As a lifelong Florida girl, Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) has always been the highlight of my fall. While the weather doesn’t always match the vibe, the haunted houses do. What doesn’t match the vibe? Achy feet and a chafing rash on your thighs for days after you leave the park.
Bike shorts and a big, funny tee are easy and timeless HHN fits. Hard to go wrong with something so comfy. This was my tried-and-true combo until I got to the park last year and saw everybody decked out in creative fits. I saw tutus and face paint and decided it was time to up my game.
After some serious trial and error, I’ve finally cracked the code on how to be stylish without melting. Yes, it’s still hot, even at night, so dress accordingly.
Keep it comfy & elevate the styling
When building my outfits, I learned quickly not to ditch the biker shorts. A comfy, tight pair does wonders underneath jeans and skirts. Instant chafing protection, and never too hot in the layering department. Any thin, tight shorts will do, but they’re an essential to my HHN outfit.
Beyond that first layer, it’s important to consider what kind of fabric I’m going to wear on top of it. Denim is cute, but it can also be really heavy. I always bring my most reliable jorts if I’m going to bring any at all. The same goes for skirts. Again, very cute, but the wrong skirt can get annoying two hours in.
Dress for the weather
Long sleeves are always tempting to really dress for the aesthetic of HHN. It gets just a little cooler at night, but it’s still hot. Especially when you’re crammed into lines with hundreds of other people for hours at a time. I always go for a tank or a tee, and there’s a lot of potential there.
makeup at Halloween Horror Nights
Past the outfit, I’ve started to experiment with fun makeup looks for HHN. Universal has rules about face paint, specifically that it can only cover half of your face, unless you got it done at the park. That still gives you a lot of real estate to be creative!
Simple clown makeup is always fun. Experimenting with darker colors and some small press-on tattoos is easy. I always do glitter tattoos because they stay for so long, and glitter is always a great addition to an outfit. It’s a simple way to add to your look, and it elevates it so much.
The problem I faced with wearing makeup to the park is getting it to stay. You’re walking so much in the heat that it tends to melt off. I found that a good primer combined with setting powder and a strong setting spray is key to keeping my fun makeup locked in place. This year, I only sweat my mascara off. I consider that a win!
The shoes literally carry you
The last piece of the outfit, and the most critical for me, is the shoes. You’re on your feet pretty much all night. From walking around, to waiting in line, to going through the houses. Keeping my feet comfortable is always a priority for me.
The number one thing not to do is wear brand new shoes. They aren’t broken in, and I have no idea how they feel on my feet. It’s too much of a risk to take for 20,000+ potential steps. I always bring my most reliable, broken-in pair of shoes. They’ll always be the ugliest part of my outfit, but I thank myself the next morning. It’s a small sacrifice I’m willing to make.Â
Stylish and comfy don’t have to be worlds apart. The right look can carry you all night, and these tips are how I guarantee myself a good, spooky, stylish night without discomfort.
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