Halloween Costume Ideas from Adults to Kids

Halloween 2009 is starting to creep up on us. It’s best to buy Halloween costumes early so you’re not stressing at the last minute over what to wear. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of costumes and themes to point you in the right direction this Halloween.

Top Adult Costume Ideas: Whether you’re planning on going to a friend’s Halloween party or expect to spend a night on the town, one of these adult Halloween costumes will be sure to impress:

Dead Celebrities
Dead celebrities have always been popular choices for Halloween. This year, we have had what seems like an overwhelming number of celebrity deaths. Check out some of most popular celebrities that will most likely be eulogized through costume.

• Michael Jackson: This costume can come in many forms, from those who want to glorify the King of Pop, to those who choose to focus on the controversy surrounding his death. Michael Jackson’s famous thriller video makes it easy to use the star’s memory as Halloween inspiration.
• Farrah Fawcett: The former fashion model and Charlie’s Angel will be popular among ladies looking to use Hollywood’s obituary list for costume ideas.
• Other dead celebrity costume ideas include infomercial pitchman Billy Mays, political columnist Robert Novak, television personality Ed McMahon and countless others.

Political Costumes
The political costume was trendy last year when we saw Sarah Palin as a popular Halloween party theme. This year, she will remain a top costume choice, in addition to fellow Republicans Rush Limbaugh and former Vice President Dick Cheney. Not to worry though, Halloween costumes are quite bi-partisan, as President Obama & the first lady will be popular among couples’ costumes this year.

Superheroes
Always a safe bet is the superhero costume. Last year saw throngs of Batman costumes. We foresee another year of Heath Ledger-inspired Joker costumes, as well as other Dark Knight spin-offs.

Other popular superheroes include the classics like Superman, the Incredible Hulk, Spiderman, and various Transformers characters for those wishing to relive their childhood.


Top Kids Costume Ideas: From trick-or-treating to classroom Halloween parties, finding a great kids Halloween costume based on these suggestions will be sure to keep a smile on their faces.

Popular Movies
Halloween always has a habit of mimicking the most popular movies of the current year. This year, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” dominated the box office and will likely dominate the Halloween costume arena. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron will be very big among the children this season.

• Harry Potter: The boy wizard will see another year of popularity as more and more kids catch “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” -- the latest film based on the popular series of fantasy novels.
• Hannah Montana: Tweens and teens alike will want to emulate the Disney phenomenon who leads a double life as a pop star – played by the ever-popular Miley Cyrus

Disney
Princess costumes are always a top choice among young girls who love to get frilly. Cinderella, Snow White, Belle and Jasmine are just a few Disney favorites among the little ones. Boys, too, are big fans of well-known Disney heroes. Wall-E costumes; Buzz and Woody from Toy Story and the Power Rangers will be just a few of the fan favorites among boys this Halloween.

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Sexy Costumes From the Past!

BuyCostumes has some great new costumes for the upcoming season and it's never too early to start planning out your ensemble. I browsed though many of our new costumes and realized that a lot of them come straight out of the past. We have a lot of new costumes that represent different times in history and pop culture. We especially have a lot of great new, SEXY, costumes that could make a great group costumes. Or, put a whole bunch of different time periods together for a "decades" themes group idea.

• Prehistoric: Cave Beauty She makes prehistoric times look like something from the High Fashion Runway!
• Early America: Pocahottie This is definitely a twist on your typical Native American costume. Pocahottie is sassy with fringe and feathers! You'll be sure to casue some tribal trouble in this dress.
• 1920's: Gatsby Girl Celebrate the Roarin 20's with this ROARIN costume. She's a 1920's flapper and has TONS of glitter. I like this one again, becasue its pretty simple but with some great personalization no one will have a costume as great as this! Pair it with these Cute Heels!
• 1940's: Ahoy There Hottie A sailor never looked so good. Go back to the time when the "good old boys" were at war and women had to step up. This dress is patriotic red, white, and blue and has classic details like an anchor and gold buttons.
• 1950's: Mini Poodle Skirt This not your mom's costume! HOP into the 50's with this super cute poodle skirt. It comes in pink or red so get a couple of the girls together and no one will ever have looked so good in a "vintage" skirt.
• 1960's: Hippie Chick A grovvy costume for a groovy girl. It's really colorful and easy to dance in! You will get everyone's attention when you walk into the room. Make love, not war!
• 1970's: 70's Disco Queen I'm loving the metallic look of this dress. The neckline cut is right from the disco floor, and heck, you'll be a portable Disco ball. Listen to some ABBA and don't forget the 70's wig. Got some Saturday Night Fever? Would be great for a couple's costume by pairing with this guy!
• 1980's: 80's Rock Star Anything from the 80's is a great idea for a costume. Anyone is bound to have something fro the 80's lying around her house and 80's costumes=80's Music! This costume is really cute and simple, but pair with some colorful accesories and you will stand out among the rest.
• 1990's... errr 1960's?: British Flag Dress You could represent the Smashing 60's or one of the spiciest girls from the 90's! Another great idea: do an "Around the World" theme and use this dress to show off your UK Pride!
• 2000: Go Green Girl The latest trend right now, ORGANIC! Wear this costume and let everyone know how environmentally conscious you are.

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Costumes for Dad

Father's day is just around the corner, so why not surprise your dad or husband with a fun costume for parties and Halloween. Not sure what he'd like? Here are some options that would appeal to every kind of dad.

The sports fanatic – a sports themed costume will always score a touchdown with a sports dad. From football to baseball players, we have a variety of options that are sure to be slam dunk.

The super dad – let him show off his super skills with a superhero costume. Whether he's dressed as Batman or Spider-Man, he'll be the most heroic dad around come this Halloween.

The workaholic – he can be a doctor by day and firefighter by night. There are tons of costumes that work for every occupation.

Still not sure what costume to choose for him? Check out Buycostumes.com for more fun costume ideas for the dad you appreciate all year long!

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New Movie Release -- Transformers 2

Summer blockbusters are in full swing and the next big movie set to hit theaters on June 24 is the long awaited sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. With the first installment of the Transformers franchise grossing over $70 million in its opening weekend back in 2007, the sequel is expected to bring in even bigger numbers.

In celebration of the autobot action flick, buycostumes.com is now offering new for 2009 Transformers costumes and products! Whether you're a fan of Optimus Prime or Bumblebee, you'll be "more than meets the eye" as your favorite transformer this Halloween!

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National Fruit and Vegetable Month

Eventhough we should always eat our share of fruits and veggies to stay healthy, the month of June encourages this even more. Summer brings the gorwing season and Farmer's Markets across the country offer more and more varieties each week. In honor of Fruit and Veggies Month, check out some of hilarious fruit and veggie costumes.

I would fall over laughing if I saw a giant carrot walking down the street. And what about the ever-so-popular Banana costume... remember Bananas in Pajamas?! What a great halloween costume idea... and personalizable with your choice of pajamas! And don't forget the little one...how cute is the peas in the pod infant costume?

So make sure to get extra fresh fruits and veggies this month. Incorporate them into your everyday recipes and diet!

• People who eat more fruits and veggies—as part of a healthy diet—are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases. These diseases include stroke, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and perhaps heart disease.
• The CDC also recommends eating a variety of colors in your fruits and vegetables. The different colors signify the important nutrients that we need to be healthy!

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Sarah Palin Halloween Costume

THE Hottest costume of 2008!
Well, y’know, at BuyCostumes.com, we’re doin’ costumes up Wasilla Main Street-style, here! That’s right; the costume of the year is GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Ms. Sarah Palin! It’s the American way, all-mavericky, and what not. Sarah Palin; Supercandidate. She’s the bestest Team-Maverick-Washington-Outsider-Hunter-Hockey-Mom-Former-Miss-Alaska-Pittbull-With-Lipstick there is, gall darnit! Who WOULDN’T want to be her? Not only that, but with all those various facets, you can pick which one you want to be! You can just switch it up so many different ways. Like for example, she could have the angel wings, or the devil horns—or both (that way, you’re stirrin’ up the controversy)! She could be carryin’ all the different types of newspapers that she loves to read, like The New York Times...
	Y'know, you’re you, and you can do whatever you want until the courts tell you you can’t, but if I were you, I would be the first gal (or guy—we aren’t discriminatin’ here, ‘cause y’know, we’re pretty tolerant folks, here) on your block to wear the Sarah Palin Costume and be the first GOP woman Vice-Presidential candidate aimin’ to make some changes in Washington… Wasilla Main Street-style! Otherwise, you’re just wavin’ the white flag of surrender, and that sure is one thing we don’t want to do!

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I Need A Hero!

Crazy times we're living in, eh? Troubles on Wall Street and plenty of other places around the world, and the politicians are fighting tooth and nail to get into the Presidential seat. Where are Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine, The Fantastic Four, Hawk Girl, Raven, and The Incredibles when you need them? At BuyCostumes.com, that's where! BuyCostumes.com has the most super selection of superhero costumes in the universe! From D.C. Comics to Marvel Comics, and even Pixar, you'll find the best of the best at BuyCostumes.com! Thank goodness, because right now, we need them more than ever! So why do we love these crazy guys and gals in bodysuits, tights and capes? There are all kinds of reasons. They are mysterious, eccentric, maybe a little crazy, but definitely brave, and perhaps most importantly, they are selfless in so many ways. Oh, and usually, they have super powers... this helps a lot! Typically, they also have a weakness, and this makes them human--and loveable. Batman, is my favorite, and maybe one of the big reasons is that he actually doesn't have any super powers at all--he's just a genius, an amazing athelete and warrior... and he's pretty handsome, to boot (and Christian Bale is not bad, either). Plus his arch enemy, The Joker is probably the creepiest and scariest super villain ever, so this keeps things exciting. AND he has awesome vehicles, weapons, and tools!But then there is Spider-Man... he shoots webs and swings from them through New York City and has spider sense, and battles guys like The Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus. And he's a little nerdy apart from being a superhero, which actually makes him cool.

Superheroes... there are so many great ones to choose from and everyone has their favorites for different reasons. Who's your favorite? Whoever it is, chances are, we have him or her here at BuyCostumes.com, along with accessories, party kits, and the whole nine yards.

Maybe the biggest reason for our love of superheros is that they represent hope. They keep on fighting the good fight even in the darkest hour, and in the end, they get the bad guys!

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Club IT UP! –Out and About at the Clubs

What’s hot on the club scene this Halloween? Basically anything goes, and club goers go to BuyCostumes.com for their gear! From super-sexy to silly to freakishly absurd, there isn’t much that you can’t get away with, and the more imaginative, the better! It’s a lot fun to be something totally different than what you are in real life. Want to be a good girl gone bad? Maybe the Malice In Wonderland costume would be a good option for you! And if you’re dating a tough guy, then it would be only natural for him to go as the White Rabbit! You’re sure to get a good laugh from your friends when you sport the unexpected. If you want to be fashionably scary and sexy, then witches and vampires are always great options. For the ladies, I recommend the Burlesque Victorian Vampiress Costume. This is seriously sexy vampiress gear that is definitely risqué with its ultra-mini skirt, but the crimson velvet and black lace give it the dash of drama and sophistication that make it vampire-worthy! And fortunately, there is a Victorian Vampire costume to match for your gentleman; complete with a black and silver Victorian printed vest, and a black cravat. To put it simply, you will make a very striking pair.

Fairy costumes such as Midnight Fairy, Graveyard Fairy, and the Sequined Sprite are hot items, and dressing as these mystical and magical creatures can be even more fun when you add lights and color to the mix! This can be easily done with sparkly, colorful and creative makeup (Shimmer and Shine), and Glowbys for your hair or iGlow Hair Gel (very cool stuff!). And speaking of glow-in-the-dark stuff, BuyCostumes.com also has really cool glow in the dark wigs, such as the Glow Fro or the Glovacious; (kind of a Debbie Harry/Cleopatra style), which are smash hits all by themselves, so just imagine what happens when you put them on!

For a group of seven grrrls (—ahem—young women), BuyCostumes.com has the perfect group costume, “The Seven Deadly Sinners!” All dressed up and raring to go, you and your gal pals can take your favorite place over when you walk in, because as Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Sloth, Jealousy, Pride, and Rage, the crowd will be at your mercy! But what if it’s just two of you? Well, there are also the Starburst Girl and the Emerald Girl who make a dynamite duo as they club cruise together!

Feeling spacey? Get ready to make the jump to hyper-space! BuyCostumes.com has a galaxy of options. Starting with The Jetsons, we offer you Judy, George, Jane and Astro (though he would not be allowed at the club!), non-stop Star Wars, Buzz Lightyear and many more (psst! Ladies, check out the silver boots—wow!)! You say you’re actually feeling “cavey,” eh? Uggh. I know just what you mean! Then you will enjoy dressing up as The Clubbin’ Cave Girl, and if your dude wants to tag along, make him go as the The King of Caves.

Other super popular choices are, of course, superhero costumes like Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, and Captain America. Lots of people like to put fresh spins on supergear to make a splash, and this can be done with shoes, makeup and accessories. Add Monster Boots, funky sunglasses, and again, sparkling makeup to your look for a dazzling, super effect!

So when you go out, go all out! And most importantly, have a fun and safe Halloween!

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Halloween Costumes – Online Shopping With Your Kids

As Halloween draws nearer, so do other holidays, and with that being said, we can all agree that especially this time of year, the days and the time seem to whiz right by. Indeed, time is precious, and whether you work full time, or are home with your kids, one thing for certain is that life is busy. Before you know it, it will be time for Halloween parties and trick or treating. Do your kids have their costumes yet? You can believe that we are very busy here, at BuyCostumes.com, as well! Orders are coming in and going out like there’s no tomorrow, but the great news is that there are still plenty of excellent costumes to choose from (over 1,500 kids’ costumes), and plenty of time to ship your items to your door before Halloween. Simply click on ‘Kids Costumes’ on the menu bar of our web site.
Make It a Halloween Shopping Event

One of the great things about shopping at BuyCostumes.com with your kids is that this can be a great chance to spend some quality time together, picking out costumes and other cool things (like decorations and props) for Halloween. When it can be challenging just to carve out time for fun family activities, why waste the precious moments battling traffic and crowds at the shopping centers? Instead, how about baking some Halloween cookies or other tasty treats, have them with your hot, mulled cider, and sit together at the computer, where you can comfortably share conversations and laughs. Without all the noise and distractions to contend with in a public place, you might be surprised to find that by shopping online together, you can learn more about your child’s likes and dislikes, and general ideas. You might find, for example, that your son or daughter identifies with a particular character that is new to you, or has an interest in a certain period in history. You could find out that he or she wants to be a doctor, or even an astronaut. Who knew? Basically, it’s a chance to bond with your kids that should not be missed!

Not to mention the fact that it’s a quicker process than going out somewhere to hunt for a costume, which means that once you have all your Halloween things picked out and purchased, you can move on to the next fun thing on your list, like pumpkin carving, putting up lights, or playing a game… whatever you choose. The point is, shopping at BuyCostumes.com can be a lovely, stress-free way to simply relax and have fun with your kids.

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Halloween 2008. It’s Fun To Be Scared!

Tradition

With the fall comes thoughts of pumpkins, apples, and butternut squash, turning leaves of crimson and gold, hot cider, and of course; Halloween. Many traditions of Halloween that we practice and enjoy taking part in today were brought to the Americas by Irish immigrants in the 1840s. Celtic people originally celebrated October 31st as their New Year. It was thought that this was a time at which spirits of the dead freely intermingled with those of the living, seeking souls to possess. To make a long story short, notions of dressing up in scary costumes came about because people thought they would frighten away the spirits.

In 2008 the tradition of dressing up in scary costumes is stronger than ever, and in fact, Halloween has become the second largest retail holiday in the nation; the first being Christmas. And while sexy, cute, and funny are very popular costume themes, the fact remains that a big part of what makes Halloween so fun, is that people like to scare and be scared! At BuyCostumes.com, we have nearly every kind of scary costume you can think of, from ghosts and goblins to witches and vampires, and we musn’t forget about Frankenstein and the Werewolf. Such classics are always hot tickets. Something that really makes costumes like these extra spooky, scary and/or creepy are details, i.e., accessories, such as custom fangs or skeleton teeth, and Don Post Makeup!

Masks

Sometimes a good mask can make the costume, and we have plenty to choose from. Some people are terrified of clowns, and sometimes with good reason. Mort I. Fied is possibly one of the scariest clown masks ever made, though Full Moon Killjoy could give him a run for his money. Maybe they should hang out! Other very scary (non-clown) masks worth noting are the Devil Skull mask, the Alien vs. Predator Predalien mask, and pretty much all of the Slipknot masks.

Ghosts are what Halloween are all about, and we have great options for the entire family! Couples will want to check out Pitchfork Pete and Grannie Reaper, or for the seafaring ghosts; Barnacle Bill and Shipwreck Sally. For the guys who want to go in style, try the Ghostly Gent and have the Ghostly Lady be your date! Children will like Ghost Face for a scary one, or Howling Horror is very good, too! For the pooch, we even have Doggie Bones.

Horror Movies

These guys just keep coming back again and again, don’t they? They are the gifts that keep on giving! Michael Myers, Jason, Leatherface, Jigsaw and Saw Pig are some of the legendary characters of horror that are so scary, the temperature drops about 10 degrees when they enter the room. Now, that is quite a trick! And speaking of tricks, if you think those guys are bad, wait until you get a load of Trick ‘r Treat Sam! Scary movie goers cannot wait until this one hits the screen—fall of ’09. But we have his incredibly creepy mask available right now! Happy Trick ‘r Treating!

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Election Masks - Nobody Beats the Original.

Others have tried to copy us, and we respond by simply saying that imitation is the highest form of flattery. But when it comes right down to it, pioneers are the ones who set the stage! BuyCostumes.com is very proud to not only offer the first online electoral mask poll, but hands down; the best, so don’t settle for anything less! Indeed, BuyCostumes.com Official 2008 Presidential Mask Poll is where to go to let your voice be heard! Whether you are a fan of Obama or McCain, Palin or Biden, Hilary or Huckabee, you can have your choice for the all-American great price of $0.99 (what a deal)! And you will be doing your part by participating in a poll that boasts a 100% success rate since the year 2000. Be sure to get your favorite politician now, as we count down the days to Halloween, and the hottest election in U.S. history!

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What's Hot For 2008:

Are you ready for Halloween? If not, have no fear. There is still time, and we’ve got your costume! The 2008 season costume lineup at BuyCostumes.com will set you up and put you at the top of the Halloween celebration! And if you’re looking for some good costume ideas, look no further. For starters, 2008 has been a very big year for movies, and having said that, we warmly welcome back two of our favorite heroes that are sure to add excitement, romance, passion, drama, and humor to every scene: Batman, The Dark Knight and Indiana Jones! Want to impress your friends with the ultimate in silver screen authenticity? Try our Batman Dark Knight Grand Heritage costume! You won’t find a closer match to the one worn in the movie. But if it’s a slightly more casual Batman suit you’re seeking, we have that, too. With over 15 different Batman costumes to choose from for both adults and children, you will be sure to find one that is just right for you. Or, if you’d rather be bad, then perhaps The Joker is more your style. Famous friends and enemies of Batman, not to mention accessories, galore, are all available at BuyCostumes.com!

If you’re more the high adventure type, then be sure to check out the Indiana Jones Deluxe costumes for adults and children! And where would Indy be without Mutt? Not just along for the ride; Indiana’s son, Mutt, has brought a new spark to the old gem, and you can be sure that Mutt will be one hot item this year! And once again, it doesn’t simply stop at costumes. If you’re going to be Indy or Mutt, you’ll need things such as whips, satchels, and weapons! You’ll find them on our site.

Other sure-fire winners of 2008 are the ever-spectacular Transformers, and absolutely anything Star Wars—Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Han Solo and many more are all hot and in-style, since 1977!

For girls, old favorites are the new favorites again! Mermaids and princesses, from Disney’s Ariel to Cinderella are popular year after year. For boys and girls of all ages (and that means adults, too), all superheroes are smash-hits from The Incredible Hulk to the Amazing Spider-Man and loads of others.

Another top choice of men, women and children—and even dogs—is the pirate costume! Why? Because being a pirate is one heck of a good time! We have literally hundreds of items to choose from in this category from cutlasses to eye patches, and from Davy Jones Deluxe to Ship Wreck Sally, the pirate world is your oyster! Say it with us, “Arrrghhh!”

Now, for all the ladies who are looking to spice things up—we know who is really bringing sexy back! That’s right; us girls (sorry, J.T.)! Because we know that truth is, Sexy just don’t go out o’ style. Some of this year’s hottest numbers include: Racy Robin Hood, Dark Heart Queen, Sexy Princess Leia, Vixen Pirate Wench, and Alice Wonder Place. And so who do you call for a good time? You got it; BuyCostumes.com, Baby!

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The Mean Green Killing Machine!

He's back! It was only a few years ago that we saw the revival of "The Incredible Hulk" on the big screen. The movie studio, unhappy with the success (or lack thereof) of the 2003 release decided to "reboot" the Hulk story with an all new story, actors, and director. Fearing that the 2003 release was too introspective to Bruce Banner (read: not enough heart thumping action), the movie makers believed they didn't get it right the first time, so they needed to just do it over. This time around the story will focus on what superhero movies should focus on, the action.

While the movie release is still weeks away, you can already find Hulk themed products everywhere. A trend that we've seen at superhero movies over the past couple years is people dressing up in superhero Halloween costumes at the movie. While it may not be everyone's preferred viewing method, it's a sure fire way to get yourself attention at the movie theater - and the kids who dress up, sure look like they are having fun!

If your kids want to dress up as the hulk this Halloween or for the movie release, check out our Kids Incredible Hulk Costumes.

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How BuyCostumes Photo Shoots are done!!!

Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes of a real live, NOT America’s top model photo shoot?

Hours of planning, structuring, and interviewing go into a shoot. A group of wonderful characters from all walks of life compromise the team-people who you never would think about add to the success. First, the photographer extraordinaire (duh).

Secondly, the photographer’s assistant (the person who helps with lighting, setting up, keeping things moving and doing coffee runs…), stylists (the people who steam the costumes, set them up on the models, who are ON set making sure that not one thing is out of place, pinning them to the models, making sure they look their most absolute best) the hair and make-up people who literally transform great looking people to killer HOT looking people or models into literal nightmares…..

And let’s not forget about the costume designer (me!), the crew that made the samples and without fail, the gorgeous faces and bodies who wear the costumes in front of the camera.

We’ve taken a nice sampling of shots from our most recent photo shoot-costumes, wigs and props for this Halloween 2008. You can most likely figure out who the players are……I’m the old lady in the group….Lori Joory, the designer. (After seeing this, I’m planning on coloring my hair to its color of 20 years ago as well as consulting a reconstructive surgeon….ha, ha!!!) Hope you enjoy the pictures…the shoot was a blast and it was wonderful to see the ideas in my head come to fruition so beautifully….

Special thanks, not necessarily in order…..Dan, Erich, Matt, Gina, Laurel, Crazy Pretty, Jordan “Bree”, Tamara, Nick, Denzell my Favorite Kid, Carolyn, Tessa, Emily, Bill, Tyler, Sharon, Brita, Carrie Mac, Lauren, Baby Doll, Samantha, Jalem, Dan and Neil.

Have a great Halloween everyone. Don’t forget to check out our section of exclusive costumes to see some of these in real life!

Feel free to ask me questions you may have on anything related to this OR the design process at lorij@buyseasons.com!

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Iron Man - The next big costume trend?

With the blockbuster release of "Iron Man" over the weekend, we saw another superhero movie put up huge numbers at the box office. In past years, superhero movies "Spiderman", "Superman", and "Pirates of the Caribbean" had box office success which translated into a lot of interest from the costumes depicting the main characters from these action packed movies.

Looking at trends set by these previous movies, we can expect Iron Man to be a big costume hit this Halloween!

So make sure you don't fall behind the trends and get your iron man kids costume or iron man adult costume before everyone else! Don't forget about iron man party supplies either!

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Donate your kid's old Halloween costumes!

It is the same old story every year - your kids wear their Halloween costumes for one Halloween and then want to be something completely different the next year. That's fine, kid's interests and tastes change and they outgrow old costumes. It is to be expected. But what happens to all of those old costumes? If it's anything like my house, they'll sit in the closet for years and won't see the light of day ever again. Well, that isn't putting them to good use at all.

Rather than letting them rot in your closet, donate them! Here is a short list of places that will accept your old children's costumes and put them to good use:

• Goodwill
• The Salvation Army
• Your local schools
• Children's Hospitals - Throughout the nation
  
• Your local churches

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Halloween Costumes Make Great Year Round Gifts!

How many of you have seen photos of yourself or an older sibling dressed in dad gear, wearing huge Allen Edmonds, dragging a briefcase down the hallway? I was famous for digging out my mother’s wedding gown, veil, pillbox hat, and stiletto heels and tripping around the house – and even the muddy back yard! My family has hundreds of such memories captured on film.

These days, thanks to the prevalence of well made, high quality Halloween costumes, there’s no longer a need to dress up in mom’s old cruise wear and saunter around the house in heels way too big. If that’s the style your little girl is looking for, I’m sure there’s a kids costume that’ll be a perfect substitute.

If you have kids of your own or if you just want to earn favorite uncle or aunt status, start a dress up collection for the kids in your family.

If you don’t know where to start, you can’t go wrong with any High School Musical costume. And it’s not just girls who go gaga for these…. Boys idolize Troy too. So this is a perfect family pick. The kids will be entertained for hours! And, if you play a CD of the music, so will anyone else in the room. It’s amazing how well young, carefree kids can perform!

Another great gift idea for any young girl is the Deluxe Hannah Montana costume, complete with wig. If you can’t get Hannah Montana concert tickets for your kids, have them perform their own show at home. It’ll be much less expensive and will promote singing and dancing in your house.

Superheroes always go over well! Who doesn’t want to save the world from evil and look cute doing it! A few classics to pick from are Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman and SuperGirl. If you want to be timely, just find out which movies are popular and buy the corresponding costume. Spiderman and Transformer’s Optimum Prime are two real popular costumes for kids right now.

Princess costumes, Disney in particular, are also must haves for any young girl and one can never have too many… Boring old slumber parties can turn into fantasy princess parties if there are enough costumes to go around.

If you have an extended family that gets together for celebrations, pick up some costumes to accompany the theme. For example, with Easter right around the corner, think of how much fun it would be to have the kids hunting for eggs dressed up as bunnies or chicks? Easter costumes, Thanksgiving costumes, Christmas costumes, if you celebrate it, you can find kid costumes for it.

So make it easy on yourself and add Halloween costumes to the list of potential gifts for the little ones in your family. They make the perfect stocking stuffer, Easter Basket filler, birthday present, or surprise gift.

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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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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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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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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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New 2007 Costume Trends

Sexy

364 days out of the year it's "business casual" or "jacket required." On the 365th. why not toss the rules aside and strut your stuff? Sexy costumes are some of the most popular choices every year on BuyCostumes.com. Wait, I know what you’re going to say — sometimes sexy costumes are, well, maybe just a little too sexy. But, for those of us that want to have fun with the va-va-va-voom, while maintaining a shred of decency (and maybe dignity), relax — there's quite a large selection out there of risqué, but not risky, attire. Think vampy, not trampy. Oh, and "sexy" doesn't have to mean "rail-thin," either. You can find well over a hundred great examples in plus sizes, too.

Outrageous
In my experience, you get the most fun out of Halloween in a humorous costume. People stop you and say, "That’s hilarious," or "Awesome! Where did you get that?" I'd take a pass on the more vulgar varieties, though, unless you're planning to move out of town the next day. Pick out something outrageous rather than tacky. Humorous costumes make for great group themes or they can stand alone and create quite a buzz at any party. Costume Contest Alert — wear a funny costume and your chances of winning go way up!

Kid-iculous
Ever look back on those pictures from your childhood Halloweens and say, "Mom, how could you have dressed me up like that?" Well, don’t think for a minute that she didn't know exactly what she was doing. Parents, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to dress up your babies in the silliest outfits imaginable! It gets a laugh out of neighbors, family and friends — and makes for an ideal for photo op (think holiday cards for this year).

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