The government shutdown may be over, but that doesn’t mean it will soon be forgotten. The shutdown still takes the prize for being the scariest thing around this Halloween season, so why not take some inspiration from those weeks of government inertia for your Halloween costume this year? Here are a few costume ideas for you politically-savvy collegiettes who are looking to make a statement this year.
1. Government Shutdown Protester
The easiest costume of all. Grab some poster board and make a slogan of your choice. Keep your poster raised above your head and scream your slogan into the face of every party guest you encounter. Some slogan suggestions: “Release Our Government,” “Jobs, Not Furloughs,” or, “GOP Shutdown Will Bring The Whole House Down.”
2. Obama-Care Bear
Find a hooded sweatshirt and a pair of matching sweatpants. Paint the Obama symbol on a cut-up white T-shirt using acrylic paint and affix it to your chest. Add some ears using the material from the pouch of your sweatshirt and start practicing your Obamacare Bear Stare.
3. A Closed Monument
From the Washington Monument to Mount Rushmore to the Statue of Liberty, you can have your pick as to which closed national monument you’d like to be. Wear a “Sorry, We’re Closed” sign around your neck and spend the night looking dejected.
4. A Tea Party Member
Join the “Tea Party” by wearing your best colonial garb. Grab some britches, a double-breasted jacket and a tricorn hat. Don’t forget your mini American flag to wave around!
5. Lazy U.S. Capitol Building
Dress up as the iconic U.S. Capitol building by donning an all-white outfit. Spend the night slouched on a couch telling people you don’t feel like doing anything.
6. National Zoo Panda
Embrace your cuddly side as the beloved Smithsonian’s National Zoo panda cub that was kept in the dark during the panda cam shutdown. Don a fuzzy hat with ears and an all-black ensemble, and wear a sign around your neck asking, “Why is no one paying attention to me?”
7. Government Employee on Furlough
Wear a button-down shirt, a suit jacket and a tie with a pair of patterned pajama bottoms and slippers. Spend the night looking nervous and asking other party guests if they know of any (non-governmental) job openings.
8. Angry Smokey the Bear
Dress up as everyone’s favorite National Parks Employee who was furloughed by the shutdown. Wear Smokey’s trademark park ranger hat and jeans and paint your nose black. Carry around a sign saying you’re looking for work and try to appear as disgruntled as possible.
9. Miley-Inspired Michele Bachmann
Get inspiration from Miley Cyrus’s “We Did Stop (The Government)” SNL parody by putting together a risqué take on Michele Bachmann. Pair a black suit jacket with black spandex shorts and black shades. Be sure to stick your tongue out often.
10. Uninspected Meat
Channel Lady Gaga to make your own (fake) meat dress. Feel free to make some of your meat slabs a little questionably colored. Wear a sign around your neck stating, “Product of the FDA Food Safety Inspection Suspension.”
11. Barack Obama and John Boehner
Grab a friend and decide who will dress as President Obama and who will take on House Speaker John Boehner. Talk to each other as little as possible throughout the night.