This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s senior fall editorial intern Arianna Nahim. Find her on Instagram at @ariannanahim. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
As someone whose parents never let them celebrate Halloween because they considered it, “the Devil’s celebration,” I have a unique connection to the night. My first Halloween at the ripe age of 17, included a a beat up black jacket, a messy pony tail. My costume, Eren Yeager, from my favorite anime, “Attack on Titan.” So, when I got into college I didn’t really understand the overall hype towards Halloween. I figured since me and all my peers had gotten older that meant no more fun costumes. I was under the assumption that Halloween at the phase of life just meant choosing a cute outfit to go out in. However, last Halloween I decided I wanted to go big. Because Halloween isn’t just about finding a cute outfit, but finding something that represents you in a way. The first time I felt that way was when I was Carrie last Halloween. Sure, I was not really a repressed teen girl who uses her mind powers to kill her whole class at the prom. But, I am someone who has an appreciation for classic movies with out of the ordinary characters.
If you want a costume that isn’t just an outfit you’re wearing, but an opening to who you are in a way, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re someone who loves history like me and is looking for a way to incorporate your love for the big night, you’ve come to the right place. And if you’re none of the above, then allow me to convince you that a history based costume can be fun and help you stand out. Now, I am someone who considers herself a history junkie. So when I’m looking for a costume I usually think of costumes that are more historically oriented. I’ve complied a list of Halloween costumes based on history that I think can be distinctive and striking, while still being something you’d want to snap a picture of.
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc has got to be the coolest person in medieval history. And she is a perfect costume for the girls who love strong heroins with interesting backstories. You don’t have to wear an outfit exactly like this either. I’ve seen many use sparkly silver designs as their base and go from there. You could also pay homage to, “The Smith’s,” song, “BigMouth Strikes Again.” In the song he says:
And now I know how Joan of Arc felt
Now I know how Joan of Arc felt
As the flames rose to her Roman nose
And her Walkman started to melt
You could add some headphones if you want a more modern feel, including pants along with your outfit instead of a skirt to make the look more casual. Add a sword and you’re ready to save the French dynasty!
Marie Antoinette
I think Marie Antoinette is a perfect costume for this Halloween, especially coming off of “Brat Summer.” It’s fun, it’s chic, and you can include cake! I’ve noticed the past few Halloweens that corsets are very big for the night, so that can be perfect. A mini skirt will pair perfectly, while pearls and lots of blush will surely tie the look together.
CLEOPATRA AND MARC ANTHONY
Cleopatra and Marc Anthony is a costume that will definitely stand out from other history couples costumes. I’d bet that this is a couple’s costume that wouldn’t be found twice at one party. Honestly, with the way Cleopatra and Marc Anthony were, it’d probably be more accurate to do this with your situationship!
ANNE BOLEYN
Anne Boleyn is a costume that can easily be scary enough for Halloween, I mean she was married to a man in the 16th century and has her head chopped off. But really, this is a costume that could definitely have a gory element while still being very original. You can easily add some fake blood to your neck. A tip I recommend is to use a dropper for the fake blood to make it seem like it is dripping. And you cannot forget your B shaped necklace, it is definitely a must and huge indicator on what the costume is supposed to be. There is also a lot of free range on the dress color as there really isn’t one particular famous color on her. I do recommend sticking with darker shades however.
A League Of Their Own
So, when I say history costumes, we definitely do not have to stick to the history that was hundreds or thousands of years back. I think this one is an adorable couple’s costume. If you’re into the aesthetic of the 40s and 50s then this is the one for you. The baseball uniform is a great look and a LGBTQ+ costume with loads of meaningful history behind it. A big stereotype in the queer women space is that softball players are queer, so this is a fun and harmless way to lean into that. Interestingly enough though, an AAGBL player has stated in an interview that if she had to guess 400 out of 650 of the players were gay, which is a hard ⅔ of the players.
I’ll be majorly disappointed if I don’t see a few of these costumes this year! Don’t feel constricted too, there are about a thousand ways to interpret and execute these costumes. That’s what makes Halloween so great. This is a night in the year where everyone should feel encouraged to let their personalities shine. When we let our true selves shine that’s usually when we feel our most confident and have the most fun.
Which one of these would you wear? Do you have any other history couples costumes ideas? Comment below!
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