Shadows On Parade
Some of us take Halloween very seriously, even going so far as to plan our costumes 8 months in advance, while others leave it to the last minute. Whenever my brothers and I were at a loss for Halloween costumes, my mom would scramble around at 7:30 that evening, finally throwing us in a bunch of my dad’s clothes, labeling us hobos. My dad’s costume was the same every year: a lampshade atop his head. This worked because it was consistent and cost effective (my parents are in the lamp industry).
But once you move away from home, you don’t have your mom looking out for the well being of your costume integrity. Now you’re creating your own costume, which works to inform your behavior on Halloween night, and that is the root of the pleasure. But there are a few simple guidelines we should all adhere to when choosing a costume, and some essential tips to keep in mind when dressing for the big night.
The trick is to keep it simple. The leading rule in the decision making process is that your costume should not have to be explained. People will greet you, give the once-over, acknowledge your ingenuity and move on. Long winded explanations of your outfit are a drag in a party atmosphere.
Celebrities, politicians and historical figures are easy to effect because they are walking caricatures. Just remember: you are offering your own interpretation, not striving for the perfect imitation. This year, I am going as Cleopatra, which is simple enough to execute. But what if I stepped it up a notch and went as 2009 Elizabeth Taylor, dressed as Cleopatra?
Another approach is to go as something that was only moderately funny when it was actually popular, and is now so far removed from pop culture that it is now ironically funny. Case in point: Ace Ventura, Pet Detective.
Ladies, there’s nothing wrong with a good ol’ fashioned Halloween sexy-off. But you’re smarter than that. Try going as a sexy something that is totally inappropriate to make sexy. Take, for example, a sexy Abraham Lincoln.
The smartest choice of disguise, naturally, is Scout’s cured ham in To Kill a Mockingbird. The combination of chicken wire and cloth makes it durable enough to keep her safe when being attacked by Bob Ewell. In fact, the costume is a barrier against harm, her sense of humor insulating her from the sullenness of the surrounding world. So remember to include extra fortification into your costume-making process.
It’s tempting to believe that by going out in costume we are all becoming characters of fiction. But, the truth is, we are always in costume because that is the human condition. Halloween is the celebration of that fact and our inherent plasticity. It is not meant to be a dark celebration, but a truly human one. We make ourselves -you picked your clothes, you picked your hair - and you are in costume right now.
