The Most Popular Halloween Costumes for Women
What Trick-or-Treating Outfits Say about a Woman’s Personality
Oct 29, 2009
Halloween is a time when creativity runs wild. It is the only night of the year when witches, pirates, vampires and bunnies live on the same street. For some women, choosing a costume for the annual Halloween party or for trick-or-treating around the neighborhood with the kids is limited by the lack of time or financial resources. Busy mothers often pick up whatever costume comes in their size at the closest neighborhood store or simply cut out two holes in a white sheet, improvising a last minute ghost mask. However, many women still put a lot of thought and effort into their Halloween outfit. After all, what a woman chooses to wear on Halloween night says a lot about her personality.
The Witch
Whether they choose a good witch or a bad witch outfit, women who embrace this centuries-old Halloween favorite are big fans of traditions. Since ancient times, witchcraft, which involved the manipulation of supernatural forces, has been associated primarily with women. In ancient and medieval Europe, women who were believed to be witches not only engaged in black magic practices, but also cast spells and concocted potions and ointments that had the ability to heal. In a time when the forces of nature were revered by the tribes of Europe, women, the creators of new life, were counted on to restore and improve life with their magic.
After the 1200s, when the Catholic Church unleashed its Inquisition upon Europe, witches started to be perceived exclusively as promoters of the forces of evil, as demon worshipers who derived their power from the Devil. While many men were also accused and convicted of witchcraft, the Church used the concept mainly to reinforce the patriarchal hierarchy and to purge society of rebellious women who undermined priestly and male authority. In the North American culture, witches continued to be thought of as evil and ugly until stories like L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz featured good and beautiful witches, who helped the main characters through their journey.
The Witch costume has been a favorite in Halloween celebrations since the nineteenth century, when the Celtic Halloween traditions brought to America by the Irish started to feature costumes which depicted nefarious creatures. The ladies who choose this Halloween outfit are not afraid of exploring their dark side. Moreover, they want to send the message that they cannot be easily intimidated.
The Halloween “witches” are also women who believe in their own power to make things happen. With a little bit of magic, any wish might come true.
Wonder Woman
For those altruistic, community-oriented ladies who like to help others or even fantasize about saving the world, Wonder Woman is the perfect Halloween alter ego. Strong and determined, this lady can juggle work, soccer games, recitals and PTA meetings, while also staying involved with her community.
Single women who choose this Halloween outfit are usually the problem solvers in their family or at their office. While Wonder Woman (along with her other versions – Cat Woman, Charlie’s Angel) likes to think of herself as indispensable to others and even heroic, she is definitely a woman who values her independence.
Gangster Woman
Since the 1930s, when Hollywood movies introduced audiences to the thrill of the gangster lifestyle, the gangster icon has become an inspiration for Halloween events, as well as for year-round costume parties. Those ladies who have a naughty side and like to defy rules and conventions will easily identify with Bonnie and other machine gun-crazy hotties. While sexy and provocative, the Gangster outfit is also a reflection of a woman who likes to be in charge and will not take orders from anyone, especially a man.
The Princess
The Princess Halloween costume, along with its many alternatives (Cinderella, Snow White, the Fairy) is the favorite choice of a dreamy, idealistic woman who believes in the power of good nature. Although she doesn’t mind being the center of attention, the Princess usually longs for the simplicity of childhood and wishes she had never grown up. She is the one who will most likely be seen trick-or-treating with the kids around the neighborhood.
While fragile and easy to disappoint, the Princess also has an irresistible serenity about her.
The French Maid
Halloween is not only a time when women can let their imagination run wild. It is also the one night of the year (at least in North America) when women can walk around in scanty lingerie, without attracting public oprobium or running the risk of being arrested.
Sexy and daring, the French Maid outfit is also a way for women to fight their inhibitions and put aside – for one night – their insecurities. The French Maid outfit and its other versions (the schoolgirl, the naughty nurse) are not only reflections of the ultimate male fantasy; they also embody women’s fantasy of being comfortable in their own skin. While these outfits offer men a visual feast, they can be sexually liberating for women.
The woman who chooses the French Maid outfit is definitely brave and unconventional, and she is not afraid of her playful side. However, although this woman thinks of herself as independent, she is craving the approval and appreciation of those around her.
The Diva
Western women fell in love with fame long before Marilyn captivated the world with her million-dollar smile. On a night when they can be anyone they want to be, many women bet on a celebrity outfit. Whether they dress up as Audrey, Marilyn or Mariah, these ladies love to be the center of attention and long for a glamorous lifestyle.
The Halloween Diva is an uninhibited woman who likes to stand out from the crowd, ready to charm her Halloween night audience with her beauty and her personality. There’s no time like Halloween to cast a spell.
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