When writing about Halloween at the University -- or most colleges and universities for that matter -- the promiscuity factor of costumes cannot be avoided. Perhaps some simple guidelines on how to dress up for Halloween would be helpful:
1. Buy and wear a children's Halloween costume -- the smaller the better.
2. Buy an adult-sized costume but only wear the top half. (This is considered a dress and will automatically make whatever you're wearing "naughty.")
3. Wear your underwear. (This provides many options once you add ears, tails, hats and props.)
Why do students dress this way?
It's October, and it's cold. As a child, this means you wear long underwear under a full-body pumpkin costume. On the way out the door, your mom will insist that you put on a hat, gloves and winter coat. This completely ruins the costume, but as a child, you can't do anything about this. To get the candy you have to wear the coat -- that's the deal. The result, however, is anger from years of ruined costumes. If not dealt with properly, this anger builds until it is released in college, where these children refuse to wear the hat, gloves and coat of yester years. The removal of these articles is such a release that they decide to forego clothing altogether; thus, Halloween Stripping Catharsis.
Beyond this, there are some creative students who put clothes on to dress up for Halloween. These students do not suffer from Suppressed Halloween Costume Anger Syndrome. (Maybe they grew up in warm areas of the country where they didn't have to wear jackets.)
Here are some of the highlights from this weekend ...
Ned Munson
Third-year government major
In his words: "Halloween at U.Va. is like Christmas for me -- it's my favorite time of year."
Costume this year: Hansel, of Hansel and Gretel.
Hand-made or store-bought: Purchased on the Web from Anytime Costumes.
Inspiration: Saw it last year and knew it was meant to be.
Past U.Va. costumes: Waldo, an inflatable chef.
Favorite costume ever: Beavis from "Beavis and Butthead."
Wiley Grandy
Second-year undeclared Major
In his words: "Costumes should be about humor and making people laugh."
Costume this year: Fat inflatable personal trainer.
Hand-made or store-bought: K-Mart.
Inspiration: When shopping for costumes, the fat inflatable personal trainer "moved" him.
Past U.Va. costumes: a cow.
Favorite costume ever: Dilbert the comic character.
Lexi Humiston
Third-year economics major
In her words: "Halloween should be about exposing your true inner beauty ... which for me was a larva."
Costume this year: Maggot larva.
Hand-made or store-bought: She bought tights, a leotard, saran wrap and face paint and creatively combined to make a Maggot larva. (Her boyfriend, the exterminator, wrote "Maggot Larva" on her back so there was no confusion.)
Inspiration: Though the exterminator said she had a bug and pest "problem" Lexi explained that she left out chocolate from Christmas smores and when she came back to her house, maggots had invaded.
Past U.Va. costumes: witch, Girl Scout.
Favorite costume ever: 80s fairy (complete with metallic wig and tutu).
Justin Patterson
Commerce Graduate student
In his words: "Halloween costumes are a telling look into people's personalities -- especially for girls."
Costume this year: Bug and pest exterminator
Hand-made or store-bought: Combination -- store-bought with creativity. Martin's Hardware was the source for the real sprayer tank, boots and knee pads (yes, he was wearing knee pads) and one-piece overalls were purchased from the Tractor Supply Company.
Inspiration: His girlfriend (a.k.a. Maggot Larva to his right), whose house had a bug and pest problem.
Past U.Va. costumes: Pirate inspired by Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean," an American tourist
Favorite costume ever: This year's "Exterminator 2005"
Gray Crabtree
Third-year Education student
In her words: "It was fun because I was able to dress up with a group of girls."
Costume this year: Raphael, the red Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
Hand-made or store-bought: Half and half
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