With the election just around the corner, and Halloween only a few days before that, what better way to celebrate on the 31st than going political and dressing up as a diplomatic figure – or, if you prefer not to take sides, get creative and dress as a national issue? Whether you and your friends choose to dress as a group of Washington leaders or you decide to go solo, our polls show that you’ll be sure to make a big impact.
Barack and/or Michelle Obama
If you’re looking to flaunt your sense of style for the evening’s festivities, who better to take as inspiration than our nation’s First Lady, Michelle Obama? Whether you choose a J.Crew cardigan and super-luxe sneakers or an evening gown that gets the whole country talking, you can’t go wrong. If you don’t want to dress up solo, bring along a suited-up friend as Barack. If you’re really tuned in to pop culture news, join with another duo as Beyonce and Jay-Z (coolest moment in presidential history? We think so).
Hillary Clinton
Channel your inner diplomat and celebrate some serious girl power for the night by dressing up as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. All you’ll need is a pantsuit and a classic blowout, and a killer sense of foreign policy (aka have a really good candy selection for trick-or-treaters).
Occupy Wall Street
Arguably the country’s most talked about protest movement, Occupy Wall Street has garnered worldwide attention in the past year for its dissent about wealth inequality and political corruption. For your costume, choose independent clothing labels and an “I’ve been out here for days” appearance. Most importantly, bring a “We Are the 99%” sign. Want to go against the grain? Put on your aristocratic finery and go as the 1%.
Mitt Romney and Sons
Speaking of aristocratic finery, if you’re looking for a group costume idea, what better way to stay newsworthy than dress up as Mitt and all his sons? Stay preppy and classic by opting for timeless, clean-cut clothes, and maybe a fake tan or two, and you’ll be good to go.
[pagebreak]
Sarah Palin
When dressing as former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, you have two routes to choose from: you can dress for the debates in a skirt suit, glasses, a flag pin and a sky-high bouffant, or go “grizzly mama” in a thick-knit sweater and jeans (snowmobiles optional). Bonus points go to anyone who can imitate her accent for the whole night and throw the word “maverick” into as many conversations as possible.
Katie Couric
If friends of yours choose to dress up as any of the aforementioned political figures, why not consider going as news anchor Katie Couric? Her hairstyles over the years have remained classic, so you can opt for a sleek blow dry. Throw a black blazer over a simple top, and you’ll instantly look the part. Make sure to also throw in some hard-hitting questions during your conversations – especially if you end up at the same party as Sarah Palin.
Swing States
With nine options to choose from, you’ll have a variety of options for dressing as Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, or Wisconsin. Wear either all red or all blue, and bring a set of clothes of the other color for a mid-evening wardrobe change (or swing). Bonus points for any of you ambitious enough to change multiple times throughout the night!
What political figure or issue will you be dressing up as? Let us know some of your favorite ideas!
Calling All Collegiettes: Send us your best Halloween costume photos at PR@hercampus.com or tweet them to us at @HerCampus with #HCHalloween to be included in our Halloween slideshow!
Photo sources:
theatlantic.com
telegraph.co.uk
Huffpost.com
Fashionista.com
cnn.com
politico.com