Self-Expression Through Fashion: Spooky Edition
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On the surface, a Halloween costume is just a Halloween costume. However, if you look deeper, you may realize that someone’s costume choice gives you an insight into who they are, as well as the characteristics and values they possess. For those who wouldn’t usually dress outside of the box, Halloween becomes an outlet for the extreme amount of expression they’ve been dying to unleash. But those who pour their heart into their everyday wardrobe use the holiday as an opportunity to continue to experiment with wild fashion combinations.
Last-minute costumes, above-and-beyond costumes, and humorous costumes all make an appearance during the holiday, and here is what those costumes might say about someone.
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The last-minute costume is a costume that is thrown together with minimal effort. A person who decides on a last-minute costume may accessorize with a headband or mask, wear a bloody tee, or even lingerie. Depending on which article of clothing the person chooses, you might be able to guess that they didn’t prioritize coming up with an out-of-this-world costume but rather prioritized their social experience. A last-minute costume also may indicate that the individual didn’t plan on going out on the holiday, and maybe their friends had to convince them. This suggests that the individual might be more spontaneous as opposed to being a planner. If they had worn lingerie, it would send a message of security within themselves and high levels of confidence.
Image Courtesy: Lindsey Limbach
Above-and-beyond costumes are the opposite of last-minute costumes. The articles of clothing may vary based on who or what an individual is attempting to dress as, but when you see an extremely detailed costume it won’t be hard to miss. For example, when I was Jennifer Check from Jennifer’s Body last year, I attempted to match her outfit as much as possible with a white puffer jacket, pink fishnet leggings, a ribbed long-sleeve gray top, denim skirt, and black boots with a heel. I went as far as pouring fake blood on the clothing in a strategic pattern, followed by cutting holes in the leggings, and then later slathering the fake blood all over myself. The attention to detail I demonstrated showed other people that I went above and beyond to put effort into looking almost identical to the character I wanted to portray. Not only does this reveal that I’m someone who plans and organizes things, but that I put my all into something when I’m interested in it while having fun with it. The same goes for anyone who likes to go all out and experiment when it comes to their Halloween costume.
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Another example of the above-and-beyond costume is in the 2004 movie Mean Girls when Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) dresses as a zombie ex-wife in a long black wig, wedding gown, veil, intense makeup, and fake teeth, opposite to her friends who dressed in lingerie with animal headbands. This discloses the difference in her personality compared to her friends’ more laid-back personalities.
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Humorous costumes could either fall into the last-minute category or the above and beyond. Everyone’s sense of humor differs, so this costume hints at what makes the wearer of the costume laugh. Examples of humorous costumes are the inevitable groups of Pitbull “Mr. Worldwide” (featuring the iconic bald cap), a plug and an outlet, inflatable costumes, white lie shirts, etc. Whether the costume is thrown together last minute or planned, a statement is still being made saying, “This is who I am, and this is what I find funny.”
While the meaning behind Halloween costumes is subjective, there is no doubt that the fashion aspect of Halloween brings people together to achieve one common goal: having fun and feeling good. Some may feel they look their best in a onesie instead of lingerie, while others might feel they look their best with their sense of humor on display. No matter what the case may be, fashion’s relevance to Halloween contributes to mass amounts of self-expression, spooky self-expression, of course.
Strike Out,
Writer: Lindsey Limbach
Editor: Blake N. Fiadino
Tallahassee