How to Be Plus-Size AND Sexy This Halloween
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In the wise words of Cady Heron from the iconic high school drama Mean Girls, “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." However, for years, plus-size women have succumbed to wearing less revealing potato sacks that mainstream stores claim to be suitable for their body types. This leaves young women on college campuses who want to dress up and go out with very limited options.
Halloween costume options aren’t just failing plus-size bodies, but all body types that deviate from societal norms. Just think of all the proud members of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee who’ve been unable to fill out a catsuit or Captain Marvel leotard. For women who want to feel empowered and sexy, it's hard to find Halloween costumes that will assure that feeling.
With such limited options in Syracuse, finding a costume for your body type can prove to be a nearly impossible task. Some will venture to online stores, such as Fashion Nova, or visit stores in the area, like Spirit Halloween or Torrid. Yet, each of these stores has its problems.
Fashion Nova’s Halloween costumes are cute, risky, and perfect for anyone wanting to look sexy on Halloween. The majority of the costumes are revealing lingerie with accessories or sheer jumpsuits, but when looking for options for a certain body type, they often fall short.
You may be an apple-shaped girl who finds the perfect costume – only to find it’s too short to cover your backside. Or, maybe you’re looking to show off cleavage – but, due to limited options, can’t do so without exposing your torso. The costumes were made with one body in mind, and are completely inconsiderate of how varied real female bodies can be.
Spirit Halloween can be expensive, but can also be a preferable choice due to its nearby Dewitt location. Walking into the store and seeing the outfits can be helpful, but it's not guaranteed that your size will be sold in the store. Spirit does have a website, but the choice of trying clothes on is gone when you order online. Spirit's online store sizes go up to a 2X, which is a U.S. size 22-24.
Within the last few years, Torrid has been heavily criticized for its lack of fashionable and out-of-date clothing options, and their Halloween collection isn’t any better. It is a bit pricey, with the cheapest clothing option being $45, but it’s good quality and does offer some cute and form-fitting costumes. There is a Torrid located in Destiny USA.
Most of the outfits aren’t as risky and sexy as the options Spirit and Fashion Nova provide. A large majority of the costumes are two-piece suits, or knee/ankle length dresses with a peek of shoulder or cleavage. The costumes offered don’t satisfy the needs of shoppers wanting sexy costumes – especially those with bigger bodies.
Despite all the difficulties of finding the perfect costume, there are always alterations and accessories. If the dress is too short, throw on some matching biker shorts to wear underneath or if the top is too loose, alter it with a safety pin to fit your chest perfectly. While it’s disappointing that stores don’t consider how different bodies are, it shouldn’t stop you from looking hot this Halloween.