Avoiding Halloween panic: Last minute Bristol-themed costumes to stick out from the crowd

Halloween is just around the corner so cue the annual dilemma: How can you come up with a killer costume that isn’t just another overdone devil or sexy cat?

Fear not, The Bristol Tab has got you covered with costumes a little more original, and something only a true Bristol student could pull off. Why not pay homage to some iconic Bristol culture with these quirky, Bristol-inspired Halloween costumes?

It’s time to retire that ancient devil costume away and do one of these fabulous and original Bristol-inspired Halloween costumes.

1. Scorpion and Shein Package

Perfect for couples or bestie duos, this Halloween costume is timely, topical and sure to give people a giggle once you explain why you’re only wearing a Shein bag. One person can go all out in a scorpion costume (we’re talking pointy claws and a long tail), while the other just… wears the Shein packaging. Why not get super meta with it and order your costume from Shein (hopefully without the free pet…)

2. Ghost of Mbargo

Dearly departed, you will forever live on in our memories. Gone, but never forgotten. While this costume will be entirely lost on Freshers (some may say they’re missing out, others will say thank GOD), it will pull on the heartstrings of Bristol uni veterans. Throw on some classic club gear and drape yourself in a ghostly white sheet. For added authenticity, carry an empty VK bottle and maybe a cardboard cutout of Mbargo’s iconic shot trays.

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For a fun duo idea, why not grab a mate to dress as a giant VK bottle? You could pair up as the ultimate Mbargo combo: the ghost of Mbargo past and everyone’s favorite fluorescent drink! Together, you’ll embody the essence of every Bristol student’s midweek memories—sticky floors and questionable cheesy music.

3. Overheardatuob

Why not dress up as Bristol’s very own sleuthing campus detective and tear down everyone from Wills Hall residents to ski trip attendees with scathingly accurate overheard quotes all night long. Get yourself some classic detective gear – a trench coat, magnifying glass, maybe even a notebook to jot down the “overheard” gossip of the night.

Be careful though, the Overheardatu0b eyes are always watching… This costume might condemn you to a feature on their Instagram story for all to see…

4. Bristol Stool Chart

This one is for those bold enough to embrace the weird and wonderful. Did you know that Bristol is home to the infamous Bristol Stool Chart, a medical tool that classifies human faeces into seven different types? It’ll be a conversation starter, to say the least. Assemble your group and assign each person a “stool type” (yes, really). With some creative DIY work, you can make each type into a visual spectacle.

Sure, it’s a little gross, but it’s also a niche part of Bristol’s history that will leave people talking – whether they want to or not.

5. Victim of Freshers’ Flu

Spice up the overdone zombie look by turning yourself into a tragic, yet all-too-real, victim of Freshers’ Flu. Wear one of those free t-shirts that some club rep threw at you during Fresher’s Week, get yourself some fake snot (or maybe it’s real, considering how cold it is), dark circles under your eyes, and clutch a packet of knock-off Lemsip as you struggle through the night. Don’t forget to cough dramatically into your elbow while reassuring everyone, “It’s just allergies, I swear!”

Just try not to get too into character or you might end up with this plague in real life – how is everyone still ill at this point.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Not sure how to spend spooky season? Here are Bristol’s best Halloween events this year
• Ten Halloween costumes we DON’T want to see this year
• Bristol beware: The most haunted locations around Bristol University