The phrase refers to coordinated or complementary costumes worn by pairs during the Halloween season of that year. These ensembles are designed to be visually linked, often depicting characters from the same film, television show, or historical event, or sharing a common theme. For example, a couple might dress as Danny and Sandy from the movie “Grease,” or as a pirate and his parrot.
The concept’s popularity stems from several factors, including the desire to participate in the holiday’s spirit of fun and creativity as a unit, to showcase a shared interest or sense of humor, and to enhance social interaction at Halloween events. In the context of 2017, the trend was influenced by popular culture trends, such as trending movies, television series, and internet memes of that time period. These influences significantly shaped the selection of themes and characters adopted for these themed outfits.