Y’know, I’m not always a big fan of Halloween… we didn’t participate when I was growing up, and even as a big kid now I don’t usually. One reason is it’s a night to be someone else, but fairly often, that someone else seems to be on five-inch heels, wearing ripped fishnets, tarantula-leg mascara, and a push-up bodice — no matter what animal, vegetable or mineral the costume is supposed to represent. Somehow, we’ve taken a fun, be-a-kid idea, and turned it into something vastly lacking in imagination. For a lot of people, it’s turned into a one-note, lowest-common-denominator sort of thing, with the addition of horrifying amounts of sugar.
I like sugar. I like silly. I like fishnets, even. But, even the most Halloween loving of us will admit that it’s kind of squicky to see little kids dressed provocatively. We seem to keep one-upping each other with the lack of clothing, we girls, anyway.
But, I just discovered a tiny pushback against that: Take Back Halloween.org. People. Talk about imagination. THIS is the Halloween I remember from all the parades in grade school – people who actually tried to do something innovative with their outfits! A site that collects some creative ideas for girls – with multicultural and historical emphasis, too. Hey, you could be Madam CJ Walker. Asase Yaa. Sor Juana – a brilliant nun. Tin Hinan. Boudicca. Or Wu Zetian – the ONLY empress of China. Check it out. A little thought and study, and you are SET for any costume party you might come across.
They have instructions and helpful info about where they sourced stuff, and best of all, a little historical tidbit, so when you have to explain your costume to people – and you know you will – you’ll have all the facts. Just wait ’til they get some steampunk people chiming in and helping out. Apparently, they take suggestions!
Some people have commented that there is some skinshowing in these costumes, too. Yep. Skin is great a great thing sometimes… when it makes sense to be showing some. It’s not about Everyone Dress As Nuns (unless you’re being Sor Juana, and then… well); it’s more Everyone Dress With Creativity. And this just gives you another option.
Fun via the ever-fab MarySue.
Now you’re talkin’. Love these ideas (thumbs up for the Madame Pele costume)!
I was never a big fan of Halloween, and when forced to wear a costume to adult parties, I went as Eve and a French maid. Would have loved to be somebody historically significant and interesting. 🙂
I want to be the kind of person who wants to go to a costume party. I mean, in theory, I LOVE them. In practice – it’s stressful (as so many things end up being in Real Life).
Although: honey, we gotta say this here, your gams would make you an AWESOME Eve or French maid. But seriously: I’ve been in France, and have never seen hotel staff or anyone wearing anything remotely like that…