I chose my Halloween costume since August 23. I searched the corners of the internet to find the exact shirt and the perfect shoes for my costume. In a sense, I will walk a runway on October 31.
I didn’t even remember that New York Fashion Week happened this year. It is supposed to be the biggest fashion event of the year with exclusive and important designs from world renowned fashion houses. For something that’s supposed to showcase a cultural moment, it’s not very accessible. Halloween, on the other hand, is.
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Halloween is a centuries-old tradition derived from the Celtic tradition of Samhain, a day when the barrier between the living and the dead was weakened and blurred. Costumes were even worn back then to protect the living from being possessed by dead spirits. In modern times, costumes have become a fashion statement, from the costume contests of the 1930s to Bette Midler’s annual Halloween party.
The traditions of runway fashion and Halloween fashion are the same. A designer comes up with a creative outfit and fits it on a model, then shows this art to the entire world in a room full of well-dressed trendsetters judging the execution of the concept. Halloween takes this idea and makes it available to all kinds of people at every stage of their lives. It has become vital to express yourself fully for one night a year.
Famous models are often the biggest fans this holiday season: check out Heidi Klum’s dedication to extravagant wardrobe or Emily Ratajkowski’s flawless execution of Marge Simpson. Obviously, these people have huge amounts of money to spend on intricate costumes, but it’s because of their love of dressing up. Halloween is the festival of fashion. It is the only opportunity to show your creativity and niche interests.
There are even entire designer collections dedicated to the love of Halloween. Just look at Moschino’s 2020 Resort collection, The Blonds’ Disney villains showcase, or Martine SItbon’s spring-summer 1993 collection featuring Kate Moss as a sexy witch. These shows are just the tip of the iceberg. The love of Halloween goes hand in hand with the love of fashion, just as most fashionistas foam at the mouth at the thought of Halloween.
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It’s hard to follow fashion week without subscriptions to Vogue Runway or Elle or one of the countless other fashion magazines. However, Halloween trends are much easier to find. YouTubers thrive on Halloween costume content, predicting trends for the year and offering unique costume tips. Catwalk knowledge comes at a premium, while there are unlimited amounts of free videos and articles highlighting the importance of Halloween.
I have never been more excited for Halloween in my life. My costumes can be a bit boring, but I know they will turn heads. Fashion fuels my love for Halloween. I’m making sure my outfit has enough pockets for candy.
Char Jones (they/her) is a sophomore studying English and journalism.
Source: news.google.com