My Halloween costume this year is simple and inexpensive: Lex Luthor.
Specifically, late-1980s Luthor, as I’m sure some of you spotted right away.
The key components of this costume are a red silk tie in a full Windsor knot, because Luthor is the kind of asshole who always has to win every human interaction, and a Kryptonite signet ring on my right hand, because Luthor is also the kind of asshole who keeps trying to kill Superman. Amusing trivia point: I had to buy a white dress shirt for this outfit. Did not previously own one.
For those who don’t make their own, the state of commercially-purchased costumes is rightfully regarded as dire, and much time has been spent decrying, or more entertainingly, mocking the hell out of the notion that costumes for women must be “sexy”, whether or not they make any damn sense. I think we can all agree that this overwhelming mandate is stupid, and when applied to children’s costumes, stupid and creepy. (Incidentally, I’ve enjoyed the pushback here, with simple how-to guides on dressing as various awesome women of history and mythology.)
Thing is, the costumes typical Halloween stores sell for guys are also stupid and offensive, but in a totally different way. Yes, the guys are not encouraged to show as much skin as possible (which is probably good; it’s late October, people) and when it’s a costume of a well-known character it tends to actually look like that character, not “What if Batman were a stripper?” But hey, can’t men be sexy too? Where’s the sexiness?
After the jump, prepare to be sorry I asked.
Hmmmm… it’s almost as though a theme is developing, but I can’t put my penis on it. I mean finger.
Oh, I get it, it’s a visual pun. Specifically a visual pun that’s been run over by several trucks and now has crows feeding on it.
Oh come on, that’s a bit on the penis. I mean nose.
For god’s sake, people, I appreciate dick jokes as much as the next person, but these aren’t even jokes! Just an endless, endless parade of dicks! It’s like reading all of Garth Ennis’s comics at once!
Come on, Spirit Halloween Stores, do you know a different joke? A single joke that isn’t just “penis”?
…Christ. Forget I asked.
I’m going to assume that none of the charming and decent people who read our blog are wearing these, or any of the other ha-ha-penis costumes. (Yes, this is by no means an exhaustive selection. This is the tip of the penis. I mean iceberg.)
We could spend a lot of time dissecting the ugly, horrible assumptions and societal influences that go into this bottomless well of trouser truncheons (and how’s that for mixing phallic and yonic imagery?) and if you feel like doing that in comments, feel free. Or, more fun, just talk about what you’re going as for Halloween.
Me, I’m going as an enormous prick.
Look! It’s the confidence fairy!
I’ve almost always worn “homemade” costumes. I once went as a mad scientist by buying a white lab coat, ink-staining the front shirt-height pocket, and making my hair really messy.
My most recent costume was actually made for an anime convention. It went over pretty well, although you won’t find many people who would recognize it anywhere other than an anime convention. (I’m a Prinny, dood!)
Ami Angelwings, have you thought about perhaps going as an emoticon?
😉
*crosses fingers; hopes comment comes across in the good-natured spirit in which it was intended!*
Completely agreed. You can be a “sexy” turnip, on Halloween.
Most self-consciously “sexy” Halloween costumes aren’t, whatever the wearer presents as. I do admit the men’s examples fail in a different way from those for women. The sexiest costume I ever saw worked because of the wearer rather than the costume.
I’m afraid I can accept no other Lex than Michael Rosenbaum. I like my rich bald dudes angry 😉
Eh, screw it, go ahead and post the photo. 😛
“Me, I’m going as an enormous prick.”
Nahh….I’ll just leave that one.
Costumes I have admired:
A friend went in a black leotard (rather largish) with a white lane marker stripe down her front.
A big muscley, red-hairy guy came to a gay CW club as Little Bo Peep, blond hang curls and all.
On an ocean cruise many, many years ago a very proper old-school british fellow came to their Halloween party in a black leotard with five ping pong balls on a string across his chest and a name tag that said “The Magnificent Seven.”
It is a very lovely picture, I enjoy the contrast and similarities between the two suits. She, looking amazingly feminine in hers and yet rocking that coat and tie magnificently…and Noah looking devilishly handsome in his. The two of you side by side made for a great look. 🙂
I have just gotten my hands on a lovely photo of me and the woman I now know to be @dreamwaffles showing off our ties for the camera, but I don’t want to post it without her permission, so perhaps she’ll read this comment and clarify. 🙂
Where are you planning on posting it?
@ Noah: you are most welcome 😉 had an epic time
You know it’s a good party when you’re still sore and moving funny on Monday.
@dreamwaffles, @Velah: Belated thanks for coming to my party and helping make it so very, very awesome. 🙂
@Ami Angelwings:
“What should I be this Halloween?”
They all look fun and original. I guess that if you want to make a case for more unknown superheroes then Miss Martian is the way to go, Cinder Cat could be a good way to promote your own creation, and Ami Angelwings sounds like a delicious mix of things I’ve never heard anyone putting together before. I’d say go with what’s easiest if you can’t make up your mind.
@Noah…yeah, chicks DO dig on Lex, eh?
Me, I was rocking Bloody Mary: white dress from Goodwill ($9), awful poofy veil ($6) also good will, make up I already owned, a few purchased items (blood, $3) and I had a great outfit for under $20. Goodwill and Value Village: best places for costume fun ever.
My costume went over quite well and made a lot of sense for me this year. I recently divorced my partner of 20 years….rocking the bloody bride seemed the right way to go. 😀
Something about my comment about drag yesterday not meant to be posted?
@BlackHumor:
I think the case could be made, however, that some costumes are meant to be reverential or at least appreciative of the culture. Non-Asian people who dress up as ninjas (which in their common image are essentially fantasy characters) are not making fun of them, they think they’re cool.
I think the true measure is this: if you were to encounter a member of the culture you are borrowing from while wearing the costume, would you be comfortable?
@Ami Angelwings:
1) Is Miss Martian related to Jonn Jonzz?
2) Have you done any cartoons with your character? I’d love to see them!
@Ami: Definitely go with Miss Martian. She’s adorable, and doesn’t get enough love.
@Noah Brand much like me! 😀
BlackHumor: I h ave the right to make fun of any culture I want, from my own to another culture. Indeed, the more one explores other cultures the more one finds stuff to both like and hate. One can take this expropriation stuff a bit too far. If some black or white guy wants to be a samurai I have no problem with that, nor do I have an issue with women who dress up like geisha’s. One can be respectful about such images. Anyway I have no interest in “culture” or “racial” costumes. I’m interested in scary and fantasy.… Read more »
Why it’s Not Okay to wear a costume that boils down entirely to “hey gaiz I’m a stereotype of another culture”: 1) It’s reducing a complex culture with complex people to a stereotype you can make fun of. 2) it’s not your culture and so you don’t have the right to make fun of it. If you’re dressing as a caricature of a complex group-other-than-culture that you don’t belong to, that’s also not okay. It’s fully generalizable, though rarely does it come up that people caricature things other than cultures. But, for instance, a drag queen costume would also be… Read more »
@AB I think that for me the line is that if you have to drastically altered your skin color or facial features for the costume, it’s not OK. (And no, I wouldn’t include zombies, werewolves and vampires in that category). Goth? I dunno, it just seems different, because it’s not exactly an ethnicity (yes, there were actual Goths, but they didn’t look like Siouxsie Sioux). Geisha costumes, of course, have other issues of the stereotype of submissiveness in Asian women. It’s funny, I never really thought about my own sheik costume until just now. It did not feature any “brownface”… Read more »
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a213/Sara_Zeal/Loli_Sara9.jpg
This is an example of what I mean by lolita fashion. That was a while ago, I was thinner than now, though my hair is the same as then.
@monkey: “Wow, I just found this by total coincidence… http://chitownbetty.tumblr.com/post/11846397189/just-in-time-for-halloween” I’m not quite sure how to feel about that. The Asian costume looked pretty formal and old-fashioned, and I’ve worn several costumes which were derived from historical northern European fashion, like the outfit I wore while folk-dancing, my medieval style dress and the decorative peasant costume I used for LARPing, and the baroque inspired gown I wore for my graduation. It’s culture, but it’s also a costume. And if it’s OK because it’s my own culture, that raises the issue of the time I dressed like a goth and a… Read more »
@Ami Angelwings: Are all those your own characters? They’re very cool!
Can you be all three? One at work, one at one party, one at another?
@monkey Unfortunately I can’t claim credit for Miss Martian xD She’s a DC superhero 🙂 But the other 2 are, yus :3
And that’s a good idea! 😀 I do have a party I’m going to 😀 And I can wear one when handing out treats to kids!
Good idea 😀 I’ll see if it’s feasible…
Quick vote! (I’m asking everywhere 😀 )
I know I’m running out of time but I think I can get the costumes together in a week 😀
What should I be this Halloween? 😀
1) Ami Angelwings! 😀 (Supergirl shirt, angelwings, Bunny Tail, Cat Hat )
2) Cinder Cat 😀 One of my superheroes. The non-black parts are red clothing pieces 😀
3) Miss Martian 😀