Be a Michigander for Halloween

Oct. 25, 2009

Be a Michigander for
Halloween!
By Kristi Kates 10/26/09

Stumped for a Halloween costume this year? No problem - we’ve got a plethora of ideas on how you can both be the hit of your Halloween party and support your favorite state by dressing up as a Michigander.
The other bonus is that you probably won’t run into a carbon copy of yourself Halloween night (ie. Michael Jackson or a zombie), as you might with a store-bought costume - and some of the more obscure famous Michiganders will keep the party hopping by cranking up the dials on the costume-guessing game. There are plenty of famed Michigan folk to choose from, so let’s get started.
Henry Ford, Automotive Pioneer: The dapper and determined Ford was born in 1863, and got the beginnings of his career in the auto industry started in around 1902. Ford was most often seen in a three-piece suit complete with crisp white shirt, patterned tie, and pocket square, and in his later years, sported gray, side-parted hair. Carry a pocket watch (Ford’s earliest introduction to mechanics) and an old Model T steering wheel with you, and you’ve got Ford’s look.
W.K. Kellogg, Cereal Magnate: Will Keith Kellogg was born around Henry Ford’s time - 1860 - and gives you another chance to deck yourself out in the suits of the Second Industrial Revolution. Kellogg’s corn flakes soon became legendary - so of course you know what you’ll be carrying around a box of on Halloween night - and those will help identify you as W.K. himself, along with a tweedy suit, small bow tie (the fashion of the day), slicked-back short hair, and Kellogg’s round eyeglasses.
Jonas Salk, Developer of the Polio Vaccine: Salk’s birthdate in 1914 means you get to costume yourself in the 1930s version of conservative scientist fashion - Salk’s standard uniform in the lab was a white shirt, dark tie (often with tie bar), and of course the ubiquitous white lab coat.
Ernest Hemingway, Author: How could we leave out one of Northern Michigan’s most celebrated figures? Any writer’s supplies will do, for starters - perhaps an old-school spiral notebook or legal pad and some pencils - but you’ll get extra costume points if you’ve got the stamina to lug along a real typewriter. Hemingway’s look: white hair and beard, a brown brimmed cap, and a navy turtleneck sweater, or perhaps a flap-pocketed shirt and khakis.

THE MUSIC SCENE
Stevie, Smokey, Diana, Aretha, Motown’s Best: Do they even need last names? That’s how well known these legends of the Motown music scene are. For Smokey Robinson, try a smooth pantsuit with ascot; Stevie Wonder’s famous look can be crafted with a wig of beaded braids, dark glasses and some groovy bellbottoms. You can be Diana Ross with the help of an extensive wig, long sparkly gown, and false eyelashes; and for Aretha, a shorter wig and perhaps a feather boa will help. And microphones for all.
Madonna, Queen of Pop: The eternal question as far as dressing up as Madonna for Halloween is - which Madonna? There’s ’80s-era Maddie with fishnet tights, layered necklaces, and permed hair; mystical Madonna with her long brown wavy ‘do, mehndi designs on her hands, and East Indian clothing; modern-day Madonna with a sleek blonde flip, understated makeup, and sharply constructed black outfits; or even cowboy Maddie with her plaid shirt and cowboy hat. The choice is yours.
Iggy Pop, Punk Legend: Since it’s probably not adviseable to tell guys to walk around Halloween night stage-diving off of everything in sight or throwing broken glass at themselves, their second best bet is to emulate Pop’s look by spiking up their hair, wearing a shredded plain white t-shirt, jeans, and a couple of tough-looking belts as accessories. If you can find a pal who wouldn’t mind dressing up as David Bowie, then your other accessory would be complete.
Jack White, Meg White, The White Stripes: Perhaps the easiest incarnation of The White Stripes would be as a couple costume, encompassing the red and white clothing that the duo favors. For Jack’s look, a dark, sleekly-shaggy wig would be in order, while for Meg, another wig of long black hair would work just fine. White or red t-shirts, white or red jeans, a black belt for Jack, a pair of drumsticks and perhaps a white prairie dress for Meg, and a couple of bracelets or wristbands complete this simple but readily identifiable look.

SCREENS AND SPORTS
Michael Moore, Director: Moore tends to favor just a few looks that are pretty easy to copy. A couple days’ beard growth and wire-rim glasses team up with his ever-present (and often Michigan State or Detroit Tigers) ball cap, khaki pants, a blue polo shirt or navy button-down, and a sporty jacket atop - seal the deal by carrying a script or a filmmaker’s scene slate.
Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Boxers: Joe Louis was a heavyweight in the late ‘30s, Sugar Ray was a welterweight/middleweight in the ‘40s - but both of them regularly donned regulation boxing gear for their matches. Boxing shorts, boxing gloves, lace-up boxing shoes, and a spectacularly shiny satin robe with your boxer of choice’s name on the back will help to identify your Halloween character; just stay light on your feet, bob and weave as much as possible, and try not to punch anyone in the nose.
Need more? Consider actress Pam Dawber, actors Tim Allen and Jeff Daniels, boxer Muhammad Ali, firebrand Malcolm X, or President Gerald R. Ford...