How To Make A Great Bahamian Halloween Costume

The Bahamas is rich in culture and history. So, when it comes to selecting a Bahamian Halloween costume, there are endless possibilities for experimenting and rocking a costume that no one has ever seen before. To help out with your uniquely-Bahamian costume design, check out these 5 suggestions:

1. Who’s It Going to Be?

When considering your Bahamian “character” it really helps to get to know them first. Do some research, speak to elders—you could really learn a lot and gain more perspective on who you want to be. The history of many Bahamian “figures” is surprising and could be a lot deeper than you think.

There are also lots of categories you could choose from. You could go with a nature-based costume like the flamingo (the national bird of The Bahamas) or even get creative by going as a yellow elder (the national flower of The Bahamas). Maybe you want to pay tribute to traditional Bahamian dress. You could rock Bahamian folk wear (breezy white top, bright loose skirt or pants, a matching head tie or straw hat, and sandals). A more spooky option would be to embody characters from Bahamian folklore like the trickster spider-god Anansi.

2. Let’s Go Shopping (on a budget)!

Now is the time to start putting your costume together. Purchasing a prepackaged costume can be expensive, but you can save money if you go the DIY route and build your costume from scratch. Start out with you or your loved ones’ closets before you spend big money. You might find some great pieces that could be incorporated into your costume. Maybe this would be a good time to wear that Junkanoo costume you kept from Boxing Day or New Years. Another low cost option is to check out thrift stores to find some elements for your costume.

To get your costume to really shine you might want to consider using add-ons like contacts, nail polish, and special effects makeup. Maybe you could get into the Halloween spirit more by adding a spooky element to your costume. Zombie flamingo anyone?

3. And… ACTION!

Now for the fun part! To really bring your costume to life, consider getting into character and acting the part. How to prepare? For animal costumes, you could watch videos of animals in their natural habitat. How do they move? What kinds of sounds do they make? Do these animals have any humorous quirks? Ask peers and relatives what they know about your chosen “character” and use this information as inspiration. For example, is your character mischievous like the Chiccharnie? Perhaps you could play little harmless tricks on people throughout the evening.

4. Safety First

Make sure you can move sufficiently in your costume. Try to ensure that your visibility isn’t obscured. So, if you have a mask with eye holes that are too small, carefully use an X-acto knife to make them bigger. Hem or trim long costumes that could cause you to trip up. If you have a dark costume or plan to walk around at night, carry a light source with you so that you are visible.

5. Dress Rehearsal

Practice makes perfect so put on your entire outfit—your costume, jewellery, wig, makeup, etc. What works really well? What could use some work? Keep working on your Bahamian Halloween look until you are satisfied. Make notes on things you do as a reminder so you can get dressed for the Halloween outing with ease.

There are so many directions you could go in when choosing a Bahamian Halloween costume and our 5 tips are just the start of the journey! Just be sure to stay safe and, most of all, have fun at all of the Halloween festivities this year! And if you’re planning your own party, contact the knowledgeable team at Bahamia Rental today to ensure that your Halloween bash is scary good.

What other unique Bahamian characters or icons are you considering to dress as this Halloween?