5 Creative Group Costume Ideas

Gathering friends and family together and creating group Halloween costumes is a great way to get into the spirit of the season. It's also an opportunity to bond, stretch your imagination, and win costume contests. Groups who really want to stand out and make an impression need to think outside the box of traditional group costumes and flex their creativity. There are tons of options, ranging from small groups to mid-size gatherings to large parties of unlimited numbers.

1 Social Media Icons
 Social Media Icons Find inspiration on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for a totally tweet-worthy and pinnable costume idea. To execute this simple and inexpensive idea, the only item group members need are sandwich boards painted to resemble each website's icon. For a consistent look, each person should wear the same neutral colors underneath the sandwich board, such as all black or a white shirt with black pants.

2 Characters of Clue
A group of six or more can dress up as the characters from the original Clue board game, including Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, and Mr. Green. Each character has a distinct look. For example, Miss Scarlett wears a dramatic red ball gown, while Colonel Mustard wears a jungle explorer costume and safari hat. Many people may have appropriate clothing already in their closets. Ask each participant to carry a faux version of one of the iconic weapons, from a rope to a wrench.

3 Tetris Pieces
 Tetris Pieces These gloriously geometric outfits are a perfect fit for a group of vintage video game enthusiasts. Construct three-dimensional Tetris pieces from cardboard boxes, and paint each one a different color. Cut holes for the wearer's head and arms, leaving the piece entirely open at the bottom for the legs to move freely. These costumes make for great pictures, so keep a camera handy, but they are bulky and may not be the best choice for a crowded Halloween party.

4 Minions from "Despicable Me"

The cute, yellow minions from the Disney-Pixar "Despicable Me" franchise offer a flexible group costume appropriate for men, women, and kids. Complete minion costumes are widely available, many of which consist of large, foam bodysuits. On the other hand, putting together a DIY costume is simple. Each member of the group needs:

There are no limits to how many minions to include in a group. To mix things up, ask one group member to dress as the one-eyed purple minion from "Despicable Me 2." All this person needs to do is substitute the yellow T-shirt for a purple one and wear a shaggy plum-colored wig.

5 Food-Themed Group Costumes

From peanut butter and jelly to pickles and ice cream, there are tons of classic culinary combos that make great costumes. Some of these delectable ideas require a certain number of people, while others leave room for last-minute additions.

Food Costumes for a Certain Number
A popular pairing such as a BLT sandwich includes anywhere from three to five people. Other fun food costumes for a limited number of participants include:

S'more ingredients: chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows
Six-pack of your favorite beverage
Hot dog with ketchup and mustard
Package of traditional M&Ms: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, and brown
These classic combos are fun and easy to recognize. They are an especially safe, neutral option for groups of co-workers as well.

Food Costumes for an Infinite Number
For larger groups, or those who need more flexibility, a food theme is still doable. For example, ask people to dress as their favorite condiment, candy bar, or cookie. Another food-related idea is to dress up as a food brand mascot, such as Ronald McDonald, Mr. Peanut, or Tony the Tiger.