Halloween’in It.
October 19th, 2006 . by mattIn the past Halloween has been one of my favorite holidays of the year, but for the second year in a row I’ll be working the entire holiday weekend, which means there’s no point in looking for a costume and going to any parties. I am, however, involved in two separate shows that between them put me through a total of five costume changes. So I’m feeling OK about not getting dressed up this year.
But I’m always excited to hear about what everyone else is going as… I went into a costume shop the other day and was kind of floored at how many “sexy______” costumes there were, this year. You know what I’m talking about. The “Sexy Nurse”, the “Sexy Female Cop”, the “Sexy Ladybug” (no, I’m serious. I almost bought that one). An entire wall dedicated to this variation on a theme. Have I just been out of the loop? Did Britney and Jessica really have that much impact on the American youth?
I mean, I know that I am currently playing the emcee in a Cabaret-themed show where most of the female performers are scantily clad in small pieces of leather and fishnet. So I’m not really one to talk. It was just a little jarring to see twelve year olds coming out of the dressing rooms in dominatrix outfits. And it seems like I’m not the only one thinking about this:
IN her thigh-highs and ruby miniskirt, Little Red Riding Hood does not
appear to be en route to her grandmother’s house. And Goldilocks, in a
snug bodice and platform heels, gives the impression she has been
sleeping in everyone’s bed. There is a witch wearing little more than a
Laker Girl uniform, a fairy who appears to shop at Victoria’s Secret
and a cowgirl with a skirt the size of a tea towel. -Stephanie Rosenbloom link full (NYT article) .
I will say that the costumes seem to be better made than the costumes we used to buy when we were little, strange little jumpers that were always a little disappointing. You didn’t actually dress up as Spiderman, but rather the concept of Spiderman. And you’d always cut your face on the shredding plastic masks. Oh, and finding the proper shoes to go with your costume was always a problem. Troublesome issues for a five year old me.
I, for one, have always wanted to follow the more “traditional” themes of Halloween; the idea that people would dress as demonic beings in order to celebrate the fact that evil creatures had a party on All Hallow’s Eve, because they couldn’t come out on All Saint’s Day (the following day). But wikipedia says that even this isn’t much of a tradition… that Halloween has always been just an excuse for adults to get their freak on and for kids to get free candy from neighbors.
And this is fine by me. I have fond memories of my father’s excitement at getting to carve a pumpkin, the smell of autumn finally in the air, and the yearly chance to not just dress, but actually be someone or something else for a day. And I happen to think that role-playing is great for everyone, even Sluttylocks and her Hot Riding Hoods. It’s a new tradition, altogether! Please send pictures!
a quote from overheardinathens.com:
Girl on cell: Are you going to the party? Well, I’m gonna go as the Pink Panther. I saw this corset at Victoria’s Secret that I wanna wear, and then I’ll wear some stilettos and a tail. And I figure I’ll paint my nose pink.
and don’t forget “sexy librarian.” have you seen the movie mean girls? right. halloween is an excuse for girls to prance around in lingerie and not be called sluts unless they want to. all i know is that, darn it, i’m gonna get some use out of those black and red striped tights if it’s the last thing i do!
Yes, I think every girl has done the lingerie or a leotard with cat/bunny/mouse/whatever ears just because.
I’m going to be an empowered, restless soul from Modest Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain”. You know, summonded by the Chernabog on St. John’s Night, during the witch’s sabath? Yeah. That piece from Fantasia. It’s gonna be amazing.
I’m dressing up as Jane Lane from Daria this year. I’ll probably be the only girl in Salem NOT wearing something slutty ^_^
and Geni, you make me happy like sunshine. that is the dorkiest idea ever and I love it.
i have no idea what to be. i actually really want to be a robot. a shiny shiny gold girlbot with a sweet-ass headpiece with lots of rivets a la Metropolis. that seems like it will be tough to scrap together in a week…
koi pond.
bride of frankenstein was my favorite. used an old bridesmaid’s dress. actually got my hair to stand up 7 inches tall with a whole lotta hair spray and teasing. gory, bloody stitches on the arms, wrist and all the way around my neck.
I knew it was a successful costume because the neighbor’s kids came trick-or-treating and I scared them into running away…
I always have great uses for old bridesmaids dresses when it comes to Halloween
and I love it when people dress up in the traditional sense of the holiday.
How amazing to be on King Street on Halloween night and to see ghouls, goblins, ghosts, vampires and axe murderers slinking down the street. They get so into it, actually transforming their costume into a type of temporary reality. I feel like I am in the nightmare episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where the nightmares are creeping into real life.
man, I love Halloween…
Lucille Balle in I Love Lucy ………… in black and white. I figure either I’ll either look like a dead-on Lucy or just a plain dead Lucy.
Lindsay Jean - one year I was Betty Boop in black and white and it looked awesome. But I didn’t deal with any kind of white makeup, just heavy black lipstick, black stockings and my own dark hair pinned up with the dress and heels was enough.
since all I’m doing this year is going to class, I’m doing something simple: I’m going to be a gypsy. with a top hat and a feather (if i remember to go find the feather).
My friend is going as a ’slutty tomato’, whatever that means. I only know it entails a red miniskirt and fishnets.
I wore the same thing I’ve worn for 4 years in a row-a black velvety jumper with silvery spiderwebs and spiders on it. That will never go out of style… or will it never be in style? Anyway, if you haven’t been notified yet, Django Haskins band, The Old Ceremony is playing at Cumberlands Nov. 15th.