Halloween

Do you suppose strippers get angry because all of the good outfits are sold out around Halloween? I mean, if that's how a woman wants to dress-up, that's her business and it's okay by me. But, you know, I just can't quite pinpoint when ladies' Halloween costuming took this provocative turn. It used to be that you'd see one or two girls in the classic "little devil" get-up with the horns and tail or something like that or the "bad cop" (always a crowd favorite with the handcuffs and all of the double entendre opportunities it provides), usually around college bars or someplace similar. Now it seems like almost ALL of the ladies' costumes are designed to try to "out sex" each other. And it's not just high school and college girls either; it's women of all ages, shapes, and sizes. I try not to think too deeply on any subject these days, but this could either be seen as an empowering thing, women of all types displaying their confidence and sexuality; or it could be seen as a statement on the modern female psyche that she thinks she has to put her body on display to get attention. The entire allure of costuming for some is the shedding of ego and pretending to be someone or something else for a night. There's a certain type of freedom when someone can divorce themselves from the idea of being secretary, mom, retail cashier, lawyer, or whatever the case may be and explore a new character. And sometimes it's just fun to get a rise out of people from showing some skin and that's all there is to it. If it's a natural extension of that person and they don't feel forced or pressured to "sex it up" I say go right ahead. Women just need to remember not to push it too far, because the costume goes away on Monday and the office could be a real awkward place to be after someone posts the incriminating photos on facebook (or one of those "other" sites depending on how far it went!). Remember: these days EVERYONE has a camera in their phone and you're never more than three second away from being photographed with or without your knowledge (and knowledge is power. PLUS, knowing is half the battle!)

I do find some of these costumes a bit odd, though. It is my belief, and I think most would agree, that not EVERY character, idea, or archetype should have a "sexy" counterpart. It seems like costume designers do not share this belief. Case in point; the other day I saw a women wearing a skimpy costume designed to represent Raphael from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Never mind that Raphael is a male character, but who in their right mind looks at a ninja turtle and says, "you know, that'd make a hot Halloween costume"? I was a kid when the Turtles first appeared. This is like the perversion of some childhood memory. Now I can't even look at a ninja turtle the same way again! It's just confusing and it's wrong!

And on another note, I am entirely grateful that, for the most part, MEN have NOT taken on this new Halloween tradition. Call this a double standard if you will, but I hold firm on this stance. Men are empowered enough, their egos do not need the extra boost, and it would usually yield the exact opposite reaction one would typically be looking for from the opposite sex. So have fun in the Darth Vader costume, guys. Hey, I hear the Stay Puft Marshmellow man is a big hit this year! Or just be a zombie; it's what most people do best five days a week and twice on weekends, anyway.