From its medieval origins of mumming and guising when people went house to house in disguise, impersonating the souls of the dead as a form of protection, dressing for Halloween has become an elaborate affair taking days, if not weeks or months of planning and preparation to create the perfect look for “All Hallow’s Eve” on Oct. 31, the day before All Saints’ Day when the Christian world pays its respects to those who have passed on. It was believed that on this evening, the spirits of the departed could return freely to earth and could exact vengeance on those who did them wrong so it was ideal that one looked like a ghost too or as totally different from one’s normal appearance to keep these spirits away. Aside from costumes, masks were de rigueur or one could blacken one’s face beyond recognition with ashes from a sacred bonfire.
CC cream and designer makeup have replaced ashes for Halloween today and there are so many ways to alter one’s appearance by referencing different characters and costume genres from history, literature, fashion, television and cinema.
Horror novels and films
Nineteenth-century novels like Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Mary Shelley’s
Frankenstein and their numerous movie adaptations have always fired the popular imagination, making them favorite inspirations for gothic costumes, from vampires to zombies and all sorts of versions of the living dead. Skeletons naturally come into the picture with reality TV half-sisters Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner favoring the look that’s the ultimate in the “one can never be too rich or too thin” philosophy. Keeping up with the Kardashians in the Philippines is Ruffa Gutierrez who did the Mexican version of a folkloric “Dia del Muerto” skeleton last Halloween. Child stars Ryzza Mae Dizon and Baste dressed up as little Annabelle of The Conjuring and Chucky, the doll that came to life to rabidly kill everyone in sight. Anne Curtis stayed safely fashionable and recognizable in a little black dress with white collar and cuffs as Wednesday of The Addams Family. Another current look one can adopt is the mini skirt tent dress of Mia Farrow in the ’60s film Rosemary’s Baby.
Ginny Goodwin riffed on the movie by pairing her mini with a demonic looking black doll as accessory. Keeping with the 60s mood is Hitchcock heroine
Melanie Daniels played by the blonde Tippi Hedren in a green suit dress being attacked by the winged creatures in The Birds.
Historical figures, legends, gods and myths
Ghosts from the past also make stunning appearances for Halloween. Marie Antoinette is a favorite, with her white makeup exaggerated into ghoulish proportions. Kate Beckinsale turned her daughter Lily into a miniature of the last Queen of France before the revolution. Alexa Chung came dressed as a Duchess of Devonshire zombie, wearing Kiera Knightley’s costume. Cleopatra of Egypt has many fans too, with her over-the-top gown, headdress and makeup favored by the likes of Cher. Gods, legends and myths are rich sources of imagery: Heidi Klum was awesome, if rather controversial, as the multi-armed Hindu goddess Kali. She made a spectacular entrance to her annual Halloween party in a white body suit and long, platinum hair atop a horse as Lady Godiva. Martha Stewart was the one who turned into stone with a grey tunic and grey makeup as Medusa. Taylor Swift melded the legendary winged horse Pegasus and the single-horned Unicorn for her “Pegacorn” costume.
Fantasy, science fiction, superheroes and animation
If one should alter one’s appearance, why not go for the fantastic. The Game of Thrones has all the fantasy characters to dress up to: Cersei Lannister in her medieval gowns and jewelry or if you’re bold, with just cropped hair in her “walk of shame.” From Star Wars, there are many choices from an elaborately coiffed Padme Amidala to the iconic Princess Leia and the combat-boot-clad Rey of The Force Awakens. Among the superheroes films, Harley Quinn, Katana, and the Enchantress from the Suicide Squad are hot this year. Wonder Woman makes a comeback as played by Gal Gadot, now darker and sexier compared to the wholesome version of yore. Comic strips and animation are not spared during Halloween. From the Disney staples like Snow White, Cinderella and Princess Jasmine of Aladdin to the more recent snow queens of Frozen, you can certainly make your fairy tale dreams come true. Delfina Delettrez Fendi and a friend opted for something more sophisticated by borrowing from the comic-strip inspired art of Roy Lichtenstein, coming in polka dotted outfits with cartoon balloon sayings pinned to their dresses.
Fashion icons
To go full glamour for Halloween, look to fashion icons in the movies: Jean Harlow, all platinum and white as a brassy gold digger in Dinner at Eight; Bette Davis as the tipsoholic Broadway star with her off the shoulder satin gown and martini glass in All About Eve; Joan Crawford in her mink coat over a 40s dress in Mildred Pierce; Mae West uttering her witty one-liners in a fur-topped slinky gown in I’m No Angel. From our own Sampaguita Pictures of the 50s and ’60s there’s Carmen Rosales in a haltered shift dress carrying a revolver in Estela Mondragon. You can also impersonate a fashion celebrity. Bette Midler did Coco Chanel while Roberto Cavalli had fun as fellow designer Karl Lagerfeld. Look at the current buzz in fashion and channel it into a costume. The Moschino “paper dolls” from the runway can be achieved with almost any dress appliqued with cutout accents like ribbons and big versions of the white “tabs” used to fold the paper dresses on to the dolls.
Current events and anything goes
To be a hit at Halloween, listen to the zeitgeist for what’s hot at the moment. The US elections have many inspirations: “The Hair” of Donald Trump. The pantsuits of Hillary Clinton. Melania Trump’s sexy outfits. Will anyone go for Duterte’s “Maong Tagalog” or De Lima’s matching dress and shawl twinset ? Ultimately, it’s all done in the spirit of fun. You can even go as your favorite junk food the way Katy Perry did as a giant “Chee-toh” or Alexa Chung as a Big Mac with her friend as the McDo waiter. Anything goes for Halloween when you can be anything or anyone other than yourself. It’s believed to be the best protection against ghosts, after all.