Many times more often than not you’ll find yourself picking a costume that highlights your individuality. If your way of expressing yourself is through scanty clothing items, who’s to tell you that is wrong? The human body isn’t inherently sexual, neither are clothes; it’s all up to how it’s perceived.
“In the girl world, Halloween is the one night a year a girl can dress like a total s**t, and no other girls can say anything about it,” Six River’s junior Tatum Dick said, referencing a Cady Heron quote from the movie Mean Girls. Dick goes on to encourage more revealing costumes as it is the one-time women aren’t shamed for being comfortable in their bodies.
Sl*t shaming is something that 50% of women and 20% of men will experience in their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health. For most women wearing a dress, skirt, or even a tank top can warrant unwanted attention and comments from men or other women. However, the customs of Halloween push against societal clothing norms.
The 1940s started the trend of using Halloween as a day to protest without any consequence. Many people used the annual holiday to crossdress as it was illegal to do so on any other day. Around this time, skimpy costumes started working their way into pop culture with Hollywood stars often dressing up in them for promotion.
The biggest push for a revealing style of costume into the mainstream was with 80s pop culture. Goth icon Cassandra Gay Peterson played the persona of Elvira in multiple TV shows, movies, and talk shows. Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, is one of Peterson’s most famous films and many teenagers and adults still dress up to Evira today. Elvira is most commonly seen in her tight-fitting low-cut black dress with a knife at the waistline.
Social limitations on what a person can and can’t wear change constantly, especially with the introduction of social media micro trends. The shift from skinny to baggy jeans, for example, shows how something trendy 5 years ago can fall out of style practically overnight. Social media has also influenced pop culture and the way we interact with it, sometimes speeding up these trends.
Chapell Roan, a rising music artist, who has grown in popularity over this past year is known for her drag-inspired makeup and outfits. Roan’s costumes usually include bodysuits paired with fishnets or thigh-high socks. Roan’s music is trending among Gen Z, people born from the years 1997 to 2012, and costumes will likely be a big trend this year amongst teenagers and young adults.
To shame someone for dressing up ruins the whole point of Halloween. To be bothered over a pop star costume because it is showing more skin sucks the joy out of dressing up. Seeing yourself in a completely different persona for a day is what people like Dick enjoy. Why care about other people’s costumes when you have your own to worry about?
“It’s like wearing a bikini instead of one piece to the beach. It’s like showing off your body without being naked,” said Canela Zuleta Harper.
Personal comfort should be the number one deciding factor of your Halloween costume. It’s the one day you can show off your body or a piece of your personality. Your body and all its imperfections should be celebrated. Don’t water down your uniqueness for others. Showing skin isn’t against the law so don’t act like it is.
Many people don’t mind more suggestive costumes as long as it is in the right setting or circumstances.
“I think it really depends on what character you’re sexualizing,” junior Sabine John said.. Some later-mentioned characters would be children, jobs, and animals. John warns against the possible dangers that suggestive costumes pose for minors.
In preparation for Halloween be wary of stereotypes or caricatures you could be enforcing with your costume. John mentions maids as a character to avoid revealing them as it could be disrespectful to the people who work in the cleaning industry. Seeing someone dress as a sexualized version of yourself is distasteful to anyone.
Being aware of the reactions from the public is something you need to ponder before making the final choice. Navigating dangerous and uncomfortable situations is a skill you must have to be able to dress in a revealing costume. Not being able to safely shut down these conversations or actions can be a struggle for many minors. Be sure you are with a group or friend to ensure a more safe environment.
Going against societal norms isn’t easy and you should be prepared for the repercussions it causes. However, don’t let social limitations affect how much or little you want to wear. Be yourself unapologetically and make sure you go all out this Halloween.
