In Defense of Creative Costumes

Halloween as a college student can be weird. As kids, we once donned itchy polyester getups to saunter down dimly lit streets in search of candy, peer at gaudy spooky season decorations and chat with the occasional friend wearing the same ladybug costume as four other people. 

In loud, chattering groups we would stumble on plastic jelly sandals through neighborhoods. At the end of the night, our face paint would be smudged and scuffed, and the houses would fall quiet, once lively but now at rest.

Soon enough, kids grew into teenagers, and princess costumes were traded for short, tight dresses while trick-or-treating was exchanged for late parties and scary movies. 

This development is natural, of course, but what happened to fun costumes? What happened to joy and whimsy? When did other people’s opinions start to matter on a day designed to dress creatively?

The struggle with creative costumes is a tale as old as time. Cady Heron from the 2000s film “Mean Girls” dressed as an ‘ex-wife’. Walking into a sea of mice, kittens and nurses for a Halloween party just to realize you’re the only one dressed as aviation history’s Amelia Earhart. The blank look often preceding a “Oh! I’m not sure I’ve heard of that character…” 

However, the people yearn for unique costumes — enough for niche costume ideas to become a TikTok trend. As the spooky season creeps closer, its fingers wrapping around our calendars, more and more so called “creative” people are putting out feelers for unique halloween costumes, and being met with decidedly unoriginal suggestions. 

How far has society strayed from the true vision of childhood Halloween for the more creative costumes to be pirates or fish? To be angels or devils? 

Today, it seems like the idea of being unique — of standing out — is scarier than any Halloween movie. While the idea of not fitting in like a puzzle piece may be daunting, it’s often true the less worried someone is about looking “normal,” the more they’re able to express themselves.

Cool costumes come from confident people, not people who are worried about making a statement.

While dressing like everyone else may seem like a safer option, it’s not nearly as fun as something niche. Something that might only appeal to one specific fanbase or a good play on words. Maybe a Freudian Slip dress.

Dressing up is about expressing oneself, not trying to disguise personality. Halloween is arguably one of the only times of the year where people can be whoever they want to, whether it be Superman or Slinky from Toy Story.

Not to mention, by straying away from the common — and often oversexualized — nature of today’s costumes, those dressing up are telling a story about themselves through their clothing. Halloween garb can determine a person’s favorite movie, show, book or sense of humor.

Intricate and creative costumes can come in many different themes. Options like a favorite childhood book character, like Rainbowfish, Fancy Nancy or the Very Hungry Caterpillar. More silly ideas could range from Morton’s Salt Girl to Timothee Chalamet in SNL’s Tiny Horse sketch. 

The options for statement costumes are inexhaustible and exciting to think of. Plus, by wearing creative getup, people are keeping the integrity of the Halloween tradition alive. It’s no fun if everyone is all the same person — half of the draw of the holiday is seeing what other people are dressed as.

As this Halloween looms closer like a masked figure in the dark, consider; is the idea of “fitting in” really worth sacrificing personality and fun? Is dressing up as the same exhausted characters as everyone else as fun as dressing as a favorite character or thing? 

This Halloween, allow your creativity to shine through, and please for the love of god ditch the nurse outfit.