Okay, so, “Paris Hilton Costume,” right? Sounds simple enough, but let me tell you, it was a JOURNEY.
The Idea: It started with a last-minute Halloween party invite. I had like, zero planned. Everyone was going all-out, so I couldn’t just show up in jeans. My friend jokingly suggested Paris Hilton. At first I laughed, but then… wait a minute…
The Research: First thing I did was hit up Google Images. Paris Hilton has SO many iconic looks! The early 2000s were a trip. I saw everything from the sparkly dresses to the Juicy Couture tracksuits. My brain was buzzing.
The Wardrobe Raid: I started by digging through my own closet. Surprisingly, I had a few things I could work with. A pink mini skirt that hadn’t seen the light of day in years, a sparkly tank top I’d almost donated, and a pair of HUGE sunglasses. Score!
The Shopping Trip: Obviously, I needed more. Amazon to the rescue! I ordered a blonde wig – the bigger the better, right? – and a cheap tiara. I also found a bedazzled dog purse that was almost TOO perfect. I added a few bracelets, the more shiny the better. I even found a fake chihuahua. The dog purse and fake dog were really going to make or break it.
The DIY: I had to add some personal touches. I printed out a few pictures of Paris and glued them to the dog purse. I wanted to go all out, you know? Then I took that sparkly tank top and added even MORE sparkles. It was practically blinding.
The Makeup: Okay, the makeup was KEY. I piled on the lip gloss – the stickier, the better. I went for a heavy, smokey eye. Lots of pink blush. I was channeling my inner Y2K queen!
The Assembling: It was time to put it all together. Pink skirt, sparkly tank, wig, tiara, sunglasses, the DOG. I had my partner take a bunch of pictures of me in front of a white background. I wanted to capture the whole thing, in all its glory.
The Reveal: The party was a BLAST. Everyone knew who I was immediately. People were asking for pictures all night. The best part? I didn’t take myself too seriously. It was all about having fun and embracing the ridiculousness of it all.
The Lesson Learned: A good costume doesn’t have to be expensive or perfect. Sometimes, it’s just about throwing something together and having a good time. And maybe, just maybe, embracing your inner early-2000s socialite. Who knew?