Halloween inspires students to experiment with unique costumes
Brandon Thompson
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Opinion
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Well, not every 20-year-old that is dressing up is going trick-or-treating, but most college students are not too old to delve into costume once a year for their own social commentary or just as a way to have some fun amidst the stress of midterms.
Even adults over the age of 30 make up a large portion of costume consumers. Party City, a costume retailer which has stores in Jacksonville, gears most of their print and online advertising to adults in their mid 30s.
According to a list compiled by CNBC, the top costume for adults is a witch and for kids it is a princess. On the list, Hannah Montana ranks a three on the kids' list, while Batman related costumes rank a seven on the adult list.
In Party City billboards across Jacksonville, the Joker mask from "The Dark Knight" is advertised more than witches or Hannah Montana. While every male dressing up for Halloween may not be going the route of the Hollywood blockbusters, according to a Savers/Village Thrift Store Survey, 33 percent of all North American respondents who are wearing movie themed costumes are choosing "The Dark Knight."
Due to the flailing economy, students may not be spending as much this Halloween on costumes. According to the same survey, 51 percent of respondents are planning on watching their budget this Halloween season.
Students this season should think about other options to completing the ultimate Halloween costume, like thrift stores which can house tons of options for very little cost. If you are constructing a thorough replica of Johnny Depp's Sweeney Todd, you could find everything from the tight fitting pants, to the blousy, white shirt, and even a similar vest. You could even be lucky enough to pick up a straight razor to complete your garb.
For college students, who are not giving up on the idea of dressing up for fun, there are plenty of options for creating the perfect costume whether at a costume shop or a thrift store. But sometimes college students tend to be a bit more experimental as long as it is cheap, easy, funny, creative, and maybe a bit offensive.