Tonight is Halloween, and I have an issue: as of this year, I’m genuinely confused by this holiday.
While I know it’s really an American thing that we Australians have latched onto because we too would like lollies, I’ve been under the impression for my entire life that I understood what it was about.
Scary things. Ghosts, witches, zombies.
Historically, it was intended to be a night where you dressed as a monster or a ghost so you couldn’t be distinguished from any ‘undead’ released to roam the night. Obviously.
So costumes that make sense include a corpse bride:
Or a witch from Hocus Pocus.
Or a devil (kinda).
But in 2016, these costumes are the exception, not the rule. NO ONE DRESSES UP AS ANYTHING SCARY AND I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT’S HAPPENING.
At a Halloween party on Friday night, where guests were explicitly told to “dress scary – the gorier, the better”, I watched as people arrived in completely nonsensical costumes.
There were superheroes, an American Indian (oh God not this again), a Snow White, a taco, two Bananas in Pyjamas, a crocodile, a guy dressed up as a German who kept doing A NAZI SALUTE (seriously), a horse, so many cats, a pirate, and of course, a school girl.
These. Are. Not. Scary.
These. Are. Just. Costumes. You. Wanted. To. Wear.
Of course, over the weekend my Instagram feed was also full of celebrities’ costumes, as they headed to very fancy Halloween parties. And apparently the rich and famous have abandoned the ‘scary’ theme, too.
The one I found most perplexing was Kylie Jenner, who dressed as Christina Aguilera.
I just don’t… get it.
So much Christina Aguilera, so little sense.
It’s just so specific. And so random.
Even stranger was the fact Kylie Jenner wasn’t the only public figure who dressed as Christina Aguilera. So did Imogen Anthony, Kyle Sandilands’ girlfriend.
So just to clarify, two independent people thought it was a really clever idea to dress up as Christina Aguilera for Halloween – a holiday which is about dressing up as something scary.
HOW IS THIS SCARY?
Katy Perry has also received a lot of attention for her (disconcertingly realistic) Hillary Clinton costume. But again, I was left thinking, "That's nice, but what does it have to do with Halloween?"
Interestingly, when I did some research, I found the history of Halloween isn't necessarily all ghosts and monsters. According to one theory, dressing up originated from the idea of hiding your identity from the dead. So over time the philosophy has become 'the more original the better'.
Still - surely there are other occasions for people to dress up just for the sake of it. Halloween is fundamentally defined by spookiness, the supernatural, and (in the US and Europe) the beginning of winter - a time of darkness, coldness and (in the past) a great deal of human death.
Essentially, I feel like Cady from Mean Girls, turning up in a really freaky costume and wondering why everyone's dressed as mouses.
It's not that I think I have the right to tell people what to wear, it's more that I don't understand what they're wearing, or why.
Ultimately, wear whatever you like. In 2016 Halloween is first and foremost about fun. But if you're going to reject the 'scary' theme, at least try to be culturally sensitive. WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE AMERICAN INDIANS.
Jenna Dewan Tatum absolutely killed it as a unicorn. Zach Braff is looking tops in his Top Gun costume. Alessandra Ambrosio absolutely stuns as Jessica Rabbit. Those legs though, Special mention to Chrissy Teagan's daughter Luna for looking like the cutest hotdog we've ever seen! Jessica Alba and her friend having an absolutely fabulous time as Edina and Patsy. Model Joanna Krupa made jaws drop as she turned up in a very raunchy fairy costume. This might be the big winner here. Katy Perry and Boyfriend, Orlando Bloom go all out as Bill and Hillary Clinton. Kelly Rowland turned to the 90's for inspo this year as Cher from Clueless Kelsey Grammer pay homage to one of the original villains from The Simpsons, Side Show Bob. Bette Midler absolutely killed it as her original character from the movie Hocus Pocus Jacob Tremlays class mates may not have appreciated his Marty McFly outfit, but all the adults sure did! Swimmer Ryan Lochte and his girlfriend team up as the Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland. Zendaya proving that the best costumes can sometimes just come down to your make up. Young muso Zedd and a friend pay homage to the most iconic DJ duo, Daft Punk. Comedian Kathy Griffith goes as our fave social media site, snapchat. Bobby Kennedy and Cheryl Hines are super cute in their legend of Zoro costumes. 90's super model Cindy Crawford and her daughter Kaia dress to impress as punk rockers along side her son and husband. Deborah Martin attends Bette Midlers annual Hulaween bash as an sexy ice queen. Seth Macfarlane gets grouchy as the lovable Sesame Street character, Oscar the Grouch.
Top Comments
I'm sorry but 'mouses' is not a word. The plural of 'mouse' is 'mice' unless you are talking about a computer mouse (where both 'mice' and 'mouses' are interchangeable), which I assume you are not.
Exactly, everyone knows it's meeses.
Re: your images. Kelsey Grammer is Side Show Bob.