Mean Girls gave us, “... Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything else about it." Now we have Whoreoween, costumes for professional sluts who deserve more than just the same old sexy nurse costume.

Although Halloween is a well-established (mostly) American tradition, It’s not always fun for sex workers. For one thing, there’s a problematic trope where fem costumes are almost all about being ‘sexy’ as default (sexy alien, sexy zombie, sexy slice of pizza, etcetera). When your work uniform is sexy costumes, getting dressed up like this can feel like a bit of a chore.

When every day is dress-up-day for us, it can be hard to find something fun to wear that also speaks to us and makes this occasion feel special. So why not get into the slutty spirit by celebrating our industry legends, whether current, historical, or fictitious!

Dita von Teese: modern-day burlesque superstar

If you want to embody a modern-day seductress, you may enjoy transforming yourself into modern burlesque icon Dita von Teese. She’s a well-known performer who has also posed as a Playboy centrefold, starred in a number of classic 90s porn flicks and started taking her clothes off for money in the clubs of Orange County.

The costume: Dark, wavy hair pinned up in a classic 40s pageboy style. Wear something spangly, such as a sequined corset and a pair of elbow-length opera gloves. Make sure your earrings are statement pieces, and add a bright red lipstick to complete the look! Dita favors MAC shades Viva Glam I and Ruby Woo.

Marsha P. Johnson: Stonewall activist (and activist fashion icon)

Marsha P. Johnson was an American gay liberation activist, trans woman, and drag queen. She was an outspoken advocate for gay, trans, and sex worker rights, and one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. She was a steadfast champion of our rights, and she looked amazing doing it. What better way to honour her legacy than to pay tribute to her during Whoroween.

The costume: A flower crown is a must! Think 70s-style glamour: a slinky dress accessorised with faux or vintage fur, sequins, and bold statement jewellery. And don’t forget to tell her story, and the key role trans sex workers of color played in the gay rights movement.

Dee Dee Ramone: Punk rocker, survival sex worker

We all know that the Ramones were one of the pivotal punk acts of the 70s, but did you know that Dee Dee Ramone was a sex worker? He was a street-based sex worker during one difficult period before the band became commercially successful. He later detailed his experiences in the song ’53rd and 3rd’.

The costume: To emulate Dee Dee’s classic punk style, you’ll need some tight vintage cut jeans, a DIY sleeveless t-shirt (preferably referencing another iconic 70s/80s band) and a killer leather jacket.

Ms Mona Stangely: Texas brothel madam

What if ‘Western’ is more your style? Consider Ms Mona Stangley from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. In the 1982 movie adaptation, Ms Mona - played by the iconic Dolly Parton - is a straight-talkin’, resourceful businesswoman who teams up with the local sheriff to try and keep her establishment running in the face of local opposition.

The costume: Texas in the 80s is all about big hair, flouncy prairie dresses (think Gunne Sax) and cowboy boots. Or, if you prefer, a satin corset, stockings and suspenders under a sheer robe for that ‘budoir’ look. The higher the hair, the closer to god, baby!

Zorita: iconic burlesque performer

Zorita was a ground-breaking burlesqe dancer who was famous for including her two snakes, Elmer and Oscar, in early performances. In 1941, at age 23, she was arrested for indecent exposure and sentenced to six months jail. She later purchased and operated several popular nightclubs in the Miami area. She passed in 2001 at the age of 86, but is still famous in the burlesque world.

The costume: Think showgirl but with more raunch - fishnet stockings, ruffled dresses, and spangly heels. You may wish to wear a tiara, or put two platinum streaks in your hair. Or, if you’re up for a sewing challenge, you might recreate her famous ‘half and half' act by joining a black suit and bowtie with a virginal-white dress.

Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh: 1920s Sydney gansters

Australia’s own answer to Peaky Blinders Thomas Shelby were women, and whores! Here’s a fun Whoroween idea for you and your doubles partner: Revisit Australian history and assume the roles of Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine, the leaders of Sydney’s infamous ‘razor gangs’ of the 1920s. Both ladies were underworld personalities, who ran a string of brothels across Sydney, Australia. They waged a ‘turf war’ against each other that left many of their followers dead or in jail.

The costume: Both women were known to dress in a more traditionally masculine fashion for the time, in heavy coats and top hats. Tilly is also sometimes pictured in a mink stole and beret, or a beaded headscarf. Whatever piece of 1920s fashion you choose, don’t forget that you’re tough as nails.

Josephine Baker: pioneering Black actress, spy for the resistance, and international sex symbol

American-born dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker had a successful career in Europe, largely in France. The first Black woman to star in a major motion picture, she contributed to more than just art - she was outspoken about the civil rights movement in America and refused to perform for segregated audiences. Baker was the first international sex symbol of the 20th Century, as a famed dancer and performer She also fought for the resistance in WWII, leveraging her fame and sexy performances to gather information for allied forces.

The costume: In her first film, Siren of the Tropics, she wears huge, glittery earrings and a beaded satin cocktail dress. Her hair is slicked down in classic 20s style. And there is of course her famous Banana Dance, where she performs in nothing but a pearl necklace and a skirt of artificial bananas!

Lycoris the Mime: sacred sex worker of Ancient Rome

If Ancient History piques your interest, you’ll love the story of Lycoris the Mime. She was a performer and courtesan made famous by her affairs with infamous figures such as Brutus, one of the assassins of Julius Caesar (eh tu, Brute?). Mime artists at the time were entertainers who sang, danced, performed striptease and told bawdy jokes. They were associated with the Goddess Flora, and honored alongside sex workers of all kinds during the annual Floralia festival.

The costume: Mime artists in Ancient Rome wore traditional white robes and are often depicted carrying instruments such as harps. During Floralia, they may also have worn floral headpieces. Flower crown it up, babes!

Carol Leigh: the ‘Scarlet Harlot’

Carol Leigh was an American sex work activist with a wicked sense of humour and a flair for fashion. She coined ‘sex work’ as a labour activist, and founded a number of key organisations, including the Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival and the Bay Area Sex Worker Advocacy Network (BAYSWAN). She loved the colour red and is sometimes pictured in a bright red shirt with ‘whore’ printed on it, and wearing red-rimmed glasses.

The costume: Take your cues from Dazed and emulate ‘her abundance of fiery orange curls, elaborate costumes, and enchanting, mischievous smile’. Chunky red glasses or sunglasses, bright red shirt or lacy red dress, and perhaps a feather boa or two? Don’t forget your ‘be nice to prostitutes’ badge!

Bettie Page: pinup and fetish model

In the 1950s, Bettie page was one of America's most popular pinup models. She appeared in men’s magazines and also modelled for private collections. Her work popularised fetish fashion and set the stage for the sexual revolution of the 60s.She’s a ubiquitous icon of the vintage fashion and fetish scenes!

The costume: There are many an iconic Betty Page outfits. Whether it’s a leopard-print leotard, a sheer dress with faux fur accents, or the classic black satin lingerie set with matching gloves, add a pair of shiny black patent leather heels, you’ll be instantly recognisable!

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