- Diane Gottsman shares how to throw a work-appropriate Halloween celebration
- She recommends saving the bold costumes for the weekend when dressing up
- The expert also said to stay away from gory decorations and revealing outfits
Halloween is the spookiest time of the year – but one etiquette expert is now lifting the lid on the real-life nightmares that could be lurking in your workplace this holiday season.
From ghouls and goblins to outlandish costumes, there’s no shortage of beloved traditions to celebrate by the end of October, but according to etiquette pro Diane Gottsman, there are also some unspoken rules about workplace celebrations that should be part of everyone’s Halloween festivals. .
In the 2004 movie Mean Girls, Cady Haron may have declared October 31 as ‘the one night of the year when you can dress like a total s*t and no other girls can say anything about it’ – but those rules don’t apply after the workplace.
In fact, Diane, who is the founder of The Protocol School of Texas, says there are some costumes you should save for your friends’ eyes only.
Costumes are a big part of Halloween — but one etiquette expert warned there are some unspoken rules about what you can and can’t wear to work celebrations (stock photo)
Diane first recommends staying away from anything that shows too much skin, anything that’s tacky or just generally a costume that’s controversial.
“(For example) religious costumes, political figures or cultural stereotypes,” she explained to Fox News Digital.
She added that while a Halloween at work may involve costumes, it should still adhere to appropriate work attire.
“Making a fool of yourself is going to negatively affect your reputation far beyond the Halloween party,” Diane said.
“It shows a lack of good judgment and self-control.”
Another important part of Halloween is decorating – which the expert warns is fine to do, if your workplace allows it and if it’s within reason.
Diane’s thoughts were echoed by fellow etiquette expert Pamela Eyring – who is also the president of The Protocol School of Washington.
Pamela, who is based in Columbia, South Carolina, urged revelers to ‘practice tastefulness above all else’.
The etiquette expert first recommends not wearing anything that has too much skin, anything unsightly or just a controversial costume (stock photo)
She considered ‘little spiders and cobwebs’ fun, as well as decorations with witches, broomsticks and ghosts.
However, she strongly advised against anything too gruesome, adding: ‘Avoid bloody visualization or evil clowns – nobody likes them.’
Finally, Pamela said handing out candy is absolutely fine – and encouraged – but make sure it’s done hygienically.
She suggests making sure the candies are individually wrapped to avoid a bowl of germ-laden holiday treats.
And it seems controversial Halloween decor is already in full swing across the country.
Recently, South Carolina-based mother-of-four Salena Webb turned her front yard into a cemetery by filling it with cardboard tombstones, cobwebs and two skeletons holding a coffin, and posted the results to TikTok.
However, her excitement about the spooky day was brought to a halt when her neighbour’s son approached her and pleaded with her to take down the decoration as his father had just been diagnosed with cancer.
He then asked if Salena would mind taking the ‘coffin’ down so his father wouldn’t be constantly reminded of his diagnosis.
The clip then cuts to Salena’s fiance removing the coffin, with the mother-of-four adding: ‘We took it down because kindness is free’, with viewers praising the mother-of-four for her actions.
