Halloween is admittedly my favorite holiday. The crisp cool nights, the spider webs collecting dew, the excitement in the air as the imagination reaches to the otherworld, conjuring ideas of unsettled spirits and life beyond flesh...
That, and it's fun to play dress up.
And even though it's September, it's never too early to start considering your costume. Here, I've compiled a list of awesome costume ideas and places in the South Sound to find them.
Let's start with pop culture:
It would be a shame not to predict a Miley Cyrus or two in the crowd this Halloween. It's super easy to re-create her hairstyle, costume and poses in the viral (and vile) video of her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Just put tiny buns on the top of your head like bug antennae, find nude bra and panties, and attempt to twerk. This costume would work for couples as well - just find a Beetlejuice costume and microphone and play up Robin Thicke. Check Goodwill or Value Village for this one.
Speaking of couples, how about re-creating Walter White and Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad? Yellow hazmat suits, a gas mask or goggles and a bad-ass attitude are about all you need for this one. If you're a sucker for details, be sure to find a bald cap, glasses and grow (or buy) a van dyke to get Walter just right. A beer bottle in hand for either character wouldn't hurt either. You may be able to find a few of the details at home or a thrift store, but the hazmat and gas masks will be easiest to find on the Internet. A look on eBay or Amazon shows you can find them as low as $15.
A classic take on pop-culture couples brings to mind Mork and Mindy, Peg and Al Bundy, and Wayne and Garth. All three of these costumes can be pieced together at thrift shops. For Mork, finding rainbow suspenders, which can be paired with any late '70s or early '80s outfit, is key. Mindy needs some vintage duds, too, and both need to have flowy hair and say "nanoo nanoo." Peg and Al are easy, too. Heels, leggings, cleavage and teased hair are all it takes for Peggy, and Al needs a cheesy business shirt and tie, a scowl and one hand in the pants. Wayne and Garth need dark and blonde mullets, respectively, trucker hats, and excellent swagger.
For singles, couples or groups, zombies are a hot-ticket again this year. Seems you can't go wrong with gore, brain-eating and Thriller-inspired get-ups. To make your zombie costume stand out in a crowd, though, try putting some back story into it. Maybe you are a rocker zombie, impaled by a drum stick. Or maybe you were fishing the day you were attacked and fishing lures are hanging from your clothes and flesh. Get creative! Again, a thrift store will have what you need - cut up and bloody some old clothing, and make sure to drag your limbs and make moaning noises. The makeup is probably the hardest part. Click here for expert advice to create low-budget gore and paper mache zombie masks.
Tacoma Goodwill, 8025 S Hosmer St, Tacoma, 253.531.8058.
Lacey Goodwill, 1145 Galaxy Dr Ne, Lacey, 360.413.7191. 4800 Yelm Hwy Se, Lacey, 360.456.1800.
Olympia Goodwill, 400 Cooper Point Rd Sw Ste A, Olympia, 360.956.0669.
Tacoma Value Village, 6802 19th St W, University Place, 253.460.7828; 8025 S Hosmer St, Tacoma, 253.539.0886.
Olympia Value Village, 604 Sleater Kinney Rd Se, Lacey, 360.923.2410.