Costumes! Costumes! Costumes!

Open the door to a new world….Halloween costumes! 

As you enter the door to your local costume shop, it might seem like you are entering the ‘Twilight Zone’, but much less scary.  You will be exposed to another world, maybe another dimension. 

There are costumes, props, hats, wigs, makeup, clown noses, ugly teeth, elf ears, and undoubtedly chopped off hands, eyeballs, and yes….even blood!!!!! 

Clown makeup and accessories available at Buycostumes.com.  Click on ad in right column.

Costumes of shimmery and glittery sequins, lames and satins.    

Funny costumes, historical costumes, sexy costumes coming in all sizes, colors and shapes. 

 Clown cosstume is available at Buycostumes.com. Click on ad in right column.

Wigs galore, many in styles of famous personalities, like Elvis,  Cher, Madonna, Dolly Parton, Vampira and Rod Stewart are also available.  Long hair, short hair, curls, in blacks, browns, blondes and redheads.  Bald wigs for those Michael Jordan wannabe’s. 

 Wigs are available at Buycostumes.com. Click on ad in right column.

And where do you find a costume shop?  Try your Yellow Pages assuming you have a landline phone.  Or Google ‘Costumes’ and you might be provided a list of your local stores.  Or click this link to take you to the National Costumers Association site where you can do a search for members of their organization. Perhaps there will be one in your area.  Good Halloween Hunting.

To view a four part video series on a real life visit to a costume shop, see the previous four posts.

Halloween Famous Couples Costumes 

 While you are contemplating your selection for a Halloween costume, why not visit the possibility of a famous couple, unless of course you are going to your Halloween party as a solo.

 Costumes shown above are available at Buycostumes.com.  

What exactly is a famous couple?  Oh! You mean like Henry XIII and whatever wife he was married to in any given  year?  Or Marc Antony and Cleopatra? Or Sonny and Cher?  Yes, but famous couples costumes could also be like Laurel and Hardy,  or a Keystone Cop and Convict from the silent movies. Pairs, but not necessarily couples.  

Costumes shown above are available at Buycostumes.com.  

Hansel and Gretel or Jack and Jill from storybook fame. Or Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from movie fame.  Or Bonnie and Clyde or George and Martha Washington from history.  We abound in famous couples. 

Halloween costume? Personality Plays a Part!

Under the guise of a mask, makeup or a costume, you can be your own alter ego. 

Are you the quiet, shy, retiring type? Are you happy to be in the background; but yet yearning to be the life of the Halloween party?   Perhaps a hot, peppery Spanish dancer with a hint of cleavage, and a rose between your teeth.   Or Lorelei, the siren of the seas, luring sailors with her hypnotic voice? Perhaps a Saloon Girl from the bawdy West or Mae West, a bawdy lady from the movies?  And not to forget Scarlett O’Hara.

Costume above can be obtained at Buycostumes.com   See ad in ighjt column.

Are you an outgoing, Type A personality who always draws attention, no matter the venue?  Wearing a costume that is opposite your personality is an option.   Going as Sister Mary, or as a virginal ‘Marian the Librarian’ (from ‘The Music Man’).  Comedy, ala a pairing with your significant other, as in a pair of jailbirds; or Rag Dolls like ‘Raggedy Ann and Andy’.  Or opposites as in Satan and a beautiful angel?  Laurel and Hardy make a great cinematic and party team.

Costume above can be obtained at Buycostumes.com   See ad in right column.

Who are you or who do you want to be?  

 Top Selling Halloween Costumes (as of 10-17-11)

Batman Brave & Bold Deluxe M/C Batman Toddler/Child Costume
Batman Dark Knight – Batman Grand Heritage Collection Adult Costume
Batman Dark Knight The Joker Grand Heritage Collection
Captain America Movie – Captain America Prestige Adult Costume
Cleopatra Adult Costume
Cleopatra Child Costume
Dark Heart Queen Adult Costume
Deluxe Red Riding Hood Adult Costume
Ghost Lady Elite Collection Adult Costume
Harry Potter Deluxe Gryffindor Robe Child Costume
Masters Of The Universe – He-Man Adult Costume
Masters Of The Universe – She-Ra Adult Costume
Mischievous Mad Hatter Deluxe Adult Costume
Monster High – Frankie Stein Child Costume
Mystic Medusa Adult Costume
Pirates Of The Caribbean – Angelica Deluxe Adult Costume
Pocahottie Adult Costume
Star Wars Darth Vader Deluxe Child Costume
Super Mario Bros. – Luigi Deluxe Toddler/Child Costume
Super Mario Bros. – Mario Deluxe Toddler/Child Costume
Top Gun Men’s Flight Suit Adult Costume
Top Gun Women’s Flight Dress Adult Costume
Vixen Pirate Wench Adult Costume
Warrior Princess Adult Costume
Wonder Woman Corset Adult Costume

Many of these costumes available at Buycostumes.com (ad in right column)

Halloween Costume Plus Sizes.  Accentuate the Positive! 

“Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and don’t mess with Mister In-between”.  Lyrics from a 1940’s song, but the best advice for a Halloween costume choice for a plus size. 

 As in selecting any clothing, horizontal stripes are out, and vertical stripes are in (that does eliminate the jailbird costumes, though). Also, black or dark shades are preferable to lighter colors.

 If one is full figured with a balance, then it’s simply a matter of selecting the right size.  If not, then ‘accentuate the positive’.  Ala, the sexy costume advice, ‘a little cleavage and a nicely turned ankle oft times is much more alluring’.

Costumes shown above are available at Buycostumes.com. See ad in right column.

Top 10 Selling Children’s Halloween Costumes by Category

Girls

Cheerless Leader Child Costume

Cleopatra Child Costume Gothic

Vampira Elite Collection Child Costume

Harry Potter Deluxe Gryffindor Robe Child Costume

Heavenly Devil Child Costume

Lil’ Mermaid Toddler/Child Costume

Monster High – Clawdeen Wolf Child Costume

Monster High – Frankie Stein Child Costume

Strawberry Shortcake – Strawberry Shortcake Deluxe Toddler / Child Costume

Tangled – Rapunzel Lame Deluxe Toddler / Child Costume

Boys
Batman Brave & Bold Deluxe M/C Batman Toddler/Child Costume

Captain America Movie – Captain America Muscle Toddler / Child Costume

Ghostbuster Child Costume

Harry Potter Deluxe Gryffindor Robe Child Costume

Pirates of the Caribbean 4 On Stranger Tides – Captain Jack Sparrow Child Costume

Power Rangers Samurai – Red Ranger Muscle Child Costume

Spider-Man Muscle Toddler Costume

Star Wars Darth Vader Deluxe Child Costume

Super Mario Bros. – Luigi Deluxe Toddler/Child Costume

Super Mario Bros. – Mario Deluxe Toddler/Child Costume

For more information about  these costumes, visit Buycostumes.com (see ad in right column)

Costumes!  Where to start?  Start here! 

Guest Author: Paul Writer

People love costumes, love to dress up and become someone else for a short time.  How do you go about picking costumes?  Also, do you buy costumes or just rent them?  You will find the answers to these questions right here.

 There are essentially 3 different routes you can follow when you need costumes.  There’s D.I.Y, buying and renting options.  Picking the best one for you will depend heavily on your budget, creativity and possible sewing machine prowess.  With hiring, you may only have a limited stock to choose from and they may not be particularly original.  Added to that, if you go for hired, you need to return the costume in the same condition as it started. 

Another dimension to the buy, sell, or do it yourself is the addition of children.  If the reason for buying costumes is it’s a kids fancy dress party for children.  If are not very good with a needle and a thread or with a sewing machine, the one of the other 2 options are still open.

With children’s costumes, you are probably best going ahead and finding one to buy.  Because if you chose rented, you will have to return it, and, children are less likely to keep their costumes dirt and stain free.  If you are good with needles, you may consider to do it yourself, this would be a fun and educational way for the children to learn some homely skills.

Due to the increase of online websites, many people buy online, or visit a store that has a website, to buy their costumes.  It may mean that you spend a lot of money on something you only wear once.  The positives are that you don’t have to worry about returning it, you may have a wider range of choice and therefore a choice from more creative and original costumes. 

Choosing the right costume for you depends on the occasion.  If there is a particular theme to the party to the party you are going to, then you would want to come over as a good sport.  If it’s a western theme for example, you wouldn’t dress as an alien or space ranger.  At the same time, it can be a challenge if it’s just a fancy dress party with no theme.  Remember to kit your costumes out with helpful accessories, such as masks, hats and cutlasses!!

Don’t limit yourself, it has to be a costume in which you feel comfortable.  If you are intending on dancing, then it would be appropriate that there was ways to deal with extras and wings and stuff.  Overall, don’t sweat the decision.  It’s good that you are choosing from costumes for the party.  Some people go shy, and don’t want to do those things.  At least you are having a go!

So yes, there are things to take into consideration when looking for costumes.  Once you have decided whether to buy, rent or make.  The next step is to accessories and then, all that is left for you to do is – have fun in your wondrous choice of costumes!

AUTHOR: Paul Writer, from the UK, is the author of this piece.