamp People” follows Cajun swampers in Louisiana during the highly pressurized, 30-day alligator hunting season. One of the most epic episodes we've seen so far? With a monster haul of gators, the crew isn't sure they can load their heavy catch into and out of their truck quickly enough. Naturally, they notice a nearby forklift operator who offers to lend his construction equipment to move the giant creatures. Only in Louisiana.
You'll need plenty of camo gear, waders and a stuffed alligator who won't bite if you want to become a Swamp Person for Halloween.

Swamp People

Camouflage Baseball Hunting Cap

(buy it now price, $3.99)

PrecisionPak Emerald PVC Waders

(buy it now price, $49.03)

48” Brown Stuffed Alligator Animal

(buy it now price, $99.99)

(Photo courtesy of Zach Dilgard AETN)

Raising Hope

New to the 2010 primetime lineup, this dark comedy is centered around baby Hope, the product of a one-night stand between 23-year-old Jimmy and a woman who was given the death sentence and executed when Hope is just six months old. Jimm—along with his kooky relatives—struggles but uses his sense of humor to care for this infant addition to the family. Replicate the hilarious role-reversal ads for this show with your Halloween costume by putting a beer helmet on a baby doll and popping a baby pacifier in your mouth instead.

Raising Hope

Lee Middleton Little Bailey

(buy it now price, $26.99)

2 Dual Can Holder Drinking Hats Beer Soda Helmet

(buy it now price, $19.99)

Gumdrop Pacifier Soothie Newborn Blue Vanilla

(buy it now price, $1.95)

(Photo courtesy of FOX)

True Blood

If you're tempted to go with the vampire themed costume this year but want a more mature costume than the "Twilight" ones, try the bloodsucking characters of “True Blood.” If you're looking for a couple's costume, you could go as steamy fictional and real-life sweethearts Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) and Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer). This year, try mimicking Anna, Stephen and Alexander Skarsgard's sexy and faux blood-soaked September cover shot for Rolling Stone.