The Wednesday Weigh-In: Sexy Halloween Edition

Read Part 2 of the cartoon at The Hairpin. “Sexy Virgnia Woolf” is my fav.

It’s almost Halloween, you guys! Which means yet another year of eye-rolling about how TEH SEXY has completely taken over. Jillian Tamaki’s costume ideas in Part 2 of the cartoon above are so hilarious/sad because they not very different at all from actual costumes on the market. Sexy Nemo?! Really?

But confession time: One of the reasons I hate the fact that a sexy costume has become all but required is that I kinda like dressing sexy for the occasion. Yes, I’m one of those girls. If Halloween is fun because it’s a night we’re allowed to pretend to be something we aren’t, I want to pile on the heavy makeup and break out the skimpy outfits. (There are only so many opportunities to wear that tasseled white mini-skirt, after all.) Yes, the sexualization of Halloween is sad and absurd, but so is the slut-shaming that makes many women feel like it’s the only time they have permission to wear a “slutty” outfit without getting judged for it. (And, of course, they probably will get judged anyway.)

So let’s brainstorm some costumes that, whether revealing or not, are actually sexy. In other words, clever ones that don’t just involve cutting holes in a regular costume. I’ll start: I’m going to be a Sexy IUD. I’ll be dressed as a sleek, shiny copper “T” and go around hitting on guys with pickup lines like, “I’m over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy–and at getting you off!” and “I’d sure like for you to tickle my threads!”

What are your truly sexy costume ideas?

Also check out Miriam’s and Ann’s feminist costume ideas from previous years. (Lots of sexy ones there too!) And refer to these tips for how to not be offensive this Halloween.