Welcome to Masquerade Week on POMEmag, a fantastic week-long evening of mystery, intrigue, and things that are not what they seem. This week’s link post features masks and disguises of all kinds.
One of the most important parts of any Masquerade is the music, so let this beautiful, tear-inducing, music-only edit of the newest Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer sweep you to lands unknown…
Considering the trailer above, this old article about one woman’s search for a cool and meaningful feminist Star Wars costume is especially relevant this Halloween.
Gather round, POMEs, as we discuss a subject as seasonally-topical as pumpkin spice: avoiding cultural appropriation on Halloween. Honestly, we’re just as confused as you guys about how anybody still needs to hear that sexy Pocahontas costumes aren’t exactly a respectful tribute to another person’s culture and background, but we encourage all of y’all to help us push this boulder up the never-ending hill this Halloween season.
Related: Are you planning on painting some sugar skull makeup this holiday season? There is so much about this beautiful cultural symbol that is worth respecting and admiring, but we encourage you to think twice before incorporating it into your costume. Redbubble lists some things you should know about calaveras.
You might be wondering which Halloween costume ideas are safe from our judge-y crone opinions. Bitch Media presents some strange, fun, and amazingly-timely feminist costume ideas for the discerning party-goer.
The Toast put out an awesome (illustrated!) list of feminist costumes in 2013 that we also recommend.
Famous people Halloween costumes are the best. Here’s Channing Tatum as a sketchy Pooh bear.
Speaking of celebrity cosplay, BEYONCE’S STORM COSTUME OH MY GOD
Body horror is just a costume you can never change out of, right? This insightful Hairpin article about The Fly has given me all the ammo I need to continue avoiding this movie forever (because I’m a big weenie who can’t handle body horror).
I thought animals in people clothing = the best thing in the world, but I was wrong: animals in insane costumes = the actual best thing in the world. I can just imagine some of these pet owners reading Sad Etsy Dogs and thinking, “you know, my pug just isn’t miserable enough.”
Can cosplaying an inspirational TV character give you confidence? Jazmine Hughes tries to find out by dressing like Cookie from Empire for a week. Jazmine is a contributing editor at The Hairpin, a hell of a writer, and as shown in this article, looks amazing in leopard print.
(CC Fun fact: I tried this with Joan from Mad Men at one point in my life and I have to say, the outcome was unsuccessful but the experiment itself was the best thing that has ever happened to my personal sense of style. Sincere advice: whoever your style icon may be, trying to bring whatever you think makes that person special into your aesthetic can help you find things you like about your own sense of style. Yeah, it’s cheesy, but it’s also a fun way to try new things. 10/10A++ advice, would recommend again).
In conclusion: this stupid yet eternally-relevant Youtube video:
What are your costume plans, POMEs? Sexy 1890s Steel Conglomerate Tycoon? Sexy Sexy? Frog? Let us know in the comments!