How to Pick Your Halloween Costume as an Adult in 2022
By Skywing Knights // October 1, 2022
Hello dears!
Well, that spooky season is upon us once again! And if you’re like me, you’re probably already getting tons of Halloween party invites. (Unfortunately, I can’t attend any this year, but that’s neither here nor there). Normally, though, I end up going to several. I must. I have to. Costuming is kind of my thing. And I am insistent in wearing a different Halloween costume to each of them.
But not everyone is insane like I am, at least when it comes to costuming. Most of us adults just need one thing to wear to Halloween parties. But… you’re an adult now. And costuming isn’t your thing. But you know you’ll be seen as a party pooper if you just show up without at least trying. So what do you do? How do you pick your Halloween costume? And how are you supposed to have fun wearing a ‘weird’ costume?
Well you’re in luck. Because today I’m going to share with you some tips for both picking the perfect Halloween costume as well as how to make the most of your Halloween experience, based on what I’ve learned from 13+ years of costuming, or rather cosplaying. So let’s jump right into it!
Some of the most relevant things I’ve learned that pertain to picking out a Halloween costume AND having fun on Halloween include the following:
Costuming isn’t just for kids, guys! š
1. Remember, it doesn’t make you any less of an adult to wear a costume.
One of the definitions of ‘costume’ is ‘to dress in a particular fashion for a specific purpose’, and frankly we all dress in some “costume”, or rather, in attire built for a specific function, every day. Our work clothes. Our church clothes. Even our gym clothes! Wearing a costume is not a sign of childishness. It’s a sign that you can liberate yourself so as to experience your wildest dreams. What a much more exciting way to live one’s life! And Halloween allows us to embrace that.
So do yourself a favor: Don’t look at costuming as childish and instead, look at is as self-care, at least on Halloween. š
Who couldn’t relate to Cinderella or Sora?? š
2. We’re drawn to characters we admire or hate. Figure out why, go with those characters, and it’s a lot more fun.
When you choose to wear a costume, you get the chance to consciously or subconsciously express admiration or contempt for a character and their qualities, especially with the way you emulate them. Being aware of that allows us to reflect on what matters to us in life and what we value.
Furthermore, it actually allows us to better get into the spirit of Halloween. It allows us to ‘make-believe’. But perhaps more importantly, it gives our minds an exercise in thinking about what we really want in life, what we think would be fun (or scary!). We can then reflect on our ideals and our desires.
In short, when we pick characters that mean something to us, the day after Halloween, we might be tired. But we’ll also be feeling content and revitalized in our life goals and aspirations.
This costume was contacts, a wig, black pants, a button up shirt, and fake blood from the Halloween store. Simple, but impactful!
3. A Halloween costume doesn’t need to be elaborate, just well-thought out.
Costumes don’t have to be elaborate to be good or to make an impact, especially for the wearer. They just have to be purposeful to leave us with fun memories and experiences.
Not to mention, the more attention to detail you put into something, whether elaborate or simple, the more you’ll get out of the costume-wearing experience. And this applies both to the events you wear it to and also your personal life. For example, if you choose to wear heels because the character wears heels, you get to know people who wear heels a bit better. In this case, you get to be reminded of how painful wearing heels all day could be. You’ll remember people who wear them and smile through it and hide the pain. And then, you’ll think of them a bit differently the next time you see them. In this way, we can become more compassionate to those around us by being reminded of experiences we have by stepping into the shoes of someone they share qualities with.
And of course, seeing the culmination of all of that work is rewarding. Whether it’s taking the time to go to the store to pick out a shirt or pain-stakingly sewing it for two months, the final product will be something you made. So even though no one else might know it, you will, and that will bring a sense of accomplishment. And that’s an AWESOME feeling!
An awe struck child’s happy face always makes it worth wearing a costume!! š
4. āThose who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.ā – Peter Pan
Costuming can be a wholesome activity in which we can let our imaginations roam wild. But even better, as adults, it’s a way for us to bring a little magic to life – especially for kids. And honestly, this is one of my favorite things to do as a cosplayer – bring to life a child’s favorite character. It’s a way to inspire them to reach for the stars, to reach for all of their dreams.
But even beyond that, wearing a costume to portray a character is a way for us to tell children by example that it’s important to never let go of childlike wonder, awe, and imagination, most of which stems from loving life and sharing love with one another. We tell stories to reinforce the value of charity, selflessness, kindness, virtue, and true love. Embracing any character from these stories by wearing their clothes reinforces the morals of the story. And in addition, it proves that you don’t have to let go of those as you get older. You can always hold those stories and those morals in your heart. That never has to go away.
Your creativity is a divinely inherited attribute of your soul.
5. “The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.” – Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
In his talk “Happiness, Your Inheritance“, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf discusses how the desire to create is essentially a divinely inherited quality we as human beings receive as children of our Heavenly Father. Therefore, by exercising our creativity, we are able to come closer to God. Elder Uchtdorf goes on to say:
“Heavenly Father is able to accomplish these two great goalsāthe immortality and eternal life of manābecause He is a God of creation and compassion. Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that contribute to our Heavenly Fatherās perfect happiness. Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate.”
And costuming in so many ways is the definition of creating! You’re creating something new every time you bring a costume into this world. Whether it’s by making something from scratch or gathering supplies from a party store. Without you, those things wouldn’t all come together to create something. You’re literally creating something that wouldn’t exist without your hands, you. How thrilling is that? It’s joyful! It’s emotional. It is personal. And it’s all coming from you, from that divine quality that connects you back to the creator of the universe, your Heavenly Father.
So create! It makes the veil a bit thinner in some ways because during that time of creating something, we can feel a warmth from distant forgotten memories of learning to do so with our Father in Heaven.
Do you!
In Conclusion:
Picking a costume for Halloween can certainly seem like a headache if you’re not a regular for wearing costumes, but it doesn’t have to be! Remember these 5 tips to help you go about choosing your Halloween costume and have fun while taking part in the festivities!
- Remember, it doesn’t make you any less of an adult to wear a costume.
- We’re drawn to characters we admire or hate. Figure out why, go with those characters, and it’s a lot more fun.
- A costume doesn’t need to be elaborate, just well-thought out.
- āThose who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.ā – Peter Pan
- “The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.” – Elder Uchtdorf
Most importantly of all though, stick true to who you are. If no one in the world would judge you, think – “What or who would I want to be for one day if I could switch my reality? Whose shoes would I like to try living in for a day?” And then go out and be that person or thing or creature! Challenge yourself to make that thing a reality! And just have fun with it. Allow yourself to not worry about what other adults may think. If they’re judging you, then they’ve clearly lost sight of one of the most crucial things to do in life, which is to have fun!!
That said, I hope all of this helps you in your quest for picking a Halloween Costume for yourself and having a ton of fun this coming Halloween!
Much love and have a fantastically spooky season!
~Skywing
