Halloween 2022: Mumbai cosplayers share how to ace planning and making costumes

Halloween is around the corner and hosting a theme party may have been difficult last year but will be possible this year as people have started going out with precautions. And the best part of celebrating the festival - originally dedicated to remembering the dead - is getting to embody your favourite character, complete with costumes, makeup, props and catchphrases.

While experts need no prodding to bring on their A-game to the party, amateurs may need a little inspiration to get into the complete spirit of the festival, which is popularly celebrated with horror-themed outfits and decor. Interestingly, Mumbaikars, who have been marking Halloween for years, say it isn't as intimidating as it looks and can be done with everything available at home too.

For Joanna D'mello, the festival has been a yearly ritual for as long as she can remember. The Mumbaikar who grew up in Dubai says Halloween used to be celebrated everywhere including at malls, home parties and even in her school there. This gave her the chance to dress up as different characters. "When I was younger, my costumes would be inspired by cartoon characters like Spiderman and the Ninja Turtles. I would even dress up as a princess or a cowboy. As I grew up, it got more gory," says D'mello enthusiastically.

A major thrill of the occasion, says D'mello, is actually making the costume as opposed to buying ready-made ones from party stores or on the internet. "I make capes and outfits by putting together pieces from different clothes that are already hanging in my closet. I use cardboard to make the props," she adds. Even though some of D'mello's party looks have been quite elaborate, she says there is absolutely no need to invest in expensive things for costumes for a party.

D'mello isn't the only one in the city, whose artistic talents come alive during this time of the year. Sherren D'souza, a city-based doctor, has also been a part of the tribe that loves to cosplay and make their own costumes. Her interest didn't particularly stem from Halloween but rather from Comic Con, which she first started attending in her second year of college. She says, "I saw this girl who had an amazing costume and hair, and the crowd kept following her around and so I decided I wanted to be her next time."

Joanna has experimented with many Halloween-themed looks using easily available material at home, face paint and budget-friendly shops. Photo: Joanna D'mello

The 26-year-old has been acing the cosplay game ever since and has created costumes with easily available materials in her closet. "I ended up converting one of my birthday dresses into a classic Harley costume. I used the veil from my prom dress for the Poison Ivy costume," explains D'souza, while talking about how simple it is to make the costumes at home. She has cosplayed characters such as White Rabbit and Dr Pamela Isley or Poison Ivy, who appear in the Batman comics, Khaleesi or Daenerys Targaryen of Game of Thrones fame, Misty from Pokémon, and the classic Harley Quinn as well as the one from Suicide Squad. These characters have made an appearance at both Comic Con fests and at Halloween parties over the years and she doesn't intend to stop anytime soon.

While D'mello hasn't zeroed in on her character for Halloween this year, D'souza will be giving it a miss as she isn't aware of anybody hosting a party this time around. However, both of them are eager for beginners to try their hand at making costumes and share the following tips to start.

How to plan
1. Look at what you already have in your cupboard and are willing to sacrifice.
2. There's no need to build a costume head to toe exactly like the original.
3. Focus on just the main character trademarks, which need to be incorporated into the costume and that's enough to give a vision to the onlooker.
4. Keep cardboard, chart paper, paint, kajal pencil, cloth pieces, chains or spectacles that can be used to make the look better.
5. For amateurs who are not good with makeup, using paints is easier as they are loud and look good in pictures. While normal paints can be used, it is preferable to use acrylic or fabric paints, to avoid dripping in a few hours.
6. The paint will crack and peel off after a while but it will help in removing it after the party. However, it may be a challenge for those who have sensitive skin and they will have to opt for milder alternatives.

Costumes that come together quickly

The Joker
D'souza recommends dressing up as Joker, one of Batman's popular nemesis. It is because there are many versions of him that can be found in the comic books and the movies, beyond the famous look sported by the late actor Heath Ledger. While the clothes can be found in any closet, the main idea is to focus on the face make-up. The permanent scars on his face to depict a smile, the white face paint and the green hair are easy to do by anybody.

Forest fairy
Having won the best Halloween costume for dressing up as a Forest fairy, D'mello says it would be ideal for people who are trying it for the first time. Use a green dress from the closet, add green leaves and flowers to it. Look for butterfly stickers from a budget-friendly shop, along with child fairy wings made from stockings and use them to decorate yourself. Last but not the least, adding LED or battery-operated lights spruces up the look, according to D'mello.

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