Stumped about what to dress up as this Halloween? Never fear! Daze has come up with a list of the top costumes of 2009.

Ranging from "serious" current events (Recession and Swine Flu) to pop culture phenoms (Lady Gaga, Jon and Kate + 8, and Beyoncé as the original Single Lady, among others), these costumes are guaranteed to amuse, frighten or some combination of the two.

The RecessionThe Recession

WHY THIS COSTUME FOR 2009: The perfect costume for every senior who has been asked “so what are you doing next year?” and has absolutely nothing to say. Side note: To those seniors with jobs, congratulations / we hate you. But instead of hating the recession, embrace it for one night. Forget about the budget cuts and that “Reimagining Cornell” bulls*** and just enjoy Halloween.

HOW TO DO IT: Find hole-ridden, falling apart clothes from the bottom of your closet, and get one last use out of them. It’s the recession — who can afford new duds? Depressing. If you can afford it — and we get it if you can’t — buy two poster boards and write something disheartening on them such as: “Thanks Cornell for getting me all those job offers … NOT!” or “I love my big red unemployment check!” Make sure to carry your smartphone in hopes that a potential employer will finally contact you. Everyone will get your costume and sympathize with you. Maybe they’ll even buy you a drink, you know, since you can’t afford one yourself.

TwilightTwilight

WHY THIS COSTUME FOR 2009: With Twilight, True Blood and Vampire Diaries as the objects of lustful obsession for thousands of people and gaining fans by the second, 2009 is the Year of the Vampire.

HOW TO DO IT: Being a vampire isn’t just about buying a pair of fangs and calling it a day (ahem, we mean night). It’s all about the aura you project: darkness and mystery. Dark clothes and gelled up hair are good for the Edward Cullen effect. Pale makeup with blood red lips, even better. (This goes for girls AND guys … this is Halloween — be bold!). And speaking of blood, notice the bite marks on this human girl’s neck? It’s just another extra touch to make this costume stand out when a fellow Halloween reveler is getting up close and personal.

Sookie StackhouseSookie Stackhouse

WHY THIS COSTUME FOR 2009: HBO’s hit show True Blood is probably the most popular of the vampire franchises among the college crowd. Mind-reading waitress Sookie Stackhouse (a bottle blonde Anna Paquin) is a big part of that success, and she makes a perfect alter ego for this cute but creepy holiday.

HOW TO DO IT: Spending a lot of her time at work at the Merlotte’s Bar and Grill, Sookie’s most recognizable look is her waitress uniform. Pair a white t-shirt with some tight black shorts (go for spandex if you think you can pull it off). The extra touches will make this costume Sookie-specific: Wear a green apron, and either draw the Merlotte’s logo on or make a paper version that you can attach to your shirt. And of course, don’t forget the most important accessory of all: the accent. Bring that Southern charm out to the bars this weekend!

Where the Wild Things AreWhere the Wild Things Are

WHY THIS COSTUME FOR 2009: In Where the Wild Things Are, the recently released movie based on the beloved children’s book, creative little boy Max drifts off into his own fantasy land. Halloween, as you all know, is basically the same situation.

HOW TO DO IT: For this one, you might want to enlist the aid of a friend in the FSAD department. The Max costume can be made following a pattern for a wolf costume. And don’t forget his crown! To transform into a Wild Thing, make your own HUMONGOUS mask.

Lady GagaLady Gaga

WHY THIS COSTUME FOR 2009: Lady Gaga is the hottest pop star of 2009, with her number one hits and electrifying performances. Whether you’re looking for “Boys, Boys, Boys” or hiding from “Paparazzi” with your “Poker Face,” this costume is sure to be memorable. This singer always looks like she’s dressed up for Halloween; from Kermit the Frog inspired tops to a dress of bubbles, providing endless inspiration for you to choose from this Halloween.

HOW TO DO IT: If you aren’t in the mood to mutilate all your stuffed animals, Daze suggests a leotard (because Gaga never wears pants) and some liquid leggings or tights. Heels are a must, as are sunglasses — because you are a celebrity this Halloween. Go crazy with the jewelry — when it comes to Lady Gaga, there are no limits. Bonus: If you want to stay in character all night, be as shocking as possible and say whatever nonsense comes to mind at Saturday night’s parties.

Swine FluSwine Flu

WHY THIS COSTUME FOR 2009: After taking Cornell’s campus by storm this year, the recent swine flu epidemic has caused sickness, anger and fear. The least that the dreaded Swine can do to make up for it all is provide the affected (i.e. infected) parties with a kick-ass costume.

HOW TO DO IT: This costume comes in two (extremely obvious, sorry) parts: the swine and the flu. For part 1, start with as much pink clothing as possible. The next step involves a little construction, but it’s nothing too serious. Twist a pipe cleaner into a curly-cue tail. Then, to make pig ears, just shape the pipe cleaners into the triangle pig ear form — if the pipe cleaners are pink, just wrap them around the outline to get the full effect. If the only pipe cleaners you can scrounge up are another color, pink materials like paper, felt or athletic pre-wrap (see below) work just as well. Attach both ears and tail with tape and/or pins. For part 2, slap on a swine flu mask (supplied by Gannett for free, of course), have some Purell handy at all times, and you are good to go. Be careful, however, when you’re partying it up — it would be a cruel Halloween joke for anyone dressed as swine flu to get sick soon after.

Jon and Kate + 8Jon and Kate + 8

WHY THIS COSTUME FOR 2009: Unless you were living under a rock this summer, you know Jon & Kate + 8. The group was tabloid fodder all summer, as the story of Jon’s infidelity and Kate’s psychosis unraveled right before our eyes. What started as a TLC show and a way to feed the Gosselin’s sextuplets turned into a media frenzy and a perfect Halloween costume.

HOW TO DO IT: For Jon, the key is being as big of a jerk as you possibly can be. Wave the money you stole from Kate around proudly. If you can find it, show off your Ed Hardy gear. Bonus points if you can find some airhead to be your Hailey Glassman. For Kate, the blonde wig is key. This hot item is selling out everywhere, so Daze craftily gave a Kate Gosselin haircut to a simple blond wig. A blazer and a tough attitude will complete the outfit. For the group costume as a whole, find eight friends to dress as unruly children, bitter about their parents’ divorce. Daze gave each of the kids name tags: Cara and Mady (short for Madelyn) are the twins, while the sextuplets include Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel. Feel free to act out kiddos.

Emma WatsonEmma Watson

WHY THIS COSTUME FOR 2009: If you know one thing about our Ivy brethren, it’s probably this — after extensively-documented college tours last year, the frizzy-haired Muggle who aced every test (especially in a certain long-running fantasy film franchise) crossed the Atlantic this semester to start classes at Brown University. But don’t worry Emma — even though you spurned Ithaca for Providence, we’ll forgive you just for this All Hallows Eve. Here at Cornell, we’re smart enough to be able to look like you without the use of (caution: nerd alert!) Polyjuice Potion.

HOW TO DO IT: As much as we hate to condone wearing merchandise from an Ancient Eight foe, any piece of clothing that reads “Brown” should do the trick for this costume. But if you’d like an extra prop, try this on for size: 10 3/4" vine wood with a dragon heartstring core. Haha … just kidding. This campus has plenty of sticks. Find one, and make it work!

Single LadyBeyoncé: Single Lady

WHY THIS COSTUME FOR 2009: Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” was a smash hit in 2008 and 2009. The simple black and white video of her and two back up girls dancing in leotards led to a multitude of copycats on YouTube, ranging from the “Single Asians” at Yale to the thousands of babies who love Beyoncé’s video. Dressing up as Beyoncé the Single Lady is a great way to show off your legs and your pop culture smarts.

HOW TO DO IT: A black leotard and heels are the only clothes you need for this costume (if you get cold easily, however, nude tights are acceptable). Put a little volume in your hair and tie it half-up, pile on the dark eye make-up for Beyoncé’s smoky eyes, then show off your dance moves all night long. It’s a definite necessity to practice dancing to this video to pull off the costume effectively. And make sure to remind everyone, “if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it.”