Git along little doggie
It’s time to think about the Halloween costume
Oh Halloween, the pseudo-holiday that gives us an excuse to hang spooky decorations in our homes, watch scary movies, binge eat “snack size” candies and, of course, dress in silly costumes.
“We all love dressing up for Halloween because it’s an opportunity to be creative and become something or someone that we usually aren’t during the rest of the year,” Vivian Lam, a costume consultant at the Value Village store in South Vancouver, says.
“It’s not every day you get to wear an animal costume, be a can of Spam or dress up like the latest international viral sensation (such as) Pen Pineapple Apple Pen without getting a second look from strangers.”
If you’re wondering what the hottest costume of Halloween 2016 will be, well, you may want to look down south for that answer. “As far as celebrities go, we have a lot of people who come in looking for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton with the election happening in the U.S.,” Lam says.
But the contentious candidates for the American presidency won’t be the only familiar faces we are likely to see roaming the streets on Oct. 31.
“We’re also seeing people coming in for David Bowie and Prince costumes since they had such iconic styles,” Lam explains.
While celebrities will always be a popular costume option — and are sure to be an easy conversation starter at Halloween parties — there are a plethora of other costume ideas that are refreshingly diverse, ranging from cute and funny to a tad freaky.
“Our annual Halloween survey revealed that nearly one third of Canadians want their costume to make them look beautiful, handsome or sexy,” Lam says. “But we are starting to see more customers move away from it in favour of costumes that show less skin and more creativity.”
While there will always be the those who choose to don classic costumes such as vampires and witches, not to mention the “sexy” version of just about everything you can think of (sexy Skittle, anyone?), the top costumes of the year for kids, adults and even pets are ones that borrow from pop culture.
“Pokémon Go, Suicide Squad and Star Wars were all top picks, and we’re also seeing that costumes from Frozen are still popular for kids,” Lam explains. “Nostalgic figures from movies, TV and music have also been coming back in full force so it’s safe to say you can never rule anything out.”
Thankfully, many of this year’s best costume ideas are also DIY-friendly.
“Having fun and being creative with your Halloween costume doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on it,” Lam says. “Oftentimes, the best costumes are the ones made from pieces found at a thrift store because they’re one of a kind.”
Start with a staple item such as a Hawaiian-print shirt, overalls or crazy printed pants from a thrift store, and then add in elements of “new” to make the look unique. The new-isbetter approach is also best for items where hygiene comes into play such as masks and wigs.
For truly theatrical get-ups that are too tricky for the mix-and-match approach, many thrift stores such as Value Village bring in a comprehensive selection of “gently used” costumes that have been donated throughout the year.
Feeling particularly lazy? Pick up an item or outfit — or pull something from your closet at home that you don’t mind ruining — and “zombify” it.
“All you have to do is take any outfit or costume — wedding dress, sports uniform, or a business suit for example — and rip, cut, run over and stain it with fake blood to create a zombie version,” Lam says. “Add a touch of face makeup and you’re all set.”
Another easy option? Animals. Whether opting for one of those creepy horse masks or a time-tested feline effect, dressing like something from the zoo is often an affordable option for even the smallest of costume budgets. And it’s an especially cute option for kids and pets, too.
“A black cat is always an easy and cute thrifty DIY costume that only requires a black top, black pants or skirt, black shoes, some black face makeup for whiskers and a matching set of ears and a tail,” Lam says. “You could easily find that all for under $15.”
Lam says other easy DIY options are Rosie the Riveter, Ash from Pokémon Go or an instructor from a neon-infused ’80s or ’90s workout video. “Chances are you can create just about any costume you want with pieces from a thrift store,” Lam says.
As long you put a little imagination into your party getup, it’s sure to be met with rave reviews. And then, all the fun you had while planning and putting together the ultimate Halloween costume will have been an added treat.