Ok, so it wasn't just me being a prude as I watched the kids file by in the hallway of my child's elementary school yesterday afternoon.
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| halloweencostumes4u.com |
The children were dressed in typical Halloween fare (ghosts, Jedi knights, Darth Vader, witches, princesses, Ninjas (including the Teenage Mutant Turtle variety), a few grim reapers were on hand, baseball and other sports heroes).
The adults and their high school aides were dressed in orange and black or in a simple Halloween costume.
But one costume wearer couldn't help but catch everyone's eye as she marched down the hall next to the youngsters.
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| bizrate.com |
Thankfully, the wearer of "Dorothy the Tramp from Oz" costume**, as I dubbed it, declined to wear her thigh-high stockings to an elementary school, but little else was left to the imagination.
And that was just the front view of the costume. Not only was the cup about to overfloweth from the neckline of the adult Dorothy outfit, but there was a tattoo snaking up from the breast of the wearer, which drew even more attention to the cleavage revealed from the skimpy neckline of the blouse.
The back view revealed a lacy hemline that barely skimmed the buttocks of the wearer--perhaps it extended an inch or two below the butt--
BUT I was hoping, as was one male observer nearby(though I expect it really would have been an answer to his prayers), that the wind wouldn't catch that skirt as she exited the building. I was hoping she wouldn't have to bend down to tie any shoelaces because I really didn't want to see if she was wearing the standard granny-white underwear or a thong or perhaps nothing.
Not that I wanted to look, but it was getting increasingly difficult to tear my eyes away as my mind was contemplating all of the appalling possibilities.
Other parents mentioned to the school secretary the tastelessness of the Dorothy from Oz costume. I can rest assured it wasn't just me thinking there was something amiss. The secretary cringed and told me that the wearer of the costume was a PARENT who had come in to help with the Halloween party.
Yikes.
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| wizardofozclothing.com |
I think had that been my child's class I'd have asked the parent to go put on some clothes.
In true child form though, the kids were more entranced with Dorothy's huge shoes (see photo, below, and at right) than they were with any other part of the costume. ("Mama! That lady's not wearing a seat belt!" said the child, of the naked woman zooming by in her automobile. . . .)
While this particular Dorothy may have been welcome to tread the yellow brick road to any number of homes to trick or treat, it is my opinion that this particular Dorothy really didn't belong at school in that get-up.
And I also think it's kind of scary that a parent chose to wear that outfit to an elementary school Halloween party. Save it for the bedroom, honey, or for your no-kids allowed Halloween parties. I think, aside from a handful of fanaticists, this is one reason why schools ban Halloween costumes and resort to having "autumn parties" instead of "Halloween parties."
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| bizrate.com |
I don't know. I'm sure the woman thought she looked quite nice, and thought the outfit really cute. And, it's a character from a children's story after all, so that makes it all right. But, let's examine the reality, here.
Here is the Adult Dorothy
(bright blue, at right). The only differences from the "Teen" Dorothy is that the adult Dorothy has a fitted waist line/bodice and thigh-high stockings.
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| bizrate.com, teen Dorothy |
The Teen Dorothy has a looser bodice and waistline and (presumably) one-piece white tights, and a less-fitted skirt. Are the one-piece tights a bow to virginity, vs. the thigh-high stockings?
Otherwise, there isn't much to distinguish the "adult" costume from the "teen" costume. Which is rather shameful, unless you don't mind your teen daughter looking like a stripper in training for an Over the Rainbow strip club.
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| costumes4less.com |
It has been in the news recently that Halloween garb is getting a bit more. . . risque, and it doesn't seem that it's limited just to the adult set. As you can see from the outfits pictured here, the "teen" costumes are getting to be a bit skimpy as well. My sister remarked that a third-grade child at her school was dressed as a Geisha - with skimpy skirt and extremely high-heeled shoes. "Cute idea," she remarked, "but the costume was definitely too adult-looking for a kid that age." The costume wasn't nearly as modest as the one pictured, here.
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vintage 1970s devil at
goblinhaus.com |
Does anybody remember when Halloween costumes were composed of whatever you had lying about the house? We used to feel sorry for the kids who had store-bought costumes -especially the ones that were like plastic bags and had the character and name of the character you were supposed to be dressed as, performing some heroic deed. Picture Spider Man in all his red and blue glory, splashed across the front of something equivalent to a kid-size white garbage bag, with his logo in big letters, scaling the side of a building while rescuing a kitten stranded on the rooftop. You get the idea. They really looked bad, bad, bad. Tsk.
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| komar.org |
Halloween merchandise is a really big deal now, though, and people spend just as much on Halloween as they do on Christmas. Decorations, light and yard displays, and so of course, costumes must keep up with the Joneses as well. I have no complaint over the improvements made to store-bought costumes. But home-made ones can be just as nice, with a little bit of effort.
Maybe dressing as a hobo isn't all the rage anymore - our popular culture and the times have changed and hobos aren't aound so much as homeless people, who I guess would be their counterparts in this day and age. Witches are still in vogue, as are princesses, grim reapers, and licensed characters such as Mickey Mouse and Super Man.
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| areyouinmyphoto.com |
As a kid back home, admittedly reaching the dark ages now, our Halloween costumes consisted of a few basic pieces:
black skirt, cape, dad's old coveralls, old flowered fabric that often doubled as a cape for a gypsy, red kerchiefs pilfered from dad. Accessories were then added. Witch? Get a black hat and stripey socks. Hobo or bum? Smudge some dirt on that face and wear the coveralls and an old flannel shirt. Clown? Coveralls worked again, with colorful ruffles around ankles and wrists.
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| childparentingabout.com |
I recall being a robot one year - tin foil and a box, and a mask were just fine.
Ok, we weren't top-notch stage costume experts, perhaps, but we still had a lot of fun. And the majority of the kids who tricked & treated at our house were dressed in similar fashion.
I don't object to an "upgrade" in costuming, I just wish, much like the daily clothing that is considered in style these days, that kids could still be kids and not have to select a costume from something that is inappropriate for their ages. Certainly some of the costumes available are looking a little too sexual, and that really sends a mixed message when an adult purchases a costume that is too adult in looks and tone for their elementary aged daughter (or son).
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| free4allcity.com |
There are those who object greatly to the dressing up of children in any costume be it scary or not, and asking for candy door-to-door. So let's give them more ammunition to just outright cancel the day, shall we? Let's continue to cave in to marketing and purchase sleazy costuming.
My son's preschool
(about four years ago) was an entirely costume-free zone on Halloween. None of the kids minded, they understood that costumes were an after-school thing, and they were happy to have their party all the same. They indulged in the usual party games that school children do - they just do it without the costume.
After witnessing a few get-ups at my daughter's school, I'm thinking that costume-free Halloween school days are not a bad idea. Especially if the adults don't have enough sense to wear something appropriate.
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| gigaweb.com - Mistress Dorothy |
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| electricboutique.com |
Ok, my mind and eyes are done reeling from the assault they suffered that Halloween afternoon. But if you're not attending your kids' Halloween parades at school, you just have no idea what on earth you're missing! And if the trend toward risque costuming continues, I suspect attendance at elementary school Halloween parades won't be the only thing going up next year.
**May I add that the commentary here is just that. COMMENTARY. I do not know the person who wore this particular costume, and have no idea of what kind of morals and standards the costume wearer follows or possesses. The costume wearer may be the most moral and upright citizen for all I know. The commentary here is strictly my own OPINION and is not meant as an attack on any individual or group of individuals, tattooed or not. Tattoos can be beautiful expressions of individuality. I have no issue with tattoos. My "issue" is with appropriate dress, as regular readers of this space may already know.
Thank God nobody showed up like this, however:
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yeselguapo.com
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