Lessons Learned from Wearing a Winter Jacket Under my Halloween Costume

Same story every year. You say you’re not going to dress up and then, like always, your friend with the awesome costume already planned convinces you to dress up at the last minute. At this point you usually have no time, the stores are closing and your only options are closet creations like “hippie,” “cowgirl,” or some sort of lingerie wearing insect, creature or blue-collar worker. I mean what is Halloween these days without a garter? Are these girls all still mad at their parents for making them wear a winter coat under their ballerina princess costume?

So, while most girls are dressed as common prostitutes, there are also the ones that get realllllllly creative. They try to be funny or quirky. I love the effort people put into this one. I’m talking about the people who dress as riddles, clichés, activities or inanimate objects. Having to explain a costume is the worst. You’ve all seen “God’s Gift to Women” and “Identity Crisis.” A personal example: In the 7th grade my mom convinced me to be a picnic. Worst day of my life walking around school with a makeshift table and dinner for four on my chest. That one was a real hit with the guys. Seriously, thanks mom. I can't believe I actually bought your “be different and “original” speech. While my sister was frolicking around as a lovely turquoise satin unicorn, middle school boys were ripping bags of Fritos off my picnic, I couldn't fit at my desk and I had a fork and knife in my hair.

You’ll also be sure to see a few creepy couple costumes, read: M & M’s, weird renaissance looking pairs and my mom and dad always loved the pirate thing.

Then there are always the funny and current “I wish I thought of that” costumes.

Here are a few we may see in the 2010 Halloween season:
• Chilean Miners (they survived so I think it’s PC)
• The Jet Blue flight attendant that lost it
• Teen Mom
• Lady Gaga in Meat
• Glee
• Bed Bugs

Be careful not to dip into the 2009 season’s picks –
• Jersey Shore characters
• Sarah Palin
• Kate Gosselin
• Susan Boyle
• Real Housewives
• Mad Men characters
• Lady Gaga in Orbit
• Anything Twilight related

Here are a few of my picks for great all around costumes –
• Nude PETA protester
• Any eastern European gymnast from the 90’s
• Karl Lagerfeld
• Donatella Versace
• Mr. Rogers
• Johnny Weir

What are you going to be?