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Thread: Adults and Halloween

  1. #1
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    Adults and Halloween

    Well, it's 7:23 and I am upstairs in my office. Apparently with only 2 lights on in our cul-de-sac, everyone is too lazy to walk over here! (2 houses are empty out of our 5)

    BUT the true shocker for the night was 3 adults asking for candy - no costume, just containers! I told them no, that the candy was for children, not adults. what's up with that????

    Second, I heard on the news that parents were very unhappy with the Halloween costumes that were out this year - apparently fishnet stockings and suggestive attire for 10-12 y/os. geesh, they're going to be grown up soon enough. what's up with that? parents were complaining that the costumes were just too adult and that adults were taking over Halloween!

  2. #2
    I totally agree with the questionable "sexy" Halloween outfits for girls over 3! Who is buying these things??? When we went to Toys R Us to look for costumes the first weekend in October, here were our options:

    The sexy devil (for ages 6-12)


    Corpse bride???


    Ummm...angel of death?


    Now don't get me wrong - I wouldn't have a problem with these outfits on adults, or even older teenagers - but on 6 year olds?!!?! Come on! I refuse to buy Bratz dolls for my daughter to play with - I sure as he** don't want her dressed up like one for Halloween!

  3. #3
    I commented to a coworker today about the 'hoochie mama' costumes I saw some 1st graders wearing. It's a shame! Halloween has just gotten way too BIG, IMO.

    I teach PreK and while half of my students didn't have costumes (presumably because they can't afford them), the other half were all pretty darn cute. Two pirates, a Buzz Lightyear, Superman, Batman, and my personal favorite--a Giraffe (the only girl).

    Now for more pet peeves--I had a girl who was old enough to know better reach into MY candy bowl (after I had given her candy) and say "I just want some M&Ms" and proceeded to take a handful! I stopped her and told her nope. I should have scolded her. She did get one M&M bag. She was about 8 or 9.

    I did have a smaller one try to reach into the bowl as well--2-3 age and I can excuse that a bit more. The first one really annoyed me.
    Jennifer


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  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by luv2cook
    BUT the true shocker for the night was 3 adults asking for candy - no costume, just containers! I told them no, that the candy was for children, not adults. what's up with that????
    That is just WRONG. :mad:

  5. #5
    I, too, am really surprised at how awful the costumes have gotten. Although, I never bought a prepackaged one when I was a kid. Isn't it a little cold to be wearing those skimpy ones? Even at 10, I wouldn't have been caught dead in those.
    I've gotten some pretty cute trick or treaters here, though. I had some hippies, fairies, cowboys, and a little boy in orange sweats who sprayed his hair green...don't know what he was, but it was cute.

  6. #6
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    I am actually surprised how many adults stopped tonight at our house and asked for Candy
    Nice Greetings,
    Dani

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  7. #7
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    We just spent the past 3 hours handing out candy on the town square and while there was the odd "sexy" costume on a 4 or 5 year old girl, most of the kids were dressed as princesses, pirates or dragons (really I think there was a tie between poodles and dragons) but is that really worse than the multitude of boys dressed as demons?

    It's a costume! It's not an acclimation of a lifestyle...it's freakin' Halloween!
    Well-behaved women seldom make history!

  8. #8
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    Uh, the girl in the "sexy devil" costume is wearing heels that are about as high as I'd be willing to go on me! What parent in their right mind would let their daughter wear that around????
    Erin

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  9. #9
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    Not to mention that heels are dangerous for adults - you get a kid in heels, one w/weak arches and you're an orthopedic visit waiting to happen!

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by FruitsAlive
    and a little boy in orange sweats who sprayed his hair green...don't know what he was, but it was cute.

    Was he a carrot?

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by tyroleancutie
    I am actually surprised how many adults stopped tonight at our house and asked for Candy
    What kills me is the adults who are carrying around costumed babies who can't even walk let alone eat candy.

    My friend had a party a few years ago for her daughter who was 13...one of the girls friends, also 13, came dressed as a Victoria's Secret model...panties, gartered fishnets, etc.
    Silly is you in a natural state, and serious is something you have to do until you can get silly again.
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  12. #12
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    I'm not surprised a 13 y/o would come as a model. Most of them by that age think they're going on 20!

    anyhoo, a few years ago, I had an adult try the baby thing with me and I said to her, "Babies don't eat candy." And I refused to give her candy.

  13. #13
    DH and I had fewer adults this year than last year, so we considered it a good year! We did give them candy, but just one gumball each. I didn't want my house to get egged due to a flat-out refusal.
    ~Moneypenny~

  14. #14
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    I just told them that the candy was for the children and I was nice about it.

  15. #15
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    Here's an article that was published in my local paper last week. I also agree that provocative costumes for children are very inappropriate.

    My sister refused to give out candy this year because for the last couple of years, has been getting vans full of adults trick or treating.

    Sexy is the new scary
    Women are dressing skimpier on Halloween, and men are noticing.
    By KATHERINE NGUYEN
    The Orange County Register

    For Halloween last year I found this fabulously hideous dress at a thrift store, obviously some unfortunate soul's prom dress from the 1960s or '70s. It was powder blue, pleated and made me look like a giant jellyfish.

    My date threw on a mustard-colored, three-piece corduroy suit, got me a cheesy carnation corsage and we hit a friend's party as an old-school prom couple.

    I was the only female at the party wearing more than two yards of fabric. I counted three Naughty Nurses, two Sexy Cops, some Sexy School Girls, and Sexy Bumblebees … bumblebees! When did bumblebees get sexy?

    Nurses and French maids have become so old-hat that costumers have turned to sexy anything. Just cruise through popular costume Web sites and you'll find midriff-baring, thigh-skimming, cleavage-popping get-ups galore.

    "Looking sexy is now considered normal, feminine behavior for a woman, so on a day like Halloween, women will take it as creative license to wear revealing clothing and no one can call them a tramp that day," said Donna Gough, an assistant professor of women's studies at Cal State Fullerton. "And for men, it's a day where they can openly stare at and drool over women in such attire without being called a chauvinist pig."

    Leg Avenue Costumes, which bills itself as one of the largest wholesalers of sexy adult guises, started seven years ago with French Maid and Schoolgirl. Now the company offers 250 costumes in its 300-page catalog. Its most popular costume? Pirates (22 pirate get-ups, to be exact), followed by fairies, witches, bees, ladybugs and group-themed costumes such as Alice in Wonderland and "The Wizard of Oz."

    At Santa Ana-based Halloweenshop.com, owner Rick Tuinenburg said sales of skimpy costumes have spiked in the past few years and the best-selling costume for women so far is, "basically anything with a short skirt." Of course, no sexy outfit is complete without the mandatory thigh-high stockings and garter belts.

    "The message being sent for a woman is that you have to wear these costumes to fit in and be normal and be considered attractive and appealing to men," said Gough.

    Among the notable offerings this year: There's Sexy Sherlock Holmes, which comes with a dangerously short houndstooth-check skirt, matching cape and hat and even a magnifying glass.

    Then there's Sexy Tin Man Girl, a silver vinyl bustier-mini dress with a matching pointy hat. Oh, and there's even a "Sexatary" costume with a midriff-baring halter with a short tie and an itsy-bitsy skirt. I suppose the eyeglasses nail home the "secretary" part of the oh-so-clever disguise.

    My personal favorites? A three-way tie between Sexy Pizza Delivery Girl, which comes with a pizza-box prop (alas, it was deemed too hot to show in our family paper); Sexy Executioner, which comes with a hooded mask, faux-leather booty shorts but no ax; and "Ella Mental Adult," which actually consists of a straitjacket minidress with restraints. I would imagine it would be difficult to party or go to the bathroom in that outfit, but last I checked, it was sold out at Buycostumes.com.

    In the interest of full disclosure, I was once Sexy Medusa. I was 24. At the time, I thought Medusa was way cooler than a nurse or cop – enough to justify the low-cut neckline and its thigh-high slits.

    Another time, back in college, I hadn't planned on going to the big Greek Halloween bash, but after watching all my sorority sisters getting ready at the house, I changed my mind. I went into my closet and threw together an old plaid miniskirt, white button-down shirt, knee-high socks and a pair of glasses to transform myself into … the Asian Britney Spears. Yes, it haunts me to this day. (Now, now, before you call me names, the year before that, I went as a '50s diner waitress, complete with a hairnet and cat-eye glasses. Not sexy at all.)

    In the spirit of finding a good compromise for anyone out there who hasn't yet found a costume, I have a few ideas that are both scary and sexy:

    •Sexy Grandma in a droopy leather bustier. Totally.

    •Sexy Zombie (with chunks of flesh falling off the face). In a bikini. On roller skates.

    •Sexy Clown. In a vinyl skirt. Because seriously, what's hotter than a big red foam nose and rainbow Afro wig?

    Anyone? Hello?
    Life is all about a$$; you're either covering it, laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, busting it, trying to get a piece of it, behaving like one, or you live with one.

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  16. #16
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    You all are seriously talking about adults here and not just older teenagers? People in their 20s?? WOW.

    And please do excuse the preschooler who reached in to the bowl - they are still very much learning what is okay. The previous house probably let them pick their own piece of candy out.

    although I've seen the inappropriate costumes in the store/online, I haven't actually seen a young kid wearing one (knock on wood!). But we're still in the preschool set where cute is still managing to be the main criteria.

    Kim

  17. #17
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    Last year I was also taken aback about the adults asking for candy without costumes until I heard a piece on NPR about a woman in a nice neighborhood surrounded by less nice neighborhoods who described this dynamic where she lives. She said that she'd gotten really frustrated by this when she first moved into her neighborhood (she lives in Huntington Woods, MI, outside of Detroit) and eventually figured out that people who were fairly poor saw trick-or-treating as a way to get some food. She began to give out more food items for Halloween -- crackers, pretzels, etc. as well as little personal hygene packages (toothpaste + brush, soap). People were very appreciative of this -- and also noted to her that she must have noticed that they "needed a little help." Anyway, certainly many adults probably trick-or-treat who don't really need help, but it made me think a little more about this. Just another perspective...

    ETA: Here's the link to the story on NPR, in case anyone is interested:

    Halloween story
    Last edited by melis_d; 11-01-2006 at 10:44 AM.

  18. #18
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    I am embarrassed to say we were mistaken for trick-or-treaters last nigh! We went to our elderly neighbors house, DH holding our 15m son in his arms and the first thing she said was, "oh, you are some big guys" then she saw DS and said, "Oh a little one, too!" We said, "You know us!" then she recognized us. I think the problem was I was holding the treat bag.....
    I actually felt kind of silly getting candy I am not going to let DS have, but hey, they don't know that! plus he had fun putting his hand in the bowl and picking out candy.

    We have plenty of people who don't even dress up. Even the kids. I don't understand, isn't that half the fun of it? Especially for the little kids? Oh and the adults who are there to get candy "for my nephew" well where is your nephew? why isn't he here getting his own candy? Whatever. I dont' have the nerve to say no to anyone, wish I did, but the people who come sans costume and are asking for candy for a supposed nephew aren't exactly the friendliest looking folk. They get candy!

  19. #19
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    THere was a piece on the news yesterday about the uber-sexy costumes, even for little kids. When I was growing up, the really little kids wore those packaged, cheapy costumes with the matching masks. Older kids created costumes out of clothes we found around the house, etc (hobos and hippies were popular, because all you needed was ripped jeans, bandanas and love beads).

    What do you mean by "adults" trick or treating? No one beyond high school should be trick or treating (and, personally, I stopped when a high school freshman, because I thought that was appropriate). Anyone older should host or attend a private party.

    I'd like to think the people with the little tiny babies are just excited about being parents, and want to show off their little darlings in costume, and share the holiday with their child. DH once wanted to take DD to something that she was way too young to appreciate - I made him wait until she was older.

    They're saying now that Halloween comes in second only to Christmas in what people spend to decorate, entertain, etc. I agree that Halloween is becoming too big a deal.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by RunnerKim
    You all are seriously talking about adults here and not just older teenagers? People in their 20s?? WOW.
    We even had people in their late 30s. But I refused to give them Candy - they weren't even dressed up!
    Nice Greetings,
    Dani

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  21. #21
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    Wow. I am just in shock about ADULTS trick-or-treating! Have never heard about this before - just don't know what to even think.

    With the costumes - my DD wanted to be a black cat - even the prepackaged black cat costumes were made to be more skimpy than just a cat costume. Clearly, I need to learn how to sew....(my memories from the home ec class in 8th grade are rather sketchy).

    Most unusual item that the kids had in their bags - political flyer on the proposed abortion ban with a piece of candy stuck to the top.
    Sherri

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  22. #22
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    We didn't have any adults, except for parents. A few older teenagers, but everyone gets candy at my house. We didn't have a lot of trick-or-treaters, but every single one was polite and very sweet. They all said thank you and most wished me a Happy Halloween. There is hope for humanity!

    Oh, and nary a sexy kitty in my neighborhood. It's too cold up here this time of year! Mostly spidermen & princesses.
    As the arc of history bends towards justice, it's a new, more progressive day. --Steve Benen, The Maddow Blog, 11-07-12

  23. #23
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    I can confirm the sexy 13 yr old costumes. My 13yr old niece wanted to dress like a prostitute, like her friends. Of course my sister laughed and refused. (The girls attend an all girls school too!). My niece then pitched a go-go dancer. No again. She went in some boring wholesome costume, thwarted again by her mean mom. YIPES!!!! I was shocked. I am scared of this stage in my daughter's future.

  24. #24
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    So along the same lines, how old is too old?

    My sibs and I all stopped when we started Jr.High, and my own kids stopped with Middle School. It has helped that they both had braces in Middle School and couldn't eat a lot of the stuff anyway, but it was a little hard, too, as a LOT of their friends still Trick or Treat. They felt a little out of it.

    (I did snag some of their favorite candies for half price this AM at the store, so that cheered them up considerably! )
    kathyb


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  25. #25
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    Wow! and I thought that WE were the only ones who got adults (40-50years old) trick-or-treating (and for themselves, not a baby or assisting a shy toddler). We live in a border town, so I imagine most them in our case were quite poor (like melis_d said) and were looking for food. It took me off-guard, but if I would have thought about it in advance, I would have had an extra bucket with more substantial/ nutritious goodies.
    Amy

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  26. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by SDMomChef
    Most unusual item that the kids had in their bags - political flyer on the proposed abortion ban with a piece of candy stuck to the top.
    That is bizarre! A little off topic, but in college I worked part-time in accounts receivable for an insurance company. (In other words, I opened the checks they sent it to pay there bill and put it into the system.) You would not believe how many people include little extras with their payment……. political propaganda, lots and lots of religious material, prayer cards, packets of seeds, recipes, poems, little notes telling me to have a nice day. Interesting, because it had never ever occurred to me to include anything other the check and remittance stub with my own payments!
    Amy

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  27. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by SDMomChef
    Most unusual item that the kids had in their bags - political flyer on the proposed abortion ban with a piece of candy stuck to the top.
    Political flyers attached to the candy - the mind boggles. How totally inappropriate.

  28. #28
    This year I got more adults than children. We also live in a "border town". I didn't refuse candy to anyone; young, old, baby - they all got candy. It's one night a year so I figure "What's the big deal". Everyone was polite. I also gave out little plastic airplanes, bubbles, and rubber frogs in orange and black for the younger kids. They really loved them.

    Benji, who is only three, got so much candy I had to give most of it away to my father, who has a sweet tooth.
    SOOKIE

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