Entertainment
These 'O.C.' Halloween Costume Ideas Will Take You Right Back To The '00s
Here's a fact: All Hallows' Eve is only a caramel apple’s throw away. Here's another fact: The O.C. series finale aired 10 years ago this past February. Put these two things together, and what have you got? Some last-minute The O.C Halloween costume ideas. If you happen to be a fan of the primetime soap about a kid from Chino who moves to Newport Beach — and why wouldn't you be? — why not celebrate the tenth anniversary of the iconic show's final episode by dressing up like your favorite character? Welcome to The O.C. Halloween, witch.
Below you will find recipes for several different The O.C.-themed Halloween looks. If you can't find the exact items listed or they don’t work for you for one reason or another, please don’t pull a Summer and go into a rage blackout. Instead, feel free to make all the substitutions and amendments you want; you aren’t baking a cake. Think of the recipes below as a friendly guide to throwing together a The O.C. 'stume rather than an inflexible directive. Let's keep things as breezy as the name of Seth’s sailboat.
Alright, let's get to the garb.
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1. Seth Cohen: Patron Saint Of Emo Geeks Edition
Sweaters and Chuck Ts and angst, oh my!
An Argyle Sweater
Tommy Hilfiger Sweater, $60, Macy's
A Button-Down Shirt
Striped button-down, $25, H&M
A Pair Of Dark Blue Jeans
Boyfriend jeans, $50, American Eagle
A Pair Of Chuck Taylors
Converse Chuck Taylors, $50, Journeys
A Messenger Bag
Dickies messenger bag, $29, Target
A Death Cab For Cutie CD
Transatlanticism, $11, Amazon
2. Summer Roberts: Harbor School Edition
Shrunken polos, tube tops, camisoles, floral A-line skirts, bootcut jeans — Summer’s look is mid-aughts beach prep perfection.
A Bright Cardigan Or Zip-up Sweatshirt
August Silk cardigan, $30, Macy's
A Camisole
Yellow camisole, $20, H&M
A Flouncy Skirt
White ruffle skirt, $12, Charlotte Russe
A Scarf For Your Hair
Cityelf scarf, $3.99, Amazon
Metallic High Heels
A New Day high heels, $30, Target
A Pair Of Hoops
Hoop earrings, $5, Forever 21
3. Ryan Atwood: “Whoever You Want Me To Be” Edition
Is there a more Ryan Atwood look than the outfit he wore when he and Marissa Cooper locked eyes for the first time? If someone asks you who you’re dressed up as, reply, “Whoever you want me to be.”
A White V-Neck T-Shirt
White T-Shirt, $8, Target
A Grey Zip-Up Hoodie
Grey sweatshirt, $20, H&M
A Leather Jacket
Biker jacket, $70, H&M
A Pair Of Boots
Mossimo Supply Co. boots, $30, Target
A Suede Choker
ArtMinds suede leather lace, $13, Michaels
4. Marissa Cooper: "Whoever You Want Me To Be" Edition
Here’s a chill costume based on what Coop wore the fateful night she met Ryan out on her driveway.
A White Sleeveless Blouse
Simply Vera Vera Wang tank top, $19, Kohl’s
A Pair Of Flares
Flare jeans, $46, American Eagle
A Pair Of Flats
A New Day ballet flats, $20, Target
A Small Bag That Fits In The Crook Of Your Armpit
Rosetti hobo bag, $28, Kohl's
5. Seth Cohen: Bribing Ryan With Bagels Edition
At the top of Season 2 episode “The Rainy Day Women,” Seth attempts to lure Ryan out of the pool house and into the rain with a bowl of bagels. It does not work. However, the moment did go on to live in GIF-famy.
A Grey Crewneck Sweatshirt
Sweatshirt, $13, H&M
Some Bootcut Jeans
Bootcut jeans, $27, Old Navy
A Bowl
Spectrum fruit bowl, $16, Target
Some Bagels
Archer Farms everything bagels, price varies, Target.
6. Summer Roberts: Wonder Woman Reveal Edition
In Season 1’s “The Best Chrismukkah Ever,” Summer surprises Seth with the Wonder Woman costume hidden beneath her cocktail dress. If you want to stay true to the look, you could pick up a Wonder Woman costume at a Halloween store near you. Or you could go all DIY and change into a homemade outfit in the middle of the evening (more on that in a second).
A Black Strapless Dress
Strapless dress, $12, Tobi
A Small Crown Hair Clip
Tiara comb, $15, Claire's
A Red Cotton Dress
Jersey dress, $13, H&M
A Wonder Woman Insignia Patch To Iron On The Dress
Wonder Woman patch, $13, Joann Fabrics
Some Iron-On Stars For The Dress
Wrights iron-on stars, $3, Joann Fabrics
And Some Yellow Puffy Paint To Write "I Hear You Like Comic Books, Cohen" On The Dress
Tulip puffy paint, $4, Joann Fabrics
7. Marissa Cooper: Green Bow Hat Edition
In Season 2’s “The New Era,” Coop wore this breathtaking outfit to school. The pièce de résistance was, but of course, that hat with that green bow. This costume may prompt a lot of questions about who you’re supposed to be, but the diehards will know and respect the look.
A Maroon V-Neck Tank Top
Sleeveless V-neck, $20, Uniqlo
A Crisp Button-Down
Button-down shirt, $25, H&M
Some Slacks
Suit pants, $35, H&M
A Newsboy Hat
RaOn houndstooth newsboy cap, $20, Amazon
A Green Bow For The Newsboy Hat
Wee Ones green hair bow, $11, Amazon
A Brooch
Monet brooch, $26, JCPenney
Some Sparkly Flats
Blue by Betsey Johnson flats, $59, Zappos
8. Ryan Atwood: Cage Fighter Edition
At the beginning of Season 4, a grieving Ryan channeled his emotional pain into cage fighting. It was a short but memorable storyline that culminated in Ryan not killing Volkchok and going back to the Cohens' house.
Hand Wraps
Everlast hand wraps, $10, Dick’s Sporting Goods
A Ribbed Tank Top
Ava & Viv tank top, $8, Target
Bootcut Jeans
Bootcut jeans, $27, Old Navy
Fake Blood For The Hand Wraps
Fake blood, $6, Party City
Iron-On Letters So You Can Put "Have You Seen Kevin Volchok?" On The Shirt
Transfermations iron-on letters, $6, Michaels
9. Summer Roberts: “Mallpisode” Edition
While the Core Four was trapped in a mall overnight, they passed the time with a rousing game of roller hockey. Summer’s uniform was by far the best.
A Pink Hockey Jersey
Bauer 600 pink hockey sweater, $30, Ice Warehouse
Bootcut Denim
Bootcut jeans, $40, H&M
A Hockey Stick
Franklin Sports hockey stick, $24, Target
Hockey Gloves
Franklin Sports hockey gloves, $45, Target
Shin Guards
Mylec Pads, $24.99, Amazon
Skate Shoes In Lieu Of Roller Skates (Unless You're Comfortable Rollerskating All Night, Of Course)
Skate shoes, $55, Heelys
A Hockey Mask
Unique's Shop hockey mask, $20, Amazon
10. Taylor Townsend: Harbor School Events Planner Edition
Leave out the fifth member of The Core Four? Never!
A Polo Shirt
St. John’s Bay polo, $10, JCPenney
A Pink Sweater To Tie Around Your Shoulders
A Pair Of Pink Shorts
Pink shorts, $30, H&M
A Pearl Necklace
Pearl necklace, $10, Target
Pearl Earrings
Pearl earrings, $3, Claire's
A Binder For All Of Your Event Planning Needs
A Silver Watch
Carriage by Timex watch, $23, Target
A Pair Of Heels
Merona pointed toe pumps, $30, Target
11. Captain Oats: Horse Confidant Edition
Who wouldn’t want to dress up like Cohen’s prized toy horse?
A Horse Mask
Horse head mask, $30, Spirit Halloween
A Brown T-Shirt
Long T-shirt, $18, H&M
Brown Leggings
LC Lauren Conrad leggings, $12, Kohl's
One Pair Of Brown Legwarmers For Your Forearms
Super Z Outlet leg warmers, $7, Amazon
One Pair Of White Leg Warmers For Your Legs
Super Z Outlet leg warmers, $7, Amazon
Iron-On Letters So You Can Put “Princess Sparkle’s Other Hoof, Er, Half” On The T-Shirt.
Transfermations iron-on letters, $6, Michaels
12. Princess Sparkle: Unicorn Confidant Edition
And who wouldn’t want to dress up like Summer’s prized toy unicorn?
A Unicorn Wig
Unicorn wig, $25, Spirit Halloween
Purple Acrylic Paint For The Unicorn Wig's Ears & Horn
Martha Stewart acrylic paint, $2, Michaels
A Light Purple Shirt
Mossimo Supply Co. long sleeve T-shirt, $10, Target
Light Purple Pants
Lavender joggers, $20, Forever 21
Iron-On Letters To Put "My Heart Sparkles For Captain Oats" On The Shirt
Transfermations iron-on letters, $6, Michaels
13. Sandy Cohen: Just Got Home From Surfing Edition
Saved the best TV dad in history for last. Here’s how to go about paying homage to Sandy with your Halloween look.
A UC Berkeley Law T-Shirt
Berkeley Law shirt, $15, Amazon
Some Board Shorts
Mossimo Supply Co. board shorts, $25, Target
A Pair Of Flip Flops
Mossimo Supply Co. sandals, $15, Target
A Yogalates Mug
Travel mug, $18, Cafe Press
An Eyebrow Pencil To Ensure Your Brows Make Peter Gallagher's Perfect Brows Proud
Color Icon brow pencil, $2, Wet n Wild
Or hey, if all else fails, just dig up your old velour tracksuit. Boom, you're Julie Cooper-Nichol-Cooper/Summer Roberts/every aughts it girl. Whatever you choose to do on the costume front, may your Halloween be as delightful as a properly schmeared bagel.
