Fur real.

With the swarms of people wearing animal costumes each Halloween, it’s hard not to wonder which of them might be furries. You might be one too. But how can you tell if you’re an animal enthusiast or a furry in the making? This Halloween, your costume might offer some clues.

Here’s what to wear at every stage of your furry journey.

The Experimental Furry

The way I see it, there are two different types of beginner furries. The first is the furry-curious kind, who’s just looking to experiment without fully committing to the fandom.

Deer

For those who aren’t quite ready to embrace their animal instincts, the deer costume offers a relatively inconspicuous introduction to the furry world. All you’ll need is a pair of antlers and some makeup. If a painted-on nose makes you particularly fawn-d of your reflection, consider venturing deeper into the fandom.

Sexy animal

Classic. From sexy cats to sexy bunnies, these costumes have long been a staple of Halloween parties. Throw on a pair of ears, a tail, and an outfit that leaves little to the imagination, and you’ve got yourself a socially acceptable excuse to dress like an animal. Even better, you’re guaranteed to run into at least five other girls wearing the exact same thing as you, so you’ll blend right into the herd.

The Newcomer

This is the second type of newbie. If you know you’re ready to dip your paws into the fandom, then this is the category for you.

Nick Wilde

Let’s address the elephant—or rather, the fox—in the room. Nick Wilde is hot.

The smooth-talking fox from Zootopia has probably inspired more than a few people to reconsider their feelings about anthropomorphic animals. With his signature green shirt, tie, and fox ears, Nick makes for a surprisingly accessible costume.

And if you’re worried about people judging you, don’t be. He’s on everyone’s hear me out cake.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

For those who prefer their anthropomorphic animals with a touch of sophistication, Fantastic Mr. Fox is an excellent choice. A tailored suit, a mustard-yellow shirt, and fox ears are enough to recreate Wes Anderson’s charmingly chaotic protagonist. The beauty of this costume is its ambiguity. 

Are you a furry, or are you simply a cinephile with impeccable taste? Without the tail or a full-body suit, you can still plausibly claim the latter.

The Intermediate

At this point, plausible deniability is becoming increasingly difficult. A pair of ears and some face paint simply won’t cut it anymore. You’re ready to put a little more fur into your Halloween costume.

Lucario from Pokémon

Enter Lucario, the blue-and-black, jackal-like Pokémon. Unlike your previous costumes, this one requires a little more commitment. Think paws, a tail, even a full-body costume. If you’re still nervous about what this costume says about you, you can always insist you’re just a massive Pokémon fan.

Lola Bunny from Space Jam

This Halloween, why not pay homage to the bunny who made an entire generation question their taste in women? With her basketball uniform, floppy ears, and fluffy tail, Lola Bunny is the perfect evolution from your generic sexy animal costume.

The Intermediate – Group Edition

Alvin and the Chipmunks/The Chipettes

What’s better than one furry? A whole group of them.

For those who have successfully convinced their friends to join in on the fun, Alvin and the Chipmunks (or the Chipettes) offer an instantly recognisable group costume.

The beauty of this option is that the costumes can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. Coloured hoodies and ears might suffice, while more dedicated groups can incorporate tails, paws, and furry accessories.

But if you’ve managed to recruit five other people into dressing as anthropomorphic chipmunks, congrats. You’ve found your pack.

Full-Fledged Furry

Congratulations! You’ve reached the final stage. By now, dressing up as an animal is just an average Tuesday. Now, Halloween is about dressing up your fursona. Maybe it wants to be a witch or a ghost. Perhaps your wolf has always dreamed of being a vampire. After all, it would be a shame to show up to a Halloween party dressed as yourself.

Furries via Flickr