It’s finally costume season as Halloween festivities start.

The tradition of costumes started with the ancient Celtic holiday, Samhain, in which Celts would dance around fires to scare ghosts away. While children are usually the focus of Halloween, adults have been getting more and more into buying and making their own costumes. The Slate Staff discussed what makes a good costume this week.

First off, cultural insensitivity does not make a good costume. One has to be smart and make sure your costume is something non-offensive and culturally sensitive. Companies like Amazon and Walmart have had issues in the past with selling costumes depicting stereotypes.

For example, Amazon marketing the “Little Mexican Amigo” costume which featured a poncho and a sombrero in a blatant example of racist cultural stereotypes. 

Additionally, you should not sport costumes that are insensitive to those who have gone through trauma. Many last year decided to dress in poorly conceived COVID-19 costumes. Others have dressed as psychiatric ward patients. These costumes are not tasteful at all and could be triggering to those who have gone through these difficult experiences. 

Before even selecting a costume, you have to decide on what sort of look you are going to go for. Funny costumes are also usually a safe bet, as everyone likes to laugh, and some classics (i.e. cat, witch, clown) are difficult to do wrong. Sexy costumes are also popular these days. Yet, consider that some costumes just get boring unless you put your own spin on them (think nurses, cheerleaders, and M&Ms). Oh, and no one wants to see you show up in an old sports uniform or your pajamas. 

That said, costumes require three elements to be effective: originality, creativity and panache. Coming up with a costume out of things you already own is often more cost efficient and tends to look better than store-bought ones because a homemade costume can look more natural. Think of the clothes and styles you already own when designing a costume or looking for things to purchase. 

Our other tip is to know your audience. Inside jokes are a safe bet and crowd pleaser, even if not all your Instagram followers will understand. Are your friends primarily on TikTok? You can find a joke from there to use. Did you all happen to have an emo phase? Sounds like a group costume. Is there an iconic teacher you’ve all had? Think about your experiences with the people you’re going out with and you’re sure to find some solid inspiration.

You don’t have to break the bank to have a great costume, as you can reuse costumes. A Chewbacca costume one year can be reused as a werewolf costume the next. And, you can easily make anything into a zombie costume. Try digging around in the thrift store bins for inspiration, or even phone a friend (or parent) to borrow a little something. Anything can sing with a little creativity.

Costumes can be absolutely anything, from beloved cartoon characters to presidents. Pick something from your favorite movie, show, game or keep up with pop culture and use that. References are hilarious and your own passion comes through when you do something you love. The most important thing is your own confidence in your costume; if you wear it and own it, it’ll be awesome no matter what.

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