Halloween costumes: Freshmen vs Seniors
Because by senior year, cute is not the priority
It’s been proven time and time again Penn State’s going-out culture is unlike the rest – especially when it comes to the outfits we, as girls, put so much effort into assembling.
Whether it’s a regular Friday night downtown or the first sunny daylong of spring, we’re always going to extreme lengths to look the part.
As a row of crop-tops begin to collect dust in an untouched section of my closet, I can’t help but think back on my freshmen days in disbelief. God only knows how I made it in my aggressively large heels and a sad excuse of a fracket from Hastings Hall to the depths of fratland and back. I’m not sure how constantly clomping on uneven pavement in those God-awful suede wedges didn’t result in even one ankle injury.
But I’m a senior now, and I have no issue walking to my Uber in modestly high booties.
As Halloweekend at Penn State approaches, every girl’s chill-level (on a scale of 1-10) is a -5. A lot of work goes into a costume. And it’s pretty obvious seniors go for costumes a little less risqué than the ones freshmen wear. Let’s take a look.
Senior Rachel Brame says Halloween of freshmen year was a time when she was still in the midst of meeting new people, and the pressure was on to look hot.
Rachel and her friends dressed up as fairies in the past, before deciding to switch it up with something scary for senior year
Rachel said: “Everyone dressed debatably slutty to meet guys at parties. But by senior year, you have your friends. You can try out any costume you want, whether other people think it’s cool or not. Like this year, my friends and I are being creepy-ass vampires – while also trying to be hot, I guess. But the keyword is ‘trying.'”
Penn State alum Sarah Desiderio (Class of 2015) said the evolution of her Halloween costumes from freshman to senior year was drastic.
She explained: “Senior year was amazing because we dressed up like old men – geriatric sneakers, walker and all – and looked like absolute idiots. We stayed in character all night, and it was awesome. Freshman year, I was some form of a slutty cat or something lame like that.”
Sarah’s freshmen year costume
…and Sarah’s senior year costume
Senior Marina Kakavelos still doesn’t have a costume planned for this weekend, but she isn’t sweating it.
Slap the bag, anyone?
Marina said: “By senior year, you realize the people you’re with and the memories you make are more important than running around half naked in shoes you can’t walk in.”
Casey and her friends as minions in 2012
Casey and her friends as Taylor’s Bad Blood music video squad this week
As for senior Casey Turezyn and her friends, their last Halloween here means it’s time to bring out the big guns.
“We went as minions freshmen year. It was awesome and pretty easy to do. For senior year though, we wanted to go all out. We’re being Taylor Swift’s squad from her Bad Blood music video. We put a lot of effort into it, and it’s big a change from when we were cute little minions.”
Senior Haley Altus didn’t go all out for Halloween in the past, so she wanted to wow everyone for her senior year. A lot of her own friends didn’t recognize her at the party she went to.
Haley said: “I figured it was my last Halloween here at Penn State so I said to myself, ‘Go hard or go home,’ and that’s what I did.”
Haley went all out as a green-faced witch this Halloween
Whether the goal is to look hot or hilarious, it’s clear creating the perfect Halloween costume does not come easy. Your effort does not go unnoticed, girls. Keep doing your thing.