Costume Ideas In Case You are Still Looking
Halloween is this weekend.
And I’m sure many of you have yet to decide on a costume despite the hours spent on Pinterest vigorously searching for salvation in the bowels of a board called Niche Halloween Costumes.
Fate is on your side it seems, as I (a Halloween aficionado and self-proclaimed expert in the art of costume selection) have compiled a list of general ideas, references, and inspirations you can pull from to ensure your last-minute costume is en vogue, yet not so overdone that it is dry and stale.
When in doubt turn to God
He’s everywhere; he’s been there from the start and he’ll be there well past the end. He knew you before your first breath. He’s heard all your words before you’ve even parted your lips. He knows just how filthy you are, every hedonistic endeavour hangs like mourning brooches on your soul. Some say you are him. Others that he’s not there at all. Regardless, he haunts the lives and minds of all in some way. And there's something horrific in his everpresence, his boundless knowledge, and his choice to remain veiled beneath a sheet that can only be lifted by the dead. Channeling this into a halloween costume is a relatively simple task as there are a plethora of different ways you can execute it. Biblical figures, divine (or unholy) creatures, medieval monks. You could even go as a nun, making the costume as modest or sacreligiously scandalous as you desire.
Madonna
If you want to go as a modern religious figure, look to Our Lady Madonna. She’s been considered an icon in the entertainment industry since her debut in the 1980s. In the past year or so, it seems that we have gone through a sort of Madonnassaince, with her artistry being referenced by new-gen artists, from Sabrina Carpenter wearing her 1991 Bob Mackie gown at the VMA’s, to sonic similarities in FKA Twigs’ Eusexua, to direct mentions on Addison Rae’s eponymous debut. Madonna has had her fair share of iconic looks, with entire Vogue articles dedicated to her top fifty-three. I’m partial to a Ray of Light or Erotica reference, but you can’t really go wrong here.
Carrie at Big’s door
A super easy look to recreate. All you will need is a top hat, a whip, a black top, and a dark maxi skirt. Bonus points if you have a Mr. Big to answer the door.
“A drag queen??????
I am the queen of dragggggggg!!!” Or YOU could be this Halloweekend.
Some costumes I would personally like to see include: Divine in Pink Flamingos, Coco Montreese’s #IDFWU Werkroom outfit, Alyssa Edwards as Katy Perry, and any RuPaul look from the ‘90s. It would also be really fun to create your own drag persona and embody them for the night.
The Tried-and-True
Vampires, Ghouls, Werewolves, Witches, and Mummies. Timeless haunts intrinsically tied to the holiday so their repetition never becomes tired or unfashionable. Your transformation doesn’t require a full-moon or a bitten neck (though if you do it right, you might get one after mwahahaha). Dead eyes, vintage slips, shredded lace, ripped seams, second-hand furs, and flying broomsticks will do just the trick. Or, you could experiment with your own self expression and incorporate that into the costume.
That's all I have for you lovelies.
Don’t forget to wear a matching perfume!
Good-bye and Happy Halloween!
Strike Out,
Parker DeFriese, Writing Director
Strike Magazine Chattanooga