Kendra Brea Cooper
Tired of the costumes that flood out year after year? Nervous someone else might show up to the Halloween party wearing the same thing? Here are some costume ideas you can put together with a little time, some imagination, and a hot glue gun.
Pick an image from your favourite poem, like the Raven (Poe) pictured above, and make a costume out of it. If it's too abstract, you could always take the line from the poem and paint it somewhere on your costume. Be creative! You can always just dress up as your favourite poet and recite over beers all night.
Part of dressing up is taking on the stories these people have left behind. For this Emma Goldman costume, all you would need is hair in a bun, some thin-rimmed glasses, a bad-ass stare, and a copy of* Anarchism and Other Essays. * Another cool philosopher would be Karl Marx, with a huge beard and a copy of the Communist Manifesto.
You can live your favourite novel for a night. The book cover would probably be the easiest, just a flat piece of cardboard with some straps, some paint, and a patient hand. It might be simple, but it's smart and the party people get to know you a little better.
Go as the art from one of the most well known unknowns in the world. Banksy's street art is unstoppable, and thought provoking. Your costume will start the best conversation at the party.
Think history and go as the Sexual Revolution, Marxism, or the idea of your choice.
You could be the Champagne Supernova that Oasis was singing about, the Devil the Rolling Stones had Sympathy for, or the Waterfall the kid in the TLC song was chasing. It's up to you and your music collection.
Dress up as an experience. You might look like a 90s rave kid, but that's awesome too.
Think Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall, the Baby from the Nirvana cover, or even RiRi. It's a great way to pay homage to your favourites, and could even be useful for your next Grammy party.
Call up all the art history majors you know and pitch some great famous painting ideas. Be sure to pick up lots of paint the next time you're out, it's going to be a long night of perfecting shades, but in the end it's totally worth it.
You probably don't want to be EVERYTHING you find on the internet, that might get you arrested. The internet itself comes with it's own symbols and culture, so there are tons of costume ideas that reference the online world.
Pop culture and all that ideology sitting in the blind spot. Also crafts.
