“In Girl World, Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything else about it.”

Sorry, Cady Heron, but I’m saying something.

I’m still a little unclear about when the exact point in time was that Halloween went from being about parading in your most unique, creative homemade costume to strutting around in the least amount of clothes possible. At what point did people go from wearing pounds of face paint to pounds of makeup, from scary to sexy?

I am sure a large number of campus males and females are reading this with glaring, hateful eyes as I openly tackle an aspect of Halloween that they love — and I may even be acknowledging some of the costumes that people will be wearing tonight and this weekend.  

But just for the record, I get it. By no means do I hold a conservative view in terms of Halloween attire, but I do hold a high regard for dignity.

Obviously we want to look good on Halloween and draw a little attention to ourselves, and I get that dressing down draws just as many eyes as dressing up — and it’s probably easier, too. I am not stomping on the idea that people can’t dress up in some appealing outfit that hugs them in all the right places. But rather, I would like to see these costumes executed in more tasteful ways.

Too often do I find myself guffawing at the combination of Spanx, heels, fishnets, a sports bra or crop-top to portray something as simple and innocent as a dog. 

Even online costume stores, such as Spirit Halloween, promote the revealing look. Many of these Halloween stores have pages of random women’s costumes with titles like “Sexy Zombie” or “Sexy Ghostbuster,” and any other random costume they decide to throw the word “sexy” in front of. But seriously, I bet somewhere out there exists costumes like “Sexy Gym Shoe” or “Sexy Lamp.” Anything is possible with a shortened skirt or a deepened V-neck.

The crème de la crème, though, is the “Sexy Crayon.” There is just something about turning inanimate objects into sensual, revealing Halloween-wear that just makes me roll my eyes and shake my head.

And I can’t say I’m looking forward to all of the flesh colored leotards and tiny hair buns that people will be sporting this weekend — do I even need to specify who this costume is an imitation of?

Even the bottom of the Spirit Halloween store website says, “Hey foxy lady! Strut your stuff this Halloween in a women’s costume from Spirit. Find the hottest from Playboy, the sexiest of Leg Avenue, the sauciest pirate garb…”

When did it become the norm to look for the sassiest, sultriest, skimpiest Halloween ensemble?

Maybe it’s just me, but nothing beats a clever, punny and borderline-dorky costume made from random household objects and clothes that you borrowed from your friend’s closet.

I can’t say that I don’t have a cheesy yet hearty appreciation for all of the people who attach several gray paint swatches to their T-shirt and go as “Fifty Shades of Grey.” I have even seen people go as far as to decorate umbrellas with long, pink, sparkly fabric and go as a jellyfish. Heck, I even get a good laugh out of those inflatable costumes that make it look like you are riding an ostrich.

I suppose I just miss the days where Halloween was an opportunity to display your creativity in a way that wasn’t purposely, overtly sexual — but again, I get it. And I get that people are going to continue to dress that way.

Granted, it’s Halloween. Do you. Be whoever or whatever you want, but leave something to the imagination instead of bearing it all. 

Let the costume do the talking and not your body.

Nicki is a junior in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].