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One of the biggest components of any Halloween celebration is choosing the perfect costume, whether it be an endearing, flirty or a classically spooky getup. For many people, Halloween offers the chance to take on a new personality through clothing. 

“We go about our everyday life and we need a little excitement…And having fun sometimes means not being who you are when you go to work. It means getting out of character and just letting loose,” Juanita Cameron said. Cameron is the office manager for the Theatrical Shop, a local costume store located in West Des Moines where she has worked for over twenty years. 

The Theatrical Shop services a wide range of people all year-round, not just on Halloween. They provide costumes for playhouses, local schools, actors, newscasters, make-up artists and the casual buyer. According to Cameron, the shop carries something for everyone, from drag queens to clowns. 

“We’re just here for everybody that is a performer,” Cameron said. 

And plenty of people want to perform, with many USA citizens dressing up every year. People choose their costumes based on a variety of influences, whether it be from renowned entertainment, legendary monsters or famous celebrities. 

It is crucial to remember that some Halloween costumes carry serious consequences. 

“Suddenly you see people wearing a hat, a sombrero, and a poncho and fake mustaches…people during Halloween with blackface, [even wearing] cornrows or afros,” Alex Piedras said. 

Piedras, Grand View University’s Director of Multicultural and Community Outreach and the International Student Advisor, understands the importance of traditional clothing, and how poor imitations cause harm. 

“Just remember that, what might seem fun for a few hours to you, for members of that culture it is their lives. Day in and day out,” Piedras said. 

As a country formed on immigration of all kinds, the USA is no stranger to cultural wear. But as immigrants or refugees make the USA their home, culturally traditional clothing begins to be worn only on special occasions. 

“[Cultural clothing] becomes yearly tradition. Think of Oktoberfest…that is when you probably see, or think it’s more acceptable to see, people dressed up in German clothing or items that reflect German culture,” Piedras said. “[Traditional clothing] is a reminder of where you came from and maybe where you still have strong ties to.” 

And while some may argue that they are simply honoring a culture they do not belong to, Piedras disagrees. “You’re not doing it in a way to honor the culture, you’re doing it, in a way, to make fun of that culture,” said Piedras. 

Piedras points to Frieda Kahlo as an example. 

“You often see individuals say ‘well I’m trying to honor Frida and her work and everything she stood for’ but the way that is being done is not really to do that. It’s in a way to kind of make it fun,” said Piedras. “Because, as you know, Frida Kahlo used to have a unibrow, and so that tends to be one of the things most people do. The clothing that she used to wear is very specific to her culture and has specific meanings.” 

Of course, most people do strive for what they deem “accuracy” in a costume. 

“If there’s a character that has become very popular, the detail of that costume is very important because that person that’s [into] that character is going to look for every detail,” Cameron said. 

Certainly, at least socially, people will expect every minute detail to be included, but intent does not matter when the impact is so large. 

“The impact you’ve created on someone who actually belongs to that community and is feeling hurt by your actions is much greater, and deeper, than your intent” Piedras said. 

Even so, it is up to the individual to make responsible and educated decisions. 

“In this world today, there’s a lot to be said for being politically correct. I think it’s up to the person that’s buying [the costume] and what they’re going to use it for, where they’re going to go, what kind of environment they’re going to be in,” Cameron said. “What we do is we just sell the costumes. We try not to be controversial, but you know, you can’t just please everybody.” 

Piedras encourages all people, but especially students, to make knowledgeable and empathetic choices during the Halloween season. 

“If we’re really going to celebrate and welcome diversity then that demands from us doing better,” said Piedras.