How to Win Halloween

For many, October 31st isn’t just a day of the year, it’s a lifestyle. From planning costumes to decorating living spaces, Halloween is not for the faint of heart. Here at VCFS we want to help everyone be their spookiest selves this year so we’ve compiled a list of tips to get you ready to go. 

1. Round up some friends

Sure dressing up as John Lennon is cool, but recruit yourself a Paul, George, and Ringo, and you’ve won spooky season. There’s something about group costumes that commands respect, and we’re not talking about just wearing the same costume as your friends. Think more along the lines of coordinating so that you’re good on your own, but when you all come together (pun intended) heads turn and applause is due.

2. Get creative with your makeup and hair

Planning out an outfit and accessories may be enough to get the point of your costume across, but trying out a cool makeup look that relates to your fit will elevate your look for sure. If you’re an eyeliner person, swap out your regular wing with a snake for some Medusa vibes. Have shorter hair? Play with gel and try some spikes or a slicked back look for a punk or futuristic style. 

3. Reference something!

Some of the best costumes are ones that have stories behind them. Personifying a song lyric or book title is always fun since there’s no right or wrong way to go about it, only your interpretation matters! Going down this route is also a fun way to strike up a conversation if you can get people to ask, “what are you dressed up as anyway?”

4. Avoid cultural appropriation in your costume choices

Of course, the novelty of Halloween is the chance to dress up. The opportunity to dress up as your favorite superhero, TV show character, or internet joke is one of the best parts. However, when planning your costumes, make you consider if your costume may be offensive or hurtful towards others. Cultural appropriation can be defined as taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone else’s culture without permission. This can include unauthorized use of another culture’s dance, dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional medicine, or religious symbols. The best way to avoid cultural appropriation is to research your costume, makeup or hair choices, and hold others accountable. 

5. Work with what you’ve got

If you’re looking for a fun challenge, try picking a random piece from your closet and styling it as a costume! This can get you thinking about your clothes with a fresh pair of eyes, which can be useful after Halloween when you feel like you have nothing to wear. Shopping from your existing pieces can also prevent you from buying clothing that may only ever get one or two wears. So not only are you being frugal, but sustainable too! Win win for sure.

Hopefully these tips help get the wheels spinning to help you have the best Halloween yet. VCFS wishes you a happy spooky season!