Dress up and head out in October: stay warm, dry, and visible
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
Fancy dress is made for a heated hall, not a wet October evening. With layers, gloves, a hat, and a light source, you can maintain your look and enjoy the evening.
On October 31st in the Netherlands, it's typically around ten degrees Celsius, it gets dark around 5:30 PM, and there's a real chance of drizzle. Yet, most of the costumes you buy are designed for a heated hall: thin fabric, short sleeves, bare legs. Anyone going out on the street for Halloween, a themed party, or a spooky trail will find this out within twenty minutes.
You don't have to sacrifice your look for it. With a few targeted additions—layers underneath, something for your hands and head, and a light source—you can last an entire evening. Below is what works, in the order you put it on.
Where a costume falls short in the cold
There are three places where you lose heat and where a costume set rarely provides for: your legs, your hands, and your head. In addition, many costumes are made of thin polyester. This fabric doesn't retain heat, nor does it repel rain; it gets heavy and sticky.
The practical conclusion: buy your costume in a size that allows for a layer underneath. A set that feels tight when you try it on will be impossible if you want to wear tights or a thermal layer underneath. This is usually not a problem with one-size items, but it is with S/M and L/XL.
Layers under your outfit
Under a skirt, dress, or shorts, tights or leggings are the quickest win. You won't see them in your look, provided you match the color with the rest.
For tights and stockings, pay attention to the sizing: S/M and L/XL are not clothing sizes but length-weight combinations. If there's a size chart, read it rather than guessing your normal size. Tights that are too small will sag and ladder faster.
Hands, head, and neck
Gloves are the accessory most often overlooked and make the quickest difference. Long gloves also do something for your forearms, which helps with sleeveless costumes.
Long Black Wetlook Gloves — € 12.95. Black matches almost anything, and the length covers your forearm.
Neon Gloves 4 colors — € 5.95. Stand out in the dark, even without light on them.
Rainbow Flag Cape Pride - one size — € 12.95. A cape is the easiest extra layer: it goes over everything, and you can take it off in one swift movement.
A hat or cap does double duty: it keeps warmth in and keeps drizzle off your makeup. The latter is no small matter if you're walking outside for an hour.
See and be seen
Halloween evening falls in the week when the clocks go back. So you'll be walking in the dark, often in dark clothing, with a mask that restricts your peripheral vision. Make sure you bring your own light and stand out.
Outside, a mask behaves differently than inside. In cold air and with a warm face, the inside fogs up, and a mask that restricts your vision is more problematic on the street than in a living room. A few considerations:
Adjustable or not. An elastic band that you can't adjust will either be too loose or too tight. Check if there's a buckle or cord.
Headwear over it. If you combine a mask with a hat, then wear them in order: mask first, hat over it. The other way around, you'll pull your hat off your head with every adjustment.
Makeup and fake blood are designed for dry weather. Rain will make both run, and runny fake blood stains fabric. Two things that help: only apply makeup once you're at your starting location, and consider what's under your costume. A Fake Blood Set with Syringe and Refill (€ 9.95) has the advantage that you can touch up on the go instead of applying everything beforehand.
If you're dressing up at home or at a club, outdoor-friendly decorations are more practical than paper ones. A Halloween Spider Web with 6 Spiders (€ 9.95) can be stretched over a fence or doorpost and will survive a wet hour.
The last twenty minutes
Go through this checklist before you leave the house:
Layer under your costume on (tights, leggings, or socks).
Gloves and something for your head within reach.
One light source per person, or per two people in a group.
Phone charged, power bank with you.
Mask fitted with hat or wig — not just on the street.
Something in your bag to put wet items in (a zip-lock bag is sufficient).
Order any additional items you need in time. Supplementary accessories sell out fastest at the end of October, and it's precisely these small things—gloves, socks, a light—that determine whether you last the evening or go home after an hour.
What you can order now
Check out the Halloween collection for masks, decorations, and makeup items, and the Costume Accessories for everything you add to your look. For layers and warmth, look in Gloves, Socks, and Hats & Wigs. All masks are together in the Masks collection. If you're unsure about a size or the combination of two items? Feel free to email info@verpakkingdeals.nl — we'll help you check before you order.
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