Halloween costumes are a humorous part of this fall holiday. Lately, I have noticed more and more employees dressing up for Halloween—from grocery stores, restaurants to banks and government offices. Although costumes are fun and create a spirit of enjoyment, I think we need to keep in mind that we are at work, and there is business to be conducted.

Tips for Wearing Halloween Costumes at Work

• Get management approval. First, make sure that you have permission to dress up for Halloween at work. Ask your boss if it’s OK to wear a costume to work. And, don’t wait until October 28 to ask. Your boss needs time to think about it and may even get his/her boss’ approval.
• Don’t bring replica weapons to work. Use common sense when you design your outfit.
• Be respectful of other cultures. Don’t dress up as someone from another culture or ethnic background.
• Avoid costumes that are too revealing. A sexy dress is labeled a is a no-no.
• Don’t wear a gory or scary costume.
•  Be safe. Don’t wear anything that will interfere with your ability to do your job in a safe and efficient manner.
• Wear a costume that you can quickly change out of if need be. Bring a change of clothes to work so that you won’t be dressed in a silly costume if the need arises to be more serious.
• Don’t wear a costume that will leave you feeling hot and sweaty.

Okay, now that I’ve covered the “don’ts”, let’s look at the do’s.

Ideas for Office Halloween Costumes

To get your creative juices going, here are a few easy costumes that are perfect for wearing to work:

• Kitty Cat – A few whiskers drawn with an eye pencil, cat ears on a hairband and a swishy tail tied to your waist is all you need.
• Puppy Dog – Paint a few spots on your face, some whiskers, and don floppy ears.
• 1930s Flapper Girl – Feather headband and sparkly tank dress are all you would need.
• Retro TV Character like Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island – Jeans or bell-bottoms, long-sleeved red shirt with white collar and a sailor’s bucket hat.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, to carry off wearing Halloween costumes to work requires you to put some thought and effort. If you don’t have time to put together an outfit that looks good and is comfortable all day, maybe dressing up at work is not a good idea. You always want to convey a message of professionalism to your customers and clients.

Finally, even though your boss has approved of you and your co-workers wearing Halloween costumes to work, don’t forget that a dress code may still be in effect. Your dress should be clean and tidy. If your office policy is to dress conservatively and in a modest fashion, don’t pick a costume that is revealing or gory.

Having fun at work on Halloween can be achieved with proper planning and mature thinking. Happy Halloween!