BuyCostumes.com the Most Visited Costume Website

NEW YORK, NY – October 25, 2007 – The search term “hannah montana costume” was the most popular among all U.S. Internet searches that contained the phrase “costume” for the week ending October 20, 2007 according to Hitwise, the leading online competitive intelligence service.

Top U.S. Costume Searches for the 4 weeks ending 10/20/07

• hannah montana costume
• master chief costume
• pirate costume
• wonder woman costume
• little red riding hood costume
• hannah montana halloween costume
• tinkerbell costume
• pippi longstocking costume
• flapper costume
• raggedy ann costume

Note - the search term data is based on the volume of all US searches for the four weeks ending 10/20/07 from the Hitwise sample of 10 million users. Source: Hitwise

The websites receiving the most traffic from the term “hannah montana costume” were Costumzee.com, PriceGrabber.com, Celebrate Express, Target.com and Shopzilla. Other popular costume searches included Halo 3’s Master Chief, pirates, Wonder Woman, Little Red Riding Hood, and Tinkerbell. The top descriptive search terms used for Halloween costumes include perennial favorites such as sexy, funny, homemade and cool. Also among the popular descriptive searches were “cheap halloween costume ideas” which increased 305 percent and the term “adult halloween costume” which increased 336 percent versus last year.

“Retailers no longer have to guess at what the hot costumes will be for Halloween,” said Bill Tancer, general manager of global research at Hitwise. “Thanks to the availability of Internet search data, we have indications as to the most popular costumes months in advance.”

Top Visited Online Costume Retail Websites
Custom Category of Top Visited Online Costume Retail Websites
(Week ending October 20, 2007)

1
BuyCostumes.com
www.buycostumes.com
34.53%

2
Halloween Express
www.halloweenexpress.com
11.49%

3
Spirit Halloween
www.spirithalloween.com
11.19%

4
Costume Super Center
www.costumesupercenter.com
5.61%

5
AnniesCostumes.com
www.anniescostumes.com
4.88%

6
Costume Hub
www.costumehub.com
4.48%

7
Costume Craze
www.costumecraze.com
4.28%

8
Zoogster Costumes
www.zoogstercostumes.com
4.06%

9
Halloweenmart.com
www.halloweenmart.com
3.99%

10
anytimecostumes.com
www.partylounge.com
3.68%

Source: Rankings are based on U.S. market share of visits among a custom category of 22 of the leading costume websites for the week ending October 20, 2007 (Sunday – Saturday) from the Hitwise sample of 10 million U.S. Internet users. Source: Hitwise

Buycostumes.com was the most visited website amongst a custom category of 22 leading online costume retailers for the week ending October 20, 2007. The website received 34 percent of all U.S. traffic to the custom category. Following Buycostumes.com was the Halloween Express website, which received 11.5 percent of visits, and the Spirit Halloween website was next receiving 11.1 percent. Additionally, Buycostumes.com was the most visited website in the Shopping and Classifieds – Apparel and Accessories category for the same week.

Furthermore, traffic to the top 22 websites in this custom category increased 2 percent for the week ending October 20, 2007 versus the same week last year.

Weekly Hitwise Retail Index Update
Please visit our blog to see the most recent weekly update on the top 100 retail websites from the Hitwise Retail Index.

About Hitwise
Hitwise is the leading online competitive intelligence service. Only Hitwise provides its 1,400 clients around the world with daily insights on how their customers interact with a broad range of competitive websites, and how their competitors use different tactics to attract online customers.

Since 1997, Hitwise has pioneered a unique, network-based approach to Internet measurement. Through relationships with ISPs around the world, Hitwise’s patented methodology anonymously captures the online usage, search and conversion behavior of 25 million Internet users. This unprecedented volume of Internet usage data is seamlessly integrated into an easy to use, web-based service, designed to help marketers better plan, implement and report on a range of online marketing programs.

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Vampires Can't Go Out In The Sunlight!

I don’t know when it happened, but gone are the days of roaming the neighborhood in your Freddy Krueger costume – your path lit only by the moonlight and the faint glow of carved jack-o-lanterns (evidently, too many creepy guys in white conversion vans have ruined this time-honored tradition). Instead, kids of all ages are reduced to being on one end of the sun-drenched “door-to-door solicitation of candy” – we now call, Halloween! How in drac’s pajamas does a child learn about the adrenaline rush he gets when his big sister jumps out of the bushes just as a woman in a witch costume opens the front door?

It’s time to take matters into your own hands! The word on the street may be that your neighbors are giving out full-size candy bars (for the record: “Fun Size” = Not-So-Fun), but don’t let TREATS get all the play this Halloween. Rebel against the establishment! This year, instead of sitting in front of the TV to watch whichever watered-down “film” the sugary networks showcase for your mild amusement, take the kiddies on a new Halloween haunt: TRICKS. “Tricks” are the red-headed stepchild of Halloween. They get a mention, but rarely any action. Move over Ashton, there’s a new sheriff in town!

Ding Dong Ditch
Long after the last ghost/goblin/fairy princess has left the scene of the crime, you ring the doorbell and run as fast as you possibly can out of sight. Meanwhile, your friends maintain quiet composure (yeah right!) in the bushes even after your “victim” answers the door and yells voracious obscenities. This activity promises to deliver hours of enjoyment that will last well into the witching hour!

Decoy
Dear ol’ Dad is perfect for this little prank. Dress him up in a costume with a hat (any will do) and add straw pieces out of the sleeves, pant legs, and neckline. Have him sit at a high foot-traffic (albeit unassuming) area – COMPLETELY STILL. Wait for a few passer-bys to walk through, and then have Dad jump out to startle the “victim”. Those walking by think that Dad is a dapperly dressed scarecrow, when in reality he intends to scare the daylights out of them – MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

TeePeeing
Economical. Recyclable. Team Work. At least, this is the way we are going to look at things. What other fun could you have with 100 rolls of 1000-sheet toilet paper, mom’s mini-van, and a black ski mask? Toilet Papering a house is the best prank EVER for one simple reason: It is the trick that keeps on treating! Wake up early the next morning to watch the “victim” clean-up.

I KNOW, I know. This list is based in an alternate reality. A time and place when and where there were no soccer moms to interfere with harmless fun and frolic. Police cars dimmed the headlights and averted their eyes from innocent precociousness. But if you still live in a neighborhood that offers this kind of freedom (and some of you still do), rejoice in all the joys that the holiday can bring. For those of you that don’t, please read our disclaimer:

Note: The pranks listed in this article are for entertainment purposes only. Some may be harmful to others or illegal and we do not support that type of behavior. We take no responsibility for anyone getting into trouble or causing any harm due to our random musings.

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Funniest Halloween Costumes

1. Cross Dressing.
This gets me everytime. I will never forget being in the student union on a college campus one Halloween and seeing a man walking to class in a baby pink mini-dress with pink matching heels. There is just something very funny and classic about men dressed as women and women with mustaches.
This is a favorite of mine.


2. Best Potty Humor.
You grow up, but you never grow out of potty humor. It's the truth. Bodily functions will always be popular with my 12 year-old brother and 27 year-old boyfriend alike. While I was writing this, one of my co-workers burped. Point made.

3. Sexy yet Funny

The sexiness of the costume gets you noticed, but now how do start the conversation? Humor is a great ice breaker and it's halloween, add some bad pick up lines. Pick up lines that include "angel", "light my fire" and "purr-fect" are horrible unless it is Halloween and you are actually speaking to an Angel, Fireman or Black Cat. No one can take you seriously dressed in a zebra patterned outfit (refer to above).

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BuyCostumes.com Halloween Fashion Show

HOT CHICK ALERT!

In conjunction with LateNightDigital.tv, BuyCostumes.com was host to a Halloween Fashion Show on October 20th, 2007 at the Shark Club in Costa Mesa, California! As in true Orange County California fashion, beautiful models were eager to strut their stuff in BuyCostumes.com halloween costumes including the Exclusive Ms. Freddy Krueger, Gladiatrix and more!

Not only did the entire event get professionally photographed, but professionally videotaped as well. To view footage of the BuyCostumes.com Halloween Fashion Show, log on to LateNightDigital.tv, click the hot pink "Fashion" tab and view til you drool. We dare you to take a peak! You can even click on the model and it will bring you right to the landing page where you can buy. It's true we might have made this just too easy...

Photos from the show are captured for your viewing pleasure below. You gotta love a bunch of hottie totties running around in french maid costumes, as a referee or member of the Mile High Club!

Freddy would only be so lucky to have her as his partner for life!

Just gotta have one of these costumes? Shop here

Back Row Left to Right: Exclusive Ms. Freddy Krueger, Fiona the French Maid, Support our Troops, Playboy Cupid, Exclusive Gladiatrix, Vineyard Vixen, Sultry Witch, Mile High Captain.

Front Row Left to Right: Captain Swashbuckler, Blueberry Girl, Baseball Player, Pleated Penalizer Referee, Alice Wonder Place.

Photo Source: Oct 20, 2007 - LND Fashion Show @ Shark Club
Photographed by Victor Guzman

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13 Halloween Safety Tips for Little Ghosts and Goblins

Halloween is a scary time of year, but we all can make sure that children have a safe holiday with the following tips.

Halloween Costume Cautions

• Because they can obstruct a child's vision, masks are not recommended. However, parents should try on the mask themselves. If it's uncomfortable or heavy on the face, chances are your child won't want to wear the mask either.
• If a child wears makeup, parents should look for non-toxic, hypoallergenic makeup kits.
• Costumes should be flame-retardant and fit properly. Avoid oversized shoes, high heels and long skirts or pants that could cause a child to fall.
• Children who will be trick-or-treating after dusk should have reflective tape on their costumes and carry flashlights.

Halloween Pumpkin Carving

• Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers, then parents can do the cutting.
• Under parents' supervision, children ages 5 to 10 can carve with pumpkin cutters equipped with safety bars.
• Votive candles are safest for candlelit pumpkins.
• Lighted pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects and should never be left unattended.
• Remember YOU are may be liable if pumpkins are lit on your property the night of trick or treating. Keep them off the ground and away from trick or treaters.

Trick - or - Treats

• Children shouldn't snack while they're trick-or-treating.
• Parents should check treats at home.
• Watch for signs of tampering, such as small pinholes in wrappers and torn or loose packages.
• Parents of young children should get rid of choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.

Home Safely Home

• To keep their home safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove anything a child could tip over such as garden hoses, toys and bikes.
• If using inflatable lawn decorations, place them off the walkway leading to your front door.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Best to plan a route the day prior to trick or treating. Establish a beginning, middle and end point in case any members of the group get lost.

Remember that Halloween is for children of all ages, so get involved with your little ghost or goblin!

Source: Kristen (Machut) Grace, EverythingHalloween.com

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Action-Gettin' Costumes!

Every costume website has a “Top Ten” Most Popular/Most Requested/Most Flirtatious list. Heck, we are even guilty of it. People have a right to know! But let’s be honest, any half-wit could figure out that PIRATES are the costume of choice by college co-eds and short business men with a penchant for owning Porsches alike (“Size Issues” are remedied with a plethora of phallic sword accessories). What smart, fun, and cutting edge folks (like you) want to know is: What Costumes Are Going to Get You Some Action at the Club/Bar/Pub This Halloween?

300 - Spartan Deluxe Costume

Sure you have brains…but what women really want is: Brawn. This one is for you Mr.-Mis-Led-In-The-90’s-And-Made-To-Believe-That-Women-Look-For-Sensitive-Men-With-Thought-Provoking-Dialogue Man (Thanks sappy sitcoms). Truth be told, women are happiest staring at your dreamy physique. The upside for you: All your grunting and sweating at the gym will not be in vain. No, no, manly man of manly proportions! You are giving hope to an entire gender! Captivate her with your battle wounds. Send scintillating shivers down her spine with your alpha-male exterior. At the end of the night, she is going home with you. And do you know why? It’s because she won’t be able to take her eyes off your sword.

Fireman Costume

Firemen are the closest guys to a knight-in-shining-armor that the modern gal is going to encounter. It’s unfortunate that most of these prince charmings only appear when a room is completely engulfed in flames. Risking their lives and showing selfless determination in helping all of human kind…well, this is the very behavior that has perpetuated the creation of Firemen Calendars. We’re not saying that ladies can’t take care of themselves, but sometimes (just SOMETIMES) she’s looking to be rescued. Whether you are saving Ms. Ordinarily Independent from the doldrums of her corner-office existence or just the creepy dude at the end of the bar, one thing is for sure: NOTHING is as completely irresistible as a man in uniform. Nothing.

Snake Charmer Costume

I know what you are thinking: WHAT?!?! This is crazy. I am going to scare off every single chick in the joint! Let’s face it: Every woman thinks about it - well, maybe not every 6.8 seconds - but it’s on their minds. Think of this get-up as more of a “conversation starter” rather than a “chick magnet”. How many times has this happened to you: The bar is packed, and just when you want to bounce to that late night diner for a low-key recap of the evening’s events, the crowd parts. She meets your gaze and you are instantly reduced to a fraction of your usual intellectually-stimulating self. Panicked that she is going to leave OR that you will never think of something great to say, all at the same time, you make your grand attempt to woo her. Stealthy walk to exude confidence? Check! Great Pick-Up Line? NEGATIVE! After nervously tapping her on the shoulder, you awkwardly stammer, “Uh, do you, um, want to a-dance?” What is this, the *expletive* prom?!? You know what you need, right? A wing man (Too easy - we’ll let you come up with your own witty repartee here)! Bottom Line: Your little “friend” proves that you have a good sense of humor and a knack for obscure pop-culture references – keep the banter tame and you’ll unveil all the forbidden fruit you can handle.

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20 Ways To Confuse Trick or Treaters

1. Give away something other than candy. (Toothpicks, golf balls, bags of sand)

2. Wait behind the door until some people come. When they get near the door, jump out, wearing a costume, and holding a bag, and yell, "Trick or Treat!" Look at them, scratch your head, and act confused.

3. Fill a briefcase with marbles and crackers. Write on it, "Top Secret" in big letters. When Trick or Treaters come, look around suspiciously, say, "It's about time you got here," give them the briefcase, and quickly shut the door.

4. Get about 30 people to wait in your living room. When Trick or Treaters come to the door, say, "Come in." When they do, have everyone yell, "Surprise!!!" Act like it's a surprise party.

5. Get everyone who comes to the door to come in and see if they can figure out what's wrong with your dishwasher. Insist that it makes an unnatural "whirring" sound.

6. After you give them candy, hand the Trick or Treaters a bill.

7. Open the door dressed as a giant fish. Immediately collapse, and don't move or say anything until the Trick or Treaters go away.

8. When you answer the door, look at the Trick or Treaters, act shocked and scared, and start screaming your head off. Slam the door and run around the house, screaming until they go away.

10. Insist that the Trick or Treaters each do ten push-ups before you give them any candy.

11. Hand out menus to the Trick or Treaters and let them order their own candy. Keep asking if anyone wants to see the wine list.

12. Get a catapult. Sit on your porch and catapult pumpkins at anyone who comes within 50 yards of your house.

13. When people come to the door, jump out a nearby window, crashing through the glass, and run as far away from your house as you can.

14. Answer the door dressed in a pilgrim costume. Stare at the Trick or Treaters for a moment, pretend to be confused, and start flipping through a calendar.

15. Instead of candy, give away colored Easter eggs. If anyone protests, explain that the eggs are the only thing you had left over from Easter.

16. Answer the door dressed in a dentist costume. Angrily give the Trick or Treaters a two-hour lecture on tooth decay.

17. Answer the door with a mouthful of M & M's and several half-eaten candy bars in your hands. Act surprised, and close the door. Open it again in a few seconds, and insist that you don't have any candy.

18. Answer the door wearing a Santa Suit and wish Trick or Treaters a Merry Christmas instead of Happy Halloween!

19. Put a crown on a pumpkin and put the pumpkin on a throne on your porch. Insist that all of the Trick or Treaters bow before the pumpkin.

20. Dress up like the Easter Bunny and see if Trick or Treaters want to sit on your lap!

Source: Unkown
The above Top 20 List is currently going around the web via emails. It's original source is not BuyCostumes.com, nor does it portray the views of BuyCostumes.com employees. Remember, treat all Trick or Treaters with respect!

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Halloween Superstitions

As All Hallows Eve casts it’s shadow, black cats and ghost stories strike fear in the eyes of children and adults alike. Visions of haunted houses and horror films collide with memories of caramel apples and crunchy leaves. Carving pumpkins becomes an ideal activity for Sunday afternoon amusement and the faint scent of a bonfire hangs in the crisp fall air. That’s right ghosts and ghouls, let the harvest begin!

For those of you that shriek in the presence of a tiny spider (after all, that eight-legged little bug COULD be a loved one checking up on you this Halloween night) or avoid ladders at all costs, you have been warned. Here you will discover the traditional and the not-so-traditional superstitions that have kept the words, “fright” and “fun” synonymous with our most favorite holiday of all: Halloween.

• All journeys by foot, horse, or vehicle must be ended before darkness falls on All Hallows Eve, or the traveler will not reach his destination. If this is not possible then the traveler should carry a piece of bread sprinkled with salt in his pocket. The salt will keep the witches away.
• If the flame of a candle flickers and then turns blue, there's a spirit in the room.
• Throughout Germany it is said that anyone who lies in a coffin, even for fun, is inviting death, and that no item of clothing belonging to a living person should ever be placed on a corpse when it is placed in a coffin, for as it rots in the grave so will the rightful owner decline towards death.
• If you feel a chill up your spine, someone is walking on your future grave.
• It's dangerous to sleep when thirsty, for the soul will leave the body in search of water. If the body is wakened too quickly, the soul may not have time to get back and the body will die.
• An ancient myth our ancestors believed was that the image in a mirror is our actual soul. A broken mirror represented the soul being astray from your body. To break the spell of misfortune, you must wait seven hours (one for each year of bad luck) before picking up the broken pieces, and bury them outside in the moonlight.
• Halloween derives its name from the fact that in the Christian calendar it occurs the day before 'All Saints' or All Hallows' Day. It was the last night of the old year according to the ancient calendar of the Celts. On that night it was said that the witches, hobgoblins, warlocks, and other evil spirits walked abroad and devoted themselves to wicked revels. But the good fairies, too, according to some folklore, made their appearance at this time, but only from the hour of dusk until midnight.
• If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck. Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names.

Only 12 days left until Halloween! Happy Hauntings!

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Halloween in my neighborhood

You're all going to think I'm exaggerating because it sounds a little like, "When I was young, I had to walk two miles uphill both ways to school," but Halloween in my house was crazy.

Don't get me wrong. We had a blast. My two brothers and I always had homemade halloween costumes. One year I was a lightening bug (made out of scratchy brown burlap) and our neighbor, the electrician, rigged up a cool blinking headpiece for me. Another year we picked up a huge cardboard box from the local appliance store and I made gigantic monarch wings out of it. I forgot to consider the wind factor though and almost was blown off a few porches that year while trick-or-treating. The only halloween costume I can remember either of my brothers wearing was when Greg went as a goblin and decided to flip his eyelids up the whole time we trick-or-treated. The neighbors thought he was insane.

We also carved pumpkins every year, or rather, we would draw the face we wanted our pumpkin to have, and during half time of the Packers' game, Dad would carve our designs. My crazy brother Greg again, not known for his patience, had to be driven to the emergency room two years in a row to get stitched up.

And I know you'll think I'm exaggerating, but the nearest house was a 7 minute walk up the steepest hill in the county - and that family never handed out candy! So it was literally a 10 minute walk before we could start the fun. It didn't last long though because back then, we only had a total of 12 neighbors up the hill and 2 down the hill. It wasn't even worth it to go down.

I think that's why my parents always bought alot of candy to hand out. No one ever came to ring our door, but they stocked up to be prepared - to fill our pumpkins when we came home nearly empty handed!

It might sound like a kid's worst Halloween nightmare, but like I said, we always had a blast and looked forward to Halloween coming every year.

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Nostalgia: 80's Costume Ideas

What were the 80's? A time when neon clothing was fashionable? A time when the Atari video game system was 'state of the art'? A time when Prince could sing about "partying like it was 1999" and it seemed like that was ages away?...Bueller?

With Halloween just around the corner, why don't you give the 80's a deserving
tribute by dressing up as something iconic from this wonderful decade? Here is a list of our top 5 easy to put together costumes that just scream 80's.

5. Teen Wolf
Everyone knows the story - Michael J. Fox's character is horrible at basketball and tired of being "average" (I know, everyone's biggest worries in life). Luckily, he has the power to turn into a "not so average" 5 foot teenage werewolf, basketball playing machine that can fly through the air and single handedly defeat other high school teams. Kind of like LeBron James in high school, minus the whole being a short werewolf thing. As ridiculous as the movie was, Michael J. Fox's character makes for a great 80's throwback costume.

For the full effect, you'll need to get a yellow basketball jersey, a werewolf makeup and hair kit, some yellow basketball warmup pants, and a long sleeve white shirt (to wear under the jersey).

Everyone's favorite neighborhood Werewolf

4. 80's Workout Queen/King
AKA the Jane Fonda fashion revolution, consisted of spandex, headbands, lycra, and anything else that might hurt your fashion sense. These outfits were great for people who wanted to work out and look as ugly as possible doing so. But let's not beat a dead horse, the 80's workout queen/king can be a great 80's nostalgic costume!

To pull this costume together you really need to get some spandex. The brighter the colors, the better. Accessorize the costume with some arm and head sweatbands to complete the look. Try and mismatch colors as much as possible for that perfect 80's effect.

Wow...just...wow *cringe*

3. Pee Wee Herman
Current legal troubles aside, Pee Wee Herman was one of the biggest child icons of the 80's. What kid didn't want to hang out in his Playhouse with all that crazy talking furniture? His unique way of talking, coupled with his childlike antics made kids everywhere love him.

You'll need a vintage grey suit, red bowtie, and black costume hair coloring for the complete costume.

Probably not his best picture, but tell me again how he ever became popular?

2. Rubik's Cube
The popularity of this 80's toy is undeniable, with over 100 million cubes sold in the early 80's. Adults and children alike were anxious to get their hands on this frustratingly addictive toy.

Can I ask why? This seemingly impossible toy lead to countless hours of frustration and anger in my household. Making any sort of progress on it was next impossible, especially when siblings would mess up any progress made the minute they laid their logic-less little hands on it!

Regardless of my personal feelings on the cube, it still makes a great 80's throwback costume. To make this costume you'll need to be a little crafty. Get a big black cardboard box and cut arm and head holes in it. Get appropriate colored construction paper and cut them into squares and cover the box with the paper. You'll obviously want to measure out the size of the paper squares in relation to how much surface area is on the box so everything looks right.

They should change the name to the "Wasted Hours Cube"

1. Pac-Man / Ms. Pac-Man
This early video game...thing gobbled up nearly all of my weekly allowance in the 80's, much like he gobbled up his favorite yellow pellet treats. The goal of the game was great for like-minded Americans...eat everything! Pac-Man wasn't a picky eater, he would eat anything from ghosts and steroid pellets to fruit and ice cream. The only thing keeping Pac-Man from being overweight was the exercise he got from his constant pursuit of food!

Great instructions on how to make a Pac-Man costume can be found at Coolest Homemade Costumes

Feed me now!

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Top Rated Halloween Costumes

BuyCostumes.com is featuring Ratings and Reviews of the Products for Halloween 2007.

The customers have spoken and here is what they said.............

Top Rated Women's Halloween Costumes
1.Vixen Pirate Wench -
"This costume is great, the price is soo good it's a steal for the quality of this costume! It is a hot though, but beauty is pain!"
2. Mile High Captain Plus Adult -
"The fit is true to its size and it's very comfortable. The company is also great I already have recommended this site to my friends and family."
3. StoryBook Dorothy Adult Plus-
"With all the Dorothy costumes on the market, single this one out as the one to get!"
4. Flocked Vampiress Adult
Great Costume fits great best purchase ever."
5. Tiger Lily Adult-
I wore this costume to a themed party for our kids and got dozens of compliments - from the kids and the parents!"

Top Rated Men's Halloween Costumes
1.Michael Myers Adult-
"This costume is the best, you'll have the best times with this suit. Not only are you going to scare other people, but what ever crosses your way, lol!! I have it and it was a great source for Halloween!"
2. Cutthroat Pirate Adult-
"This costume is an excellent value for the money. It pretty much has EVERYTHING."
3. Musketeer Adult -
"The product shipped even faster than promised. It came with a ton of accessories which makes it a fantastic bargain. You can also depend on the fact that the costume will look just like the picture. I will definitely buy from this site in the future."
4. Jeeves, the Headless Butler-
"I have purchased three costumes from BuyCostumes.com and by far this one is the scariest yet! I wanted it last year, but waited too long and it sold out before I could buy it. If you think the Grim Reaper was scary...you 'aint seen nothing yet!"
5. Tooth Fairy Plus Adult-
"We give a Halloween party ever year. We are always trying to beat last year's costumes. This costumes is really cute and my husband is adorable in the tutu."

Top Rated Girl's Costumes
1. Little Red Riding Hood-
"The dress its self is very cute. Easy to put on and good quality. The cape is also good quality well put together. Not for warmth. Very happy with this purchase."
2. Beauty and the Beast Disney Belle Deluxe Child -
"This was for my 5 year old granddaughter. She loves it and she is so pretty in it. I would buy it again."
3. Trick or Treat Child -
"My daughter wore this last year for Halloween and she looked so pretty. She got a lot of complements on this dress. I recommend this costume especially if you live in a warm climate because of the short sleeves."
4.Charm School Witch Child -
"The price was great!! Quality of the item was good as well as comfort. Loved the overall look of the costume."
5.Corpse Bride Child -
"This is a great one! Thought it would just be a cheesy knockoff, but really well done. We added all the accessories and while it, my 5 year old is not so fond of the wig. This costume fits her perfect! She adores it, I'm happy!"

Top Rated Boy's Costumes
1. Universal Studios Monsters Frankenstein Child -
"Great costume for the price. All you need is a little green and black face paint and you are good to go."
2. Ghostbuster Child-
"This costume is very realistic. My 6 year old son could not wait to put the costume on. The fabric is very strong and will not tear. It is also light enough to wear in the warm climates for Halloween. This is a must buy for any child."
3. Zombie Doctor Child -
"This product is all complete and very well put together. Not many costumes come with so many pieces for 1 price. So it's definitely a great deal for the price"
4. Harry Potter-Death Eater Child -
"My son has gotten so much mileage out of his Gryffindor robe and HP wand I didn't mind getting him the the DE costume at all. He's been wearing it about for play time and of course he needed an evil wand to go w/ it so we got Draco Malfoy's and he's complete! My son is 4'8" and we got the size large and it's not too long at all. My suggestion is to go bigger than their size so you can get more time out of it. These aren't just fun for Halloween!"

Check out these products and other Top Rated items by using the sort by function on the top left hand side of the products page.

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The day in the life of a Halloween Costume

This is it - the day I've been so anxiously waiting a whole year for. The day when I am picked over all others in the closet. The day when I finally get to reunite with my old buddies, mask and costume accessory. The day my buddies and I come together for one common goal...to get candy. My day to shine.

Mmm...Our Goal

As the group assembles for our yearly candy assault on the neighborhood, I notice the usual cast of characters arriving. My long time friends witch costume, princess costume, and ninja costume are here and are just as excited to get started as I am. Once everyone arrives, we finally get to go.

My Good Friends

House after house people give us mounds of candy, some good candy, some bad candy, but very plentiful. Compliments are plentiful as well. We hear the typical "You're so cute" and "That's a great costume" comments, enough in our minds to warrant more than once a year costume usage. Our candy search is a great success!

Once the route is finished, we know our day is over. We say our goodbyes, knowing that it will be another full year before we get to reunite and take over the neighborhood in search of candy. But rather than dwell on not seeing each other for a full year, we congratulate one another on a candy job well done.

After saying our goodbyes, we all retreat to our respective houses. We are taken off and put back in our usual spots in the closet. We created a lot of great memories today and will continue to do so for years to come. Though we'd like to be a bigger part of your lives, we are very grateful for the day you have dedicated to us.

No other combination of closet items does what we can. On our day, we invoke a wide array of reactions from those who see us. We can frighten, scare, make people laugh, and even make people stare. From superheros to scary monsters, we allow our wearer to experience life from a whole new perspective. And most importantly, we alone have the power to extract obscene amounts of candy from our entire neighborhood, city, or even state!

See you next Halloween!

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I've secretly wanted to be Wonder Woman since I was five

On Christmas day in 1977 my older brother bought me my favorite gift ever - Wonder Woman underoos. For those of you too young to know what I'm talking about, underoos were a kid's version of Clark Kent's superman costume underneath his suit. Wearing a pair gave you a hidden power to be more daring! Underwear in the form of superhero costumes - what a fantastic idea. And in the summer when you'd be at a friend's house, it could double for a swimming suit... a totally enviable one.

As kids, playing dress-up is totally normal and encouraged. My brothers and I pretended to be cowboys (and girl) and had pop guns to shoot off around the yard. We had a trunk filled with clothing and accessories that could transform us from our ordinary selves into anything we could dream of.

As we get older, there's less time for this imagination building pastime which might be one reason Halloween is such a popular holiday for people of all ages.

Despite my life-long secret love of Wonder Woman, I've never had the nerve to don the real deal Wonder Woman costume! And it's not for lack of being able to find it. Nor is it an issue of modesty since there's even a version with a flattering skirt. It's simply because I haven't had the guts to break out of my daily routine self. And yet this is exactly what makes Halloween so fantastic... people expect you to dress up, and the more into the holiday you get, the better.

Halloween is the one day out of the year when adults are allowed to rejoin kids in the game of dress-up, so this year I've decided to go for it. I may not end up choosing the Wonder Woman costume, but I'm going with the superhero theme.

So dig back into your memory if you have to, but have fun this Halloween. Be a kid again for a day.

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Wendy's Pig Tails

So I'm on a mission to talk with BuyCostumes.com about getting the pig tails featured in the Wendy's commercials. There are braided pig tails and red wigs on the site, but not bright red pig tails! Don't you think people would buy red pig tails to look like Wendy? And then they could run around shouting "Juicy!" "Sizzle!" and "Burger!"

I suppose you could buy a red wig, braid it and poke wires into the braids to make them shoot out to the sides. Or you could just buy a blonde wig and spray paint it red. Genius!

Just a random thought, spread the word! Let's get those vendors on board with Wendy's pig tails!

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Halloween Dress Up Day - Oct 31st

Re: BuyCostumes.com Dress Up Day
To: All BuyCostumes.com Employees
From: Kristen & Angela

Memo:

Halloween Dress Up Day - October 31, 2007
Please feel free to dress up in costume during the work day on Halloween. We will have a Costume parade to show off and award prizes to the best dressed. If you have any questions, please contact Kristen or Angela in the front office.

Please also be advised that Halloween costumes should be work appropriate of course! Also if don't know where to find a costume, I know a company that has the largest selection online...

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Halloween Costumes for Dogs

Halloween is right around the corner, so it's time to start buying halloween costumes for all the members of your family. For me, family includes my two dogs.


There are two routes you can choose - the full on pet costume - for dogs that enjoy dressing up, or the simple pet costume accessory - for dogs that won't put up with much of a fuss. I have one of each type in my family, and although you might laugh and think no dog wants to wear a costume, I trained my youngest dog from the age of 10 weeks. She was always wearing something! But I strongly suggest you underestimate the patience of your pet. Halloween is meant to be fun! Even for dogs. If you haven't ever dressed your dog up before, either work your dog into the theme naturally (think toto from the Wizard of Oz) or select something that will seem natural, like a jester collar. Your dog will enjoy the holiday much more if they feel comfortable in their costume, and pet costume accessories are a perfect compromise.


Just as you can find a huge selection of adult costumes and kid's costumes, there's also a very wide variety of costumes for pets. So, if you're a traditionalist, you can find witch or skeleton costumes for your dog, or, if you're not, you can find just about anything else! If your kids are into StarWars this year, buy the Yoda pet costume and let fido become part of the theme. Or if the family is into Superheroes, there are several pet superhero costumes to choose from.


Remember, if you have a well socialized dog, there's no reason to leave your him or her out of the fun this Halloween season. You'll have a great time hearing all the other trick-or-treater's commenting on how cute your "best friend" looks and your dog will love the attention.

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