Halloween can be such a fun holiday for children and adults alike. The decorations, costumes, parties and trick or treating all add up to creating a festive mood. Creativity soars as we look to create fun decorations, carve interesting jack o’ lanterns and inspired costumes. 
Halloween in recent history was thought of as primarily children dressing up to go trick or treating. Today more money is spent on adult costumes than children’s costumes – nearly 1.25 billion dollars. Plus another $330 million will be spent on pet costumes.
Halloween costumes can allow us to dress up and try on an alter ego. Costumes are a way to explore who you aren’t. For example, it’s unlikely a nurse will dress up as a sexy nurse – or any other type of nurse for that matter. But she might choose a sexy waitress and the waitress might choose the nurse or another profession.
Here is a quick review of how some Halloween costumes might be interpreted:
Disney Princess
If you are going as Elsa, Cinderella, Snow White or another Disney princess, it is likely you are sentimental and romantic. Cinderella was your favorite movie when you were 12 and you know all the words to “Let it Go.” Wearing the dress of your favorite princess reminds you of your childhood when life was simple, anything was possible, and every little girl was royalty.
If you are going as Elsa, Cinderella, Snow White or another Disney princess, it is likely you are sentimental and romantic. Cinderella was your favorite movie when you were 12 and you know all the words to “Let it Go.” Wearing the dress of your favorite princess reminds you of your childhood when life was simple, anything was possible, and every little girl was royalty.
Fantasy Characters
Stepping out as Obi-Wan Kenobe, Gandalf or Arya Stark? If dressing up as your favorite fantasy or sci-fi character is your top costume choice for Halloween, perhaps you enjoy the escapism of these fantasy worlds. This is your chance to step into the shoes of your favorite character and play for a night in a fantasy world.
Stepping out as Obi-Wan Kenobe, Gandalf or Arya Stark? If dressing up as your favorite fantasy or sci-fi character is your top costume choice for Halloween, perhaps you enjoy the escapism of these fantasy worlds. This is your chance to step into the shoes of your favorite character and play for a night in a fantasy world.
Historical Figures
Going as Amelia Earhart, Abraham Lincoln, or Cleopatra might indicate that you are a bit of a realist or that you have a strong connection to a particular period in history. Although such representations are often romanticized notions about particular eras, the figures are usually legendary people who have left a powerful mark on history. Stepping out in the character of such a figure could indicate a need to be larger than life, powerful, and celebrated.
Going as Amelia Earhart, Abraham Lincoln, or Cleopatra might indicate that you are a bit of a realist or that you have a strong connection to a particular period in history. Although such representations are often romanticized notions about particular eras, the figures are usually legendary people who have left a powerful mark on history. Stepping out in the character of such a figure could indicate a need to be larger than life, powerful, and celebrated.
Horror Creatures
Zombies, vampires, monsters, witches, and frightening ghouls are perhaps the figures we most often associate with Halloween. By wearing these costumes, you might be exploring your darker side. It does help to minimize the power of that which frightens us. For example, people fear death, so dressing as the Grim Reaper helps us to make light of that fear. Macabre and grotesque both terrifies and fascinates us.
Zombies, vampires, monsters, witches, and frightening ghouls are perhaps the figures we most often associate with Halloween. By wearing these costumes, you might be exploring your darker side. It does help to minimize the power of that which frightens us. For example, people fear death, so dressing as the Grim Reaper helps us to make light of that fear. Macabre and grotesque both terrifies and fascinates us.
Last-Minute DIY Costumes
You waited until the night of the party and wrap yourself in an old sheet and grab a wreath for your head. You are most likely no stranger to procrastination, in fact, it is likely you putoff things in your everyday life as well. It could simply mean that you are too busy doing other things to give serious thought to a once-a-year event. Either way, you probably don’t think too much about your costume, or really care what other people think about it either.
You waited until the night of the party and wrap yourself in an old sheet and grab a wreath for your head. You are most likely no stranger to procrastination, in fact, it is likely you putoff things in your everyday life as well. It could simply mean that you are too busy doing other things to give serious thought to a once-a-year event. Either way, you probably don’t think too much about your costume, or really care what other people think about it either.
Superheroes
If you’re dressing as your favorite superhero, whether it is Iron Man, Wonder Woman, or Captain America, you might be trying to get in touch with your own inner hero. It is a common fantasy to daydream about being the hero or saving the day. Superhero costumes help feed into this fantasy. It is also possible wearing such costumes might be an attempt to overcome underlying feelings of inadequacy or weakness.
If you’re dressing as your favorite superhero, whether it is Iron Man, Wonder Woman, or Captain America, you might be trying to get in touch with your own inner hero. It is a common fantasy to daydream about being the hero or saving the day. Superhero costumes help feed into this fantasy. It is also possible wearing such costumes might be an attempt to overcome underlying feelings of inadequacy or weakness.
Sexy Costumes
Wearing a sexy or revealing costume might mean that you’re an exhibitionist and that you want to be noticed or conversely it is possible that you are very conservative in your normal daily routine and this allows you to explore an alter ego normally kept hidden.
Wearing a sexy or revealing costume might mean that you’re an exhibitionist and that you want to be noticed or conversely it is possible that you are very conservative in your normal daily routine and this allows you to explore an alter ego normally kept hidden.
Costumes are communication devices
They say something about yourself to others and are meant to elicit a response. They reveal a bit about our inner fantasy life and are meant to elicit a response. Normally one doesn’t put on a costume to sit home alone. Costumes are vehicles of social connection. So, be creative, have fun and send the message that you want others to get!
