- October 29, 2025
- By Karen Shih ’09
Here’s “How It’s Done” if you want to “Takedown” your friends’ costumes this week: Don’t just default to a pre-made Frankenstein ensemble off Amazon or the same flirty cat ears and tail you pull out of your closet once a year. Inject a little Terp spirit into your getup before you head out on Friday with these nine ideas, featuring some well-known (and perhaps surprising!) University of Maryland connections.
Zoey courtesy of Sony; Rei Ami by Getty Images
From left, Zoey from "KPop Demon Hunters" and Rei Ami, a.k.a. Sarah Lee, backstage at "The Tonight Show."
Zoey from “KPop Demon Hunters”
Clip on some bangs, grab a teal cropped halter top, and buy some blue and yellow harem pants so you can have a “Golden” moment as “Zoey” from Netflix’s smash animated hit, “KPop Demon Hunters.” (And that was the last of its song titles we’ll shoehorn into this story.) Alumna Sarah Lee ’18, known by her stage name Rei Ami, provided her singing voice and performed on “The Tonight Show” and “Saturday Night Live” earlier this month.
Courtesy of Disney
Muppets characters by Jim Henson ’60
Maybe you’re high-maintenance like Miss Piggy. A little wild like Animal. Or needing a best friend like Ernie. In honor of founder Jim Henson ’60, dress like your favorite Muppet. Or emulate the man himself with a bushy beard, longish hair and flannel shirt—plus a little plush Kermit on your shoulder.
NASA
Astronaut Jeanette Epps M.S. '94, Ph.D. '00
Aim for the stars with an all-white space suit and helmet and transform yourself into astronaut Jeanette Epps M.S. '94, Ph.D. '00, who spent 235 days in orbit last year aboard the International Space Station.
Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle
President Darryll J. Pines, left, and Jeff Kinney '93, right, unveil the Greg Heffley "Wimpy Kid" statue in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union during Maryland Day 2023.
“The Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney ’93
If Greg Heffley’s troubles mirrored your own throughout your tween years, try downloading a “Wimpy Kid” mask and wearing a white T-shirt and black backpack. (Check out the statue in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union for inspiration.) The iconic middle schooler, created by author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney ’93, is featured in more than 20 books, movies and even a video game.
Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Patriots player Stefon Diggs
Terps football fans: Put on some shoulder pads, blue jersey with his number, 8, and a silver helmet to be Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs—or maybe pay tribute to American history with a tricorn hat. (And bonus, it’s easy to figure out a partner costume: Diggs’ girlfriend, rapper Cardi B.)
G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images
Scott Van Pelt, center, with ESPN broadcasters at a Terps game.
Sportscaster Scott Van Pelt
Feeling lazy? Turn yourself into Terp superfan and ESPN sportscaster Scott Van Pelt with a pair of glasses, a red Under Armor quarter-zip and two fists raised in victory.
Demons courtesy of The CW; headshot from IMDB
From left, demons called "The Gentlemen" from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and Gail Berman '78
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” monsters
If you want to take the more classic Halloween route and dress up as a vampire, werewolf or demon, take your pick of spooky supernatural creatures from 144 episodes of the Sarah Michelle Gellar-helmed TV series, produced by Gail Berman ’78.
Spider-Man courtesy of Sony; photo by Ben Fractenberg
From left, Miles Morales as Spider-Man and Jason Reynolds '05
Spider-Man (the Miles Morales version)
Swing from the rafters (or just imagine you can) by living out your childhood dream of becoming Spider-Man. Jason Reynolds ’05, a prolific author of kids’ and young adult books and a MacArthur Genius Grant winner, wrote two books in the Marvel universe, “Miles Morales: Spider-Man” and “Miles Morales: Suspended.”
Courtesy of Columbia-TriStar
The "St. Elmo's Fire" cast. Clockwise from top left: Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Andrew McCarthy, Ally Sheedy, Demi Moore and Mare Winningham.
Brat Pack looks from “St. Elmo’s Fire”
Crimp your hair sky-high and grab your biggest scrunchie. Thrift a blazer with big ol’ shoulder pads. Dig out some colorful Jams shorts or red suspenders and bow tie as an homage to the Brat Pack members who filmed the 1985 movie “St. Elmo’s Fire” on campus.