I’ll put it right on the table: the past four years I have gone as Tom Cruise in his infamous “Risky Business” scene. I’ve pulled all the tricks; I’ve slid across the dance floor in high white socks, actually bought men’s tighty-whities and created a one of kind black-wayfarer collection. But enough is enough. I am far too engrained in my ways to continue like this; Halloween is supposed to be a time of costume creation, slipping out of your circle of comfort for one night of the year. This Halloween, I’m going to mix it up, do something different, or at least try …
However, if you’re anything like me, it’s clear that slipping out of your comfort zone is as painful as pulling teeth, as nerve-racking as that behind-the-door moment in “Paranormal Activity” and as problematic as a Calculus test (and that my friends, is thoroughly impossible as I am a creative writing major). But have no fear; we are here to do this together. I am calling an end to the pajama-esque Cruise comfort; time to be creative and maybe even a little ambitious.
So to start my search, I Googled “creative Halloween costumes.” As I have a zealous passion for pop culture, I clicked the link with the words “Top 10 Halloween costumes 2012.” The options were not really suitable or accommodating for a self-declared Halloween newbie. By no means will I be a pregnant Snooki, and I do not think it’s conceivable to look partially mediocre in a Big Bird costume–my apologies to Sesame Street. One link into my search and I am ready to slip on baggy white button down and call it quits.
I decide that Googling “a Halloween costume for a girl that has been the same character for the past four years” won’t generate many successful results. So, I think about what I like to watch, what I laugh at and what I am comfortable in (as the world’s worst Halloween always involves an uncomfortable costume cerca 2005 when I thought it was ingenious to be a conversation heart … not my smartest, especially since I couldn’t sit down). So here is how my thought process progressed: my all time favorite TV show is “Friday Night Lights.” I have the about the same length hair as Tim Riggins (not too hard to accomplish) and I have been dying to buy a Panthers tee anyway. Easy. Simple. Done.
But don’t worry, I didn’t forget about you! I know your ways, you pajama girl throughout elementary school, always looking for the most comfortable and easiest way out. Clearly, I’m in the same boat. But take three “c’s” into consideration when trying to step out of your box this coming Halloween:
- Go for creativity. This doesn’t mean pure creation, but rather thought-provoking costumes. Not everyone will go as Tim Riggins, but it will make people think back to the days when Friday nights implied more than a party, but rather a West Dillon vs. East Dillon Thanksgiving football game. Think in terms of pop culture (but I warn against going as something as consuming as Big Bird or Honey Boo Boo … that makeup will never come off). A conversation heart was truly creative, but it was not comfortable so my next “c” is, you guessed it …
Comfort. Test out your costume: Can you dance? Sit? Stand? Walk? These are the basics that must be accomplished on Halloween so please make sure your costume covers all these bases. I also suggest that beyond rudimentary movements, you, yourself, are comfortable in your costume. As Cady Heron says in Mean Girls, “In the regular world, Halloween is when children dress up in costumes and beg for candy. In Girl World, Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” If you don’t feel comfortable wearing stereotypical Halloween-skimpy clothing, then don’t. Do what you’re comfortable with; if a half naked police officer carrying handcuffs for a multitude of reasons is what you like, then go for it! Trust me, I have never been that type of police officer and probably never will; do what makes you comfortable.- The final “c” I will leave you with is carefree. Go carefree. Be carefree. If you haven’t realized already, I am not always the most freewheeling, free as a bird, person. However, the point of Halloween is to leave your usual self behind and dress up. So, do so; leave your daily hang-ups with October 30 and embrace the 31st with open arms.
I have always dressed up as Tom Cruise because it was simple, predictable and easy. This year, I am going to step out of my box and take October 31 by storm. And so will you … Happy Halloween!
HCXO,
Halloween Newbie