Halloween is one of my favourite holidays. It’s the one day a year you can play dress up with no repurcussions. On the way to work today, I saw a man in a suit waiting for the bus. Normally, I wouldn’t bat an eye at a man in a suit, but today, he had expertly applied skeletal makeup, transforming a Bay Street zombie into the walking dead. I can only imagine the reaction of his coworkers, the high-schoolers on my bus were freaking out and snapping pics with their iPhones. Halloween is a festive time of year. People are sick of Thanksgiving turkey they ate two weeks ago, and the stress of Christmas shopping hasn’t started yet. But I feel it’s the perfect time to wear high fashion, or transform into a style icon.
Marilyn Monroe is one of the most effervescent icons of our time. Achieving her look is simple, with a white halter dress, platinum wig and red lipstick, you can transform into “The Girl” (that’s really the name of Marilyn’s character) from the Seven Year Itch. Personally, I find this costume a bit cliche, and I would love to do my own interpretation of Monroe from one of my favourites, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
In that same era, Audrey Hepburn is both alluring and a true style muse. Even if you don’t own a black Givenchy gown, a pair of sunnies, a chic updo and a cigarette holder will make you Holly Golightly. Now, if only you could find your “Fred”.
I have always dreamed of renting a costume to be Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady. While the preparation would be intense, there is no hat on earth that is more iconic.
With all the Royal hysteria from Wills & Kate, why not don a sapphire blue longsleeved dress with a sapphire ring? I saw many people do their own humourous take on Princess Beatrice with crazy fascinators and awful day suits. I’d love to craft my own Phillip Treacy hat out of a toilet seat too!
I find that Halloween is the perfect opportunity to get inspired by haute couture. Alexander McQueen’s macabre creations with skulls, vertebraes and corsetry are hauntingly beautiful. While it might be out of financial reach, there’s no reason why you can’t be inspired and interpret a look.
One of the biggest Halloween trends is Day of the Dead. Inspired by the Mexican tradition of honouring the dead on November 2.
I’ve always wanted my costumes to be an homage to the films and fashion I love. If I had a little girl, I would have to dress her up like this some day.
Albeit, this costume wouldn’t be too hard to do in a larger version. By wrapping an old duvet around a cardboard box and adding a chain handle, it might be simple to do. But I love the attention to detail that went into this costume– right down to the chain in her hair.
Another way to be fashionable this Halloween is to dress up like a fashion designer! Can you imagine the hilarity of donning a long blonde wig and pouting all night to look like Donatella Versace? It might be in bad taste, but John Galliano would be a theatrical costume choice, no doubt.
This fashion blogger looks great as Karl Lagerfeld.
If you’re too afraid to go out in a costume during the day, why not wear a stylish orange blazer. This one from Romwe.com has an amazing colourblock with the orange and black.
You can also accessorize with some ghoulish baubles. Betsey Johnson has a complete section devoted to Halloween-inspired jewellery.
Or put on some funky tights like the ones I’m wearing today! I picked them up at a costume store for only a few bucks.
Oh, and pets must be included in the festivities! One of my guilty pleasures is Luna the Fashion Kitty, so take a cue from this pouty feline and have your pet dress the part too.
My dog, Rosie and I dressed up as swans in the summer.
Whatever you choose to wear, take advantage of having no boundaries!
