Costume Advice

Tips on finding the right costume for any occasion

Getting the right costume depends on many different factors including the occasion, your preferences and your budget. Here are some of the main points to consider before choosing a costume for a costume party, a Halloween party or any other special event.

Costume Considerations

Not only is it important to have a costume that fits you and looks great, it often has to be relevant as well. You could have a fantastic werewolf costume, but it wouldn’t suit the occasion if you were attending a ballroom masquerade! Likewise, appropriate costumes depend on whether you’re attending a party for adults or getting the right costume for your children. It’s better to ask questions in advance rather than risk potential embarrassment when you arrive.

Sometimes people get carried away with their costumes; they see something that looks cool and decide that they want it before even considering practical issues. Most adult parties will involve a certain amount of eating and drinking, so if you have a costume that makes it difficult to do these things or to use the bathroom, you may have a frustrating time. The venue for the party must also be considered, a bulky costume may be fine for a party held at a gymnasium but could be a complete nightmare at a small house party.

Lastly, consider the temperature of the place where you’ll be while wearing the costume. In colder climates trick or treaters may need a warmer costume to remain outdoors for several hours. The other extreme is being stuck in a hotter-than-heck gorilla suit all night in a warm indoor setting. If you consider these different factors before choosing a costume for your or your children, you’ll be more likely to pick a costume that will be enjoyable instead of intolerable.

Costume Safety

While dressing up in a costume can make for a fun and memorable occasion, it’s important to make sure that the costume is also safe for the person wearing it. While this advice is directed mainly at childrens Halloween costumes, adults also need to be careful as well.

Childrens Halloween costumes need to be visible for motorists if they’re out trick or treating at night. Where possible avoid dark costumes and ensure that children cross the road at designated areas rather than spontaneously crossing the road out of excitement to get to the next house. For those not willing to forego a dark costume, accessories like Halloween themed blinking lights worn about the neck or upon the wrist can help make them much easier to spot. If your child has a prop to go with their costume like a sword, wand or broomstick, make sure that there are no sharp or pointy edges that could potentially harm themselves or others.

Lastly, adults and children alike need to be aware of how flammable their costume may be. Candles are commonly used at Halloween and someone not used to their costume may inadvertently allow a cape, sleeve or other piece of material to get too close. Open flames should be out of reach of small children and adults should remove any flammable parts of their costume prior to lighting candles or jack-o-lanterns.