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As October winds down and invites to Halloween parties pour in, the quest for the best costume begins. When you can dress up as anything you want, why settle for just being a witch when you can have the most creative outfit in the crowd? Try one of these great get-ups, inspired by the best—and worst—of 2009.

Lady Gaga

She’s bringing crazy back—and the world is loving it. Go Gaga with the most future-fabulous outfit you’ve got! This breakout performer favors body-conscious pieces with exaggerated construction—notice how she always gives the appearance of moving architecture. You can achieve a similar look by wearing a very short, high-structure dress—or a leotard, if you’re feeling daring—with towering heels and oversized shades. For an interesting element, try manipulating tin foil into quirky shapes and attaching the result to your outfit. Makeup is a huge factor in Lady Gaga’s image, so don’t forget the geisha-style lipstick and lightning eye-makeup. Add the Donatella Versace blonde wig and you’ll be ready to Just Dance!

Coco Chanel

With the 2009 release of French biopic “Coco Avant Chanel” starring Audrey Tautou in the eponymous role, the most elegant of all fashion designers has once again proven her timeless appeal. To pull off Chanel, you’ll need pearls, a black pantsuit, and a whole lot of class. Remember, this is the woman who made slacks chic, so both you and Katharine Hepburn have much to thank her for. Keep your outfit clean, sophisticated, and—except for the beads and some fierce red lipcolor—unadorned. Hold a long cigarette filter between your fingers as the finishing touch.

Sarah Palin

Some love her, others hate her—but what’s certain is that everybody now knows her. Governor Sarah Palin gave the Republican Party a facelift when she showed up on the election scene in all her former beauty-queen glory. Now she’s back in the headlines after resigning from her Alaskan post and simultaneously releasing her first book—a bestseller even before it went on sale. With one of the most iconic appearances in modern politics, Palin’s look is immediately identifiable—it’s all in the hair! Visit your salon for the half-up, half-down ‘do with a frontal pompadour and fringe bangs. Then put on some rimless glasses and a conservative blazer (complete with the stars and stripes, of course), and see if your friends don’t call you Sexy Sarah.