Picking the perfect Halloween costume can be difficult, exhausting, and pricey. But TikToker Ellye (@ellyefoley) got the perfect suggestion for a last-minute costume: crusty white dog.
“Crusty white dog” is a term used to describe smaller breeds like a bichon frisé or miniature poodle. These dogs typically have white or light-colored fur and can often get tear stains, which turns the fur around their eyes brown or red.
In a TikTok that has more than 300,000 views, Ellye shows off her costume, which involves an off-white top and pants, folded-over bunny ears, and purple eyeshadow to recreate the crusty-eye effect.
“I’m Coco, the white crusty dog,” she says as she surveys the fit.
@ellyefoley @Cynthia Reyes ur a genius #whitecrustydog #lazyhalloweencostumes ♬ original sound – ellye
The suggestion originally came from Cynthia Reyes (@cyn_reyes) in a TikTok that has more than 990,000 views. Reyes said she wasn’t going to actually do the crusty white dog costume herself but suggested the outfit that could go with it.
“What’s really going to make this costume is the makeup,” Reyes said, adding that a “red smoky eye” would probably work best.
One commenter called it “the only Halloween costume that the more drunk you get, the more accurate it looks.”
“The off-white clothes are the key,” one commenter wrote.
@cyn_reyes #halloween #halloweencostume #diyhalloweencostume #greenscreen #crustywhitedog ♬ original sound – Cynthia Reyes
Others shared suggestions for pieces that could make this cost-effective Halloween costume work, such as bows and collars.
This isn’t the first time the idea for a “crusty white dog” last-minute costume has circulated: Popular creator Jasmine Chiswell attempted crusty white dog cosplay in 2020 after someone suggested it, and it became something of a trend.
Despite the memes and costumes, crusty white dogs are popular on TikTok. The hashtag has more than 100 million views.
One owner shared her dog’s strong opinions on Halloween costumes in a viral TikTok. In the video posted by user @prettyinpinkginger, a small white dog takes off down the street in its costume as she desperately tries to catch up with it.
The Daily Dot reached out to Reyes via TikTok DM and Ellye via email for comment.
