It's nearly time to confront the biggest decision you'll ever have to make in the month of October — what to wear for Halloween. Every October, you reprise the challenges of picking a costume.
1. Panicking because your costume is too cliché.
Maybe your trusty witch/cat/zombie/vampire/ghost costume doesn't scream originality, but there is camaraderie when you bump into other people wearing the same timeless classic. So what if there's a dozen other witches? Now you can form a coven!
2. Panicking because your costume is too obscure.
Nothing spoils a Halloween party quicker than having to constantly answer a litany of questions about who or what your costume is supposed to be. But nothing redeems a Halloween party quicker than finding that one person who does recognize you.
3. Struggling to coordinate a group or a couple's costume.
So you and your roommates were feeling ambitious and planned to be all the characters from Stranger Things. Suddenly your Eleven drops out and you're forced to switch it up. Here's your opportunity to be even more creative: Make a ridiculous excuse for why your group is incomplete ("She's stuck in the Upside Down, of course"), or improvise a new costume.
4. Trying to strike a balance.
It's Halloween, so you have an obligation to be scary, right? But that creepy clown mask isn't the most flattering choice. Balance out the spooky with a dash of sexy. Maybe a dead Victoria Secret's angel?
5. Discovering how difficult DIY can be.
That laughably easy-looking YouTube tutorial becomes a distant memory once you find yourself overwhelmed with craft supplies and absolutely no knowledge of how to use them. Maybe your elaborate pun costume doesn't turn out exactly like the Pinterest post. At least you can take pride in making something unique, and people will appreciate the effort.
6. Second-guessing.
You've finally committed to something... and immediately start to regret it. After all, it's the one holiday a year when it's socially-encouraged to dress as whatever or whoever you want, and your options are simply too difficult to narrow down. Don't panic, there's always next year.
7. Celebrating Anyway.
Ultimately, whatever costume you choose is just a formality. Whether you decide to dress up or not, the real fun of Halloween comes from how and who you spend it with. Happy Halloween!
