Halloween is just around the corner. Natalie shares her office-costume tips, successes, and lessons learned.
Halloween can be a tricky occasion when it comes to showing up to the office in costume- for more reasons than you might think. I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing a few office Halloweens, and I’ve learned a few things from these experiences. I’ll share my top tips in navigating the nuances of costumes in an office, and hopefully inspire your Halloween creativity!
Evaluate the Office-Halloween-Vibe
Although seemingly obvious, it’s important to ask around to see if people in your office dress up for Halloween. It’s always good to be safe to make sure you’re not the only person dressing up. However, you may be surprised how many offices encourage people to dress up. Some workplaces even host costume contests, which is an awesome opportunity to get involved with office social activities.
Mum’s the Word
When planning your costume, think of what the more conservative members of the office will think of your costume. Although it is Halloween, you’ll have to face your co-workers the next day. I consider what my mum would say if I were to show her my costume, which is generally a good guideline for what is appropriate. So lets keep things mum-approved.
Consider a Group Costume
One of the best things about Halloween in the office is the opportunity to get collaborative with your co-workers.
I had a blast coordinating panda costumes with my co-worker a couple Halloweens ago. Not only was it like wearing a giant blanket to work, but also it was a lot more fun to have a fellow panda roaming the office as opposed to being a lone panda. (One thing to be aware of: onesies are VERY warm.)
Office Functionality
Speaking of too-warm costumes, although it’s fun to get creative and pull out all of the stops when it comes to Halloween, remember that work still needs to be done! So, if there are any parts of your costume that will prevent you from doing your job you may want to change that part of the costume or even try another costume.
Also, if you have a serious meeting to attend, consider a costume that can easily be transformed to be professional or bring a change of clothes.
Get Creative:
One of the best costumes I’ve ever adorned was my Jelly Belly costume. Believe it or not, I was able to sit in my chair (after readjusting some balloons prior to sitting), and my outfit was surprisingly comfortable. Not only was this super affordable ($10 for supplies), but it was a more interesting costume because it was not a store-bought Halloween costume. This costume choice also sparked a lot of conversation with co-workers I generally never had a chance to talk to. It was the weirdest/greatest conversation starter!
Remember to consider the basic and practical aspects of a Halloween costume in the office, but also remember that Halloween is a chance to have fun with your co-workers. Although there’s a lot to consider when wearing a costume to the office, it can certainly brighten your day and brighten the day of those around you.
