It really wasn't that great of a costume, dude.

[JThunder]

I've been to a good number of costume parties in my time. Some of them tend to be filled with unimaginative outfits (read: predictable store-bought items), but a few of them are attended by folks who have tons of creativity and imagination.

A while back, I was at a large costume dance party with over a hundred attendees. Because of the sheer number of people, the emcee decided to limit the number of people in tn the costume contest. He said, "Please, you can only join the contest if somebody nominates you because you have a really clever or amazing costume. If you're nominated, line up by the stage and announce yourselves one by one."

So people nominated their favorite costumed dancers. These were folks with really funny or elaborate outfits -- TV characters, comic book characters, and so forth. Some people had clearly put many hours into building their costumes, and it showed. (You folks would have loved some of the Star Wars and Firefly outfits that people wore, for example.)

A few people decided to join the contest even though they weren't nominated, though. Not a huge deal, except that their costumes were really kinda... lackluster. When his turn came around, one guy -- an acquaintance of mine -- jumped into the circle and yelled "Taekwondo!" He was wearing his taekwondo uniform.

Now, I'm not saying that it's not a perfectly good costume. Nor am I saying that every costume has to be outstanding or even clever. However, if the costume contest is supposed to be restricted to the more clever, more interesting costumes, you probably shouldn't field an entry that was basically pulled out of your gym bag. It's really not that clever, dude.

[Rigamarole]

Maybe he was just really excited about Taekwondo...

Kind of a weird post. Also, I wouldn't assume that having an "unimaginative outfit" means that a person is necessarily not creative or imaginative. It just means they were unable or unwilling to spend the large amount of time (and sometimes money) necessary to make a really cool custom costume for that one party. Of course, they may also be non-creative and/or unimaginative, but you can't assume that.

[Manduck]

You're making me feel bad about my "jeans-and-t-shirt guy" costume. :(

[JThunder]

Kind of a weird post.
Are you saying that's mundane? Or perhaps pointless?

Also, I wouldn't assume that having an "unimaginative outfit" means that a person is necessarily not creative or imaginative. It just means they were unable or unwilling to spend the large amount of time (and sometimes money) necessary to make a really cool custom costume for that one party. Of course, they may also be non-creative and/or unimaginative, but you can't assume that.
I agree, which is why I never said such a thing. Please note that I was only commenting on the costumes, not on the creativity of the people wearing them.

ETA: Okay, I see that I did say that there were people who had tons of creativity and imagination, in contrast to the ones who wore the predictable outfits. Yeah, this could be taken to imply that the ones in the predictable outfits were necessarily uncreative. No, that's not what I meant, though I do see how that could be inferred.

[John DiFool]

You're making me feel bad about my "jeans-and-t-shirt guy" costume. :(

Hneh, I'm Nachos, nheh.

[Peremensoe]

I don't think clothes that you would ordinarily wear for any real-life purpose count as any "costume" at all.

[Rhythmdvl]

It seems the umbrage is because given the particular constraints (too many people to judge everyone), you weren't expecting him to participate in the contest. What if he jumped out with a couple extra gis and yelled "supplies!"

[Cat Whisperer]

You're making me feel bad about my "jeans-and-t-shirt guy" costume. :(
If you were Canadian, you could expand your repertoire into "Hockey shirt guy" like so many Canadian guys do every Halloween. :rolleyes:

OP, was there a lot of booze involved? That might explain him thinking his costume was more awesome than it was.

[PlainJain]

Are you saying that's mundane? Or perhaps pointless?

Maybe blogish or FaceBookish?

[MsWhatsit]

I found the OP to be sufficiently entertaining to warrant inclusion in this forum, FTR.

One year at Halloween MrWhatsit pinned a cotton ball to the rear of his jeans, and if anyone asked what his costume was, he said "I'm a bunny."

That was the same year that two separate people showed up in "Neo" costumes from The Matrix.

[gregorio]

Hey, I went as Greg Wiggle (http://www.google.ca/search?q=greg+wiggle&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=4IzJTZi3FoeqsAOlrPWSAw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1043&bih=773) last year. No, my costume wasn't as elaborate as Lego blok guy or spray painted green army guy or actually wore parts of a pumpkin on his head headless horseman guy but I could pee without help and cleanup after was a breeze. No, I wouldn't have jumped in the best costume line, but I still had fun.

I believe there were two Zach Galifianakises from The Hangover complete with a doll in a snuggy. They didn't win the contest either.

And my costume worked on so many levels.

[JThunder]

It seems the umbrage is because given the particular constraints (too many people to judge everyone), you weren't expecting him to participate in the contest. What if he jumped out with a couple extra gis and yelled "supplies!"
Well, it seems to me that if the emcee says that the contest is limited to the more clever and/or creative costumes, then one should make sure that his outfit is at least reasonably clever. I realize that most of us tend to view our own works through rose-colored glasses, but really... wearing one's taekwondo uniform? Not even remotely interesting.

OP, was there a lot of booze involved? That might explain him thinking his costume was more awesome than it was.
Nope, no alcohol whatsoever.

I think that a lot of people do tend to think that their costumes are way more awesome than reality warrants. I remember one Halloween party wherein the emcee opened up the costume contest. Most of the folks with store-bought or otherwise mundane costumes sat this out, but several ladies did dash to the stage, wearing standard (and clearly store-bought) witches attire. Nothing distinctive; just the standard black garb with the pointy hats. I realize that these are perfectly cromulent Halloween costumes, and the emcee didn't place any restrictions on who could join. Still, they hardly seemed like contest material.

[JThunder]

If you were Canadian, you could expand your repertoire into "Hockey shirt guy" like so many Canadian guys do every Halloween. :rolleyes:
Now that's just pathetic.

Hey, I went as Greg Wiggle (http://www.google.ca/search?q=greg+wiggle&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=4IzJTZi3FoeqsAOlrPWSAw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1043&bih=773) last year.
...
And my costume worked on so many levels.
Dude, I would have given you some serious props for that.

[Rhythmdvl]

It seems the umbrage is because given the particular constraints (too many people to judge everyone), you weren't expecting him to participate in the contest. What if he jumped out with a couple extra gis and yelled "supplies!"

Well, it seems to me that if the emcee says that the contest is limited to the more clever and/or creative costumes, then one should make sure that his outfit is at least reasonably clever. I realize that most of us tend to view our own works through rose-colored glasses, but really... wearing one's taekwondo uniform? Not even remotely interesting.Sorry, I was referencing an old joke (http://www.jardmail.co.uk/misc/3mendesertisland.shtml). Keep in mind that Mrs. Devil and I start gearing up for Halloween sometime in mid-November, but if someone did the above I'd take it as a pretty cool concept.

[Manduck]

If you were Canadian, you could expand your repertoire into "Hockey shirt guy" like so many Canadian guys do every Halloween. :rolleyes:

I am Canadian, but those hockey shirts are expensive.

signed, T-shirt and jeans guy.

[mnemosyne]

If you were Canadian, you could expand your repertoire into "Hockey shirt guy" like so many Canadian guys do every Halloween. :rolleyes:


I saw a video where the Habs players were asked what their least imaginative Hallowe'en costume was. They all pretty much admitted that at some point they just went out in their hockey gear. Given as they are NHL players now...they kind of went as themselves...from the future! See, it's cool! :p

[Rachellelogram]

I sympathize, OP. Maybe he was wasted.

The coolest costume I saw last Halloween was a girl who dressed as a female version of the Monopoly guy. Monocle, top hat, and a sexy black and white tuxedo-styled bodysuit (similar to this: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=17285739).

[drastic_quench]

I sympathize, OP. Maybe he was wasted.

The coolest costume I saw last Halloween was a girl who dressed as a female version of the Monopoly guy. Monocle, top hat, and a sexy black and white tuxedo-styled bodysuit (similar to this: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=17285739).

Sexy Monopoly guy? Normally I roll my eyes at the Halloween trend of Sexy ______, but I'd give her a pass, IF she wore the mustache.

[drastic_quench]

As for the karate kid, that fits in well with my impression of the overly-enthusiastic strip-mall martial artist.

The best I ever did was a homemade cardboard robot. I used aluminum foil and chrome spray spaint, and really went to town. I even put in sunglasses' lenses to make a robo-visor to hide my eyes. It was very Bender-esque. But I kept on drinking as I made it, and I decided that I wanted to be a superhero robot. I needed a cape, but all I had was an American flag. So I went this that, and turned my robot into a patriot-type superhero. Straightaway I was confronted by a bunch of red stater good old boys who threatened me with an ass kicking if I let my cape touch the ground. So I revised my costume a third time and became The Robot Who Threatens to Desecrate Your Flag. That was fun.

Oh, and I got carded at every bar I went to, but was never asked to remove my head-covering robot mask.

[Cat Whisperer]

I saw a video where the Habs players were asked what their least imaginative Hallowe'en costume was. They all pretty much admitted that at some point they just went out in their hockey gear. Given as they are NHL players now...they kind of went as themselves...from the future! See, it's cool! :p
If any current NHL players show up at a Halloween party I'm at, they get a total pass on wearing a hockey jersey as a costume. :D

[Mona Lisa Simpson]

The Beau once went as the Big Bad Wolf as Grandma from Little Red Riding Hood. His girlfriend dressed as Red Riding hood.

Now he goes as the jeans and tshirt guy. I am jealous that previous girlfriends could actually motivate him and make him do stuff like that.

(Not really jealous, just mildly annoyed that his days of being fun costume dude are over)

[gregorio]

drastic quench; but could you pee without help? I think some people under estimate this.

[pudytat72]

I won second prize at a costume party as a pillar of salt (Lot's wife). Morton's salt box on my head, white face paint, draped in a white sheet. I would look over my shoulder and stop moving. (I was not at a bible themed party)

Another fun biblical costume- burn holes in your clothes and have ashes on clothes and body= burnt offering.

[drastic_quench]

drastic quench; but could you pee without help? I think some people under estimate this.

Ha, yes. My groin was only covered in chrome spray painted denim, and I wore some black robotic-esque gloves. Although I did need a hand during a round of Edward 40 hands.

[Sarabellum1976]

I went to a Halloween party (for grownups) one year and one of the more entertaining costumes was the young woman dressed in a white doctor's lab coat. When you asked her what her costume was, she'd whip open the lab coat to reveal a very NSFW negligee w/ garters and fishnets, and say she's a sex therapist. :)

[Alessan]

Six months after the hiking accident that left him mostly paralyzed from the neck down, my little brother decided to dress up as Sheikh Ahmen Yassin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Yassin) for Purim.

He has an interesting way of coping.

[Rachellelogram]

Sexy Monopoly guy? Normally I roll my eyes at the Halloween trend of Sexy ______, but I'd give her a pass, IF she wore the mustache.
She did have the mustache! And a diamond-tipped cane. She's one of my personal heroes.

[drastic_quench]

She did have the mustache! And a diamond-tipped cane. She's one of my personal heroes.

Quirky and adorable! Awesome.

[Count Blucher]

As for the karate kid, that fits in well with my impression of the overly-enthusiastic strip-mall martial artist.

I love the picture you just created! I could almost see the huge "dojo logo" patch on the back of the Gi: "Fill In The Blank Dojo" with gigantic ornate dragons or tigers surrounding bright pastel lettering on a shiny metallic silk background with gold lame border trim.
And perhaps at the bottom in small print and quoted, "Beat at Joes"

[gregorio]

I'll have to ask the irl sex therapist I know what she dresses up as for halloween. I have a feeling it wasn't the costume in the quote.

I went to a Halloween party (for grownups) one year and one of the more entertaining costumes was the young woman dressed in a white doctor's lab coat. When you asked her what her costume was, she'd whip open the lab coat to reveal a very NSFW negligee w/ garters and fishnets, and say she's a sex therapist. :)

[JThunder]

Yeah, this guy had all the earmarks of someone who was overly proud of his taekwondo training. They way he jumped into the circle and yelled "Taekwondo!" spoke volumes.

I also remember how the emcee responded with a few seconds of stunned silence, as though to say "Really, fella? That's your amazing costume?"

FTR, I used to wear some pretty ordinary costumes to these events, and I have no problem with other people doing the same. Sometimes, that's all that people can (or feel like) putting together. I would wear such an outfit with dignity, but I'd also be thinking "Yeah, it's nothing special.. I just dug something out of my closet." I certainly wouldn't be bold enough to field it as a contest entry, much less let announce myself with an enthusiastic cry of awesomeness.

[Gedd]

I went to a party once as Charlie Brown . . . in his Halloween costume. A "bedsheet ghost" with thirteen eye holes instead of two, and a trick or treat bag with a rock in it.

[Drain Bead]

Someone from these boards who hasn't been here in a while (wish I could remember who) snapped a picture of a friend who went to a costume party dressed as Jesus Fucking Christ. The guy was dressed as Jesus, and had a blow-up doll also dressed as Jesus bent over and attached to his groin. Genius costume.

[Guinastasia]

Hneh, I'm Nachos, nheh.

Hi, I'm a nad. Can I have some candy please?

[BMalion]

My costumes generally involve thousands of dollars and months of preperation.



Or a toy lightsabre and a gi.

[Silver Tyger]

I don't think clothes that you would ordinarily wear for any real-life purpose count as any "costume" at all.

That's not entirely fair. If I ran by that, I'd couldn't wear ever kimono as a 'costume' (which is what most people think when they see me in it, but to me it's just clothes, because, well, it's just clothes, from another culture.) Which is why I don't wear them out of the house very often.

[JThunder]

Right. I'd say that if these are clothes that you would wear for some ordinary purpose, then they might conceivably qualify as a costume -- but they probably wouldn't be contest material.