Geeky Halloween costume suggestions

Playing dress-up is a game, right? No, you're right, we're pushing it a bit here. But it's Halloween!

Anthony Enticknap

Halloween, Hallowe’en, All Hallow’s Eve. Whatever you call it, it’s around this time of the year that the chances generally increase of someone inviting you to party – a party where you’re encouraged to dress up like a tit. Yes, it’s fancy dress season.
Borrowing your mum's clothes and pretending to be a woman is both too easy, and somewhat disturbing, in a Oedipal kind of way. Also, wearing your birthday suit is a big no no.

So what costumes should a self-respecting geek consider? Maybe this short list, which features a few classics, will be of use.

Star Trek



It’s an obvious one, but if you’re a bit of a Trekkie, it’s a worthwhile investment. If fact, if you’re seriously into this kind of thing, it might be worth actually buying the suit, instead of hiring, since you can use it to start attending Star Trek functions.

Within this category, you can choose to dress as a Star Fleet officer, which means plenty of lycra. This is great if you’re in good shape, but it’s not quite so flattering if you’re carrying a few extra pounds. In this case, you could try a Klingon outfit. People will be so distracted with the huge kebab-like structure of your forehead that they won’t notice anything else.

Ghostbusters


The great thing about going to a party as a Ghostbuster is that you can do it on your own, or you can get a few friends to do it as well, thus completing the team. Expect arguments over who gets to be Peter Venkman though.

If you’re a completist, then you’ll probably want someone to go along as Janine, the Ghostbusters’ neurotic receptionist. And if you’ve got a chubby mate, you can paint him green, and he can be Slimer.

Star Wars

 



This particular franchise offers loads of different possibilities for dress up, so we’ll just consider the best and most obvious.

Of course, everyone will want to go as Darth Vader, but like a Storm Trooper outfit, this is probably not a good idea. Sure, there’s a certain air of mystery with these, but you’ll get bored of having to remove your helmet every time you want a drink. The same goes for Chewbacca and the droids.

Probably the best option then would be to go as the Emperor, or Darth Maul. The latter may have featured in one of the worst films to feature the Star Wars name, but you will get to carry a double-ended light saber.

Batman

 

 


Again, this presents a number of different options, the most obvious being Batman himself. This is a good option, since you get to wear a mask without impeding your beer drinking in any way. You also get to wear a utility belt, where you can hang party paraphernalia such as bottle openers, sick bags and party poppers.

Then there’s all the villains, like Joker, the Riddler, and Catwoman. The last of these presents a good option for ladies, as it involves wearing tight leather and cat ears – both things of which I highly approve.

Cockroach

 

 


Possibly not within our remit, this one, but so indisputably ace that it’s worthy of a mention anyway. Of course, you could always say you’re going as one the extras from Starship Troopers.

 

30/10/07