Ken Tanabe | Halloween 2005: Red Hazmat

Halloween 2005: Red Hazmat

This costume was inspired by protective suits for handing hazardous materials (hazmat), and early 20th century metal diving helmets (with round windows). The tubes from the mask are connected to a matching “backpack” to suggest filtration or an oxygen supply. The materials were from both my kitchen and the hardware store. I wore this costume in the annual Halloween parade in New York City, where I was filmed by NY1 and a Chinese cable network.

MATERIALS:
Bought: plastic tubing ($1.99), paint roller tray ($1.35), red gloves ($5.00), red spray paint ($2.99), assorted small screws, bolts, and washers ($3.96). Already owned: painter’s coveralls, plastic colander, vegetable steamer, bicycle safety light, electrical tape, white Japan-only Adidas shoes. Donated: red duct tape.

Halloween Costumes

Halloween Rules

1. Make it yourself.
This is the best way to be original. A store bought costume is better than no costume, but you can do better than that!

2. Use your whole body.
If you wear your usual clothes and throw on a mask, is that really a costume? Go from head to toe.

3. Keep it cheap.
Anybody can spend a zillion dollars on a costume and look cool. The real challenge is making it happen on a budget.

4. Don’t rely on recognition.
Do not dress as a celebrity or a movie character. Standard characters like vampires are off-limits, too.

5. Don’t rely on sex.
Don’t get me wrong – being sexy is great and all. Just don’t rely on it to make your costume work.

6. Don’t rely on horror.
Sure, blood and guts are a Halloween tradition, but don’t feel limited. Take advantage of the day you can wear anything!

Do you make Halloween costumes that follow these rules? If so, contact me.