How to Pick Your Perfect Halloween Costume

     The very first step is deciding on a theme. Nowadays, the choices are just about endless. Do you want to go with a traditionally scary costume? Something classic like the Swamp Ghoul, Edna the Witch, or a Werelupe are great choices for those who want to participate in the festivities but just don't have much time to put together an extravagant costume. Other themes to consider include Neopets (think Wocky or Cybunny), punny/memes, fantasy, vintage, and cosplay! Of course, your options are not limited to these subjects. Remember, this guide is simply to help you narrow down your decision.

     Another option to consider is partner or group themes. Whether you're going out with just one Neofriend, a group of Neofriends, or your significant other, matching one another can make the dress-up experience that much more fun! It's also a great way to bounce ideas around and get those creative juices flowing. Most of the themes mentioned above are great for partners or groups. Maybe you and your Neofriends want to each dress up as a different Faerie, or you and your partner can dress up as King Hagan and King Skarl. Having someone to match with could really pull the meme theme together as well. Activities like this are always better with your favourite company, and can even help lift some of the weight off your shoulders if this kind of thing isn't quite your forte.

     After you've decided on a theme, it should be a little easier to select what it is you're going to dress up as. If you're feeling the fantasy vibe, you could go as a Faerie or a Uni. Feeling like cosplaying this year? Hubrid Nox, Jeran, or Count Von Roo could be a fun choice! You might start to find that a lot of themes can be combined as well- For instance, you could further celebrate the Faerie Festival and dress up as Illusen or Jhudora. This would also fall into fantasy and cosplay categories. You could even go the vintage cosplay route and find a character reference from the early Neo days! Do you feel like being a jokester this year? Something like a baby Pteri with long legs and high heels would be bound to get a laugh. Or if you want to go the simple route, a pair of Cybunny ears and a puffy tail will go a long way. There's so much creative freedom around costumes, you're bound to find an idea that speaks to you!

     Hopefully you've been able to narrow down your selection now that the theme and character possibilities of your costume have been explored. Now it's time to think about gathering the supplies needed to bring your outfit to life! What do you already have in your closet that can be used and/or repurposed? Don't forget those accessories like jewelry, belts, or backpacks can help pull your costume together. Let your imagination run wild! Even just a plain T-shirt could be painted on or cut up. If you have the means to do so, you could also simply purchase a premade costume. Remember, dressing up for Halloween is most importantly about having fun. There's no shame in being as simple or as complicated as you want with your costume. Life is tough, and there's no need to stress yourself out further over an ensemble.

     After you've gathered and/or purchased the necessary clothes and accessories for your costume, it's time to consider if you want to add makeup to your look. For those of you who are masculine-presenting, don't let the term "make-up" deter you. This also implies the use of face paint! Say you want to go as an Undead Wocky. Some Wocky ears and skeletal face paint would get your point across brilliantly. Again, this can be as effortless or elaborate as you want. Not everyone is a beauty guru, and something as easy as adding whiskers to your cheeks can elevate your look. Here's a neat little trick: Before the big dress-up day, you can practice your make-up/face paint right before you get in the shower. That way if you mess up, it's no big deal! You got some practice in and you are going to just wash it right off anyway. It's a perfect opportunity to try new techniques or even just get the hang of it.

     This next step is optional, but before the official Halloween festivities begin, go ahead and try on your entire costume. Sometimes an idea sounds great in your head but may require some tweaking in its execution. This can help you avoid any stressful last-minute adjustments. Again, this is totally optional and usually for those who take their costumes more seriously. If you have a more straightforward costume or if you're proficient in costume-making, you may not need to do a test run. But if you're trying a new technique or if you're a beginner with all this dress-up mumbo jumbo, a run-through before hand can help you to better improve your outfit.

     The last step is the most important one of all: Have fun! I know it was mentioned before, but dressing up for Halloween is all about having a good time. Don't get too caught up in perfecting your costume. It's only for one night, and you will most likely be the only one who notices any "faults" in your outfit. Hopefully, this guide has at least helped you conjure up a few ideas to make this Halloween one for the books!