What Should I Dress Up As For Halloween? Head To The Movies!

Posted on October 15, 2012 by admin

Sometimes there are so many options for costumes at Halloween, that it can be hard to narrow it down to just pick one or two ideas. When that happens to me, I usually try to narrow down the field a bit…I’ll pick a favorite singer, or actor, or classic evil character.

If you happen to be a movie buff, it’s even easier to decide on a costume since there are dozens of movie-based costumes out there to choose from. For you women, I’ve selected a few of my favorite ideas from around the web. Check them out below.

Princess Leia

If you’ve got the bod, then this might be the year you head out dressed as the one and only darling from Star Wars, Princess Leia. Forever hailed by young geeky teens from the late 70s and 80s as a first onscreen crush, a Leia costume us sure to draw attention your way. If you remember the 90s sitcom “Friends” the episode that features Rachel dressing up as Princess Leia is still pretty funny and is evidence of the effect the character had on hormone-filled teens of the time. Plus, it’s completely hot. (Why am I so old!? *Pouting.)

Alice In Wonderland

The latest film version of the story “Alice In Wonderland” from my personal favorites, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp had me at hello. (Hard to believe it was even a product of milquetoast-girl-heroes-movie-maker, Disney.) If ever there were a film that got the idea of a heroine right, this is it. And, it makes the idea of going out in a baby blue tea party gown dressed in an Alice In Wonderland costume very appealing. This one is good because you can either go as cute, sexy or like the classic character.

Edward ScissorHands For Her

Another nod to Johnny Depp for this outfit, because it’s based on the film, “Edward ScissorHands”. I remember watching the ice dance scene with Winona Ryder and wishing I were that girl dancing in the snow.

But, this year, with the new female-friendly Edward costume, I think it would be more fun to run around with scissors on my hands. Who wants to be sweet little Kim when you could be interesting and troubled Edward? As Jim said in the film, “Sweetheart, you can’t buy the necessities of life with cookies.”

Pregnant? Great Costumes For The Mom-To-Be

Posted on September 27, 2012 by admin

So, how do you get a costume around this? Photo via blog.sfgate.com

I know so many women who absolutely thrive on dressing up for Halloween, but some of them really struggle if the Halloween holiday falls during a pregnancy. It’s true, finding a maternity costume can really be difficult… you feel fat, you don’t want to look silly, and no one really likes that whole “pregnant nun” costume your hilarious husband thinks you should wear.

I know plenty of women who love Halloween, love dressing up, but when it comes to being preggo during the holiday, they are at a loss. Who can blame them? Trying to find a costume that is flattering and comfortable can be very tricky. Thankfully, all of those creative costume folks have listened to what the mommy bloggers have to say, and they have responded by coming up with lots of great ideas.

If you are a lil’ momma-to-be, don’t sit it out this Halloween because you didn’t find a costume! If you read on the internet much, I bet you’ve guessed by now that I have some TIPS for you! (I don’t know why that is, but every blogger with access to a keypad has to write at least 30 obligatory posts on their top 10 tips! Haha.) Nonetheless, if you are in need of a pregnant belly Halloween idea, I’ve got some ideas for you.

Grin & Bare It

If you are comfortable in your own skin, and don’t mind a little body paint, there are no limits to what you can create with a pregnant bod. Fish bowls, Jack-o-lanterns, cookie jars, and football helmets are just a few of the ideas you can draw from if you want to turn your bulging belly into a Halloween work of art.

Let Your Inner Demon Take Over

Devil Lady Maternity Adult Costume

Inner demon? You see what I did there? No, your baby-to-be may not be naughty yet, but I assure you, the day will come when you wonder what possessed your sweet little bundle. Halloween is a great time to celebrate the spirit of the wicked kid in all of us. And, besides that, we both know you’re gonna have a hard time staying away from the trick-or-treat candy, so why not go as your favorite Halloween evil-doer? Witches, devils and vampires (You can thank Bella Swan for that) are easy to adapt to a mommy body.

Take Advantage of That Pregnant Glow

Fairy Maternity Adult Costume

Conversely, if the thought of bringing new life into the world has you a bit sentimental, maybe you’ll want to stick to a more ethereal costume… angels, fairies…pretty much any of the women-wearing-glitter costumes would be suitable.

The best part is that if you go with a costume that has some kind of hand-held accessory, say a wand, pitchfork or broom, these can double as a hand-smacking weapon should any of the holiday crazies want to go in for an unwanted pregnant lady belly-rub. Hiiii-yaaaa!

But what if you are close to your due date and don’t want to hassle with a full night of wearing heels or itchy fabric? No worries! If you just aren’t up to going all-out, you can do some really incredible Halloween make-up and hair, and wear a clever Halloween t-shirt in lieu of a full costume.

The idea is to have a great time on Halloween, even if that means you lie back with your feet up, and much on Halloween goodies.

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.

The Sexiest Halloween Costumes for 2012

Posted on September 24, 2012 by admin

Channeling your inner military babe

Sexy costumes from "Mean Girls" Movie

Okay, I know that there’s something to be said for not blatantly exploiting women’s sexual physical attributes with a Halloween costume. Sure, it’s a cliche to go as a sex goddess on Halloween, but that said, I know plenty of women who really love that they can dress up in a more risque outfit on Halloween without being judged. Many women work very hard dieting, exercising and toning to get an amazing bod, and you can’t blame them for occasionally wanting to show off all of that hard work. But, you don’t have to have a perfect physique to dress up in a sexy costume, lots of stores have plus-size costumes that fit the bill, as well.

Plus given the wide-acceptance and success of book, E.L. James’ “50 Shades of Grey”, there are more than a few women out there who love the any hem-length goes attitude on Halloween.

Gale Williams Sexy Witch 1940s photo via Sexywitch.wordpress.com

“In the regular world, Halloween is when children dress up in costumes and beg for candy. In Girl World, Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it,” as Lindsay Lohan said in the film, “Mean Girls.” When it comes to dressing up in a super sexy costume on Halloween, it’s fairly safe to say that its a trend with some staying power. For instance, sexy Halloween costumes (and the debate about them) have been around for decades.

From Gale William’s sexy witch costume from the 1940s, to the popular “French Maid” look of the 50s, to those hot Betty Grable Halloween pictures for Lloyd’s of London, sexy Halloween is hot and it’s there to stay. Luckily for you young women, there are some great costumes to be scored if the sexy route is the one you want to go. Just make sure you have some kind of cape to drape around yourself should you run into your dad, college dean, pastor or other authority figure. Other than that, be safe, have fun and flaunt that amazing figure of yours.

Sexy Womens Katy Perry California Gurls Cupcake Costume When looking for some incredibly sexy costumes for Halloween 2012, keep your eyes peeled for the Lady Carmen costume and the “Grease” Bad Sandy costume. Plus, I’m betting money that the top sexy women’s costume this year is anything inspired by sexpot popstar “Katy Perry.”

Sigh, if only I were young again….

Emma Rae Curtis is a costume, dressing-up, makeup and accessories expert. She mainly writes about fun Halloween party, craft, and costume ideas, but she especially loves writing about all things costume and dress-up related.

Try Out Harajuku Fashion This Halloween

Posted on August 27, 2012 by admin

Gwen Stefani incorporated the Harajuku Fashion style into her musical facade in recent years, Harajuku is a fun, Japanese style of street fashion that meshes punk and anime mixed with a little bit of gothic influence in there. Not only that, but for Halloween, a harajuku costume is an amazing idea.

Gwen Stephani Harajuku costume via thesocietypages.org

If you picture teens parading around dressed like Rainbow Brite, you pretty much have it. Many different styles of clothing can be used, from the Victorian look to the very bare skinned sexy look, but it must have bright color. I mean like neon bright color, and pink seems to be the favorite.

The other side of the whole get up is the make up. Playing off of a Geisha’s white porcelain looking face, they design around the eyes and lips as though they are works of art. Body art. The hair is bleached or dyed bright colors of the rainbow and glasses are definitely statements in and of themselves. They are quite amazing to behold, but could you dress that way everyday?

If you are one of those “closet Harajukus”, use Halloween to let her out and be expressive and flamboyant for one night. That is what the holiday is for! But it feels too overwhelming to put it together? Let me help you out. This one will be basic, but will show you how to do it.

Pick a color scheme. Once you know what colors you want to look for, the rest is easy. I chose the crisp, girly colors of pink, black and white. So, I browsed the internet looking for bright, vivid harajuku costumes for some inspiration on an outfit and lucked out!
After I chose the dress, I picked out tights. Something graphic that would really pop against the color. So I chose the black and white diamond tights. They remind me of the jesters of a king’s court that are always so vibrant and catch the eye.
Now, I look for shoes and while I could go with either black or white anything, I know I am going to use legwarmers, so I am opting to use a clear sandal and paint my toes pink and black alternating.
Now, I pick my bright pink legwarmers. I will be scrunching them down, I want the vivid black and white to be showing, but I love the look of the leg warmers covering the shoes a little bit. It is such a contradictory clash of styles that I think is great!
If your own hair doesn’t suit the style, find a wig. Generally a very colorful or punky look fits it well.
The make up takes a little more finesse, but I would bet you could find all sorts of tutorials and tips on youtube! Whether you do up a white face or a foundation face, you will still look amazing! Here’s a great tutorial for you watch below.
Happy experimenting!

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.

Let Them Eat Cake? Really, Marie Antoinette?

Posted on August 6, 2012 by admin

Marie Antoinnette Costume

I’m going to let you in on a little secret that you may not have known about me: I am secretly obsessed with the Country of France, and everything about it. I was trying to find a way to tie this passion into one of my other passions which you are all so aware of, Halloween. So, I sat around for a good ten minutes before I realized what I could do: Revolutionary French Halloween costumes! I don’t know why it took me 10 minutes to come up with it…I must have forgotten my pills that morning.

Here’s the funny thing about the French Revolution. After all that happened in it, the only thing that people (or at least Americans) seem to remember is Marie Antoinette and her infamous phrase “Let them eat cake!” Well, let me let you in on a secret: there is no proof that Marie Antoinette ever uttered this phrase. I know, I know, I just shattered your whole universe, but there is no proof that she ever said that. Well, anyway, she is a popular figurehead and so are her clothes.
The mantua dress is to Marie Antoinette as Marie Antoinette is to the French Revolution. Every courtly woman at the time wore a mantua, yet when an image of one is shown, the only association most people are able to make in their brain is “Marie Antoinette”. That’s okay, because is there really much that needs to be known about the mantua anyway? Not really.
The only thing that needs to be known about the mantua is that it makes a great Halloween costume! At one time, it used to be really popular but lately, with all the talk of vampires and Katniss Everdeen, Marie Antoinette has fallen by the wayside. However, Marie and her mantua are always an excellent costume idea for your next Halloween party.

Mantuas, otherwise known as Marie Antoinette dresses, can be found in most costume stores, and even most department stores. The next essential thing to have is the powdered wig, though historically, women did not wear powdered wigs. That was left to the men. But to Americans, the outfit is not complete without the wig. Don’t forget the white make-up and bright red lipstick and pearls look very elegant strung across the throat.

If you want your man to join you in the French Revolutionary garb, stick him in a pair of knee highs and knickers with a kerchief and a powdered wig and you will be all set to impress as an 18th century Marie Antoinette. Plus, you can “wow” everyone with the fact that you know that it’s not a Marie Antoinette dress; it’s called a mantua.

And make sure to blurt out the famous-but-never-actually-uttered phrase, “Let them eat cake!”

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.

Theme Costume Ideas for Halloween

Posted on July 17, 2012 by admin

If you are having trouble coming up with an easy costume theme, the “decade” idea is a great fall-back. It can make fun and hilarious costumes for parties.

Start by thinking about what time period in our recent history fits you and makes you smile? Are you the poodle skirt and saddle shoes girl or the spandex jumpsuit disco freak that boogies down? How sexy do you want your costume to be?

Before you start your shopping, you should have some idea of what you are looking for or you may feel very overwhelmed. There is so much out there in costume land that your brain will be screaming at you before you finally decide on something and then it may not even be what you initially wanted. Figure it out before you shop.

When most think decade costumes, they think 60s. Groovy, crazy colors in awesome patterns, stretchy polyester fabrics and thigh high boots. Those were some fun times and some pivotal times in our history. A zany, slinky dress with a bell sleeve maybe, add some boots and a wig (if you aren’t blessed with great hair), and you’ve got it.

Don’t forget the 50s! Didn’t you watch “Grease”? And not to mention all the pin-ups from that time were amazing! Some think that the further you go back in years, the sexier it gets with the corsets or the flapper style dresses. It is all a matter of perception, but women were just that then…women.

Get the party started when you arrive in the 80s style, all fishnets and tutus, suspenders and glitter! The 1980s were a loud and colorful time of self expression so go ahead, “Express Yourself”!

No matter the look you are after, thirty years of history gives it to you. It is up to you to find your fit. Whether you are looking for something sweet or a very sexy costume, there are many outlets there to help you achieve it. Stick to what you see in your mind! It is possible!

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.

Save the World…Together!

Posted on July 9, 2012 by admin

At Halloween, one of the most fun things to do is to try to come up with a costume that you and your loved ones can wear together. That way, when people come up you at the party, they’ll say, “Oh, look at you two, you’re so and so. You’re so cute!” and you’ll beam with pride. If you’re in need of an idea for a group costume, there’s few things more popular than superheroes lately.

With “The Avengers” breaking all kinds of box office records and “The Amazing Spider-Man” opening that recently opened, (It’s getting pretty decent reviews.) people are naturally going to want to dress up as superheroes. So why not join in the fun and dress a superhero and a sidekick, or the superhero with the lady he loves? An Avengers Halloween costume is a great idea, or other superheroes make the perfect duo for a woman who wants to show up at a party with her beau in matching costume.

An obvious choice would be to dress up as Superman and Lois Lane, or if you wanted to stray from the comic book story, Superman and Wonder Woman. Pre-made Superman costumes are pretty easy to find in any department store as are Wonder Woman costumes. Lois Lane may take a little bit more creativity, though all you really have to do is put on a dress or jumpsuit and have dark hair.

You can take it “old school” and go as Batman and Robin, and that’s a great choice for young men, since Batman seems to have more girls than we can count. Since “The Avengers” has been so popular, you can go as Black Widow and Hawkeye (they date each other in the film) or Black Widow and any of the Avenger guys since there are plenty of them. Or, you can be Iron Man and Virginia “Pepper” Potts (from the film). With the newest Spider-Man just hitting theaters, a good idea would be dress up as Peter Parker (with the Spidey suit underneath the normal clothes) and Gwen Stacy or Mary Jane, if you feel so inclined to do a throwback costume (though we all know that Gwen Stacy was his real true love). One that is lesser known but still sexy and would be a fun project to put together for the both of you would be Daredevil and Elektra from their 2003 and 2005 respective films.
Guys, if you’re lucky enough to have a girl who would agree to dress up in skintight spandex in front of who knows how many people, don’t let this opportunity pass you by. If you can pull off convincing costumes, it’s no doubt that you’ll win all the awards for best couple costume at your next Halloween party. Ok, now you’ve got some great ideas, so go ahead, be a hero.

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.

How to Dress Like Katniss Everdeen for Cheap

Posted on July 2, 2012 by admin

It’s no secret that one of the biggest fictional characters in recent times is Katniss Everdeen, the heroine and main character of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy The Hunger Games. Almost every teenaged girl in the country knows about the books and now, thanks to Lionsgate, the movies starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss.

The movie portrayed Katniss differently than we may have imagined in our head, but the movie also made Katniss more recognizable to the general public. It’s more than likely that Katniss Everdeen will be one of the most popular Halloween costumes come October. The best part is that she has so many different outfits that can be worn and they are easy to replicate for a small price.

In the opening scene of the film “The Hunger Games”, we meet Katniss in a leather jacket, knee-high boots and a bow slung over her shoulder as she’s hunting in the woods. All one needs to emulate Katniss in this casual women’s costume is a light brown leather jacket, pants in an earth tone color (brown, dark green, beige) and brown riding boots.

Buying new may be an exciting thrill and, when not worn together, these can make other day-to-day outfits. Iif thrift is important, usually these items, or if not the same, similar, can be found at any second hand store for much cheaper than buying them at retail price.
One of the most popular costumes will no doubt be Katniss’ outfit she wears while she’s in the arena. Again, this is a simple outfit to throw together, whether you’re buying for more than just Halloween or if you don’t plan on wearing it again. Dark green cargo pants make up the bulk of this outfit and a simple black v-neck t-shirt will suffice to compliment them.

A black zip up jacket will complete this costume and it’s likely that all three items can be found for under $20 at any thrift store. Add an orange backpack to really emulate Katniss.
Don’t forget to braid your hair and be sure to wear a Mockingjay pin (found at Walmart or easily accessible online) so all your party guests will know exactly who you are.
Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!

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.

Women of the Roaring 20s

Posted on June 21, 2012 by admin

“All women do have a different sense of sexuality, or sense of fun, or sense of like what’s sexy or cool or tough.”
-Angelina Jolie

The roaring 20s were a decade of fun, decadence and freedom…at least in terms of the kinds of self expression that women began to take part in. One of the most memorable icons of the decade was that of the free-spirited “flapper.”

A woman who shunned traditional conventions in favor of short hair, shorter dresses and behaving in a less-than-typical standard. As dance clubs became incredibly popular, the classic fringe-style dresses of the era were adopted by women as a means to draw greater attention to the dancing. If there were ever a costume that conjures mental images of a liberated sexy woman, the flapper costume is it. If you want to learn about some famous flappers as inspiration, you can check out the back story on these beautiful women. Drinking, dancing and carousing until all hours of the evening were the name of the game and represented a wild version of Americas women, who, as descendants of puritanical religious traditions, were much more mild-mannered.

Modern women who are interested in adding a touch of flair to a fall costume party can easily find one of these Sexy costumes to dress up in. There are great necklaces, hats, fishnet stockings, flapper heals, and those adorable fringe dresses to try on until you get the perfect look. Men are easy to dress if you plan to go out as a couple, since the suits, hats and ties of the era are all very popular costume pieces.

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.

Finding the Right Costume for Your Figure

Posted on June 19, 2012 by admin

Many women struggle with body image issues and will sometimes skip out on the fun of holidays because of this. However, I firmly believe that life is worth living to the fullest, especially during the best seasons of the year…namely the one during the fall that involve Halloween. That’s why I think that despite your figure size, be it teeny tiny or well-proportioned, you should consider going all out and dressing up.

There’s nothing that makes me more discouraged than seeing a beautiful person hanging out on the sidelines because they feel too self conscious to engage in the festivities. It’s one thing if you don’t like parties, or naturally are too shy to dress up, but it’s quite another issue altogether to skip out on costumed fun because of self-loathing. I assure you that there are costumes out there for every figure, and ones that will flatter every body type, from super skinny toplus sized costumes. The trick to pulling off a great costume no matter what the body type inside of it is some self-confidence. Even if you don’t have it, if you walk into that halloween party like you own the joint, you can fake like you do.

So, why not dream up a costume that will make you feel comfortable and still allow you to join in the holiday awesomeness? One friend of mine made this concept work when she sewed her own antique-style swimming suit to wear to the beach, weight be darned. I promise one you start getting compliments on your great outfit, you’ll be happy you didn’t hang out in the corner dressed in a gunny sack….unless that’s the costume you had in mind.

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.