Centuries ago, it was believed that on All Hallows’ Eve, spirits who had crossed over into the land of the dead could walk the Earth again. As a historically spooky evening, participants everywhere take their costumes up a notch each year. With new events and hits in entertainment and the media, costumes can reflect relevant topics or throwbacks.
Horrific TV shows like “The Walking Dead,”
“American Horror Story,” “Hannibal” and “The Strain” allow for new inspiration for creative and creepy Halloween disguises. Rotting zombies, deranged clowns, fictional serial killers and monsters ringing doorbells for free candy and dancing at the Halloween parties add a little extra fright to the night.
All Hallows’ Eve is a chance for anyone and everyone to be someone different for a night. Trick-or-treaters and partygoers can indulge in an obsession with a fictional character, a love of superheroes, a twisted love for the villains or an interest in causing minor heart attacks.
Men and women alike can opt for the more scandalous and edgy costumes with the always reliable sleek and sultry “cat” costume or the shirtless Greek god. This is one of the few opportunities we have to put some creative effort into an outfit that will be seen once, for just one night out of all the nights in the year.
It all depends on the effect we wish to have on the public. Should people be flinching and putting their hands to their face to stifle a scream when they see your costume? Should winks, head nods and charming smiles be sent your way? Or should people be reminded of another era with nostalgic memories when you walk by in your costume? How authentic and believable should it be? These are questions to consider when you’re hot gluing jewels or bugs to your costume.
Specific occasions can influence your final decision in determining an appropriate façade. A family-friendly costume party might not be the best place for your Twisty the Clown get-up. Human skin composing half of your facemask could have a generally negative effect on the children who were expecting balloon animals and flowers that squirt water.
No matter the costumes or the candy, Halloween can also be a time to honor the dead in a Día de los Muertos manner, where painted sugar skulls and offerings are made. A different path is to simply relish in the cold-sweat-inducing, eyes-widening, hair-standing-on-end type of fear offered by gory costumes and exorcism horror movies. Whatever your fashion choices, this holiday provides us all an opportunity for individual expression.
