If you want a relaxed atmosphere and laughter at your party, a costume party is an almost guaranteed choice. Nobody expects a perfect effort – the main thing is that everyone joins in at least a little. The theme can be clearly defined or completely open, but once dressing up is allowed, the mood naturally lifts.

Here's an inspiring package of theme ideas, costume tips, and party formats currently trending on TikTok.

TV and movie characters – iconic and easy to recognize - Everyone recognizes them – and they always spark conversation!

Examples 

• Barbie and Ken (too much pink is just enough)

• Game of Thrones, The Witcher, Harry Potter

• The Office – too much office wear and a name tag

• Wednesday Addams – dark but stylish

• Stranger Things (Eleven, Dustin, 80s school kids)

TikTok's trendiest theme parties

Right now on TikTok, it's not only about costumes but also about themes that combine dressing up with humor. Here are the hottest ones at the moment:

👫 Come dressed as your partner

– e.g. Hoodie, sweatpants, phone, late-night snack order / game controller in hand and headphones on.

🧓 Retirement party

– Cardigan, glasses, coffee cup.

🎮 Dress up as a game character

– Minecraft Steve, Sims character, Among Us, Mario
– Easy to create with cardboard, prints, or just colors.

🔤 "Your outfit starts with the first letter of your name"

– M for Muffin, Maize, or Mummy
– K for Kettle, Ghost, or Grill.

👯‍♀️ Duo themes: "Come as a duo, but not as a couple"

– Spam & Email
– Crocs & Socks
– Netflix & Chill
– Coffee & Bun.

🧓 Retirees – seniors go wild, the youth are left wondering

When others party in glitter and latex, we take the celebration to a new level: retirement speed. Welcome to a theme party where wool socks are standard gear, bingo is action, and every conversation begins with "remember when…"

This evening is for you if:

• You wake up before the alarm, even on weekends

• The weather forecast interests you more than the event schedule

• Coffee is always too weak

• And most importantly: you want to party so slowly that you have time to enjoy it

🦯 Outfit ideas – when retirement came but style stayed

Dress as you imagine yourself as a retiree – or how your grandparents dressed in the 90s. Wool, corduroy, fleece, and unironically a brimmed hat are all welcome.

Inspiration:

Cardigan, reading glasses around your neck, sneakers, and support overalls

Walker, cane, or an imaginary artificial joint

Retro hat and handbag

Under your arm an old magazine or crossword puzzle

Bonus points: fanny pack

☕ Snacks

Forget fancy cocktails. Serve the retirement buffet:

• Coffee and buns

• Karelian pies with egg butter

• Coffee bread and sponge cake

• Juice glasses with faded labels

For a modern twist: serve a shot tray but fill it with "vitamins and medicines".

🎲 Program ideas

🎤 Bingo (but over the top)
– Prizes can be anything: socks, a tea break, or an invitation to singalong

🪑 Chair gymnastics
– Light exercise for everyone. Yes, it can be ironic – or actually useful.

📸 Photo wall "The moment of my retirement"
– Old wallpaper in the background and a coffee cup in hand. A smile with no hurry at all.

🎧 DJ set: Retirement hits
– Only music that makes feet tap: Olavi Virta, Kirka, Katri Helena – or Elvis. Or Eläkeläiset (the band).

🏆 Prizes and contests

🎉 Slowest dance – whoever moves the least wins
🎭 Whose school trip was the toughest? – famously done barefoot in knee-deep snow
🥇 Most wool clothes worn – count the layers, crown the winner

✉️ Invitation example

🧓 Welcome to the Retirement Theme Night!
Bring your wool socks, a cup of coffee, and your best cane – we won't party all night, just as much as we can.

Style: retiree, senior, grandma, grandpa, elegance of old age
Program includes: coffee, buns, bingo, chair gymnastics, and the day's weather forecast

👔Dadcore Disco - a night full of denim shorts and bad jokes

Come to a party where the grills heat up without a grill, and the dance floor sways like your back is just a little stiff. Dadcore Disco is a tribute to all dad types – real, imaginary, or inner.

Subthemes / outfit types:

• Grill Dad (apron, tongs in hand)

• Sports Dad (tracksuit and hockey cap)

• Travel Dad (camera backpack and map)

• Tech Dad (Bluetooth headset and universal remote)

• Divorced Dad (leather jacket and an unrealistically young new partner, even imaginary)

• Dad Who Tried to Be Trendy (wearing the same outfit as his teenager)

Program ideas:

• "Who is the most dad?" – audience vote

• Grilling without a grill (buffet with grill-themed food)

• DJ set with nothing but dad music – Dire Straits, Eppu Normaali, Phil Collins…

• Photo wall with the text: "I just came to check that everything's okay here."

🕷️ HALLOWEEN – CLASSIC

Halloween isn't just about being scary – it's a chance to play. The mood can be dark or completely playful, gothic or glittery.

Costume ideas:

• Witch, vampire, skeleton, zombie

• Movie characters like Scream, Pennywise, The Addams Family or Coraline

• Black, purple, and fake blood – or on the other hand, pink and glitter if that's scarier

Psst: The cheapest and funniest costumes come from combining old clothes creatively and adding makeup or small details.

📸 White woman on Instagram 

Welcome to a party where everyone looks like they've just come from a photo shoot, not from real life. It's not about reality – it's about how everything looks on Instagram. An ironic but easy-to-pull-off theme, where a latte and leggings are the bare minimum.

💄 What does "White Girl on Instagram" look like?

It's not about skin color – it's about a social aesthetic. A style that was in every social media post from 2015–2020 – and is now making a comeback on TikTok, in an ironic way.

Outfit basics:

• Oversized sweater or hoodie
• Black leggings or pajama pants
• UGGs or white sneakers
• Almond-shaped gel nails (or press-ons)
• Oversized scarf / faux fur collar / beanie
• Thermos mug or Starbucks latte in hand

✨ Accessories & social clichés

Add extras to your outfit or the evening's vibe:

• Fairy lights wrapped around neck or hair

• "Live Laugh Love" sign or print

• Fake smile and oversized sunglasses

• Leg pose with one bent

• Hand in hair, gaze away from the camera

• Latte foam hearts and muffins aimed at the camera

🎧 Background music

Play cliché soundtrack classics like:

• Lana Del Rey

• Ed Sheeran

• Taylor Swift

• Lo-fi chill beats (to study to, obviously)

• Bo Burnham – White Woman's Instagram

🎉 Program ideas

📷 Instagram photo challenge:
– Guests complete a list of cliché poses: "hand with coffee cup", "white wall + thoughtful gaze", "autumn leaf pile + face like you enjoy life more than others".

🥤 Snacks & drinks

• Pumpkin spice latte

• Strawberry smoothie bowl (or just berry soup)

• Avocado toast

• Raspberry muffins

• Juice served in wine glasses

• Overnight oats in a mason jar (symbolic, no need to eat)

✉️ Invitation example

💕 Theme: White Girl on Instagram
Come as if you're arriving from a café workspace, yoga, or a photo shoot – the point isn't reality, it's how everything looks.

🖥️ Ironic roles

Costume parties aren't just about dragons and Harry Potters. The best outfits are often the ones that make people laugh, ask "what even are you?", or admire your creativity without a big budget. Here are some of the best ideas from TikTok trends, ironic humor, and pop culture:

🎀 Essex Elegance

When fake tan, leopard print, and false lashes meet "sophistication."
– Style: crop top, too-short skirt, extra-long fake nails, and dramatic makeup.
– Accessories: plastic tiara, prosecco mug, and more confidence than outfit.
→ Make it an Essex-themed night: host a "Miss Essex 2025" fashion show and reward the most over-the-top style.

🧍‍♂️ "IT support"

– Jeans, t-shirt, hoodie, cap. Carry a USB stick or LAN cable. Looks like you accidentally came to the party.

🧃 "Me on a weekday"

– Exactly what you wear at home: sweatpants, blanket, coffee cup, and messy hair.

📧 Spam mail

– Attach flyers, old emails, or "Dear friend" headlines to yourself. Optionally walk around handing out bad deals.

🥣 Cereal killer

– Breakfast cereal glued to clothes + knife + fake blood = a killer breakfast.

📦 Parcel

– Brown cardboard box + "FRAGILE" sticker + address label → done. Walk slowly and don't answer questions right away.

💼 Burnout

– Oversized sweatshirt, wool socks, dark circles (can be drawn with makeup), energy drink, and an empty stare.

📺 YouTube tutorial from 2009

– Vlogger look: big camera around neck, overdone makeup, text stickers on chest: "remember to subscribe."

🔊 Bluetooth speaker

– Entire outfit in black, cardboard speaker (or a real one). Play yourself.

📱 Instagram Story

– Make cardboard frames with @username, "37s left," and sound icon. Walk around slowly and avoid eye contact.

🛏️ Sleep debt

– Pajamas, sleep mask, pillow on back. Just sighs and yawns all night.

💡 Tip: Choose one theme for the whole night and make it clear in the invitation. The best parties happen when guests know they can stretch the idea – or go completely over the top.

🎭 Costume parties – memories that last

Costume parties aren't just about the outfits – they're about the moments that take you out of everyday life and make you laugh weeks later. When everyone dares to step into their role, you get a celebration where personalities shine in a whole new way.

One guest arrives with a walker, another in glitter, and a third with a cereal box on their head – and that's exactly why the atmosphere is free, relaxed, and full of surprises.

The best memories aren't made of perfection but of the courage to be a little too much. Costume parties give permission for that – and that's why they stay in your mind.