7 Charlotte-themed Halloween costumes for 2021

Let’s break the basic trends with some Charlotte-themed costumes that you can put together in minutes.

(1) Mayor Vi Lyles in a 704 hoodie

This summer, Mayor Lyles modeled for 704 Shop in a black hoodie with the classic Charlotte crown logo on the front. She also tried on several other pieces from the Shop and kept her signature pearls on for each picture.

What you’ll need: 

• This 704 Shop hoodie
• Or this t-shirt, or this sweatshirt
• Gray slacks
• Pearls
• An Apple watch

(2) Mick Jagger at the Thirsty Beaver

We’re not over it, either. The fact that the Mick Jagger was at the Thirsty Beaver and nobody noticed is just about the most Charlotte thing to happen all year.

What you’ll need: 

• Black baseball cap
• Black leather jacket
• Beer bottle
• A long-haired wig

Bonus: Grab a few friends in leather jackets and plaid shirts to sit around you and stare obliviously into the distance.

(3) LaMelo in neon

Last week, the Hornets’ LaMelo Ball turned heads in a neon suit at a press conference. It’s from his lifestyle fashion brand, LaFrancé, Axios’ Ashley Mahoney reported. The suit is not available online yet, but you can DIY a version for yourself.

What you’ll need: 

• I found this knock-off suit on Amazon for $40. Or you can try this neon raincoat for half the price
• Black turtle neck
• Gold chain
• Gold watch
• Black sunglasses

Bonus: A neon Lamborghini to match.

(4) Wilmore Funeral Home truck driver

You might have spotted a black truck around the city advertising for a “funeral home.” The truck, which read “don’t get vaccinated,” turned heads before a Panthers’ game one Sunday, reported Axios’ Symphony Webber. They even created a fake website that leads you to StarMed‘s website. 

The ad was actually the brainchild of advertisers at BooneOakley — and specifically our friend Mary Gross, who by the way came up with the 2015 list of Charlotte-themed costumes for then-Charlotte Agenda.

Photo: David Oakley/ BooneOakley

What you’ll need: 

• A black shirt that says “Don’t get vaccinated” on the front and with the funeral home logo on the back (drawn with fabric markers)
• A chauffeur hat
• A plastic vaccine syringe

Bonus: Ghoul makeup ala Disney’s Haunted Mansion.

(5) Penguin Drive-In sign holder

The iconic Penguin sign was removed from its original Plaza Midwood location last month, to avoid confusing people with the new location in Dilworth, reports Axios’ Emma Way. A new sign is up, and the original is on display at the Charlotte Museum of History.

What you’ll need: 

• White t-shirt
• Cardboard cutout with the Penguin logo draped over your shoulders.

Bonus: You could add the “Plaza Midwood: Home of the Dead Penguin” shirt for good measure.

(6) A fan at Duke’s Mayo Classic

This year’s game between Clemson and Georgia brought tens of thousands of fans to the city — and they got a little rowdy before the game. And some got even rowdier by eating entire tubs of mayo during the game.

• What you’ll need: 
• A Clemson T-shirt
• Or a Georgia Bulldog shirt
• A large jar of Duke’s mayonnaise

Bonus: Please don’t eat the whole jar of mayo. 🤢

(7) The Gateway to Gastonia

Live from New York, it’s the “Gateway to Gastonia!” Charlotte made it onto the Saturday Night Live stage when Kenan Thompson did a skit as LaVar Ball (LaMelo’s dad). He went on to say the Queen City is “The regional banking capital of the world!” 

What you’ll need: 

• This shirt from BreakingT
• Blazer
• A briefcase to make you look like a professional regional banker

Bonus: Bald cap and mustache to complete the LaVar Ball look.