12 Halloween Costume Ideas That Will Only Work in 2016

Wear 'em now, cause come next year they'll make absolutely no sense.

Some Halloween costumes are classics. Batman. Superman. Spiderman. Other things that aren't superheroes. But some are quick-burning of-the-moment cultural touchstones that are so tied to this year in culture that they really only work the one time. Below are 10 costumes that are the most apropos for October 31, 2016, and will be forgotten forever come November 1.

1. Eleven from Stranger Things

What You'll Need: Hospital gown, wire brain tracker thingy, fake blood dripping from nose.

Why It's Only Going to Work This Year: Stranger Things will be back next year, but it's hard to think the Netflix show is going to get any more popular than it is right now. The reason this version of Eleven is the one to go as is because the sweatsuit vibes aren't specific enough (even if they're on trend), and the dress/wig get-up might just look like you're dressed as a little blonde girl. Also: Don't be Barb. Forget what you heard, Barb is lame. And as far as fake martyrs go, she ain't no Harambe. Speaking of which...

2. Harambe

What You'll Need: Gorilla costume, angel wings

Why It's Only Going to Work This Year: In 2016 Harambe became America's favorite fake martyr, and one of the biggest memes in recent history. But it's a meme that's hit critical mass (see: crying Jordan), and Halloween is the perfect time to send off our beloved, fallen gorilla into the sunset for good. Rest in peace, sweet prince.

3. Lin-Manuel Miranda

What You'll Need: Colonial garb, ponytail, goatee

Why It's Only Going to Work This Year: Broadway musical Hamilton was a cultural sensation this year, causing record ticket sales and elevating Lin-Manuel Miranda, the shows creator, to A-List celebrity status. (It also landed him a GQ cover, on newstands now 😉.) But Lin-Manuel cut his ponytail, shaved his goatee, and is longer in his own show (or even in New York City). 2016 was the year of Hamilton, but it's hard to imagine many will be rapping "My Shot" in 2017.

4. Ryan Lochte

What You'll Need: Bleach blond hair, Olympic-y lookin medals, team U.S.A. tracksuit, swim goggles, a polygraph machine

Why It's Only Going to Work This Year: Because Lochte's olympic career is over, so, pending a (new, actually successful) reality show based on his life, there's about an 80% chance we'll never hear about him, his lying, or his signature catchphrase—J'YEAH!—ever again.

5. Jared Leto's Joker

What You'll Need: Purple reptile trench coat, cane, green hair, Joker-y things yada yada, gift box.

Why It's Only Going to Work This Year: We love Jared Leto's acting chops, but Suicide Squad is one of the hottest hot mess hyped-up summer movies we can recall. Example: Despite only being in the movie for a couple scenes, Jared Leto's bold, new-look Joker was plastered basically on every street corner in America. We know sequels are in the works, but it's going to take a few years before we can stomach all of Leto's Joker-y-ness—weird gifts included—once again.

6. Colin Kaepernick

What You'll Need: 49ers jersey, big-ass afro

Why It's Only Going to Work This Year: Big caveat here: If you're white, you shouldn't go as Colin Kaepernick. Is there a universe where a white person just wears a Kaepernick jersey, carries around a small American flag and kneels from time to time? Maybe. But I sure wouldn't want to be the one to test this theory out. And for the love of all that is holy on earth, if you do go as him, no afros and no 👏 brown 👏 face 👏 paint 👏 .

7. Creepy Clown

What You'll Need: Your standard-issue clown costume

Why It's Only Going to Work This Year: It's already kind of too late for clowns in terms of whatever good will they still had with society. But after this year, not only can we not see anyone looking at a clown the same way again, but chances are the creepy clown trend will have died down. [Disclaimer: GQ is not responsible should wearing a creepy clown costume cause people to be terrified of you/hate you/physically harm you in any way. That shit's on you, bro.]

8. Single Brad Pitt

What You'll Need: Newsboy cap, aviators, goatee, stroller, many dolls in a stroller, George Clooney on speed dial

Why It's Only Going to Work This Year: Call us crazy, but we don't think Brad Pitt is going to be single for long. As famous and handsome and handsomely famous as he is, he's only been in two relationships for his entire famous life. So, strike while the irons hot (if, admittedly, somewhat heartbreaking) on this one.

9. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant

What You'll Need: Fur coat, fake bear scratches (or real ones if you're as committed as Leo to the role), boots with the fur, an Oscar

Why It Only Works This Year: It seems like a lifetime ago that we were all cheering on DiCaprio for taking home his first Oscar, but the movie he won it for—The Revenant—doesn't have enough re-watchability to give the character any staying power as a costume. The average person only has so much capacity to watch a man crawl and drool through the snow before it starts to get old, ya know? The same is true of looking at you dressed up as the crawling, drooling man too.

10. Donald Trump

On second thought, just do us all a favor and, don't go as Trump. The Republican nominee doesn't need any more attention. More importantly, even you hate the guy, when it's dark and people are on the sauce, you're still going to look like a supporter parading around in orange make-up. If you must, however, the secret to success is this: Take the arms off a baby doll and hold on to them with your real hands underneath your sleeves, which will create for the real Trump signature look. Either that or just wear a clown costume, which is basically the same thing. (See above for instructions.)

11. Ken Bone

What You'll Need: Red sweater, mustache, glasses, creepy vibes

Why It Only Works This Year: Ken Bone was the perfect example of modern day culture. He gained famed overnight for being a lovable midwestern man, and days later he was destroyed by his own Reddit comments. Halloween is the day when Ken Bone as a cultural symbol is finally put to rest.

12. David S. Pumpkins

What You'll Need: A black suit with printed pumpkins, curly wig

Why It Only Works This Year: There's no doubt Tom Hanks absolutely crushed when he recently hosted SNL. (Take: "Black Jeopardy" was the best SNL skit of the past five years.) But the most notable character from the episode was definitely David Pumpkins, an absurd, nonsensical joke that everyone lost their minds over this week. But once Halloween 2016 is gone, the joke of David Pumpkins will go the way of actual pumpkins and should be disposed of as such.

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