Slutty Halloween Costumes

Updated on September 24, 2011
C.M. asks from Bartlett, IL
16 answers

Is it just me or are Halloween costumes for little girls quite revealing? Last year I went to the Halloween store with my then 9-year old daughter (now she's 10) and everything she wanted to be came with a very short skirt, or tall boots and fishnets. It's not like she wanted to be Slutty Barbie or anything. She liked the Supergirl costume, but the skirt was so short in her size! The next size up with a longer skirt was too big. Same with the Nurse costume (I thought Slutty Nurse was reserved for adults!) and all the witch costumes. The one witch costume "Candy Corn Witch" was basically a leotard with a tutu that showed the butt and fishnets.

I wanted to make her costume, but she HAD to BUY one in a PACKAGE because that's what all her friends were doing and she'd DIE if she was different. We settled for a costume in a larger size to make the skirt longer and then I sewed up the sides so it fit.

This year she's already picked out a Zombie Bride costume with a long dress so I'm okay. Anyone else with me, or am I all alone in thinking that the general market wants our little girls to grow up too fast!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the Chasing fireflies link! What nice costumes that are well-made and classy! I always wanted my daughter to dress more "classy" and less "trendy-slut" but you get what you get and she loves the wild trends. I see I'm going to have a handful when she gets older because she's already talking about dying her hair and getting a tattoo! And she's 10! I don't know where she gets it from...neither her father nor I are like that at all. I just have to modify what she likes into something we both can agree on. Thanks for the support--and the link!

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M.K.

answers from Kansas City on

My mom always made awesome, cheap homeade costumes. One year, I was a Christmas present (unfortunantly, I was in the 4th grade, and my old 3rd grade teacher was a Christmas tree, so they made me walk with HER instead of my class for the school parade), one year I was a washing maching (with balloon bubbles), my brother was a crayon (colored sheet and felt hat) but my favorite was Pippi Longstocking (complete with wire in the braids to stick them out!).

Bottom line.....I agree. No way should a tween dress sexier than me!

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S.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Maybe it's because most women tend to dress that way on Halloween...at least in the East Bay Area they do. And I'm not just talking the single ones here either (you know who you are, ladies!). I could go on, but out of kindness I won't. After all, it's a free country.

I took a stand one year and went to a costume party wearing a cow costume that I bought at Target for fifteen bucks. It was classic; had plastic udders and a little bonnet with cow ears that tied under your chin. Definitely NOT sexy. My husband laughed so hard when he saw it...until I pulled another costume out of the bag and said my cow needed a date ; )

Anyway, we get to this party in this chichi gated community, and all the other moms were dressed as sexy maids and nurses, etc. I was completely shunned and I never did figure out if it was the udders or if they were pissed that I didn't "get the memo" on the costumes.

Oh well...

4 moms found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

My 7 year old is going as the SkelaBride too :)

No kidding, I don't know why they don't just label the 'tween' costumes as 'stripper nurse'... 'stripper rainbow brite'... 'stripper cowgirl'...

Even *I* don't do the slutty Halloween costumes... that kind of stuff is GREAT for my husband's eyes only, but to take the kids trick or treating?! Since does trick or treating in 9 inch platforms shoes, wearing less than what's allowed in most restaurants and grocery stores in 40 degree weather become appealing?!

Ridiculous. I'm with you ;)

College Halloween party, yes, whatever.

Elementary school Fall Festival party, get the heck outta here.

3 moms found this helpful

B.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

EVERYTHING is getting sluttier and sluttier!

2 moms found this helpful
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E.S.

answers from New York on

I think along those lines everyday, especially as a mother of a little girl. Sure she's 18-months and doesn't know of this YET, but it's only a matter of time when I am pitted up against commercialism and peer influences.

Having grown up feeling awkward, I never participated in the sexy, slutty Halloween look--still don't!

I always made my own costumes and won almost every contest in school and college. Yup, I was a dictionary in third grade, while my sister, tall and thin was a thermometer!

Anyway, I'm hoping to guide my daughter to the creative outlet and tell her that Halloween is about being unique and original. Then again I haven't experienced peer pressure and commercialism yet.

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M.M.

answers from Lake Charles on

Are you sure you're in the little girl section? I looked last year and everything we found was appropriate.. I DID see a ton of kids 10-13 trying on the adult costumes and I was slightly appalled. Anything by Leg Avenue is def for adults.. We were in Tx though so maybe it's regional? My husband says halloween is just an excuse for all the girls to dress slutty.. which is true in our area but I don't remember seeing any kids costumes that were inappropriate..

2 moms found this helpful

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I buy our Halloween costumes at chasing-fireflies.com. I have noticed that their costumes tend to be very well made, AND are not slutty! This year, my girls are going as Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch. The Glinda costume is obviously floor-length, so that's not an issue, and the Dorothy costume arrived and was knee length. I don't care what slutty stuff their friends are wearing, I don't allow them to wear anything that shows too much! They're just little girls. The thought of them wearing a slutty nurse outfit makes me cringe (and besides that, how about going in scrubs as a doctor?? AND, when's the last time anyone saw a real nurse wearing a skirt anyway?!)

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H.L.

answers from Chicago on

I agree and think this is true not only for Halloween, but for everyday as well! As soon as my daughter was big enough for the girls section an not the baby/toddler section I have had to monitor what is bought and worn. The stuff I buy for her is always on the more conserative side and modest, but I have to make sure that what her image (read all about her looks) grandmother buys is appropriate for a 4-1/2 year old. Goodness, she's only 4, I'm not ready for her to look like a college girl.

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E.J.

answers from Lincoln on

I agree that I am SO sick of slutty costumes!! Why does dressing up and slut seem to go hand in hand?! In that respect, I'm glad I have a boy... but also what are the ppl thinking. I guess it depends on where you live, but here it's usually freezing by Halloween!!! I always get my son's costume big, so he can bundle up under it. I don't get why they don't take that into account that it's usually too cold for the slutty stuff!!!

Last year I was attending a Halloween party w/my son (who was 5) and I was looking at costumes for me and getting SO frustrated that they were all so slutty!! I'm a mommy! I don't think it's appropriate to be in something like that when you're out w/your kiddo! I ended up making on myself... I was a witch, so I used an old, black bridesmaid's dress (that was long) and a cape and a hat and broom. Yep, just a normal witch, not a slutty one. :-)

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

Maybe in the future you could add on to the costumes, like by putting in a longer underskirt. I agree, the sexy stuff is being marketed way too young.

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J.C.

answers from Cleveland on

That's why we make ours every year! Last year she wanted to be a unicorn. This year she wants to be a hot air balloon.

I can't imagine either of those being made to look slutty...... : )

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B.A.

answers from Chicago on

I too believe our kids should be kids. I also believe that spending more than 40.00 for a Halloween costume is a wast of money. I would start early and look for ideas. My daughter used to be bent on a bought costume, until we figured out what to make that would make her feel superior to others and always won the contests. Last year we used things we had, including making her hair stand straight up using a 2 liter bottle and a little spray on hair coloring, a black sheet sewn and "shredded" and the edges dipped in glow in the dark paint. She looked fabulous and her costume cost 14.00 total. Good luck.

Updated

I too believe our kids should be kids. I also believe that spending more than 40.00 for a Halloween costume is a wast of money. I would start early and look for ideas. My daughter used to be bent on a bought costume, until we figured out what to make that would make her feel superior to others and always won the contests. Last year we used things we had, including making her hair stand straight up using a 2 liter bottle and a little spray on hair coloring, a black sheet sewn and "shredded" and the edges dipped in glow in the dark paint. She looked fabulous and her costume cost 14.00 total. Good luck.

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J.K.

answers from Chicago on

They are all super-trampy, and yes, they are marketed to kids. Several years ago, my then 5 year old daughter got a hold of some catalogue of costumes that came in the mail and latched onto one called "Miss Behaved" because it had some pink in it. It was basically a slutty schoolgirl outfit. Everything is either skintight or supershort. I'm psyched to look at the link suggested here because I hate shopping for their costumes.

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

I noticed that, too, and I only have a 5 year old. It's unfortunate.

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

I am way behind checking email so I'm sure you've already had responses but, NO, you are definitely not the only one who thinks the marketing for young girls looks more like a clothing line for prostitutes! And it's not just the Halloween costumes, it's all the clothing. Evidently there are parents who let their daughters wear the stuff though or they wouldn't keep making it. You can find clothes that are cute, age appropriate & not "slutty" but you do have to take the time to look around. I'm glad to hear that there are other parents out there who want their children to just enjoy childhood & not worry about growing up too fast. The time goes fast enough as it is! Enjoy her!!

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