Social Pictures: The 39th Cúirt International Festival of Literature launch
Social Pictures: The 39th Cúirt International Festival of Literature launch

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‘There’s a claustrophobia within a love sustained by friendship and respect’
‘There’s a claustrophobia within a love sustained by friendship and respect’

Sarah Gill

My Life in Culture: Media and Communication Studies lecturer Dr. Susan Liddy
My Life in Culture: Media and Communication Studies lecturer Dr. Susan Liddy

Sarah Finnan

10 unique Irish stays for something a little different this summer
10 unique Irish stays for something a little different this summer

Sarah Gill

A Derry home, full of personality and touches of fun, proves the power of embracing colour
A Derry home, full of personality and touches of fun, proves the power of embracing...

Megan Burns

The rise of the tennis aesthetic (thank you Zendaya)
The rise of the tennis aesthetic (thank you Zendaya)

Sarah Finnan

Rodial founder Maria Hatzistefanis: 15 lessons in business
Rodial founder Maria Hatzistefanis: 15 lessons in business

Holly O'Neill

PODCAST: Season 3, Episode 4: Trinny Woodall of Trinny London
PODCAST: Season 3, Episode 4: Trinny Woodall of Trinny London

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Ask the Doctor: ‘Is a Keto diet safe, or could it raise my cholesterol?’
Ask the Doctor: ‘Is a Keto diet safe, or could it raise my cholesterol?’

Sarah Gill

Sarah Jessica Parker loves Ireland and we love her
Sarah Jessica Parker loves Ireland and we love her

Sarah Finnan

Image / Fashion

10 outfits to wear on Halloween when you don’t want to dress-up


By Ellen Bird
29th Oct 2018
10 outfits to wear on Halloween when you don’t want to dress-up

Halloween brings out the most committed and apathetic of us, and basically nothing in between. One year, I dressed up as a bird, because my last name is Bird, and my eighteen-year-old self thought it was hysterical. I handpicked (my little brothers did) the autumn twigs in my nest-like hair, and handmade (my mum did) my black feathered wings. Nowadays, dare I say, Halloween has become a struggle.

I want a costume that’s cool, cost-effective and doesn’t require too much effort. Halloween is the one night a year that welcomes an opportunity to explore the realms of fancy dress and spill out your creative juices. But as Halloween for some is fantastical, for others there’s nothing worse than deciding on a costume, especially days before Halloween night. If dressing-up outlandishly isn’t even on your radar, all hope for a memorable look is not lost, because this year we aren’t dressing-up, kinda. We’re going for a more Halloween-y twist, rather than a full-on costume. I can already hear your sigh of relief.

Who wants to spend their hard-earned money on a costume you will wear for only one night? Not me – I’d rather buy some lousy cat-ears. So if Halloween costumes are your idea of sartorial hell, wear Halloween-inspired clothing so you feel somewhat involved instead. There are some gorgeously spooky ideas out there that you can Halloween up, but yet wear again. Avoid fake blood by checking out my edit on Halloween cheat options.

Without having to go overboard, you’ll be cheating the dress code with velvet vampire-esque styles, black lace dresses and blood red co-ords. You might not be dressed-up in a costume, but you’ll be joining in with something much more cost-effective and re-wearable. If all else fails, throw on a onesie and call it a day. Happy shopping!

Body, €17.99 at H&M

Lace dress with gigot sleeves, €245 at Sandro

Leopard texture skater dress, €35.99 at Bershka

 

Black lace suit jacket, €195 at The Kooples

Contrasting pleated dress, €49.95 at Zara

Sabina tiered mini dress, €261 at freepeople.com

Long-sleeved scarf dress in lace€295 at Maje

Velvet drape button mini dress, €60 at Topshop

Velvet dress, €39.95 at Zara