Women of the ’90s

Posted on May 29, 2012 by admin

Whether you were 20, 30, 40 or 50 in the 1990s, the women of that decade continue to inspire fashion-forward thinking for Halloween. Here are five of the most influential ladies of 90s culture that continue to challenge me to make my costumes bigger, flashier with more bling.

I hope this list inspires you to really get in touch with your inner grunge and explode with color, baggy pants and high waisted shorts.

Parker Posey was one of the indie film world’s “it” girls in the ‘90s. Just Netflix any of her movies and you’ll see amazingly dated clothing that will make you want to magically be transported to 1994. It was another world back then. Jean shorts, high pony tails with crop tops, hot pinks and lime greens. You could put almost any pattern together with another pattern.
Melissa Joan Heart from Clarissa Explains It All heavily influenced my daughters in the ‘90s. Her teenage look can be replicated with a pre-Brittany Spears innocence. I just love her hair.
Nicole Kidman was stunning before her divorce from Tom Cruise. I love her red, curly hair from Far and Away. Whatever film of hers you base your costume off of, you’ll feel elegant and stunning.
Meg Ryan is the cute blonde that everybody wants to be friends with, right? Well, capture her adorable You’ve Got Mail feel this Halloween and really play up the retro feel.
Julia Roberts skyrocketed to mega-fame in the ‘90s, but I’ll always love her Runaway Bride sneakers under her wedding dress.

Who have I left out? When you think back to the ‘90s, who do you want to be? I’d love to know!

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

Atten-HUT! It’s Patriotic Costume Time!

Posted on May 21, 2012 by admin

Patriotic Costumes For Women

Memorial Day is Monday, May 28 of next week and Independence Day is just around the corner, we women have even more chances to strut our stuff in some fire engine red heels inspired by a sense of national pride.

I might be a little too far on the south side of 40 to go out dressed in these outfits, but that doesn’t mean I don’t just love a women’s costume with a gorgeous silhouette. If you got it, flaunt it, right ladies? In fact, some people might argue that it is your patriotic duty to look like your inner hottie. Just check out this “Little Firecracker” costume that you can wear to that backyard dress-up barbecue you’re going to throw.

Besides, if you are careful, you can find a flirty patriotic costume that’ll be just right for you. Women who are more conservative can don any red-white-and-blue outfit to get in the spirit of the occasion. If you look, many costume retailers have sequined blouses that would go great with those Uncle Sam style hats.

If you are young and want to make an impression, there are darling soldier’s uniform dresses, the Statue of Liberty, and sailor costumes galore. If you happen to be have a friend who served our country, why not dress up and pay them a U.S.O. style visit? If you know of older Veterans who are alone on the holidays, a cute woman in patriotic costume can certainly lift their spirits.

Dressing up can be a display of national pride, and why not make this year’s patriotic holidays as memorable as possible?

Happy holidays!

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

Classic Women

Posted on May 19, 2012 by admin

It’s incredibly helpful to keep lists of costumes for Halloween. As a woman I forget how many powerful and sexy ladies have come before me. And since Halloween is all about the magic and fun of becoming someone or something else for an evening, I like to be able to see all of my options laid out in front of me.

Here is my personal list of five of the most iconic female personas that I would want to dress up as this Halloween. What are yours?

Dolly Parton – Yes, I know Dolly is looking a bit scary these days from all of the plastic surgery she’s undergone. But, if you remember her adorable hair and crazy outfits from the 70s and 80s, you’ll understand why I can’t wait to be her this Halloween.
June Carter Cash – Her simple look, and big smile is such a classic 1960s country-singer style. If you want something to do this Halloween, pack your guitar and sing harmonies with friends at this year’s Halloween party.
Helen of Troy is the face that launched 1,000 ships. Why, every woman wanted to be Helen. In her Grecian robes and long gold chains, Helen was the epitome of sexy in ancient times.
Priscilla Presley was the King of Rock and Roll’s gorgeous bride. What could be more fun than dressing up in her stunning wedding regalia? Just make sure you have plenty of pomade.
Brigitte Bardot is certainly all things 1960s and French. A sex-icon of the 60s and 70s, her style and flamboyant nature is quite fun to capture in a costume.

Attractive Halloween Costumes

Posted on May 8, 2012 by admin

Let’s be honest. A lot of women Halloween take it as an excuse to dress somewhat more… shall we say risky? Don’t get me wrong, I was every bit as guilty of this in my younger days. Halloween is a great time to cut loose and act slightly out of character. However, Halloween isn’t an excuse to be on bad behavior overboard. There’s nothing wrong with a little fun, but you shouldn’t lose your head. Save that for sleepy hollow. With this in mind, here are some times you might consider dressing a little more extravagantly.

An adult only work party.

Usually you have to be so conservative at work it might be a little fun to show off your wild side. Show a little leg and have fun. But don’t take it too far; keep it in good fun and conscious.

A costume competition.

There are two directions to go with a costume competition. One (which is the direction I typically go), you dress up in a stellar Halloween costume, blowing the crowd away with your sensational recreation or ingenuity. Two, you strut your stuff. Typically option one wins it, but that doesn’t make option two any less fun. Again, respectability is the name of the game. Have fun but don’t overdo it.

You’ve recently lost weight or gotten into better shape.

This is a great reason to show a little more leg. After all that hard work you deserve to show it off a little!

No matter what route or reason, whether it’s a sailor costume, a schoolgirl getup, or cheering on the team, make sure to stay safe and sane. Enjoy responsibly and have a happy Halloween!

Halloween Stockings

Posted on May 6, 2012 by admin

At Halloween it can be easy to overlook small details, but even if you don’t like stockings, tights or pantyhose, you know they can make all the difference.

Now you can find nylons in any style, color or pattern imaginable. So why not try to incorporate them into your look?

Here are some simple ways to use pantyhose for your next costume:

As fake tattoos – Many stocking companies now sell specially made nylons that look like tattoos. Whether for your arms or legs these fake tattoos look convincing and provide a great touch to any costume, for man or woman.
Black and white stripes- Stripes evoke the Wicked Witch of the East from the Wizard of Oz. Nothing is more iconic than when her legs shrivel up after Dorothy has taken the Ruby slippers. If you want to be a wicked witch than this is a must for you.
Using shear nylons to glue on plastic cockroaches or spiders is another great way to make it look as though you are crawling with life. Maybe you want to be a decomposing bride or a mummy, this is a simple way to add a lifelike touch without gluing anything to your skin.
Gory tights make it look like your oozing with blood without having to make up your legs or arms. Sometimes when you get home from a late night party all you want to do is crawl into bed, but if you have caked on layers of makeup, this is not a good idea. These tights make it easier to get in and out of your costume without the cleanup.

Don’t forget that you can get tights in neon colors, with stripes, circles, diamonds or zig zags. With clouds, butterflies or glitter, you have so many options to choose from you might never go back to naked legs.

Popular Halloween Costumes

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin

When it comes to Halloween costumes, trends will come and go, as with many other things. As an avid fan of Halloween costumes, I have watched intently as these trends have risen and fallen over the years. When it comes to what is popular, there are usually two different categories: popular classics that have always been popular and newly popular costumes that have only recently become that way. Either way, a popular costume is a great choice for your next party or Halloween.

If you want to go with the classic popular costumes, you will have tons of great choices. These include old standbys such as cowboy, pirate, angel, cheerleader, ghost, vampire, cat, sexy nurse, zombie, mummy, and others. These have been favorites for several generations and continue to be to this day. You can always put a new twist on an old favorite to change it up a bit. For example, you could be a pirate ghost or a vampire nurse. So get creative and make one of these classic popular costumes your own.

The second category of popular costumes that you can choose to go with would be trendy new popular costumes. These usually come from hit movies or TV shows that are popular these days. Another part of this category that has recently gained popularity in the mainstream is video game character costumes. Some examples would be characters from The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers, or Angry Birds. Keeping up on these new trends will put you at the frontline of new costumes. So have fun and choose a popular costume for your next costume event.

Popular Costumes for Women

Posted on April 23, 2012 by admin

When it comes to women’s Halloween costumes, there are some that tried and true and standbys that will always be popular. And there are also trendy new women’s Halloween costumes that have recently become popular as well. Between these two categories, women should never have any trouble finding a popular costume to wear for Halloween or any other occasion such as a costume party or another holiday to name some examples.

As for the category of timeless popular womens Halloween costumes, the “sexy” fill in the blank is always a good choice. There is the classic sexy nurse, or sexy cat, or even sexy dog (I might have made that last one up). Also in this category are the classic angel, princess, Disney character, and cheerleader. When it comes to the second category of trendy new costumes, you have to be a bit more up on current events, TV shows, and movies. Some examples of popular new costumes today are Snooki from Jersey Shore, Angry Birds from the smash hit video game, characters from the movie Avatar, and there are always great new womens superhero costumes to check out as well.

So if you are a woman and looking for a great costume for Halloween or for any other reason, whether you go with the popular classics or the popular trendy new costumes, you will never be at a loss for a great costume that will let you feel sexy or like a princess. So have fun and get your costume on!

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.

Costume Inspiration: Old Hollywood Glamour

Posted on April 20, 2012 by admin

Every Halloween I have to look at the past before I can feel inspired for the future. That’s why I love old movie stars so much. They continually inspire me to dress up, wear outfits I would have never imagined and be fashionable even when it rains or snows.

Here is my list of the top five most influential Hollywood stars who help get me ready to dress up. I hope they can help you too.

Audrey Hepburn – Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady, the list goes on! Her petite frame could wear almost anything, and her boy-short locks are just darling. I love to get short hair ideas from her because I think she always looked elegant and daring. But, even with her long hair there are no substitutes for cute and chic.
Grace Kelly is so elegant she became a real life princess. Her iconic blonde look is what most women think of when they imagine what it is to be glamourous. Her dresses, while full skirted, always had a tiny waist. And her platinum hair was perfectly styled. Betty Draper from Mad Men is most definitely modeled on her look.
Elizabeth Taylor gave fashion a bold new look. Her black hair and penchant for wearing deep greens and bold reds certainly inspires even the most timid of women. Not to mention the jewelry. If only I could be so bold.
Marilyn Monroe is every curvy woman’s best friend. She could wear plunging necklines and tight pencil skirts, and so can you. Her hair moved naturally, even if the color wasn’t. Don’t forget those cherry red lips!
Rita Hayworth may be the oldest of these beauties, but her looks evoke the 1940s without a second thought. If you want to dress up as a soldier’s girl, a nurse, or anything related to the second world war, Hayworth is your model.

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related..

Halloween Hair Pt. 2 – Dyed, Styled and Crazy

Posted on April 8, 2012 by admin

In last week’s post I talked about different tips of wigs and ways to incorporate them into your Halloween fun. This week I want to focus on different ways to color and style your hair so that it can take a life of its own this Halloween.

Some of my favorite temporary methods for dying your hair include using color hair spray, or hair paint to color your hair. Henna dyes work well for a look that will last 4-6 weeks, it is especially good if you want a natural looking red. Using pastel crayons you can color your hair for a night or two, just remember this is extremely messy and may get onto your clothing. Hair extensions can be fun ways to spike your hair with color, especially if you dye them before you add them to your hair. Box colors are not my favorite. The results always vary drastically. If you don’t mind something semi-permanent see your hairstylist.

There are plenty of looks you can accomplish if you decide to color your hair. Here are my favorites:

An actual beehive is a great look that can be done to anyone with long hair. Wrap braids around the top of your head until it is in the shape of a beehive. Then spray yellow hair dye onto the beehive itself. Use leaves and fake fuzzy bees from your local craft store to complete the look.
If your son has long enough hair you can make a realistic surfer catching a wave. Just dye the top section of his hair blue, then using either glue or heavy duty hair spray form his hair into a wave. Using a mini-Ken Barbie doll, you can attach a surfer to the side of his head.
Turning hair into grass complete with bugs, worms and flowers can be a great way to make a complete costume ecosystem. Just spray your hair green, pin bugs, butterflies and flowers into the hair and have fun.

Halloween Hair Part 1 – Wigs

Posted on April 1, 2012 by admin

Creating the perfect look can be difficult. That’s why we spend so much time on hair and makeup when trying to create a perfect costume. Sometimes though, what you have naturally isn’t enough to portray the character you’ve chosen. Sometimes you have to alter your physical appearance enough to give the proper illusion that you are in fact this other person.

There are two ways that we can do this, one by wearing wigs, the other by dying our hair. Today I’m going to tackle the best alternative solutions to wearing a standard wig. I hope you enjoy.

The hair hat-wig is a practical and fun way to get crazy with your costume. Made popular by Lady Gaga, the ready wear knit wig comes in an assortment of colors, or you can knit your own. This wig looks great in pink.
Curly ribbon wigs are easy to make and look great on adults and kids alike. Use a headband as the basis from which to make your wig. This is especially cute if used for a clown costume as many curling ribbons come in bright colors and are easily knotted into curly wigs.
A hair bow is a great wig extension that can be worn on a headband or clipped directly to your natural or wig covered head. It evokes Hello Kitty, Lady Gaga and modern Japanese anime characters. You can also cut it into two parts and create life-like cat ears.
Yarn wigs are a traditional staple for children’s Rapunzel costumes, but there’s so much that you can do with one. Raggedy Ann, any long-haired Disney princess, or Princess Leia. Easy to make, just follow this tutorial.
If you’re looking just to make a traditional Halloween wig that you buy from Target or a Halloween store look authentic, follow this tutorial from YouTube. She explains how to make a natural looking hair part and how to style it freely.

In my next post we’ll discuss ways to dye your hair to achieve that perfect look for your Halloween costume. Stay tuned!