With Halloween coming up so soon, people might find themselves scrambling for a last minute costume. While the easy solution may be to throw on some makeup and animal ears in the classic “Mean Girls” fashion, what does that really say?
Fashion is a great way to express ourselves, and especially since Halloween offers up a unique opportunity to add elements to our outfits that we may not usually. Whether it be a character that shows where our favorites lie or a generic costume that shows a bit more of our personality, Halloween costumes offer an insight into our minds that may go unnoticed any other day of the year.
While the festivities only last a few days each October, the TV specials are abundant, showing us a plethora of characters and costumes in one fell swoop. Since many shows have a high budget, their choice of costume usually has special additions that take it to the next level.
Marketed as a mystery show, “Pretty Little Liars” rightfully has some of the best Halloween episodes of any teen drama, with the flashback episode in season two being one of the most significant.
Before her disappearance haunted the narrative, Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse) acted as the It-Girl of Rosewood, terrorizing high schoolers and adults with her presence. Her social status is threatened, however, when Jenna Marshall (Tammin Sursok) comes into town and chooses the same costume.
The infamous Lady Gaga costume serves as a manifestation of social status, with the two girls quickly becoming rivals. While Alison thinks the costume is original, Jenna’s want for it solidifies the fact that Alison’s It-Girl status is dwindling. The fact that Jenna looks noticeably better in the outfit only furthers this fact.
As for the other Liars, Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson) dresses in the iconic Britney Spears schoolgirl uniform, only it’s less revealing than the music video, due to her insecurities. Though this costume is supposed to be sultry, the schoolgirl part shows that she is one of the more innocent girls of the group, being more sensitive, shy and one of the last to have a romantic interest. The sultry part on the other hand, foreshadows her role as the future It-Girl after Alison’s disappearance.
Spencer Hasting’s (Troian Bellisario) decision to come dressed as Mary Queen of Scots highlights her intellect and leaves her as the only girl whose costume isn’t recognized by the popular boy, both of which place her on a different level than the other Liars. This decision is similar to Aria (Lucy Hale), Rosewood’s resident weird girl, who comes dressed as a witch.
While it may be blatant nostalgia, Disney shows have killer Halloween episodes, and though some people may write them off for being marketed towards kids, each show has a professional set and costume designer that’s good at what they do.
“Jessie,” a 2011 sitcom, revolves around a nanny and her rich charges, meaning a big budget is called for. Each Halloween episode is a homage to a classic horror movie, with the first special referencing “The Shining.”
The titular character Jessie (Debby Ryan) dreams of being a performer, which is portrayed in her flapper costume. To be a performer means you have to be admired, and flappers were an obvious representation of showgirls back in their heyday, meaning this costume is right on point.
Ravi (Karan Brar), the most recent member of the Ross family after coming from an orphanage in India, appears as Robin Hood. Since the character is the least accustomed to wealth and the kindest of the kids, the “steal from the rich, give to the poor” theme fits. Zuri (Skai Jackson) comes dressed in a custom-made racecar uniform, showing her love of all things flashy, while Bertram (Kevin Chamberlain) dons multiple outfits in an attempt to scare the children, only to fail every time. A common theme that shows up throughout every episode, holiday themed or not.
Emma (Peyton List) is a fairy, displaying her friendly personality, and the extra details in her costume, such as the glitter spread across her face, highlights her love of fashion. While the rest of the kids’ costumes get a few seconds in the spotlight, Luke’s (Cameron Boyce) zombie costume isn’t directly mentioned. The whole costume comes across as lazy, which is just in line with his character as the rips and dirt that are integral to his costume.
While many holiday episodes are dismissed as filler, they add an extra layer to the characters that we’ve become so accustomed to, as well as allowing viewers to celebrate the holiday from the comfort of their own homes which are, albeit, not as intricately decorated.
