How to Be a Dapper Boi This Halloween

Penned by: The Dapper Boi

Halloween is a holiday that typically requires you dress up as someone, or something, you are not. But what if the person you are in your daily life is not the person you want to be? What if your day-to-day public persona is really the costume? One you’ve never quite figured out how to take off.  

Every closeted person, past or present, deals with this conundrum at some point in their life. Some people are able to shed their costume early. A lucky few never wear one at all. And others go their whole life without ever taking it off, usually out of fear or, in the worst cases, necessity.  

As Halloween approaches, and people drop their lists for this year’s best costumes ideas, we want to do something different. We want to spread the message that it’s ok to be you this Halloween. To those that feel they must hide their true selves—from their boss, their parents, the world at large—we've been there. 

It’s not easy to be yourself, especially if the culture views you as “different.” Hell, we had to start an entire company just so we could dress the way we wanted. But you don’t have to go that far. 

Sometimes it’s as simple as reversing your snapback and throwing on that flannel that you’ve always wanted to buy. Because if you’re like us, how you feel and the way you look are inextricably linked. Sporting a new look is one of the quickest, easiest ways to express yourself. Stepping into a new pair of jeans can be like stepping closer to your true self. 

To be clear, clothes are not the be all, end all of identity. But they can be a steppingstone towards self-acceptance. They can be a catalyst for change. A way to bridge the gap while you do the real work of personal growth, whether that be speaking with a therapist or having difficult conversations with friends and family.  

So how can you be a Dapper Boi this Halloween? It might sound like a cop out but that really is for you to decide. Just know that when November 1st rolls around, it’s ok to take the costume off and just be yourself.