As We See It

The top costumes for Halloween 2013—and how to do them better

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You want to “get lucky” this Halloween? Sequins and helmets, my friend.

Google knows everything, including what you’re going to be for Halloween this year. According to Google Shopping, trending costume searches include the Minions from Despicable Me (1 and 2), Breaking Bad characters and, sorry fathers everywhere, Miley.

Here, we break down the pros and cons of some of the season’s hot looks and how to do them better than everyone else.

Miley Cyrus.

Miley Cyrus.

Miley Cyrus

Spare your groans. We know and you know that Ms. Cyrus is going to be everywhere come October 31, along with lots of tongue, foam fingers and some Arizona Iced Tea.

Pros: Minimal clothing required. High recognition factor.

Cons: Wearing hot pants. Feeling slightly dirty afterwards. All those people dressed as Robin Thicke will expect you to twerk for them.

Do it better: Use your imagination and go as Miley age 30, or bring a friend dressed as Terry Richardson for maximum skeaziness.

Cause who wants to wear pants on Halloween?

Walter White

Call him Walt, Mr. White or Heisenberg, with fans still mourning the end of Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston’s meth mogul is the go-to costume for bald men everywhere this year.

Pros: Supremely quotable. Awesome accessories. Totally reasonable excuse for wearing tightie-whities in public.

Cons: How many times can you really say, “I am the one who knocks”? Plus, October is a little cold for underwear.

Do it better: Forget Walter White, be Saul Goodman.

Now start practicing the voice.

Minions

Move over, Miley. The No. 1 trending costume as of this week is this lovable cartoon character, which works for kids and adults.

Pros: Overalls, goggles, black gloves, yellow face paint. There, you’re done.

Cons: You’ll look just like your neighbor—and his five-year-old kid.

Do it better: Swap the yellow paint for purple, grab a wig and go as the purple minion. Or just wear your normal clothes. You’re probably someone’s minion already.

So, what does the fox say?

A fox

If this one’s drawing a blank it’s probably because you’ve been missing out on Norwegian band Ylvis’ viral music video “What Does the Fox Say?” Stop reading right now and watch it. … Okay, now that you’ve caught up on pop culture, let’s continue.

Pros: Doing that awesome dance from the video. Again and again and again.

Cons: Doing that awesome dance from the video. Again and again and again.

Do it better: Add some running shoes and go as Fleet Foxes. Or add some heavy eyeliner and a push-up bra and be Megan Fox.

You want to "get lucky" this Halloween? Sequins and helmets, my friend.

Daft Punk

Want to “Get Lucky” on Halloween? Spend the night channeling the French duo and you’ll have a way better chance than just being you.

Pros: Cool blazers, cool gloves, cool helmets, cool transparent instruments.

Cons: Wearing a helmet for the whole night is likely to get claustrophobic—and a bit sweaty.

Do it better: Go as a character from Michel Gondry’s music video for vintage Daft Punk track “Around the World.” There are synchronized disco swimmers, skeletons, mummies, robots and weirdly tall athletes with tiny heads. No one will know who you are, but that’s half the fun.

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