I love Halloween. Always have, always will. I think I loved it the most as a kid, where my horror fixation seemed less abnormal and everyone was enjoying monster nonsense as much as me. I think it then falls off a bit for everyone in the awkward teenage years, where trying too hard with a costume becomes uncool. And now we’re in a golden renaissance of Halloween, where the internet has given life to costumes that provide a never-ending spout of niche joy. Nothing brings me greater pleasure than seeing someone dressed up as the nichest meme ever. What a shame then, when you look on Instagram to be greeted with a celebrity doing the most insane, elaborate series of Halloween costumes known to man. We get it, you’ve got money and you look like you just fell off a film set. I regret to inform you, but you are killing the vibe.
I think celebrities are out of touch with the content they think people want to see these days. Picture the scene: You’ve had a blissful Halloween where your silly little costume cost you a grand total of 30 quid and a few dedicated hours of your time. It’s homemade, but funny – meticulously detailed and nicely referenced. Everyone laughed and wowed at it at your party. All good spooky fun. You put your Halloween carousel on Insta and receive a handsome 100+ likes for your trouble. Job done. All’s in an October’s work.
And then you see a celebrity with a green screened back drop and a costume looking straight out of the Universal pictures catalogue costume cupboard. Sure, they look great. But are you arsed? Are you amused? Oh look, it’s Kim Kardashian as an albino alligator. Whilst she may look great, you could witness this by watching any episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race whenever you want. Every episode is on streaming services as we speak.
Amelia Dimoldenberg here looks great, but the bottom half? I want to believe you can move around! That could literally be a painting. Where’s the fun? The charm? The laughs?
Not all celebrities are missing the mark, though. I particularly loved seeing Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, Addison Rae, Rosalía and pals dressing up normally.
I think it speaks volumes about the celebrities who are having an amazing year in pop culture are the ones with the sense to realise that what people want to see is relatability and authenticity. Chappell Roan and Charli XCX, and Addison Rae, have seen their careers rocket because they’re coming across down to earth.
This particular Charli video is so great because she has a way of pulling you into her world, and making you feel like you’re partying with her. There’s nothing lavish about this video or these costumes – it’s just good vibes. I could be filming it for all you know. It’s joyous.
The same goes with Perrie Edwards, who has humourously dressed up with her son as Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars in Die With A Smile.
Next year, I beg and I plead to every celebrity to just keep it a bit real with their Halloween costumes. We get to see you doing an extremely lavish, magazine standard shoot every day of our lives. At least on Halloween just dress up as something silly and have a gin in your kitchen.For more like this plus all the latest news, drops, quizzes and memes, like The Tab on Facebook.
