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MEGAN BRADY shares some inspiration and tips for dressing up this Halloween.
In case you haven’t noticed the seasons have turned, the leaves have fallen, and the nights have gotten darker. It is now officially the season to get spooky or, in other words, the season of Halloween. Like many cultural traditions the celebration of Halloween is less influenced by its original Celtic intent (to ward off evil spirits and ghosts) and more by societal trends. Which is why the most important part of any Halloween celebration is ‘what am I going to wear?!’. Below is a list of my top 5 Halloween costume ideas for 2021:
1. The Ghost
An early trend in costume making, the Ghost is the original, and much loved, Halloween dress up idea. From the 19th century, communities particularly those in America, started to embrace the role of dressing up for the holiday. These costumes were handmade, with commonplace materials being utilised, like an everyday tablecloth, into the shape of a ghost costume. Bringing it forward to the 21st century why not accessorise the look by adding sunglasses, or a hat, to make the ghost costume become more authentic for you.
2. Gomez and/or Morticia Addams
An outfit idea aimed at couples, Gomez and Morticia Addams have come far since their origins in 1960s television. Developing from an animated family series to a chain of major blockbuster movies, the Addams family have rightly become icons of the spooky world. They offer more than just humour and eccentricity to their audiences, but a tender recognition that although their relationship may be unconventional, it still deserves a place on the big screen. If Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas can pull it off, then why can’t you?
3. Make a Mask a costume
Masks are scary and they’re effective. If you are short on time and resources, donning a mask and some fake blood might be your way to go this Halloween. Mask wearing has its origins rooted in the traditions of Celtic history when those participating in the celebrations would wear masks to avoid being recognized by the ghosts they were trying to ward off. It is believed that people would wear them when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. The concealment a mask offers may also be more appealing for those of you on the shy side.
4. The Punny Man
Everyone loves a pun. It is the pinnacle of Dad humour and an amusing way to start off the celebrations. Whether you are flying solo this Halloween, as a couple, or in a group, pun costumes are accessible to all and will always be a guaranteed hit. They are easy to make, budget-friendly and scream originality. A few I would suggest are: ‘when life gives you lemons’, ‘copy cat’, and ‘formal apology’.
5. The Trend Setter
Like any cultural holiday, Halloween does not escape the influence of media and subsequently the entertainment industry. If you happen to have a Netflix account, you might have stumbled upon a show called Squid Game. If you have, you may know where I am going with this – and yes it does involve costumes of block colour. If you want to become a player in the (Halloween) game, then you might be tempted to select a green tracksuit to become a contender in the hit South Korean show. If being a gamekeeper is more your style, then the red boiler suit might be a better choice. Whatever you pick, just make sure your costume is given the green (or red) light.
Remember, creep it real and creep it scary. Happy Halloween!
Written by Megan Brady