10/21/2026
Halloween in the Central Valley usually means a long evening on your feet. Two or three hours of near motionless standing on a porch, at a party, or waiting in a haunted line is exactly the pattern that lets blood pool in the lower legs. That is where the aching and ankle swelling by the end of the night comes from.
If you already wear compression for varicose veins or venous insufficiency, this is the wrong night to skip it. The good news is you do not have to. Put the stockings on first, then build the costume over them. Knee highs and thigh highs disappear under pants, long skirts, robes, capes, and most classic looks. Opaque black or n**e hosiery passes as ordinary tights for cats, witches, vampires, and superheroes.
Watch out for tight elastic bands above your compression, corsets that restrict abdominal return, and rigid boot tops that dig into the calf. Costume shoes are usually the weakest link, so plan the legs first and let the rest of the outfit follow.