A good excuse
Halloween is a good excuse. When I was little, it was a great excuse to put on makeup and walk around in high heels. (Like a princess, not a prostitute). And then it was a good excuse to eat buckets of sugar and chocolate. In high school, it’s nothing but an excuse for respectable girls to wear less clothes than normal and the already skimpily clad girls to act like they look. And now, it’s an excuse to dress babies as ridiculous vegetables or furry animals and prop them up to take pictures.
In ninth grade, on what must have been a highly insecure day, I remember standing in the lunch line, waiting for breadsticks. One of the cool, popular girls was talking about Halloween costumes. She had a captive audience, and we all laughed eagerly as we listened to her describe her night as a speed bump when she was little. I don’t know if she was lying, but she described being rolled in black butcher paper and waddling down the street. I remember thinking, “She’s brilliant and funny. No wonder she’s so popular.”
Now, in the comfort of my mid-20s and secure in who I am, I can say I had some pretty good costumes. Pippy Longstockings, with braids sticking straight out and forming a 3-foot hazard on my head. Snoopy’s wife, complete with a mumu. Garfield. A Pakistani princess.
Not too shabby. This year, I haven’t decided on a costume. I do know mumus and braids only scare people if you follow kids around asking for candy. Halloween doesn’t work as an excuse if you’re THAT lady.
I liked wearing my bumble bee suit when I was little…
My question is: If it’s acceptable to dress kids as little munkies, or tigers or whatever…why isn’t it appropriate for adults to do so?
I wouldn’t mind wearing a nice one piece tiger suit to work…perhaps it might finally get me the respect I deserve around here!
i was Tina Turner in 5th grade. i pulled it off because i have such a dark complexion. i wore one of my mom’s shoulder-padded gold sequined shirts, fishnet hose, a lot of jewelry, and a wig. i was the hottest thing in school that day. and the sparkliest.
I think you should bring back the pippy longstockings outfit, its been way too long. Plus, you get to see confused looks on people’s faces when they wonder what the heck you are because they’ve never seen it before. But, then again, I’m not quite sure I know what pippy longstockings is either
And this year…if we can’t get a fourth for our Golden Girls costumes, I’ll be going as one of those skimpily clad girls or Madonna, circa- cone bra.