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There are people for whom it is Halloween every night of the year. They thrive on flamboyant fashion, from fetishwear to drag and goth gear to wacky wigs. Nothing excites them more than a bargain on a silly new accessory or a custom made costume. And you can bet they get tired of incessantly hearing "Halloween was last month!" or similar costume-related ridicule. For about 360 days of the year, freaks get no respect.  But when Halloween finally rolls around, suddenly these costume enthusiasts are an inspiration to the less creatively inclined. They receive phone calls and emails asking for costume advice or worse: loans. Suddenly their closets, crammed full of inappropriate attire, are the object of everyone's desire.Halloween is the holiday - and general time of year - when the kink curious, fetish reticent or closet crossdresser can experiment and, perhaps, discover their inner freak. People often either feel free to be, or unintentionally dress up as, their alter egos. Timid housewives become trampy hookers. Wimps don superhero capes and zaftig women wear delicate ballerina tutus. Former high school geeks are transformed into prom queens, quarterbacks and cheerleaders. It is a time to realize one's unattainable dreams, if only for one night. The wearing of masks allows for personality experimentation. A shy person hiding behind a mask can feel oddly liberated to be bold or flirtatious without endangering their ego, since a mask offers anonymity and the obvious protection from embarrassment that comes with that anonymity. The emboldened mask wearer may take risks they'd never dream of and engage in behavior they might normally find appalling. Eyes Wide Shut, anyone? Of course, the opportunity to be truly terrifying is also a possibility. Frightening people, especially on purpose, is a social taboo, but on Halloween, a Freddy Krueger or Jason mask can transform any coward into a living nightmare. The chance to evoke nervous giggles and shrieks of laughter, rather than of fear, offers further encouragement to slip into the skin of a serial killer. Some folks are inspired by current events when it comes to dressing up for Halloween. Those with a sense of humor might choose a blonde wig and jailhouse stripes as an homage to domestic diva Martha Stewart. And those with a taste for the macabre opt for ripped-from-the-headlines victims of violence or tragedy. Their hunger for attention and their intention to shock certainly indicates an unmet need of some sort. In addition to unexplored fetishes and deep-seated desires, Halloween offers people a chance to channel their heroes and idols. For a fleeting moment we can harness beauty and nobility, courage and refinement. With a platinum wig and swirling white halter dress, any woman can be Marilyn Monroe for one night. Top hat, tails and tap shoes provide the grace and charm of Fred Astaire to those with two left feet. Enough black latex can make anyone as invincible as Batman. Whether aspiring to superhero or superstar, historical figure or ethereal deity, the motivation is to be a better, more exciting self.  There seems to have been a recent increase in the availability of costumes, not just for Halloween but year-round. With so many web sites that cater to those who enjoy dressing up, it is possible to order every imaginable costume and accessory online. Theme parties have become popular, with the obvious "Pimps & Hos" seducing even the most staid suburbanites. Nothing like everyone wearing neon-colored wigs to help you get to know your neighbors, eh?Fetish parties, long-standing bastions of strict dress codes and head-to-toe black, often venture into theme party territory, with lingerie, pajamas or school uniforms as part of the recommended attire. This blurring of the lines between frivolous, year-round dress-up and deliberate, holiday-specific dress-up make Halloween experimentation even more daring. Someone who has worn a cowpoke ensemble to a fundraiser and cavorted in streetwalker wear at a block party has already experienced the thrill of trying on a new personality with no negative repercussions. Why not go a few steps further and slip into those thigh-high leather boots with a whip to match? And men who bonded in silly wigs at one party might feel more comfortable adding a ridiculous frock for the following event. But what does the costume you choose really say about who you are? Or who you want to be? Hooker or schoolgirl regalia are too obvious, as are rock star and comic book character personas. Delve deep into your psyche and extract the most repressed part of your personality. Tired of feeling less than a genius? Put on a wild grey wig and be Einstein! If you've been feeling grumpy or depressed, why not pick up a few yards of fake fur and transform yourself into a Care Bear? And if you've been feeling powerless lately - and who hasn't? - you can pick up a George Bush mask at any reputable notions shop! This year, whatever your secret aspirations are, make sure you take the opportunity afforded by the most psychologically adventurous holiday to experiment with yourself a little.
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