What do you wear to a paranormal investigation?

Recently I was talking to some friends about my creepy extracurricular activities and their expression of interest in joining me for an investigation. Then the question came…. ‘What am I wearing?’. At the time I thought this was hilarious. It’s a haunted location, not a nightclub. Not a place to set up a date (or in some cases you don’t know who you’ll meet), but in some ways it was also a valid question. So here’s my essential guide to the do’s and don’ts of what to wear to a paranormal investigation.

(special note: the photo is one of me during my very first paranormal investigation 6 years ago!)

Leave the high heels at home!

First of all to all my sisters there. High heels are a no. While they may look great with your outfit, this is not a good idea for a number of reasons.

1/ There is usually a lot of walking and lots of stairs. Your feet will be sore and we all know it’s not a good look to walk home at 3am with your heels in hand.

2/ Heels make noise. When researchers record things like EVPS or holding vigils in a room, they may become excited when they hear loud footsteps coming their way. When it is debunked that it is your high heels, you are told to remain seated so as not to contaminate any evidence. That’s not fun for anyone.

3/ When it’s winter, it gets really, really cold. Cold feet = grumpy.

4/ Sometimes the locations are very dirty and your nice shoes can be ruined. Comfort is a must. Runners are an excellent choice because they are comfortable and you can wear socks (sometimes two pairs). Personally, I wear flat boots with socks because I like them to cover my ankles and keep me warm. Because they have no heel, they are not noisy and do not contaminate the evidence. I also take a spare pair of socks with me because sometimes (don’t ask me how) your feet get wet and wet socks again = cranky, so I always recommend taking a second and possibly third pair as a spare to ensure ultimate comfort to guarantee.

Dress for the weather conditions

In general, just like with the rest of your outfit, you can wear whatever you want. I would avoid wearing something like a mini skirt. It may involve a lot of bending over to pick up and put down equipment, or sitting on a cold concrete floor, so use your imagination! It’s not practical or comfortable.

Jeans or sweatpants are again an excellent choice (or even shorts on a very warm summer evening). I would try to avoid wearing parachute type training pants, which make a rustling sound every time you move. Again for the same reason as the lack of high heels, it can contaminate things and every time you move you should say ‘that sound was me’ so that when you look at the evidence later it isn’t mistaken for something else. Large puffer coats are warm and comfortable, but can also be noisy. If you wear one, try to stay quiet during EVP sessions or you’ll hear the rustling sound. I know I’m guilty of a puffer jacket, but it’s so hot!!

In winter, bring a nice warm jacket and possibly a scarf. These places can get very cold and once it starts around 2am it can be absolutely freezing. You’re tired and possibly starting to get over it. Being cold can send you over the edge (trust me, it’s happened to me before and it’s not fun for anyone). I always recommend wearing multiple layers. Some rooms or areas are colder or warmer than others. If you are dressed in layers, you can add or remove clothing as needed. Dress for the weather conditions!

Also keep in mind that if it’s hot, these places probably don’t have air conditioning. If you are in a small room with a group of people, it becomes stuffy and hot. Wearing too much clothing can make you overheat and feel faint. Some might consider this a paranormal experience, when what you really need is fresh air.

I once made the mistake of wearing jeans with big rips in them because that was the fashion. In my defense, I didn’t know at the time that I was going to do an examination, but I felt very cold and my knees hurt every time I knelt on the floor. It’s not a fashion competition, but you can still keep your ‘special style’. A lot of people wear black and there are a lot of skull or gothic style t-shirts that seem to be a favorite style! There is no rule that says you have to wear something gothic or black if you don’t like it. It’s more that the type of people who do paranormal research are interested in gothic/dark things. Don’t conform to a certain style because you think you have to! If you want to wear a bright and cheerful colorful shirt, go for it because it represents you!

You don’t have to wear team shirts

Finally, there is no rule that you have to wear matching team shirts. Go for it if you want, but you can be part of a group and not wear the shirts! In many cases they serve a purpose, but it is not a general rule. For example, if you’re hosting an event, guests may want to know who the responsible researchers are, so some sort of shirt might be useful. In suburban locations, residents can sometimes be wary when they see people walking around the property. They may become suspicious and report it, even though you obviously have permission to do so, sometimes the neighbors do not know. If they call the authorities or some sort of management, if you have your team shirts on, it’s easy to identify and make it clear to management that you’re allowed to be there. It can also just be fun to do and feel like you are part of something. I did the team thing and I did the team shirt thing for a long time. After I stopped organizing big events, I no longer wear a shirt. For myself, I am my own person with my own style that I like to reflect.

The point is that it doesn’t really matter: wear what you want, but try to take into account things that could interfere with the investigation. Noisy shoes and clothes can be a distraction and ultimately you need to be comfortable. Trust me, if you spend 12 hours in a location in the freezing cold, you will thank me!

Tell me below: What are your tips for what to wear during an exam?

Disclaimer: You can wear whatever you want. This is all fun!!

Don’t forget to LIKE the Facebook page for updates on new content www.facebook.com/livinglifeinfullspectrum