October 31st is a holiday favorite, not only for children, but for adults: Spreading thick, acrylic webs across the bare branches of trees, watching scary movie classics on cable, and handing out candy to the neighborhood kids.
Companies that allow employees to dress up during the day, or host their own Halloween parties at night, offer a world of fun of their own. If you’re lucky enough to work for one of them, here’s a few costume tips to keep in mind.
Keep It Classy: Avoid short hemlines, low cuts, sheer fabrics, fishnet tights and thigh-high boots. You can test your costume’s appropriateness by asking yourself if you’d be comfortable seeing an 8-year-old wear it. If it’s not appropriate for children, then it’s also not appropriate for work.
Keep It Clean: Costumes that build off TV and internet jokes, poke fun of a group of people, mock a culture, or impersonate religious figures tend to be more offensive than funny. Keep in mind that you live in a multi-cultural, multi-generational world. Make sure your costume can be universally appreciated.
Keep It Recognizable: Part of the fun of Halloween is guessing who everyone is dressed up as. While an obscure historical figure or book character may reflect your personality and capitalize on your identity, it may be confusing for coworkers and disappointing for you. Try to choose a costume people will “get.”
Keep It Practical: If you’re wearing your costume to the office, keep in mind that while Halloween is a holiday, it’s also a workday. You will still need to perform your typical job responsibilities in a timely manner. Make sure your costume is something you’ll be able to function in throughout an eight to ten-hour day.
