Monday, October 25, 2010

what not to wear

Every year around this time, I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. I get anxious, self conscious and worried about what the week’s end will bring. Yes, I’m afraid of haunted houses and things that go bump in the night (I’m a wimp!), but what really gets me is the all important pressure of finding the perfect persona to duplicate on the eve of Halloween. With how many homemade horrors and do-it-yourself disguises make the Hall of Fame every year, it’s hard to compete with costumes that will always seem cooler than any I could create.
{via}
I tend to take the easy way out when it comes to costumes. Something that involves a small amount of effort and little money spent is usually how I dress up by default. Don’t get me wrong, I think dressing up is a lot of fun and I love seeing the creative costumes of more gifted individuals, but I tend to crumble under the pressure of creating a crafty, clever and recognizable costume. My past get-ups have always been easy, like a flight attendant or a rugby player, and I’ve yet to go above and beyond by turning myself into anything that would make others envy my attire. I tend to blend into the crowd as opposed to standing out, ogling the outfits of all the others that clearly didn’t wait until the last minute to whip up their wardrobe. And even though Halloween arrives at the same time every year, there’s something inside of me that won’t commit to a costume in time to make it a masterpiece. Sure, I’ve had some good ideas, but dishing out some dough, showing too much skin or taking the time to scout out the right materials seem to be my stumbling blocks when it comes to dressing for success. Or maybe the fact that I'm still taunted by my siblings for being a fat ballerina when I was 6 has put a damper on my costume-creating abilities...do you know how hard it is to be anything skinny when you grow up in Canada and have to fit a snowsuit under your costume?! I know there will eventually be a 31st of October when my creative and crafty side will conquer my fears of not being good enough and I’ll create a costume worthy of being considered cool. Until that day comes though, dressing all in white, borrowing some wings and calling myself an angel just might be as good as it gets.

Are you dressing up this year? What the best costume you’ve ever seen?

24 comments:

a little black cloud in a dress said...

things have been so hectic over here that i havent even had time to buy the little one a costume, let alone one for myself! :[ My fav costume was the year I got divorced, I tore up my wedding dress and went as the corpse bride!

Anonymous said...

I haven't dressed up in about 4 years, which kinda makes me sad. I like dressing up but like you I never come up with any really cool costumes. they are always typical ones... hahah and I totally pulled the angel trick.

Diana Mieczan said...

For the last 7 years our friends organize Halloween party and each year there is a different theme...I try my best to find something cool and fun...for each theme but when I show up at the party I always see much better costumes..but I dont mind..Its all about the fun of it for me
Happy Monday,sweetie
Hugs and kisses

Allison said...

I'm the same, I either skip halloween altogether or I come up with something that involves some ears or horns and my own clothes.

I really enjoy looking at other people's costumes, but not my own.

Melissa Blake said...

oh man. i haven't dressed up since i was a clown when i was 13. maybe i'll dress up again someday!

HulaBuns said...

I haven't dressed up in years, but am thinking about doing it for the sake of blog. I have an idea for a post that would require it....so, if I have to do it I will. ;)

Best I've ever seen? Hmmm, not the best but one of the funniest was a friend's kid who decided to wear his dinosaur costume backwards - giving himself a very large - errr, umm, let's call it tail. LOL

Chiara said...

I can totally relate to the big snowsuit anecdote.... it was so difficult!!
I remember being a gigantic minnie mouse!
Good luck
xoxo
www.joiedevivre-chiara.blogspot.com

dulci said...

not sure if I feel like dressing up or not! it's always so crazy here in NYC and I don't know if I have the moxie for it this year!!

http://ladulcivida.blogspot.com/

Punctuation Mark said...

no costume here yet and feel like I will whip something out at the last minute.. total panic!

Signe said...

Halloween is not a big thing overe here so luckily this is not something I'll have to worry about :)

k said...

It makes me anxious too!!! I'm kind of happy to be out of the US this year! haha...and that roller coaster costume is HILARIOUS. One year, I saw a guy dressed as a teletubby - that was pretty funny!!

Anna @ IHOD said...

ha ha! Love it.
I am with you on the costume. Not sure what I am going to be yet. I start with big ambitions and end up swinging it with whatever I have in my closet.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Anna

Jaime @ laviejaime said...

I actually love dressing up- Halloween can be really fun!

stephiejane said...

that rollercoaster one is AWESOME!!! i've always loved dressing up...my group of friends went as the beatle's last year and i was "lucy in the sky with diamonds" ... probably the most creative costume i've ever done myself :)

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

I remember when I was little I had to bundle up so much that it was hardly worth having a costume. Not quite the same anymore luckily. Lately we've been having very warm Octobers...A few years ago I remember it felt like summer!

Melanie's Randomness said...

That is such a cute idea with the curious george & the yellow hat guy!! awww.

I hate the pressure that goes along with Halloween but I love dressing up!! It takes me a while to commit to one thing so I usually have a few ideas bouncing around. This year I'm being Hit-Girl from Kickass.

Best one I've seen is Edgar Allen Poe, the batman people, & a lady who was marie Antonette with a fake head in her hand! =)

Tiffany Kadani said...

Mine's a surprise- mostly because I don't even know if I will do it. I haven't dressed up in years. You're right- there's too much pressure!

rachel said...

ohh, i'm sorry for what happened when you were six. :( yeah, halloween is hard, because you want to look good...but it's like only one night. all that work....i can't wait to see your outfit?

this free bird said...

Guilty admission: I don't dress up on Halloween (sometimes I don't even go out - uh-oh). There are so many inventive costumes out there...this year I might have to venture out to see all the pregnant Rachel Zoe's floating about!

Good luck with your costume!

xoxo,
Carrie

Liv said...

Aaawww... Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat! :-)

I adore Halloween (and I've lived in Montreal all my life so I totally feel your childhood snowsuit trauma). I'm pretty last minute this year though, I bought a fancy masquerade mask just need to figure out the rest! I should just ask myself, What Would Gaga Do?

Do you have any ideas we your readers can help you out with?

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

My favorite costume was a bunch of guys that dressed up as beer pong cups. They even had a soccer ball that was the beer pong ball. It was hysterical.

OneCraftyFox said...

I am dressing up in era for a Halloween work party tomorrow!

I would like to invite you to join my **Interactive Halloween Party**, come, come, I promise I won't bite, I'm not a vampire... or am I ...? eery music....

Elle Sees said...

i never buy a costume from a store. i try to buy things to make one (no sewing!) so i can wear the pieces again somehow. i was amy winehouse, sarah palin, and this year i'm snooki. i get all into the character & that's why i win the costume contests!

Holly Knitlightly said...

Hahahaha it's SO true about having to wear a snowsuit underneath your Halloween costume! One year I just went up my street because it was snowing so bad, haha. (And I live on a very short street, 30 houses total!)