The Witching Hour: Real Men Wear Halloween Costumes

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, but one that never seems to quite live up to the hype (like New Years Eve). But I love it all the same because I get to dress up and those that don’t automatically lose some respect points. You are no less of a man for donning short shorts or make-up on this day/weekend, either.

There are different levels of costumes and I get that. We can’t all go overboard every year, but choose a costume that represents something you are interested in. Sure classics like vampires and ghosts are fun, but Tobias Fünke or the Headless Horseman are way more interesting.

Here are some fairly simple getups that range from a pass to being the coolest guy at the party:

• Superman is an obvious classic, for nerds and manly-men alike. This one is fun, and even easier to put together, because is Clark Kent and Superman. All you need are large glasses, a Superman Tee, and a basic white shirt and tie combo.
• The Pharaoh might seem a little more complicated, but you’re likely to find most of what you need at a local costume shop. Similar to a Greek/toga costume, you really just need some well draped fabric and thick gold jewelry. The headdress is a helpful identifier and you could through in some fake hieroglyphic tattoos if you feel so inclined.
• This middle one is probably the simplest, but it is so flawlessly done here. In case you couldn’t tell, he is dressed as BBC’s Sherlock (played by internet darling Benedict Cumberbatch). While you may have most of this stuff in your closet, you really have to pay attention to detail so that people know you are wearing a costume. Purple shirts, scarves, and long coats are recommended. Also acceptable is any other form of Sherlock Holmes (and there are plenty to choose from: Classic, Robert Downey Jr., Elementary, House, etc.)
• For the more adventurous at heart is the drag route. This can be fun and over the top; a chance to wear something you never would normally. Even more creative than regular drag is choosing a specific woman. One of my friends dressed up as the Queen last year, priceless.
• This last one is so clever and so simple. It’s the Swedish Chef, for those of you unfamiliar with Muppet lore (you should be ashamed) and all it requires is a chef hat, white shirt, black pants/apron, red bow tie, and copious amount of hair over your face.

Alright now for a few that might be a little harder to put together:

• This first guy really went above and beyond; he could have just worn the yellow shirt, apron, and “Mr. Manager” name tag and had a great costume. But instead he built a wearable banana stand! His Khakied legs stick out at the bottom so he can still walk and dance with the best of them and the stand itself appears to be made out of a light material, so it won’t weigh him down.
• Next is Darren Criss in a classic boy scout uniform, which might be simple enough if you can find one that fits, but he added an extra level by adding the fur cap and glasses to make him Sam from Moonrise Kingdom. This is great because even if someone didn’t get the reference, it is still a legitimate costume.
• The Joker may seem like a fairly basic costume, but the make-up on George Craig (singer for One Night Only and sometimes Burberry model) makes him unrecognizable. Because his hair and face are so perfect, he can go pretty light on the rest of the outfit.
• Mugatu is another costume that will get a lot of appreciative looks. The shirt will probably take some piecing together (he has some other outfits, but this is the most iconic, for obvious reasons) and the hair and goatee are absolutely essential.
• Lastly is Danny O’Donoghue from The Script dressed as Edward Scissorhands. This is another example of make-up and hair really making the costume. I don’t know what his scissors are made from, but I would suggest something lightweight. Also you probably won’t be eating or drinking much in this costume.

Get creative with whatever you wear and you will have more fun if it is something you really enjoy. Now go forth and show off your costumes at as many Halloween parties as possible.