They tap directly into the broader pop culture zeitgeist. Over Halloween weekend, stars moved beyond traditional spooky tropes, embracing practical special effects, music video homages, archival runway looks, and viral social media humor. From elaborate horror transformations to family photoshoots, these were the celebrity looks that shaped social media feeds this season.
The Queen of Halloween: Heidi Klum Goes Severed
Heidi Klum expanded her long-running tradition of extreme holiday transformations at her 25th annual New York City party. Created alongside prosthetic special-effects artist Mike Marino, Klum spent the evening encased inside an oversized, blood-soaked severed left hand featuring detailed veins, red manicured nails, a tattoo of husband Tom Kaulitz's name, and custom jewelry matching her own rings. Supported on the blue carpet by handlers in blood-stained yellow hazmat suits, with only her eyes and mouth visible through a gash on the wrist, the elaborate practical-effects build stood out as one of the night's most technical visual feats.
The Archival Homage: Zendaya as Halle Berry
Working with stylist Law Roach, Zendaya brought red -carpet history to the feed by wearing the vintage Lanvin Fall 2000 two-piece ensemble originally worn by Halle Berry to the 2000 X-Men premiere. Sporting the yellow-and-brown patterned top, low-rise trousers, pointed-toe heels, a sleek pixie cut, and dark tinted sunglasses, the look captured immediate attention online — drawing a side-by-side appreciation post from Berry herself.
Ethereal Fantasy: Halle Bailey’s Butterfly Transformation
Halle Bailey leaned into a whimsical, colorful aesthetic by transforming into a butterfly. Posing in an Instagram post, she wore a pink-and-purple, butterfly-printed, two-piece set paired with oversized matching wings and delicate butterfly hair clips tucked into her locs. In her caption, Halle highlighted the personal meaning behind the look, sharing that she "decided I’m a butterfly because I always rise above," offering a vibrant, symbolic contrast to traditional spooky holiday themes.
Cinematic Couples: Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker as Scarface
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker turned to 1980s cinema, stepping into the roles of Tony Montana and Elvira Hancock from Scarface. Kourtney wore an ice-blue slip dress, white coat, and blonde bob, while Travis wore a grey suit and dark wig alongside a yellow vintage convertible, framing their rollout around famous stills from the 1983 film.
Iconic High Fashion: Doechii Channels Grace Jones
Doechii focused on sharp silhouette and cultural authority by embodying Grace Jones’s iconic role in the 1992 film Boomerang. Styled in an angular black blazer, dark shades, bold red lip, and a flat-top hairstyle under her self-captioned "Trap Grace Jones" tribute, the minimal, high-fashion presentation highlighted how precise styling can carry an homage without heavy props.
Internet Culture: Chlöe Bailey as "Hot Meg Griffin"
Chlöe Bailey answered online fan jokes by transforming into "Hot Meg Griffin" from "Family Guy". Posing in an Instagram carousel rollout, she combined a pink crop top, low-rise denim mini, silver knee-high boots, and wire-frame glasses under a magenta beanie, turning a cult-favorite animated gag into a viral fashion moment.
Pop Culture Family Royalty: Keke Palmer & Leo Channel Michael & Janet Jackson
Keke Palmer teamed up with her son, Leodis, to recreate Michael and Janet Jackson’s 1995 "Scream" music video. Keke wore Janet’s futuristic black textured sweater and short bob cut, while Leo wore Michael’s black bubble top and silver trousers, staging the shoot against a stark white backdrop to mirror the original set.
Meta-Parenting: Kim Kardashian Dresses as North West
Kim Kardashian took a self-referential route, dressing up directly as her oldest daughter North West. Recreating North’s signature cyber-goth alt style, Kim posed in waist-length, electric-blue hair, black grills, faux facial studs, spiked cuffs, and a heavy graphic necklace paired with long nails. The tongue-in-cheek transformation tapped directly into viral internet humor and mother-daughter dynamics, showing how family social media presence continues to shape seasonal costuming.
Vampire Glam: Megan Thee Stallion as the Brides of Dracula
Megan Thee Stallion brought cinematic horror to the feed by referencing the 2004 cult-classic film Van Helsing. Transforming into Dracula’s three brides — Verona, Aleera, and Marishka — Megan portrayed all three characters herself in a single photoshoot. Dressed in ornate pink, green, and gold embellished costumes featuring dramatic wigs, high-fashion styling, and high-neck ruffs, the shoot brought the film’s gothic aesthetic to life through a striking visual tribute.
Celebrity Branding: Paris Hilton’s 2026 Rollout
Paris Hilton continued her seasonal posting strategy with a targeted 2026 lineup. Her primary solo look paid homage to Britney Spears’s 2001 MTV VMAs performance of "I'm a Slave 4 U", referencing the iconic snake routine with a live yellow python named Tango. She paired her music tributes with themed family group sets, dressing her household in Beauty and the Beast and The Addams Family ensembles to round out her holiday feeds.
These rollouts highlight how celebrity Halloween has evolved. Beyond simple dress-up, the holiday operates as an extension of personal branding, fan interaction, and media commentary. Whether through archival fashion pulls, practical FX work, or viral internet references, stars are using October 31 to anchor themselves within current pop culture conversations.
