Halloween Costumes

In case you hadn't noticed, Halloween is coming up soon. Now, I don't know much about which costumes are the most popular, but I have seen some very creative ones in the past. If you have no idea what you are going to dress up as, here are some suggestions.

1. Superhero: There are many superheroes to choose from, as the collection of comic books and cartoons that revolve around superheroes is very extensive. While this would certainly not be an original costume, they can be easily found.

2. Wizard/Witch: Again, this is not a particularly creative costume, but if you are looking for a costume at the last minute, these costumes are sold almost everywhere. Being a wizard or a witch at least has a certain ghoulish effect, although witches tend to be more gruesome than wizards for some unearthly reason. For the wizards out there, you may find inspiration in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (Gandalf!).

3. Princess: This is oriented to the ladies who are seeking a costume. Many people choose this costume each year because it is easy to find. Another advantage to being a princess is that if you have a lovely dress, you only have to buy a crown. If you are unsure as to whether your dress is suitable, just watch one of the Disney movies starring a princess (and there are several).

4. Fairy Godmother: You don't see too many of these, but it should be fairly simple. All you need for this costume is a princess costume plus a magic wand, and voila! The fairy godmother is now ready to grant wishes. If you want inspiration, just watch Cinderella. (No, you don't have to look EXACTLY like the fairy godmother)

5. Hula Dancer: This costume is fairly easy to put together because of the popularity of Hawaiian birthday parties. You can find the accessories at almost any dollar store. However, you don't necessarily have to buy the whole costume. All you need is a skirt, a nice shirt, leis, flower bracelets, a garland (optional), and a pair of sandals (or flip flops), and you're ready.

6. Fairy: If you are enchanted by Tinkerbell, you may want to dress up as a fairy. Fairy costumes are fairly easy to find, and although I personally believe fairies are short (because I am short and they are not usually depicted as being tall), height & weight don't matter.

7. Pumpkin: I'm not sure how easy it is to find a pumpkin costume; however, I don't think it should be too challenging. Not many people dress up as pumpkins, so it qualifies as being somewhat original. No, people will not call you "fat" if you choose to wear a pumpkin costume.

8. Vampires: This costume is as close to a cliche as is possible for a costume. However, it is extremely easy to find because of its high level of popularity. You may find that several people you know have chosen to dress up as vampires. If that is the case, you may be able to "hang out" (mwahaha) with them.

9. Monsters: Another cliche costume; however, there is some variety in the monster category. You could be a ghoul, a werewolf, Frankestein, a ghost, a zombie... even create your own with a monster-like outfit and some face paint. This costume is particularly convenient if you are looking for both choice and quick finds.

10. Elf: This costume can be used by people of all sizes. There aren't many people who are brave enough to dress as an elf because it is seen as a "Christmassy" costume; however, you could give it a Lord of the Rings touch and go as Legolas or Galadriel. Either way, this costume would be highly creative.

11. Dwarf: I confess: this is for the short people out there (like me!). You can use this idea in 2 ways - you could be one of the famous dwarves from Snow White, or be inspired by the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Either way, this is another very original costume.

12. Cowpoke: This costume is slightly original, as it isn't one of the most popular costumes. It is fairly easy to assemble, as most people already have jeans. Western shirts are fairly easy to find, and so are cowboy hats. Although cowboy boots are recommended by some, they aren't entirely necessary. For a slightly different version of this costume, add some sheriff accessories.

13. Ninja: Whether you're looking for a "standard" ninja costume or you'd rather dress up as a Ninja Turtle, it's not hard to find one. While it may not be very creative, at least you can get them right up to the last minute.

14. Pirate: Arrgh! This costume is also easy to get. The popularity of this choice has ensured that you can find accessories for it almost everywhere - even London Drugs. If you've seen Peter Pan or Pirates of the Caribbean, you'll have some good ideas for your pirate costume.

15. Movie Character: Most of these costumes are popular, and therefore easy to find. You also have many choices if you decide to be a movie character. Many Disney classics have memorable character costumes, and many new releases do as well. The choices are endless!

16. Clown: This costume can be found very quickly due to its popularity and the frequency of its use. All you need is a clown wig, face paint, a red nose, and a clown costume. Being a clown can have its ghoulish side, too. Evil clowns are fashionable these days, at least in the movies. If you're looking for a quick & easy costume, this might be it.

17. Animal: There are some options in this choice, but they are slightly limited. Popular animal costumes include mouse, cat, dog, lion, monkey, bear... just about any animal that has legs. These are usually easy to find, so if you don't have much time to shop, you might want to consider dressing up as an animal.

18. Bandit: No, this is not the same as a ninja costume (although your basic ninja costume might be useful). At any rate, black is probably the best color for this particular costume. You must have the bandit mask, but other than that, the bandit is a good choice for an "open" costume. There is no standard bandit costume, so you can save money if you have a black outfit. This costume can be put together very quickly.

19. King: For the guys out there who think they're royalty, this is for you. Buying a king costume is fairly simple - all you really need is a crown and some royal robes, and you're basically set to go. Another advantage to this costume is that it's fairly simple (although perhaps a bit more difficult than I've made it seem) and easy to find.

20. Robot: This is a slightly more difficult costume to create because you'll probably have to make it yourself. But if you have cardboard boxes, paint, and (maybe) other funky accessories, you should be able to come up with a costume. However, I wouldn't recommend this one to any last-minute costume seekers unless you know exactly what you're doing and can get it done very quickly.

21. TV Characters: As with movie characters, there are many popular options and the costumes are easy to find. But this category includes characters like Sponge Bob who have their own TV show but might not be featured in a movie. Yes, I could have merged the 2 categories, but my list is slightly longer if I do them separately. Anyhow, these costumes are quick and convenient for anyone who is waiting until the last minute to get their costume.

22. Angel: If you are truly good at heart (and even if you aren't), this may be the costume for you. Although it's not exactly creative, its popularity ensures that you will be able to find it fairly easily. This costume should be found in stores until the very last minute, so if you haven't got a costume yet, you might be able to find it.

23. Devil: I don't know anyone who is truly evil, but this is still a pretty neat costume. True, the popularity of a devil costume has ruined its originality, but at least you have a good chance of finding it. Even if you start looking for a costume the day before Halloween, you'll probably be able to find a devil costume.

24. Knight: Although this used to be a fairly popular costume, its use has waned in recent years. However, you should still be able to find knight costumes in stores. I'm not sure if you'll be able to get one at the last minute, but it's worth a try. After all, a suit of armor makes a fairly noble costume.