Halloween falls on a Friday this year, which is great news until you realize that means Thursday is also totally in play, re: Halloween S P I R I T (CHECK OUT OUR FULL PARTY/MOVIE/EVERYTHING GUIDE HERE) , which means double the effort, re: costumes. Listen. I’m old, you’re old, and we’re all tired, so this year’s annual Halloween spread is full of 90s-inspired ideas, most of which you can source from your own closet, and all of which are totally and perfectly perfect for whichever of these upcoming Halloween nights that you DON’T need to go big or go home.
A few DC-centric Halloween pointers: the Costume Room at Adams Morgan vintage shop Meeps is in full effect, so whether you’re looking for the sort of 90s steez you can pull out every day or some fantastically insane get up that you’ll never wear again – THEY GOT YOU (and they got us for this spread. Thanks guys!). Second: Spirits in Black is throwing their annual Black Cat Halloween party on Thursday: amazing craft cocktails from all your favorite DC bartenders (Eddie Kim, Patrick Owens, and Gina Chersevani) AND a Misfits supergroup cover band AND current punk darlingz LOUD BOYZ, whom we have on good authority will NOT be reprising their below roles as Nirvana + Pauly Shore. Too bad, right?
Without further distraction (and with all photos by Jeff Martin) – WELCOME TO THE 90s:
THE CAST OF F R I E N D S
AT MINIMUM: you + five buddies, a few coffee mugs, a Phoebe wig, and a general commitment to the early-years-atrocities of khakis, turtlenecks, NY sports jerseys, cropped sweaters, and chokers.
OR PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999: Paper-mache a giant turkey for your head and go as Monica from The One With All the Thanksgivings, or practice your saddest, most morose faces leading up to the weekend and channel Ross. Teach yourself to play “Smelly Cat,” then teach yourself how to un-play it as convincingly as Phoebe always did. Practice rolling your eyes a la Rachel, or loudly insist that everyone refer to you as MIZZZZ Chanandler Bong. Throw on every piece of clothing you can find. Joey, could you BE wearing any more clothes?
NIRVANA UNPLUGGED
COME AS YOU ARE: any semblance of a Kurt wig (we may or may not have roughed up our Phoebe weave), a very smiley Pat Smear, bass-face for Krist, and the odd (and yet oddly visually-soothing) choice of a black turtleneck for Dave Grohl.
AND WITH A TINY BIT MORE TRY: A pink top for Pat, all-nite serious-face for Dave, and That Green Cardigan. You know the one.
SON IN LAW
YOU’D RATHER HAVE STAYED IN: Bare minimum involves a lot of denim, a few C O U N T R Y accoutrements, and a passable Pauly Shore impression. Carla Gugino’s Becca had a penchant for peek-a-boo bras and body-con that you can freely pair with an oversized jacket and flat booties – for God’s sake, it’s not like, a SATURDAY or anything.
THE WEEEEEEASEL IS OUT OF HIS CAGE: STEVEN TYLER PJs! STEVEN TYLER PJs!
WELCOME TO THE 90s
shot on location at the Wilderness Bureau
photos by Jeff Martin
art direction and styling by Morgan Hungerford West
FRIENDS: Rachael Levine, Chris Keener, Dillon Babington, Brandon Wetherbee, Maggie Famiglietti, and Melissa Beattie.
NIRVANA: Kenny Brown, Mitchell West, Rory Sheridan, and Farrah Skeiky.
SON IN LAW: Shannon Cusello and Alex Anderson.
SON IN LAW POSTER MAGIC: Erik Loften
THANKS: Cortney Hungerford, Ayana Zaire, Raul Zahir De Leon, and Svetlana Legetic.
