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* Blanche ''Literature/TheBlueNosedWitch'' is, other than her [[RobeAndWizardHat witch's hat]], dressed something like a little girl ''dressed'' as a witch. She's thusly mistaken for just another kid trick or treating by adults--and the kids are fascinated with her witch talents [[FantasticallyIndifferent but not so much they don't fold her into the group]].
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** In one of the early books, as an homage to "Literature/TheMasqueOfTheRedDeath", a wizard who has just summoned Death is surprised to notice that, besides the usual outfit of cowl and scythe, he is also holding a cocktail sausage on a toothpick.
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** In one of the early books, as an a homage to "Literature/TheMasqueOfTheRedDeath", a wizard who has just summoned Death is surprised to notice that, besides the usual outfit of cowl and scythe, he is also holding a cocktail sausage on a toothpick.
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** In ''Literature/MonstrousRegiment'', the heroes need to sneak into a heavily-fortified... um, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment fortress]]. Since the squad is comprised of [[spoiler:Girls pretending to be boys]], they take the obvious route of masquerading as "washerwomen". They get caught out by the guards because they are ''obviously'' [[spoiler:boys dressed as women]]. Which Tonker then debunks by [[spoiler:flashing the guards.]] Subverted by Lt. Blouse, who DOES get in, despite being [[spoiler:the ''only actual male in the squad'']], and hence the only one who is actually disguised as a female.
to:
** In ''Literature/MonstrousRegiment'', the heroes need to sneak into a heavily-fortified...heavily fortified... um, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment fortress]]. Since the squad is comprised made up of [[spoiler:Girls pretending to be boys]], they take the obvious route of masquerading as "washerwomen". They get caught out by the guards because they are ''obviously'' [[spoiler:boys dressed as women]]. Which Tonker then debunks by [[spoiler:flashing the guards.]] Subverted by Lt. Blouse, who DOES get in, despite being [[spoiler:the ''only actual male in the squad'']], and hence the only one who is actually disguised as a female.
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* ''Literature/ZoeyPunchesTheFutureInTheDick'': The protagonist, a celebrity in her city, goes undercover at a Halloween party by dressing as "Torture Victim Zoey" from the final act of the [[Literature/FuturisticViolenceAndFancySuits previous novel]]. The heavy wound make-up obscures her face and allows her to effortlessly blend in among several other "Zoeys".
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* In ''Literature/AmericanPsycho'', serial killer Patrick Bateman goes to a Halloween party dressed as a serial killer, complete with real human blood on his suit. He comes in second in the party's costume contest, which really upsets him.
* In the book ''Literature/{{Beastly}}'' by Alex Flinn, a modern take on "Literature/BeautyAndTheBeast", the Beast, Kyle, attends a high school's Halloween party with regular clothes on over his fur.
* In Creator/TanyaHuff's ''[[Literature/BloodBooks Blood Lines]]'', vampire Henry Fitzroy goes to a Halloween party as Dracula. His partner is dubious, but Henry points out it's actually good camouflage--if he pretends to be a vampire on Halloween, obviously he isn't one the rest of the year.
* In the ''Literature/BookOfTheNewSun'', Severian attends a masquerade ball in his executioner's outfit, under the (correct) assumption that everyone will assume that it's a disguise.
* Spider Robinson's ''Literature/CallahansCrosstimeSaloon'' story "Unnatural Causes". An alien Krundai comes to Callahan's bar on Halloween night as himself (green, furry and pointed, oversized ears).
* Played with in ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfVladimirTod: Eight Grade Bites''. Vlad, a vampire, goes to a Halloween party wearing plastic fangs and a cape.
* {{Discussed}} in ''Literature/TheCloakSociety,'' when the main characters, a group of {{Kid Sidekick}}s and reformed supervillains, wear Halloween costumes while going on a mission.
-->'''[[GreenThumb Kyle]]:''' But you just get to wear that DominoMask? That's not even a costume.\\
'''[[{{Telekinesis}} Alex]]:''' Yes it is. I'm a bank robber.\\
'''Kyle:''' [[ContinuityNod When I met you, you were robbing a bank]]. That's ''not'' a costume.
** For added humor, [[{{Animorphism}} Kirbie]] is wearing a werewolf mask.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** In one of the early books, as an homage to "Literature/TheMasqueOfTheRedDeath", a wizard who has just summoned Death is surprised to notice that, besides the usual outfit of cowl and scythe, he is also holding a cocktail sausage on a toothpick.
--->'''Death:''' (''defensively'') I WAS AT A PARTY.\\
'''Wizard:''' Er ... was it a good party?\\
'''Death:''' AT THE MOMENT IT IS. I SUSPECT IT MAY GO DOWNHILL VERY QUICKLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.\\
'''Wizard:''' Why?\\
'''Death:''' THAT'S WHEN THEY THINK I'M GOING TO TAKE MY MASK OFF.
** In the later novel ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'', as well as the non-Discworld short story "Turntables of the Night", Death ''is'' wearing a cheap skeleton mask over his actual skull.
--->'''Death:''' I THOUGHT I SHOULD GET INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE THING.
** And then there's ''Literature/WyrdSisters'', where Death takes the place on stage of an actor who was supposed to be playing Death... and then gets stage fright. As he points out, in his line of work, normally only one person sees him at a time. An audience is kind of new for him.
** Intentionally used by the Faculty of Unseen University, who don "False False Beards" -- little loops of wire over their ears and into their real beards -- to "disguise" them as people wearing very obvious false wizard-beards.
** Re-visited in ''Literature/IShallWearMidnight'', when Mrs. Proust disguises Tiffany's genuine witch hat by sprinkling glitter on it and attaching an "Apprentice Witch Hat, AM $2.50" costume-shop label to its brim. It also turns out that Mrs. Proust is not wearing one of the stereotyped WickedWitch masks she sells ... she was the model for them.
** In ''Literature/WitchesAbroad'', Greebo is transformed from a nasty gray tomcat into a human so he can accompany the witches to the Samedi Nuit Mort masked ball. He chooses a ginger cat mask to wear ("Alwaysss wanted to be gingerrrr.")
** Also in ''Witches Abroad'', the witches are watching a parade with several dancers disguised as skeletons (all in black, with the bones painted on). As they share a bottle, Nanny Ogg passes it to the tall, skeletal figure next to her and remarks, "My, them bones is painted on good." A moment later she does a belated double-take, but by then Death has already moved on.
** In ''Literature/MonstrousRegiment'', the heroes need to sneak into a heavily-fortified... um, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment fortress]]. Since the squad is comprised of [[spoiler:Girls pretending to be boys]], they take the obvious route of masquerading as "washerwomen". They get caught out by the guards because they are ''obviously'' [[spoiler:boys dressed as women]]. Which Tonker then debunks by [[spoiler:flashing the guards.]] Subverted by Lt. Blouse, who DOES get in, despite being [[spoiler:the ''only actual male in the squad'']], and hence the only one who is actually disguised as a female.
** Inverted in ''Literature/{{Eric}}'', where Astfgl the King of Hell dresses in royal diabolic regalia of his own design... which is, basically, a kid's cheap Halloween devil-costume, complete with silly strap-on hornlets and a trident that keeps falling apart.
* ''Literature/DreamPark'': In ''The Moon Maze Game'', teenage Prince Ali of Kikaya participates in the titular {{LARP}} in the role of... a young prince of Kikaya.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
** Played with when wizard [[FirstPersonSmartass Harry]] [[DeadpanSnarker Dresden]] goes to the Vampire's Masquerade Ball... dressed as a vampire. He is being deliberately insulting, and so dresses as the most cliche Dracula stereotype he can come up with; caked-on white face paint, giant cape with a tall collar, fake blood around his mouth, the works.
--->'''Harry:''' Not only that, but a ''cheesy'' vampire.
** Played straight with his friend Michael, Knight of the Cross, who went dressed as a Knight Templar to the same party. The vampires thought it was a costume until one made the mistake of touching him and got burned.
* Used in some ''Literature/ForgottenRealms'' novels:
** Including Ed Greenwood's ''Silverfall'' (Qilue came round a masquerade "disguised" as "drow princess") and Elaine Cunningham's ''Daughter of the Drow'' (Dark Elves are stylish and thus a valid "costume"):
-->'''[[spoiler:Fyodor]]:''' You wish to join the festival, and slip into the city among the others... But what about your disguise?\\
'''Liriel Baenre:''' I'm a drow, of course. It's quite an exotic costume. And authentic, too!
** In Ed Greenwood's ''[[SideStoryBonusArt Ladies Night at the Yawning Portal]]'':
--->''Jalamra, Jalamra, [[SeenItAll have you not seen spell-spun illusions before]]? I ask you: just ''how'' would a band of no less than ''seven'' [[BrainFood illithids]], [[RefugeInAudacity walking along quite openly]] in their robes [[{{Cthulhumanoid}} with mauve tentacles a-slimily quivering]], manage to get right to the heart of Waterdeep? Next you'll be telling me th--...''
* ''Literature/TheFurtherAdventuresOfBatman'': In "Literature/WiseMenOfGotham", Bruce Wayne is at a costume ball and disguised as Batman ([[YourCostumeNeedsWork admittedly looking shabby due to his recent late-night activities]]), along with about three other people who are also pretending to be Batman.
* In ''Literature/GardensOfTheMoon'', the first book of the ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'', many people in the streets of Darujhistan are impressed by the great Tiste Andii 'costume' Anomander Rake is wearing for Lady Simtal's party. The laquered dragon mask also turns out to be more of an in-joke than a disguise, since he [[VoluntaryShapeshifting can turn into one]]. Alchemist Baruk called it, too:
-->'''Anomander Rake:''' As I understand such things, the event includes the wearing of disguises. Do you fear I lack taste?
-->'''Alchemist Baruk:''' I've no doubt your attire will be suitable. Particularly if you choose the costume of a Tiste Andii warlord.
* The protagonist of ''Literature/TheGargoyle'' enjoys the lack of attention his hideous burns receive during Halloween. Now, if only they didn't make his angel costume look so satanic...
* In ''[[Literature/LegendsOfLaconia Halloween Romance]]'', the two [[OurVampiresAreDifferent main]] [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent characters]] meet while they are both doing this.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'', a Muggle child complimented Voldemort on his "costume" just before he murdered the Potters on Halloween of 1981.
* In ''Literature/InSearchOfDorothy'', the Scarecrow finds it easy to get around Earth due to Halloween making everyone think he's wearing a costume.
* In Creator/CharlesDeLint's ''Jack of Kinrowan'', a pink-haired fairy mentions that one reason she likes the modern era is that she no longer has to dye her hair.
* Used cleverly in the subversive children's novel ''Literature/JenniferHecateMacbethWilliamMcKinleyAndMeElizabeth''. Jennifer, a sombre, [[CreepyChild beautifully creepy]] Afro-American girl, wears authentic Pilgrim clothing to her school's Halloween party. She tells her friend Elizabeth that the real witches were Pilgrims and that she herself is a witch who spends most of the year disguised as an ordinary schoolgirl; by dressing this way she is becoming undisguised.
* In ''[[Literature/JunieBJones Junie B., First Grader]]: BOO... and I MEAN It!'', Junie B. is scared of Halloween because of five secrets that Paulie Allen Puffer told her and said that she mustn't tell anyone else or her head will turn into a wart. The first of these is that real monsters and witches go trick or treating on Halloween, but don't wear costumes because everybody thinks they're already dressed up. "BUT THEY'RE NOT. THEY ARE WEARING THEIR REAL ACTUAL FACE AND CLOTHES!"
* The fictional play ''Literature/TheKingInYellow'' features this scene. (The excerpt is found in "The Mask" by Robert W. Chambers.)
-->'''Camilla:''' You, sir, should unmask.\\
'''Stranger:''' Indeed?\\
'''Cassilda:''' Indeed it's time. We have all laid aside disguise but you.\\
'''Stranger:''' I wear [[TheBlank no mask]].\\
'''Camilla:''' (''terrified, aside to Cassilda'') [[HumanoidAbomination No mask?]] [[GoMadFromTheRevelation No mask?!?]]
* Creator/MercedesLackey:
** Invoked and averted in the Literature/DianaTregarde story "Satanic, Versus..." The heroine considers going to a costume party with her boyfriend as a witch and a vampire--but he argues that there's no point in going as what they really are, and they dress as ''Series/TheAvengers1960s'' instead.
** Played straight in one of the Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar novels. When feline BeastMan Nyara goes into Hardorn with [[PerformerGuise a covert team]], she goes in disguise ... as a "misshapen" woman made up to look like a catgirl, complete with "seams" shaved into her fur and a set of [[AnimalEaredHeadband absurdly large fake ears]].
** Toyed with in the Valdemar novel ''Oathbreakers''. [[{{Ojou}} Lady Kethryveris of house Pheregrul]] rides into the capital of Rethwellan with a string of high-quality mounts for sale, obtained through her oath-sisterhood with Shin'a'in chieftain Tarma shena Tale'sedrin. While the preceding was completely true the two left out a few details (not least of which were the facts that House Pheregrul [[ImpoverishedPatrician had been on hard times for decades]] and clan Tale'sedrin [[LastOfHisKind had exactly two members, counting Tarma's oathsister]]).
** Similarly in ''Exile's Valor'', Herald Myste Willinger managed to infiltrate the outside bit of a conspiracy using her own face, name, and pre-Choosing skillset because; as the Haven-reared frumpy nearsighted clerk convinced her new [[BondCreatures Companion]] to let her give notice and take her up the hill via side streets after dark, ''none of her prior acquaintances (including the co-conspirator who spotted her) knew she was a Herald'' and all she needed was a plausible excuse for having dropped out of sight.
--->'''Alberich''': "Where else, but for the Army working? At least until the Wars ended."
* One of the earliest [[TropeCodifier Trope Codifiers]] was Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's "Literature/TheMasqueOfTheRedDeath". In the story, a plague has swept the world and torn through the populace. A Duke ends up holding an extravagant party as the world dies around his estate, and locks the doors so no plague carriers can get in or out. Of course, when the Small Ben strikes midnight, it turns out that [[ItWasHisSled one of the party guests isn't wearing a mask after all, and is actually the personification of the plague]]. And then [[EveryoneDiesEnding everybody dies]].
* In the first ''Toys/MonsterHigh'' YA novel, Frankie rallies her friends to flaunt their true natures at the Halloween dance to rebel against the {{Masquerade}}, and simultaneously impress Brett, the movie monster fanboy she's crushing on. It goes to hell when she and Brett are making out [[spoiler:and he fiddles with Frankie's neck stitches, causing [[LosingYourHead her head to fall off]]]].
* In Creator/BruceCoville's ''[[Literature/MagicShop The Monster's Ring]]'', the main character twists the ring twice ("Twist it once, you're horned and haired;/Twist it twice, and fangs are bared...") shortly before the school Halloween party and lets everyone assume the result is an incredibly good costume.
* In ''Nightingale's Lament'', a {{Literature/Nightside}} novel, a singer eludes her rabid fans' attentions by stopping off at a nightclub where all the staff, and most of the patrons, are [[spoiler:drag queen]] impersonators of their favorite singing divas. She easily passes unnoticed in the crowd of Madonnas, Dolly Partons, and assorted Spice Girls.
* ''[[Literature/TheLaundryFiles The Nightmare Stacks]]'' by Creator/CharlesStross. The elf spy who's trying to HoneyTrap Laundry operative Alex Schwartz has to meet his parents, but worries they might be powerful sorcerers who can [[GlamorFailure see past her glamor]]. So she gets some friends to organise a cosplay party afterwards and goes as Agent First of Spies and Liars, the first daughter of the Elven King. Fortunately the parents are quite mundane and far too distracted by Alex's sister marrying a transgender boy/girlfriend to pay much attention to Alex's {{Manic Pixie Dream Girl}}friend. Alex though finally tumbles to [[DistractedByTheSexy what he should have noticed some time ago]], glamor or not.
* Although he does wear a costume, in ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' it is implied that Erik is not wearing a mask when he attends the masquerade as Red Death.
* In Creator/RobertBloch's "The Secret Of Sebek", some genuine occultists avoid persecution for their practices by hosting parties for dilettante spiritualists and psychic charlatans, ensuring their own ''genuine'' mystic rites will go unremarked upon.
* Used twice in the eighth novel of ''Literature/WearingTheCape'', specifically in the story crossover with ''Webcomic/GrrlPower''. The straightest version is when Sydney (aka The Mighty Halo), main protagonist of the webcomic swaps her real gear for toy versions and a metal ring that appears to hold her orbs (which normally float above her head in a circle when not in use), to look like a Halo cosplayer while scoping the dealers room of a convention her team is attending. The second time is when Astra, main protagonist from the novels, arrives in Sydney's reality while in costume... where she and her team and their exploits are the subject of a superhero television show and she is presumed to be someone cosplaying as the character at the same convention.
* In ''[[Literature/WingsQuartet Wings]]'' by Aprilynne Pike, David helps make Laurel's wings look fake so she can be convincing at the school costume ball. Extra 'Awwwww!' factor for the cutesy line: [[spoiler:"I'll have to tell them only Laurel gets wings."]]
----
* In the book ''Literature/{{Beastly}}'' by Alex Flinn, a modern take on "Literature/BeautyAndTheBeast", the Beast, Kyle, attends a high school's Halloween party with regular clothes on over his fur.
* In Creator/TanyaHuff's ''[[Literature/BloodBooks Blood Lines]]'', vampire Henry Fitzroy goes to a Halloween party as Dracula. His partner is dubious, but Henry points out it's actually good camouflage--if he pretends to be a vampire on Halloween, obviously he isn't one the rest of the year.
* In the ''Literature/BookOfTheNewSun'', Severian attends a masquerade ball in his executioner's outfit, under the (correct) assumption that everyone will assume that it's a disguise.
* Spider Robinson's ''Literature/CallahansCrosstimeSaloon'' story "Unnatural Causes". An alien Krundai comes to Callahan's bar on Halloween night as himself (green, furry and pointed, oversized ears).
* Played with in ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfVladimirTod: Eight Grade Bites''. Vlad, a vampire, goes to a Halloween party wearing plastic fangs and a cape.
* {{Discussed}} in ''Literature/TheCloakSociety,'' when the main characters, a group of {{Kid Sidekick}}s and reformed supervillains, wear Halloween costumes while going on a mission.
-->'''[[GreenThumb Kyle]]:''' But you just get to wear that DominoMask? That's not even a costume.\\
'''[[{{Telekinesis}} Alex]]:''' Yes it is. I'm a bank robber.\\
'''Kyle:''' [[ContinuityNod When I met you, you were robbing a bank]]. That's ''not'' a costume.
** For added humor, [[{{Animorphism}} Kirbie]] is wearing a werewolf mask.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** In one of the early books, as an homage to "Literature/TheMasqueOfTheRedDeath", a wizard who has just summoned Death is surprised to notice that, besides the usual outfit of cowl and scythe, he is also holding a cocktail sausage on a toothpick.
--->'''Death:''' (''defensively'') I WAS AT A PARTY.\\
'''Wizard:''' Er ... was it a good party?\\
'''Death:''' AT THE MOMENT IT IS. I SUSPECT IT MAY GO DOWNHILL VERY QUICKLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.\\
'''Wizard:''' Why?\\
'''Death:''' THAT'S WHEN THEY THINK I'M GOING TO TAKE MY MASK OFF.
** In the later novel ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'', as well as the non-Discworld short story "Turntables of the Night", Death ''is'' wearing a cheap skeleton mask over his actual skull.
--->'''Death:''' I THOUGHT I SHOULD GET INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE THING.
** And then there's ''Literature/WyrdSisters'', where Death takes the place on stage of an actor who was supposed to be playing Death... and then gets stage fright. As he points out, in his line of work, normally only one person sees him at a time. An audience is kind of new for him.
** Intentionally used by the Faculty of Unseen University, who don "False False Beards" -- little loops of wire over their ears and into their real beards -- to "disguise" them as people wearing very obvious false wizard-beards.
** Re-visited in ''Literature/IShallWearMidnight'', when Mrs. Proust disguises Tiffany's genuine witch hat by sprinkling glitter on it and attaching an "Apprentice Witch Hat, AM $2.50" costume-shop label to its brim. It also turns out that Mrs. Proust is not wearing one of the stereotyped WickedWitch masks she sells ... she was the model for them.
** In ''Literature/WitchesAbroad'', Greebo is transformed from a nasty gray tomcat into a human so he can accompany the witches to the Samedi Nuit Mort masked ball. He chooses a ginger cat mask to wear ("Alwaysss wanted to be gingerrrr.")
** Also in ''Witches Abroad'', the witches are watching a parade with several dancers disguised as skeletons (all in black, with the bones painted on). As they share a bottle, Nanny Ogg passes it to the tall, skeletal figure next to her and remarks, "My, them bones is painted on good." A moment later she does a belated double-take, but by then Death has already moved on.
** In ''Literature/MonstrousRegiment'', the heroes need to sneak into a heavily-fortified... um, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment fortress]]. Since the squad is comprised of [[spoiler:Girls pretending to be boys]], they take the obvious route of masquerading as "washerwomen". They get caught out by the guards because they are ''obviously'' [[spoiler:boys dressed as women]]. Which Tonker then debunks by [[spoiler:flashing the guards.]] Subverted by Lt. Blouse, who DOES get in, despite being [[spoiler:the ''only actual male in the squad'']], and hence the only one who is actually disguised as a female.
** Inverted in ''Literature/{{Eric}}'', where Astfgl the King of Hell dresses in royal diabolic regalia of his own design... which is, basically, a kid's cheap Halloween devil-costume, complete with silly strap-on hornlets and a trident that keeps falling apart.
* ''Literature/DreamPark'': In ''The Moon Maze Game'', teenage Prince Ali of Kikaya participates in the titular {{LARP}} in the role of... a young prince of Kikaya.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
** Played with when wizard [[FirstPersonSmartass Harry]] [[DeadpanSnarker Dresden]] goes to the Vampire's Masquerade Ball... dressed as a vampire. He is being deliberately insulting, and so dresses as the most cliche Dracula stereotype he can come up with; caked-on white face paint, giant cape with a tall collar, fake blood around his mouth, the works.
--->'''Harry:''' Not only that, but a ''cheesy'' vampire.
** Played straight with his friend Michael, Knight of the Cross, who went dressed as a Knight Templar to the same party. The vampires thought it was a costume until one made the mistake of touching him and got burned.
* Used in some ''Literature/ForgottenRealms'' novels:
** Including Ed Greenwood's ''Silverfall'' (Qilue came round a masquerade "disguised" as "drow princess") and Elaine Cunningham's ''Daughter of the Drow'' (Dark Elves are stylish and thus a valid "costume"):
-->'''[[spoiler:Fyodor]]:''' You wish to join the festival, and slip into the city among the others... But what about your disguise?\\
'''Liriel Baenre:''' I'm a drow, of course. It's quite an exotic costume. And authentic, too!
** In Ed Greenwood's ''[[SideStoryBonusArt Ladies Night at the Yawning Portal]]'':
--->''Jalamra, Jalamra, [[SeenItAll have you not seen spell-spun illusions before]]? I ask you: just ''how'' would a band of no less than ''seven'' [[BrainFood illithids]], [[RefugeInAudacity walking along quite openly]] in their robes [[{{Cthulhumanoid}} with mauve tentacles a-slimily quivering]], manage to get right to the heart of Waterdeep? Next you'll be telling me th--...''
* ''Literature/TheFurtherAdventuresOfBatman'': In "Literature/WiseMenOfGotham", Bruce Wayne is at a costume ball and disguised as Batman ([[YourCostumeNeedsWork admittedly looking shabby due to his recent late-night activities]]), along with about three other people who are also pretending to be Batman.
* In ''Literature/GardensOfTheMoon'', the first book of the ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'', many people in the streets of Darujhistan are impressed by the great Tiste Andii 'costume' Anomander Rake is wearing for Lady Simtal's party. The laquered dragon mask also turns out to be more of an in-joke than a disguise, since he [[VoluntaryShapeshifting can turn into one]]. Alchemist Baruk called it, too:
-->'''Anomander Rake:''' As I understand such things, the event includes the wearing of disguises. Do you fear I lack taste?
-->'''Alchemist Baruk:''' I've no doubt your attire will be suitable. Particularly if you choose the costume of a Tiste Andii warlord.
* The protagonist of ''Literature/TheGargoyle'' enjoys the lack of attention his hideous burns receive during Halloween. Now, if only they didn't make his angel costume look so satanic...
* In ''[[Literature/LegendsOfLaconia Halloween Romance]]'', the two [[OurVampiresAreDifferent main]] [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent characters]] meet while they are both doing this.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'', a Muggle child complimented Voldemort on his "costume" just before he murdered the Potters on Halloween of 1981.
* In ''Literature/InSearchOfDorothy'', the Scarecrow finds it easy to get around Earth due to Halloween making everyone think he's wearing a costume.
* In Creator/CharlesDeLint's ''Jack of Kinrowan'', a pink-haired fairy mentions that one reason she likes the modern era is that she no longer has to dye her hair.
* Used cleverly in the subversive children's novel ''Literature/JenniferHecateMacbethWilliamMcKinleyAndMeElizabeth''. Jennifer, a sombre, [[CreepyChild beautifully creepy]] Afro-American girl, wears authentic Pilgrim clothing to her school's Halloween party. She tells her friend Elizabeth that the real witches were Pilgrims and that she herself is a witch who spends most of the year disguised as an ordinary schoolgirl; by dressing this way she is becoming undisguised.
* In ''[[Literature/JunieBJones Junie B., First Grader]]: BOO... and I MEAN It!'', Junie B. is scared of Halloween because of five secrets that Paulie Allen Puffer told her and said that she mustn't tell anyone else or her head will turn into a wart. The first of these is that real monsters and witches go trick or treating on Halloween, but don't wear costumes because everybody thinks they're already dressed up. "BUT THEY'RE NOT. THEY ARE WEARING THEIR REAL ACTUAL FACE AND CLOTHES!"
* The fictional play ''Literature/TheKingInYellow'' features this scene. (The excerpt is found in "The Mask" by Robert W. Chambers.)
-->'''Camilla:''' You, sir, should unmask.\\
'''Stranger:''' Indeed?\\
'''Cassilda:''' Indeed it's time. We have all laid aside disguise but you.\\
'''Stranger:''' I wear [[TheBlank no mask]].\\
'''Camilla:''' (''terrified, aside to Cassilda'') [[HumanoidAbomination No mask?]] [[GoMadFromTheRevelation No mask?!?]]
* Creator/MercedesLackey:
** Invoked and averted in the Literature/DianaTregarde story "Satanic, Versus..." The heroine considers going to a costume party with her boyfriend as a witch and a vampire--but he argues that there's no point in going as what they really are, and they dress as ''Series/TheAvengers1960s'' instead.
** Played straight in one of the Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar novels. When feline BeastMan Nyara goes into Hardorn with [[PerformerGuise a covert team]], she goes in disguise ... as a "misshapen" woman made up to look like a catgirl, complete with "seams" shaved into her fur and a set of [[AnimalEaredHeadband absurdly large fake ears]].
** Toyed with in the Valdemar novel ''Oathbreakers''. [[{{Ojou}} Lady Kethryveris of house Pheregrul]] rides into the capital of Rethwellan with a string of high-quality mounts for sale, obtained through her oath-sisterhood with Shin'a'in chieftain Tarma shena Tale'sedrin. While the preceding was completely true the two left out a few details (not least of which were the facts that House Pheregrul [[ImpoverishedPatrician had been on hard times for decades]] and clan Tale'sedrin [[LastOfHisKind had exactly two members, counting Tarma's oathsister]]).
** Similarly in ''Exile's Valor'', Herald Myste Willinger managed to infiltrate the outside bit of a conspiracy using her own face, name, and pre-Choosing skillset because; as the Haven-reared frumpy nearsighted clerk convinced her new [[BondCreatures Companion]] to let her give notice and take her up the hill via side streets after dark, ''none of her prior acquaintances (including the co-conspirator who spotted her) knew she was a Herald'' and all she needed was a plausible excuse for having dropped out of sight.
--->'''Alberich''': "Where else, but for the Army working? At least until the Wars ended."
* One of the earliest [[TropeCodifier Trope Codifiers]] was Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's "Literature/TheMasqueOfTheRedDeath". In the story, a plague has swept the world and torn through the populace. A Duke ends up holding an extravagant party as the world dies around his estate, and locks the doors so no plague carriers can get in or out. Of course, when the Small Ben strikes midnight, it turns out that [[ItWasHisSled one of the party guests isn't wearing a mask after all, and is actually the personification of the plague]]. And then [[EveryoneDiesEnding everybody dies]].
* In the first ''Toys/MonsterHigh'' YA novel, Frankie rallies her friends to flaunt their true natures at the Halloween dance to rebel against the {{Masquerade}}, and simultaneously impress Brett, the movie monster fanboy she's crushing on. It goes to hell when she and Brett are making out [[spoiler:and he fiddles with Frankie's neck stitches, causing [[LosingYourHead her head to fall off]]]].
* In Creator/BruceCoville's ''[[Literature/MagicShop The Monster's Ring]]'', the main character twists the ring twice ("Twist it once, you're horned and haired;/Twist it twice, and fangs are bared...") shortly before the school Halloween party and lets everyone assume the result is an incredibly good costume.
* In ''Nightingale's Lament'', a {{Literature/Nightside}} novel, a singer eludes her rabid fans' attentions by stopping off at a nightclub where all the staff, and most of the patrons, are [[spoiler:drag queen]] impersonators of their favorite singing divas. She easily passes unnoticed in the crowd of Madonnas, Dolly Partons, and assorted Spice Girls.
* ''[[Literature/TheLaundryFiles The Nightmare Stacks]]'' by Creator/CharlesStross. The elf spy who's trying to HoneyTrap Laundry operative Alex Schwartz has to meet his parents, but worries they might be powerful sorcerers who can [[GlamorFailure see past her glamor]]. So she gets some friends to organise a cosplay party afterwards and goes as Agent First of Spies and Liars, the first daughter of the Elven King. Fortunately the parents are quite mundane and far too distracted by Alex's sister marrying a transgender boy/girlfriend to pay much attention to Alex's {{Manic Pixie Dream Girl}}friend. Alex though finally tumbles to [[DistractedByTheSexy what he should have noticed some time ago]], glamor or not.
* Although he does wear a costume, in ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' it is implied that Erik is not wearing a mask when he attends the masquerade as Red Death.
* In Creator/RobertBloch's "The Secret Of Sebek", some genuine occultists avoid persecution for their practices by hosting parties for dilettante spiritualists and psychic charlatans, ensuring their own ''genuine'' mystic rites will go unremarked upon.
* Used twice in the eighth novel of ''Literature/WearingTheCape'', specifically in the story crossover with ''Webcomic/GrrlPower''. The straightest version is when Sydney (aka The Mighty Halo), main protagonist of the webcomic swaps her real gear for toy versions and a metal ring that appears to hold her orbs (which normally float above her head in a circle when not in use), to look like a Halo cosplayer while scoping the dealers room of a convention her team is attending. The second time is when Astra, main protagonist from the novels, arrives in Sydney's reality while in costume... where she and her team and their exploits are the subject of a superhero television show and she is presumed to be someone cosplaying as the character at the same convention.
* In ''[[Literature/WingsQuartet Wings]]'' by Aprilynne Pike, David helps make Laurel's wings look fake so she can be convincing at the school costume ball. Extra 'Awwwww!' factor for the cutesy line: [[spoiler:"I'll have to tell them only Laurel gets wings."]]
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