Published with permission by E. Cowan
Halloween is the time of the year that people dress up. That’s known already, but it seems like a lot of people don’t know how to actually dress up. Let’s be very clear: Putting on a pumpkin shirt from Walmart is not a costume, cat ears and a black bodysuit is not a costume and – please – a sports jersey with a helmet is not a costume. This year we are going to get it right, and if you don’t have a group of friends you can blend into, this is your guide to preparing a great Halloween costume.
T-rex
The T-rex costume is one that never fails. It’s silly, big and even though plenty of people have worn it in the past couple of years, it’s unique. This costume is sure to draw eyes while having the added benefit of completely covering the wearer, so if you’re shy, this might be the right costume to help you out of your comfort zone safely. The costume does need to be inflated and is very cumbersome. Also, if you wear this in South Florida, get ready to be sweating all night. Breaks from the costume might be needed. You can find this costume online at Walmart.com.
Banana and other fruit
Bananas, apples and grapes are all part of a healthy, balanced breakfast, they also make great costumes. The banana costume takes center stage since it is the most lightweight and easy to manage. It is also a very funny costume to have. Apples and grapes are valid options for fruit costumes, but the banana conjures nostalgia of the dancing banana with maracas from “Peanut Butter Jelly Time.” You can find a banana costume on Amazon or Overstock.com, maracas not included.
Celebrities
The good part about celebrity costumes is that they are open to all genders. No matter how you identify, there is a celebrity that you can dress up as. Some notable examples on the market are Salt-N-Peppa, Hulk Hogan, Gene Simmons, Lady Gaga, Boy George, MC Hammer, Billie Eilish and Brittney Spears. All of these costumes are easy to put together and are available on Halloweencostumes.com. However, they are easy to make with your own clothes and a wig.
Classic monsters
These costumes may be overused, overworn and out of date, but they get the job done. If the Halloween party is in an hour and you have nothing to throw on, or if you’re not creative, these costumes will count and be readily available and sold in most stores. These include Frankenstein’s monster, the bride of Frankenstein’s monster, male and female Vampires, werewolves and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. All of these should do it.
All of these costumes are sure to wow any Halloween party, or at least let you fit in. Halloween is a time to have fun and be creative with the way you dress – but if you’re struggling to come up with something, just stick to this list.
