Hallowe'en Flashback!

Happy Hallowe'en, my friends! Hallowe'en is a "thing" in Canada, just like in the US. People decorate, kids go trick-or-treating, we decorate the office, there's lots of candy. But the best part of all - for me - is dressing up! (Candy is a close second). 

Prior to starting my blog in 2008, I have dressed up for Hallowe'en nearly every year I can remember (and some I can't!), pretty much since I was born. 

In October 2008 I tanked on Hallowe'en and just wore regular clothes - I just wasn't feeling it. My colleagues complained ("Where is your zombie outfit?"), and I regretted not making an effort. 

I've never missed a year dressing up since, whether it's a spooky-adjacent look or a full-on costume, so trick or treat, kids! Let's have a Flashback at all my previous looks. I've included links to the posts, if you feel like getting more pics of my (and L's) outfits, along with process pictures of some of the more elaborate costumes. 

2009 (original post here)

I wore this to work at my old job, and this is a Hallowe'en-inspired sort of look. My gothy side comes out! 

The black dress/top is a vintage piece (I'm wearing it here for a Film Fest gala) that Yvonne now pulls out for swanky events.

I wore one of my capes under it (I have three!), a crushed velvet hooded cloaklike one I've had since the mid-90s. L bought it for me at a Wiccan shop that used to sell costume pieces - I think it was around $65.00. 

The long leather gloves add a nice vibe, although I bet my arms were cold. 

2010 (original post here)

The following year, I got my creative on, and raided my closet for my Mad Hatter costume. The only thing that wasn't a "found object" was the sticky note in the hat's brim. 

If you have a top hat, you have a costume! I have a vintage 80s one from Le Chateau. 

I have a good 80% of this costume still in my closet. I won my company's costume contest that year! 

2011 (original post here)

I was less than a year into my current job, and had just switched to office management, so I wasn't too sure how dressed up people would be. They were not quite ready for me in Mad Hatter mode!

"Who's there?"

I still ended being one of the only people even close to being in costume. This was the first time wearing my vintage lame (lah-MAY!) dress for Hallowe'en, and it would not be my last. Aw, Vizzini is less than a year old there - he's full of beans and ready to squirm away, I can tell. 

2012 (original post here)

I pulled out all the stops the following year, prompted by a bunch of feather crows in the dollar store. I'm Tippi Hedren in "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock (an excellent movie). L took a bunch of pictures of me on our front lawn.

Again using all stuff from my own closet. I did mangle a pair of vintage gloves that I thrifted for a dollar, and shredded a pair of nylons. I worked all day in this (as I did in all of these outfits), and the wired-through feet of the crows were scratchy and annoying. 

I never scrimp on fake blood, heh. I still have that suit and the hat and a bag of crows - I could do this costume again easily. 

2013 (original post here)

Since my newer office had never seen my Mad Hatter outfit, I reprised it and changed it up a bit, with different things underneath it. 

I also played with my make-up more, adding some curlicues and writing. 

That overskirt makes me laugh now - it was my around-the-house skirt in spring and summer for about 4 years. 

I like props with an outfit - it helps make it more authentic. I had an "Drink Me" china teacup under my hat, and an "Eat Me" saucer in my coat pocket, and did a reveal with them to amused friends/coworkers.

L also dresses up for work most years, although this was from the aforementioned Monster Bash. 

He's Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, complete with hair and blood-encrusted walking stick. 

My new and improved make-up. 

Maybe one day I'll repeat this outfit too! As noted, I still have all of the clothes and the odds and ends. 

2014 (original post here)

L and I threw a Hallow'en party this year, and we also wore these outfits to work. It takes a bit of commitment to wear a costume all day; they are often overly warm or get in the way. 

I am Lydia, the bride from the classic Tim Burton movie, "Beetlejuice." I bought a bunch of red vintage nightgowns and an 80s red lace prom dress to make this.

L was Beetlejuice himself, of course. 

He had a vest on with tons of bugs and rubber snakes sewn inside it so that when he opened it, they all bounced out - surprise! 

For the party, I turned the prom dress around to and took off one of the nightgowns.

Sexy version! I've no doubt I kicked the shoes off after an hour so I could dance. 

2015 (original post here)

Another outing of this amazing gown, this time with my black wig and funky Day of the Dead make-up.

As I'm wearing these outfits to work, I also have to factor in make-up time - I don't give myself extra time in the morning to get ready, so all make-up (and often L's too) has to be done in a 20-minute window, in our single bathroom! 

I did a practice run of this make-up a few days before - if you click through on the original post, you'll see my trial-and-error approach to it. 

This was super-easy, mostly using a felt-tip style eyeliner pen. 

2016 (original post here)

I'm a huge fan of the movie "Mad Max: Fury Road" and especially its lead character, Imperator Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron. This is my interpretation of her character.

I had an awesome day, clomping around and glaring at my coworkers in this. They all knew I was like this by then! 

I thrifted the goggles and some odds and ends of strapping, but otherwise everything in this is from my closet. 

Work-tested, cat-approved. 

L's costume was inspired by our favourite boardgame, Arkham Horror, and by the 2016 Presidential Election.

He's a Cultist, promoting Cthulhu for President. We made his sign (see how the staff is his walking stick from the Jekyl/Hyde costume?), and that's my same cape as in the 2009 outfit above. 

2017 (original post here)

My coworker David and I created the Company Red Shirts as a group costume this year, based on the Star Trek universe's meme of characters in red shirts getting killed on missions (because Hallowe'en!). I print and cut out about a hundred paper communicator badges and loads of folks show up in a red shirt and black bottom (or full-on Star Trek cosplay!) and are welcomed by me to Starfleet. 

I bought a ton of faux fur key-charms and vintage ear-muffs and made them into attacking tribbles. 

My sweater had started to pop moth-holes, so I shredded it and covered myself in fake blood. 

I shed tribbles all over the office. Most fun day in the office ever! 

2018 (original post here)

I changed up my Red Shirt outfit the following year as a green-skinned, purple-haired alien. 

My leather skirt and sexy boots are totally office-appropriate! 

I had fun with my make-up. 

I recall I had to use olive oil to get this off! 

L's costume that year was stupendous. He was a Werewolf of London, based on the Warren Zevon song. 

"Egad, is the Man a werewolf?"

We really went to town on his props! He had a take-out menu from Lee Ho Fook's, and served non-alcoholic pina coladas off his desk (with homemade coasters from Trader Vic's), AND he had a few business cards for his tailor. 

2019 (original post here)

Last year, my enthusiasm for the Red Shirts waned, but my boss encouraged me, and my colleagues appreciated it. 

I went with my red suede suit (due a wearing soon!), and did my best "I'm a Starfleet captain, you will obey" glare. 

It was nice to change it up this year and wear my Hallowe'en dress, but I do miss the masses of red-shirted coworkers! Hopefully next year! 

2020 (original post here)

And there it is, my Hallowe'en dress, and since it's 2020, I'm wearing a Hallowe'en mask as well. 

My colleague Gary took these pictures for me. 

Smiling with my eyes! 

Ha, you can see some of my COVID protocols for the office in the background. There's a Desk Guidelines sign, and a desk cleaning supply station. Truly a year for the books. 

Happy Hallowe'en!