Since 2004, Tina Fey has reminded all young women ages 17 to 24 that the No. 1 fashion rule for Halloween is to find the most interesting animal ears and pair them with the sexiest lingerie. With such an instrument of communication as Lindsay Lohan, Fey was able to bring to life the parties of Regina George and the rewards associated with dressing like a slut. As you
can recall, the “ex-wife” left in tears.
So, here’s the question: Is dressing provocatively considered female empowerment or lowering of standards? In order to examine this question, it might be best to explore the characters one might find in the adult section of a Halloween store.
**Wonder Woman:** Although her boots are made for walking, they are also made for crime fighting, hell raising and an assortment of other hard-core activities. Since the 1940s, she has represented a symbol of female empowerment while wearing not much more than a bathing suit. She uses her feminine wiles to save the day and beats up anyone who questions her outward appearance. We’re just going to forget that her powers were taken away in the 1960s. In the world of DC Comics, a scantily-dressed woman is a form of empowerment, so why can’t the world of Halloween think the same?
**Marilyn Monroe:** To the woman who once said, “I love to do the things the censors won’t pass,” Halloween says, “Right on!” As the ultimate sex symbol, Monroe is never pictured today as skanky, trashy or any other negative connotation such outright provocativeness might suggest. Maybe it was the time, or maybe it was the attitude in which Monroe presented herself to the press, but she continues to be irresistible.
In the newest Monroe book, “Marilyn: Intimate Exposures by Susan Bernard,” Lindsay Lohan writes a foreword in which she draws parallels between her life and Monroe’s. Although upsetting to a Monroe fan, a similar thing can be done with the costume debate. You have sluts and then you have icons. You have Lindsays or you have Marilyns?
**Hermione Granger:** The title of “Sexy School Girl” will forever be given to Ms. Britney Spears, but not all school uniforms are created equal. Unknown to most, actress Emma Watson is an advocate for modesty. The quote and poster containing the key line, “The less you reveal, the more people can wonder,” has been circulating the internet and blogging world since mid July. Hermione has a point — maybe Halloween should be a celebration of modest creativity, rather than fishnets and
animal ears.
No matter “witch” line the pair of go-go boots fall on, finding the perfect Halloween costume can be a nightmare far from Elm Street, but by looking back for inspiration, or looking to current views, finding a costume is very personal endeavor: having the confidence to rock a character is key, no matter the length of the skirt, or lack thereof.