When did I stop loving Halloween? It’s a holiday all about candy and dressing up. I love candy! I love dressing up! Well really I don’t love candy anymore, but I like GETTING candy and then feeling all virtuous when I give it away (except Reese’s. I’ll cut you over some Reese’s) and I lo-ove hauling out my one good Halloween story, which involves a former Speaker of The House handing out pounds of pennies in white hankies made up to look like ghosts.
I think my problem with Halloween is the costume thing. First you have the lazy costumes, that’s when people wear scrubs or their pj’s. Those bug me only because I don’t like laziness. Then there are the really intricate Renaissance costumes which only bother me about as much as they normally bother me (which is to say a lot, but not enough to do anything but make fun of them on the internet, the way the Lord intended) and the Secretly This Is My Fetish But I’m Going To Pretend It’s a Regular Costume Because You’re Too Square To Recognize It, which make me INSANE because if you are 36 year old woman with that many Japanese School Girl costumes THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR LIFE AND I DON’T NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
Then there are the Naughty Costumes which are so problematic both as a feminist and as someone who doesn’t feel compelled to wait until the last day of October to express my sexuality that I can’t even write about it for fear of the vein in my forehead bursting.
So, today Miss Plumcake wants to know:
What are YOU being for Halloween?
I, too, am tired of the slutty whatever costumes. I do enjoy any sort of home made costume where thought clearly went into it.
This year, I’m going as American McGee’s Alice – you know, the one that went crazy and carries around a machete.
Comment by Michelle — October 28, 2009 @ 3:18 pm
detest the skanky costumes that have taken over in the past years. slutty wenches and pirates and for pete’s sake – slutty children’s story book characters??????
as for us, it is our 6th wedding anniversary and we are going to a blues show and dancing – as car crash swing kids ;)
Comment by Inky — October 28, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
I’m going for extra nerdy this year, with a hint of crossdressing. I’ll be dressing up as Doctor Who, the fourth incarnation played by Tom Baker in the mid 70s to early 80s. All I really needed was to knit the scarf — he’s known for a 17-19′ long striped scarf, and then curl my hair on the day. The rest of it (purple velvet trench, white button down, brown pants and boots) I can take from my closet.
Comment by Sara Darling — October 28, 2009 @ 3:40 pm
Though now that I think about it, mine is a raaaather sexy costume…. Who doesn’t love the clever and near omniscient.
Comment by Sara Darling — October 28, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
Stevie Nicks! All I needed was a blond wig. Everything else came from my closet. Or my windows (I’m using one panel of my bedroom curtains).
Comment by OTM — October 28, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
Found out recently that I am descended from real used-to-be-live pirates. ARRRGGHH! So as a nod to my cultural heritage, I’m dressing as a pirate. No store bought costume, all stuff from around the house and not pirate super slut, just pirate.
Comment by gemdiva — October 28, 2009 @ 4:09 pm
I’m going as an 80s fashion victim. I have a shredded t-shirt (held together with safety pins), tight jeans, black lace-up flat ankle boots, a trailerload of junk jewelry and an insane amount of makeup.
Happy Halloween!
Comment by dcsurfergirl — October 28, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
I probably won’t get to it this year, but I want to do Satanic Soccer Mom. High waisted baggy jeans, and one of those holiday sweaters, but with goat’s heads and inverted pentacles and 666’s done in glitter puffy paint and sequins.
Comment by Margo — October 28, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
This year I’m a devil. Last year I was a witch. I always do a mixture of homemade and store-bought.
Comment by Danielle — October 28, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
I hate HATE slutty costumes…I don’t even like the ones for my daughter’s age. she is only 3.
we are going as Wizard of Oz characters….I made Violet a tiny Dorothy costumes, I will have a giant sparkly mane, husband is the scarescow, and Carli is a teeny Glinda. no Tin man, but Violet (the 3 year old) assigned the characters, and she doesn’t have a problem with that apparently.
Comment by rebecca — October 28, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
Oscar Wilde. I still need to get the green carnation and print off a picture of Jude Law as Bosie to put in a locket.
Comment by Maureen — October 28, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
Rachel Maddow. Which is a cop-out, considering I already have the same hair cut. All I needed were “nerd” glasses and a suit.
Comment by Lex — October 28, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
I am going as a Mom trying to stay warm in 6 inches of snow (I’m Canadian). Although my neighbors cannot see my face clearly as I stomp my feet and nurse my insulated coffee cup at the end of their driveway whilst my progeny beg for sugar, I do tend to paint on some whimisical fairy princess designs on my face and glue on a crystal embellishment or two.
Comment by Bobbi — October 28, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
I shall be a system for handing out candy.
Costume? Not this year. I’m not going to any parties and the kids don’t look at my costume, since they’re far more interested in the contents of my candy bowl.
And on Sunday I will have sweet, sweet Reese’s to myself sans any interference from my esteemed and fruity colleague. Mmmm…Reese’s.
Comment by Twistie — October 28, 2009 @ 5:48 pm
I make a costume every year, but this year I haven’t had time, so I am wearing this: http://dedredhed.deviantart.com/art/Plus-Indian-Princess-129737456 Technically I did make it, as I designed it, so I’m not too sad about it. :D
Comment by Jennifer — October 28, 2009 @ 6:17 pm
I’m glad I’m not the only person tired of the too slutty costumes!
After being the Wicked Witch of the Westside (complete with a 40oz) and Sister Mary Chastity (pregnant nun) over the past years, I am toning it down with Devil in a Blue Dress.
Comment by haeiley — October 28, 2009 @ 6:26 pm
Thinking about going as Mary Anne from Gilligans Island with my fiancee as the Skipper and my little red dog as Gilligan.
Comment by hickchick — October 28, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
I haven’t had much time, so I will probably cop out and be liz lemon, but my friend has an amazing sock monkey costume- she found a sock moneky hat (with ears!) And she’s made the rest, including a tail.
Comment by Genevieve — October 28, 2009 @ 6:53 pm
I have to work so I will be wearing scrubs in a non-ironic way!
Comment by mags — October 28, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
This is pretty tacky, but I’m going to print out a bunch of photos of celebrities who have died in 2009. Then I’m going to wear black pants and a black sweater and pin those pictures on my clothes, completing my costume as the Academy Awards Memorial Clip segment.
Comment by Ripley — October 28, 2009 @ 8:00 pm
Fauna, the green fairy from Sleeping Beauty.
Comment by Mango — October 28, 2009 @ 8:44 pm
I also hate the slutty costumes. And what about all the kittens? That’s lazy AND slutty.
Last year I was Mia Wallace. The year before that I was a 50s pin-up superheroin with throwing stars (“starpower”). This year I was going to be Margot Tennenbaum since she is my favorite movie character ever but then I realized that being quite plus-sized, dressing up as a character played by Gwyneth Paltrow would look a little bit too comical.
Then I was going to dress up as Clementine from Eternal Sunshine – my second favorite favorite movie character ever.
But when I was looking for a dress for some other social occasion I found a hot, red, 50s style dress at Nordstrom Rack, down from $180 for $30. So this year I am going to be Marilyn Monroe.
My husband is going to dress up as Toni Curtis from Some Like It Hot. He looks really, really hot in that costume.
Comment by Ali — October 28, 2009 @ 10:30 pm
Nothing, I’m on dog-wrangling duty while we hand out candy. My dad is dressing as the Bearded Lady, though.
Comment by Nomie — October 28, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
I will most likely be finding where ever I put my lab coat, doing my very craziest crazy hair, and being that most natural of states, a mad scientist.
Comment by ananas — October 29, 2009 @ 12:24 am
I’m an early years teacher, and on Friday, for our Halloween celebrations, I’m dressing up as a Wild Thing, and my teaching partner is dressing up as Max. It should be extra amusing/awesome because my teaching partner is about seven inches taller than me.
Comment by Abbey — October 29, 2009 @ 12:24 am
Joan from Mad Men, because I literally sat down and said “well, who has red hair?”
Comment by Leah — October 29, 2009 @ 12:38 am
Not dressing up this year, but one year when I was exhausted because of two toddlers, I rolled my bicycle over a tray of black paint and then over a white t-shirt several times. My costume? “Tired and run-down.”
Comment by Leigh — October 29, 2009 @ 2:46 am
Dr. Horrible! All I need to do is make the goggles… And possibly the freeze ray (though it’ll probably change names at some point…)
I’ve actually never worn a store costume- I’m way too cheap for them! I like looking at the really intricate things, but it’s too much trouble for one day of the year
Comment by the canuckian — October 29, 2009 @ 8:26 am
I’m going to be Mary Poppins and my boyfriend will be Bert. It was his idea. I have to track down a bow tie, but I think I can scrounge up the rest of the costume from what I have.
Comment by Miriam — October 29, 2009 @ 9:00 am
I’m going as a belly dancer. I already had the costume from taking classes. It’s sexy, yes, but ony inadvertently. It’s colorful, and I’m covered–except the power-netted midriff, plus all the jingly coins on the hip scarf and headwrap tend to make quite a statement.
Comment by idalin — October 29, 2009 @ 9:17 am
Mad Men. I get to wear my favorite late 50s cocktail dress and put my husband in pegged pants and a skinny tie. He gets to carry around a glass of whiskey all night so he’s happy.
Comment by Elaine — October 29, 2009 @ 9:22 am
My friends and I are all going as bugs – we have a bumble bee, a centipede, and a lady bug. I will be going as a beetle – which means I will wear my Beatles t-shirt (get it? get it?), and a hat that I made with big, beetle eyes and antennae. The best part is that I unintentionally made the beetle eyes look cross-eyed.
Comment by jen209 — October 29, 2009 @ 10:57 am
I’m going as Nicole Cudman, a contestant on “Dancing with the Steers” for the costume contest at work. I will be dancing the jive with my partner, Leonardo di Cowprio, and I’m covered from my nose to my hooves.
Comment by Jade Wombat — October 29, 2009 @ 10:59 am
I have a shredded looking white dress that I got from Ross, which I will smear with dirt and red corn syrup. At mud, tousled hair, a few scrapes and “cuts” (bless you foamed gelatin!) and I’ll be the generic “girl who survives at the end of the slasher flick”
Comment by megaera — October 29, 2009 @ 11:56 am
I am going as my childhood fashion icon, Miss Piggy! I’ve got nose and ears, big blonde wig, elbow length gloves, big shiny rings, and a pink feather boa. Tried to convince The Boyfriend to be Kermit, but he insists on being Walter Sobchak.
Comment by Siege — October 29, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
Rosie the Riveter. I have everything but the red polka dot scarf at home.
And MFTBG bonus, I get to wear the Revlon ‘Cherries in the Snow’ lipstick I picked up.
I’m working from the Norman Rockwell interpretation for the full body guide.
Comment by jojo.k — October 29, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
That’s what I’m being too! It’s the first time I’ve done a run-of-the-mill costume, but I just think it fits the times, you know?
I know it’s too late, but you can buy the official red polka dot scarf at Rosiesdaughters.com. And if you were to get really ambitious, you could reproduce her Westinghouse Electric Service employee badge on her collar by printing this out and turning it into a button.
Comment by Plumcake — October 29, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
aka The Virgin
Comment by Plumcake — October 29, 2009 @ 1:21 pm
Halloween is my 2nd favorite holiday. I LOVE Halloween. As a former drama major and theatre geek, of course I love the excuse to dress up. Heck, I still play dress up on my days off if I’m bored enough.
Two years ago I was an undead bride – found a $25 gown at Goodwill and had a “trash the dress” party with some friends. We ran over it, drug another friend on it through the grass, put out cigarettes in it, and smeared paint and fake blood on it. That + zombie makeup and I was a hit!
Last year I lost enough weight to feel confident enough to pull it off…I went as Peg Bundy. Found a red bouffant wig, an animal print top and big elastic belt (with cougars on the clasp – how perfect). Added in some of my own red heels and black workout capris and some press on nails…oh I was awesome.
This year I’m going to be the Scary Tooth Fairy. I have my dark evil fairy costume assembled, plus long dark wig. I spent this week making teeth out of bake-able clay and painting them to look bloody…I am going to attach them to some old strings and tie them all over my costume and in my ‘hair’…and do some more zombie-esque make up. Ta da!
I LOVE this holiday.
Comment by De — October 29, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
*sigh*
I love Halloween. I used to do elaborate costumes and plan for weeks(? months?) … sadly, this year, even though we’re going to a party, I’m in the midst of moving in with my fabulous boyfriend and have no time for costuming. I may just wear all black and do some make-up to suggest a vampire or other dead-ish thing.
Comment by sarahbyrdd — October 29, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
I was planning a Sue Sylvester (the cheerleading coach from Glee) costume – a black and white track jacket, aviator sungless, a protein shaker cup, a whistle, and a blonde wig – but am afraid no one will ‘get it’ :(
Back-up is to fashion a Cleopatra get-up out of a bedsheet, ridiculous jewelry from my late grandmother, copious amounts of black eyeliner, and the ugly drapes from my rental apartment (I was going to replace them, anyway!).
Comment by KS — October 29, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
I love halloween! I am going this year as Flo, the Progressive Insurance Girl. I totally scored white pants for FIVE bucks at a discount store (Yay for mega sale racks!) and I get to do cat eye makeup and wear Revlon’s “Love that Red” lipstick!!!
I did have to buy a brown wig as I have curly blonde hair…and….I must confess…I bought a set of Bumpits to put into the wig as synthetic hair does NOT tease well. The Bumpits may make a comeback next year as I’m considering doing some kind of diner waitress getup….
At work we have a departmental Halloween challenge and this year my co-workers and I are going as file boxes because we are in the midst of moving our offices and have been eyebrow deep in them for about a week. I will be labeled as “Current” files, the next oldest is being labeled as “Archived” and the boss who is ending her career with this company after 25 years in December will appropriately be labeled “Retired” Ha!
Comment by Babs — October 29, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
I’m making an 18th century robe a’la Francaise, out of black silk taffeta and purple/gold silk organza. It’s looking scrumptious so far!
Comment by Synnamin — October 29, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
I was Medusa last year – and that was really involved – I draped my own toga(in serpentine green satin), and had black sequin leggings and a tube top under it (you could see the leggings), piled my unruly hair on top of my head with braids and braided headbands and lots of toy snakes playing peek-a-boo all over it. I wore my fav YSL black lipgloss and glued metallic and green sequins from my hairline to my eyes and along my neck and randomly on my shoulders – it looked wicked – and took forever.
So this year I’m going as a zombie lifeguard. I found a really old falling apart shirt that used to be part of my uniform in the back of my closet, still have the red bikini top and I get to wear uniform navy sweats and flip flops – uggs if it’s cold. Oh and the black lipgloss will be back, but more smeared and smattered with some red ‘I just ate some brains’ lipstick.
Comment by sam — October 29, 2009 @ 6:34 pm
I too and going the nerdy/crossdressing route I am going as Brandon Flowers from the Killers. I am wearing a gray blazer over an orange tee and big costumey brooches, tight jeans (well tight for me) and shiny cowboy boots.
Comment by AmazonAngelle — October 30, 2009 @ 1:50 am
I wanted to pick something that would be plausible for a Big Girl, so I’m Ursula the Sea Witch from “The Little Mermaid.” Normally I just wear a black dress and a pointy hat and go as a regular witch. Living with a gay roommate has propelled me in the direction of wigs, false eyelashes and body paint. (HE went to work as a Spider Sorceress in purple velvet and five-inch heels.)
Comment by Jane — October 30, 2009 @ 9:31 am
I’m doing the same thing I’ve done for the past 3 years… pirate wench.
BUUUUTTT it’s not the slutty kind. I also dislike the overly slutty outfits! Although you may hate me because my outfit is actually one of those renaissance costumes you want to mock…
I took the pieces such as the dress and corset and am spicing things up with some interesting jewellery pieces, and new this year, a leather money pouch! I’ll slap on an eye patch and be good to go!
My goal was just to have a fun time with it, but still look lovely (hence the corset) while not being trashy or slutty.
I actually get a lot of genuine compliments from people for it because it’s not often you see a decent outfit that someone has actually put effort into!
Comment by Ginger — October 30, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
Gemdiva: Oooh! Ditto, here!
Ok, FINE. We were PRIVATEERS. We had a LICENSE. I still have everything I need for a pirate costume, straight up, in my own closet.
Actually, my closet is pretty much a double for HalloweenTown, come to think of it … many centuries, many cultures lurk there!
Comment by La BellaDonna — October 30, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
Past tense- I dressed up as Hermione Granger. Made my hair just barely fluffier (it’s pretty frizzy to begin with)…white shirt + red and gold tie + grey jumper + black choir robe.
Comment by Cone — November 1, 2009 @ 7:49 am