Here are some travel-related costumes to get you inspired this Halloween!
World/Earth
Always a classic! I’ve also seen a few DIY versions of these with papier-mâché, if you have time. Here’s an idea – Pin the places you’ve been on the globe. Also, I have seen ‘Mother Earth’ costumes for expectant mothers.
Travel Bug
A spin off of the previous costume, this is a cute play on the term ‘travel bug’. With maps as a skirt, pipe cleaner antennas and wings, it’s an easy DIY costume.
Passport
This UC Berkeley Study Abroad group had a genius, easy to make costume using the old sandwich board trick! You could also wear a navy blue tube dress and stitch letters/insignia on the front. Make sure you carry around a stamp to allow others to stamp your passport!
Amelia Earhart / Pilot
I recommend going as famed aviator, Amelia Earhart! It’s fairly easy to find some of these pieces in your wardrobe. If you don’t want to go with the vintage look, you can also try a current pilot uniform, or the olive green flight suit, made famous by Top Gun. For a group costume, consider a pilot with his/her flight attendants.
Sailor
Along the same lines as a pilot, sailor is another popular choice when it comes to traveling the world! Get an actual sailor outfit from your local army surplus store, or buy through a costume retailer. The varieties of these nautical themed costumes are endless!
Astronaut
Who says you’re restricted to travel on this world? Whether you pick silver, orange or the classic white jumpsuit, an astronaut costume will be out of this world, every Halloween! Get the official NASA one as an extra boost, and don’t forget the big helmet!
Where’s Waldo?
One of the most famous tourists for getting lost in various times and places, Waldo is known for his striped shirt, hat and glasses. For extra accessories, don’t forget his cane and a camera!
Carmen Sandiego
International woman of mystery, this is one of my favorites. Easy to replicate with every day items, all you need is the red coat and big red hat, with yellow accessories. Makes a great couples costume with Waldo.
Carl from Up
Not only is this one of my favorite wanderlust movies of all time, it provides so many opportunities for a good costume. Whether you’re the Carl (the old man), Russell (the boy scout), Ellie (the young girl), or Kevin (the giant tropical bird), or a couples/group costume with all of the above. Colorful balloons are the key accessory to all of those costumes, which has the added bonus of your friends being able to find you easily.
Cultural Appropriation Note:
Please remember that dressing up as an ethnicity or culture (ex. a Geisha, or Gypsy, or Parisian Mime), with stereotypical accessories is cultural appropriation and disrespectful. You might be encouraging a negative stigma about their culture. Also, the same is true of the costumes that are professional careers. I left them in the list, however I ask that you please be wary of making any negative commentary on an individual’s chosen profession.