Costume inspiration from 2016’s most memorable moments

It’s easy for college students to get stuck in a time vortex: One blink and it’s Thanksgiving break, another blink and it’s winter break, another and it’s graduation. In the same way, whether you have mentally prepared or not, “Halloweekend” is suddenly upon us.

If you’re like me and have yet to even browse Pinterest for inspiration, you can still switch up your costume from the usual cat ears and black dress. Luckily, 2016 has produced loads of costume-worthy pop culture moments for inspiration.

Here are a few ideas for some relevant costumes that you could easily recreate on your own:

Olympian: Our televisions were blessed by some pretty amazing athletes during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Why not grab your girls and dress up as the Final Five? Or, if you’re feeling bold, bleach your hair and dress up as the infamous Ryan Lochte!

Pokémon trainer: The interactive game “Pokémon Go” took the world by storm in 2016, so represent your favorite team (Instinct, Mystic, or Valor) as a trainer. Or, if you want to go all out, dress up as your favorite Pokémon.

Presidential candidate: So far, the 2016 presidential election has been one of the most controversial in history. So, naturally it would be a conversation starter to dress up as either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. Need a couples’ costume? Go out as either Donald and Melania or Hillary and Bill!

“Star Wars” character: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was one of the most highly anticipated and most well-received films this past year, and “Star Wars” mania has been on the rise ever since. Grab your squad and dress as Rey, Finn, BB-8, and Kylo Ren. Or, if you’re feeling old school “Star Wars”, break out the Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Darth Vader costumes.

Beyoncé in “Lemonade”: In April, Beyoncé shook the world with the release of her visual album, “Lemonade.” She wears a few different iconic outfits throughout the album, so there are plenty for you and your friends to recreate for Halloween. Probably the most popular? Her flowing yellow dress, black heels, and baseball bat in “Hold Up.”