Marilyn Monroe

Occasionally people throw parties that have nothing to do with Halloween, themed parties where people dress up just for the heck of it; and one popular topic for these themed parties is having everyone dress up as ‘dead celebrities’. But why not bring this idea and carry it over to Halloween? I admit that to dress as certain people for this Halloween would be in bad taste, as they haven’t been gone for very long and there is still a lot of morning happening on their behalf; but people like Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Jimi Hendrix, Humphrey Bogart, Freddy Mercury, and Bettie Page are perfectly alright to dress as.

Think of it as honoring their memory by reminding people (in this case, fellow Halloween celebrators) of their amazing gifts and accomplishments in life. For a few of these celebrities there are costumes available to purchase based on what they are most remembered for. Generally the Elvis costumes will feature a white pantsuit with aviator sunglasses and lots of rhinestones to reassure people that yes, he was a king. For Marilyn the most easily available costume would be her white halter top dress from that oh-so-memorable photograph where she is standing in the street and steam from below is threatening to blow up her skirt.

For the others I mentioned -or anyone else you wanted to dress as- there are probably not as many options for buying a costume; but that doesn’t mean there are plenty of ways to get across who you are trying to be. Of course it helps if your friends (or the people at the party you are attending) have similar interest or knowledge but if not; welcome the challenge. Accessories and small details like having the exact hairstyle/color as this person (which can be achieved with your own hair or a wig) can be the make or break as to who recognizes the celebrity you are attempting to be, and who does not. Just remember though, that if you are attempting to make a wig look the way you want it to; under no circumstances should you use a flat iron or curling iron on it. It will melt the plastic and possibly ruin both the wig and your hairstyling tool. Attempt to get one that already looks generally like what you want, and style it using hairspray or gel.

As always, remember to have fun with it! Acting a little bit like the person you are trying to portray will definitely help in getting your point across, and will make the party more enjoyable for everyone. Unless the person you’re dressed as is a dictator of some kind. I wouldn’t recommend acting the part in that case.

Black Widow

It seems like it’s time once again to start asking that age-old question… no, not “what is the meaning of life?” (We all know the answer to that is 42). The Question I’m talking about is; “What should I be for Halloween?” It seems like we always start asking that question of ourselves a little too late in the game. By the time we’re seriously thinking about what we want to dress up as for that party or company function, it’s already crunch time. Like with most holidays, that means that the stores are full of people who have procrastinated (just like you) and are now trying to find the perfect costume only a week or so before the day they need it by. It’s hectic, and involves waiting in lines; two things that nobody really wants to deal with. So my advice to you is to start brainstorming now! There are tons of funny, sexy, and cool costumes out there, it just takes a little creativity, or some time on a search engine to find them.

But what if you‘re not particularly creative, or you absolutely hate spending your free time google-ing without any good results? That doesn’t mean you have to suffer! Because right here in this blog, I’m going to provide you (or anyone interested, for that matter) with some fantastic costume ideas for this upcoming Halloween.

If you’re the type that likes things simple and quick, I’ve got links to online shops where you could easily buy exciting and well made costumes and have them shipped right to your house. But if you’re the “do it yourself” type, I also have ideas for how to jazz up those store-bought costumes, or put together your own using things you might have around the house or could easily get at thrift stores. What if you’re really crafty? Sewing tips will be included too!

So just sit back, relax, and browse though. You wont regret it.