Oct. 26–LONGMONT — Berthoud resident Barbara Mitchem traded in her typical work uniform, khaki pants and a button shirt, Thursday for a pair of dark angel wings and a black halo.
Since Oct. 1, Mitchem, 30, has worn a different costume to work every Monday through Thursday as the guest service representative at the Hampton Inn, 850 S Main St., in Longmont.
On Thursday, she chatted with guests and served them snacks in a “fallen angel” costume complete with a skull necklace, red and black corset and matching wings and halo.
During the past three years, Mitchem has worn at least 45 different costumes to work and never wearing the same outfit twice.
“It’s kind of my alter ego, getting to come up with these different personas,” Mitchem said. “It’s just a lot of fun and I get to wear things that I would otherwise never wear.”
At home, Mitchem has a trunk where she keeps her costumes and accessories, including homemade pieces that her mom sewed and items she finds at thrift stores.
Some items are used for multiple costumes, like the black layered skirt that doubled as a fallen angel and a dark fairy, but different accessories and makeup create unique looks.
From a traditional witch, to Pocahontas, to a zombie and a pirate, Mitchem has run the gamut of costumes but said she has plenty more ideas to keep her routine going.
In 2010, Mitchem said her bosses were reluctant to let her dress up at work but allowed her to wear costumes the week of Halloween. After several positive comments from guests that week, they approved a monthlong stint.
Frequent guest Brenda Scott said she often stays at the hotel in October and always looks forward to seeing Mitchem’s newest ensemble.
“Typically, everyone is here to do a job so the hotel is like home for us, and she’s a burst of joy as we come staggering in for food,” Scott said. “However badly things went that day, as long as you see Barbara, she’s always fun and welcoming and takes you out of that moment.”
Scott said Mitchem’s bubbly, positive personality and fun costumes set the hotel apart and are just a few of the reasons she keeps coming back.
Mitchem still has to follow some aspects of the dress code like avoiding excessive skin and keeping scary makeup to a minimum. There are kids staying at the hotel after all, she said.
“I love the reaction that I get from guests when I’m dressed like a zombie with lesions all over my body and people are looking at me weird,” Mitchem said. “Sometimes I forget I’m dressed up and think ‘what are they looking at,’ then I remember I’m a zombie.”
Halloween was always Mitchem’s favorite holiday growing up but she also comes to work with festive attire on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Independence Day and St. Patrick’s Day.
“I just love holidays, so I dress up for pretty much all of them,” Mitchem said. “I’ll wear a red, white and blue Dr. Seuss hat for the Fourth of July and those green antennas for St. Patrick’s Day.”
As Halloween approaches, Mitchem is focused on deciding her “grand finale” costume. The final costume of the month is always the best, she said.
In the past, she has been a pirate with an eye patch and a Renaissance woman in a full-length petticoat her mother made from drapes.
Mitchem is still debating about this year’s finale but said whatever it is, it won’t be a disappointment.
Whitney Bryen can be reached at 303-684-5274 or wbryen@times-call.com.
