It’s October! The weather is getting cold, and the leaves are falling. Cider mills are open, and most importantly, it’s nearly Halloween! This is one of my favorite times of the year, nothing can beat the spooky season. This year Halloween falls on a Monday, meaning there’s even more time to celebrate during the weekend! It also means you could have more than one costume. I love an outfit change.
Go ahead and bust out the fairy costume you wanted to wear or the cat ears you’ve been saving. Now’s your time to shine! Some people like to plan out their costumes in advance of Halloween. If you’re anything like me, you wait until the last minute to choose your costume. No matter your process, there are a few things you’ll definitely want to avoid.
Culture is NOT a costume
This is the tip I want to stress the most. In recent years, there’s been tension about some costumes mimicking certain cultures. It was once popular to dress as a Native American, as though their ethnicity is something to be worn. The costumes were sometimes made to show off the bust, worn with high heels, and so on. To get into “character,” some people would paint their faces red. This is highly offensive and disrespectful.
This also means avoiding the afro wigs, ninja outfits, and geishas. These are from real culture, not something to be put on and taken off for one day of the year. Of course, you can dress up as Moana, she’s a known character from a movie. A costume with Tianna from The Princess and the Frog would be beautiful, but not if paint your skin with black paint. Before you choose your next costume, consider if it holds cultural significance.
Why be historical or controversial?
Halloween is all about creativity. You could dress up as your dog, maybe make yourself like a skeleton. You could go with anything, so why go with Abraham Lincoln? There is rarely a reason to dress up as historical figures, especially those considered controversial. You and I know your costume could be more fun.
It’s also a good idea to avoid today’s current controversial figures. This could mean throwing out your costume inspired by people like Jeffrey Dahmer (I’ve seen someone actually do this) and Ted Bundy. No one wants to be at a party with someone who waited an entire year just to be a real-life murderer.
Adults, not minors
Who doesn’t love dressing up as their favorite childhood character? I’ve seen people rock amazing Teen Titans outfits or even Penny Proud from the Proud Family. Maybe anime is your thing and you’ve already gone to Amazon for your Canary outfit from Hunter x Hunter. The problem with dressing up as these childlike characters is that many adults want to incorporate their sexiness into the costume. Personal takes on a costume are cool, but keep in mind the character’s age. Altering your costume to be more adult can be very strange for a child character…Eek!
If you’re going to dress as a childlike character, stay away from adult alterations. If you want to incorporate sexiness into your costume, it’s better to go with an adult character.
Avoid EXCESSIVE OBSCENITY
Everyone loves looking good on Halloween. After all, it’s the one day of the year you can wear anything without someone criticizing you. Embody your sexiness and get wild!
Still, some costumes should be left at home. This includes anything exposing the genitalia or excessive displays of the body. You can be sexy without being inappropriate and nearly at the threshold for indecent exposure. I don’t mean clothing that emphasizes the bust or shows off the body, I’m talking not wearing any clothes at all. Don’t run around completely nude (unless you’re in the setting for it)! You don’t want to show somebody a part of you they didn’t consent to see. This tip is especially important if you’re giving candy to trick-or-treaters or going somewhere with children for Halloween. Always double-check the environment you’ll be in to see what you can and can’t show.
Remember to have fun and be safe. Happy Halloween!