Viva La Sexy Costumes!

“I have the perfect Halloween costume” my friend said the other day as we walked past one of New York’s biggest costumes shops.

By Jess

“What is it?” I asked, trying to keep my eyes away from the bloody heads and severed body parts in the window display.

“I’m wearing a white sheet, and over that I’m putting on underwear and a bra.”

“What’s that supposed to be?”

“A slut ghost!” My friend said, bursting into laughter. “Funniest thing ever, right?”

She definitely wins points for creativity, and for finding perhaps the one costume that hasn’t yet been turned into glorified lingerie by the Halloween industry.

It’s true. Once you reach a certain age, October 31st becomes less about candy and more about showing off—especially if you’re a girl.

I’m not sure where or when the tradition of skanking-up costumes began, but these days, anything can be turned “sexy.” Sexy pirate. Sexy ballerina. Sexy Bee. Sexy Girlscout. I mean, I could go on, but it might get redundant.

While some people get bent out of shape by a gal’s choice to dress like a sexy FBI Informant, I’ve never had a problem with it. I’ve heard the whole, it objectifies women! argument, but if a girl is buying her own costume, putting it on herself, and walking around with full knowledge that she’s showing a lot of skin, it seems like risqué costumes are more about letting loose and having fun than being forced into something for the enjoyment of others.

Personally, I’m an easy going girl with an easy going style, but once a year I thoroughly enjoy showing off the fact that I take care of my body and have a good sense of humor (Look! I’m a saltshaker! I’m dressed all in white with glitter and I have a big S on my chest! Hahaha…but isn’t this skirt cute?).

Ranting about that girl at the Halloween party who wore spandex and homemade ears and played it off as an adequate representation of a cat just wastes time and energy. Like all things in life, some people will take risqué costumes too far, but begrudging a girl her god-given right to be a sexy mailman is just downright lame.

Do I recommend answering your door to little trick-or-treaters in a garter belt and black mask? No. But do I propose showing off what your mama gave you in a room full of adults? Sure.

Just remember to be creative. Dressing like an actual whore never won anyone anything except an awkward situation on the sidwalk.