Win At Halloween: Four Tips for Great Work-Appropriate Costumes

Halloween is your chance to show off your creativity to coworkers with an amazing costume. If HR gives you the thumbs up to dress up on October 31^st, make sure that you are going to leave an impression… for the right reasons. Here are four things you need to remember when you are planning for the perfect work Halloween costume:

Keep the Dress Code in Mind When Picking a Costume

When planning your soon-to-be award-winning costume for Halloween, remember that while you have the opportunity to wear something fun and different to work, you need to take your work dress code into consideration. While your werewolf costume may not exactly pass as business casual, it should cover the appropriate amount of skin. Keep your “sexy” costumes for outside of work hours, and don’t wear anything that could be deemed inappropriate even with the relaxed rules of the holiday.

When In Doubt, Play It Very, Very Safe

Remember that just because you find something amusing or tasteful doesn’t mean that everyone else will. Because your office is an inclusive place, think twice before wearing a costume that could be even lightly be seen as offensive. Stay away from politics and other current events, as they have a good possibility to upset at least some in the workplace.

Props Can Make a Costume, But Leave the Fake Weapons At Home

Props are a great addition to any costume, but when it comes to your work, keep your fake weapons at home. People are sensitive to the threat of workplace violence, so even a very fake looking gun or sword may be taken the wrong way, especially when seen at a long distance. Don’t debate whether a weapon looks realistic or not, just keep them at home.

Make Sure You Can Still Work While Wearing Your Costume

While Halloween fun may yield a looser atmosphere, it’s important to remember that you will still need to get work done at the office. When planning your costume, make sure that you can still excel at your job. This means that you can talk, move, and answer the phone. Take into account everything you might have to do, from driving to sitting in a meeting, and make sure that your costume does not impede anything that you are going to need to do. Also, if you are meeting with an outside vendor during the day, make sure to pick a costume that you can easily change out of.