The Weekend Five: The Evolution of Halloween Costumes
1. “Isn’t that precious?”
This category of costumes belongs to babies and young children, typically those young enough to have their costumes chosen for them. Whether your parents dressed you as a woodland creature or a Sesame Street character, their goal was typically to evoke the “Awww” response in all who came into contact with you. Several years later, when you turn twelve, you’ll groan in embarrassment as they show your 4-year-old Halloween pictures to guests. Ten years after that, you’ll scan one of those pictures onto Facebook and make it your default.
*
Once you’re old enough to decide what you want to be for Halloween, chances are you’ll select your favorite superhero or your favorite Disney character. In my case, I wore two different Belle costumes – one when I was five and one when I was six – because she was clearly the coolest princess and I had a knack for walking around while reading, much like our heroine. When I was eight, I attempted an original princess costume as well, pairing a purple dress with a ridiculous platinum blonde wig that I thought made me look more royal. This stage of costuming typically takes place during your elementary school years, and may become a little more complex as you get older. Still, you want to make sure your costume is representing the coolest thing out there.
*
3. Too Cool For a Costume.
Otherwise known as The Dark Ages, this time period typically takes place during the middle school to early high school years, in which you decide that Halloween is for babies and that dressing up is lame. This is probably a defense mechanism because you’re not-so-secretly bummed that your school doesn’t let you wear costumes, so during this time period you forgo trick-or-treating in favor of grumpily handing out candy.
*
You’re sixteen years old and invited to a high school Halloween party, so of course you can’t wear any old embarrassing thing. In fact, according to societal rules for girls, you have to wear the most revealing costume you can while still attempting to fit into a theme. What was advertised on Facebook as a “Halloween party” could really be more accurately described as a lingerie party. Meanwhile, if you’re a guy, you just have to wear a mask, an ironic T-Shirt or a random accessory, and you’re good.
*
5. The Twenty-Something Who Doesn’t Care About Cool.
Once you hit college, you decide that you probably don’t want to bare all on Halloween anymore. You also realize that Halloween is a weird holiday in itself, so dressing in a costume that wasn’t considered “cool” when you were a tween is completely acceptable. This is why the costumes at college Halloween parties are the most entertaining — they are funny, creative, and usually not purchased in a package at a costume store. Sometimes, these costumes are reboots of your costume from fourth grade. Other times, your costume might be the clever brainchild of your trips to thrift shops and hole-in-the-wall stores. Perhaps you decide to go all out on a costume because it allows you to decompress from the stress of classes, work and internships, but Halloween in college beats Halloween in high school any day of the week.
*
What was one of your favorite Halloween costumes? Did you hit any or all of these stages growing up?