What possessed you? Some costume tips
FACE it, the best time to brainstorm Halloween costume ideas is in the middle of July. Once the pumpkins start ripening, it’s slim pickings in the originality department, and the danger of rocking a played-out ensemble is high.
Of course, that doesn’t stop Halloween party invitations from rolling in, so we asked Mary Rose, president of the Costume Designers Guild, for some last-minute advice.
DON’T
Just say no to the “pimp” and “ho.” Sure, the Afro wig/fake gold medallion/sock-in-the-pants combo is tempting, but please, Rose pleads, leave that look to the professionals. “That’s not a costume,” she adds. “You see them on the street!”
No free advertising: Pirates are a big seller this year (on the big screen and, it seems, for the big scream too). For a small fortune, you too can be Captain Jack Sparrow (and, thus, a walking advertisement for “Pirates of the Caribbean.”) Or, as Rose points out, “You can help the studio make more money than it already made.”
To all the ladies: Please overcome the urge to don thigh-highs and platform heels for the “sexy (insert anything here)” costume. In addition to the usual witchy vixens and naughty nurses, you can pick up a few particularly suitable visions of sex and violence this season, including “border babe,” “camo cutie” and the cryptically named “Sexy Support Our Troops” ( www.buycostumes.com.)
Buyers beware: “More exposure does not equal more sexy,” Rose warns.
DO
Do-it-yourself: The idea that homemade costumes are the best costumes is almost as cliched as the sexy pirate, but the only way to guarantee that you don’t bump into your evil twin at a party is to get crafty. It’s also a good way to subvert the Halloween marketing machine, which seems to get a jump-start in July. Besides, Rose dares you to. “People are too lazy to make costumes anymore,” she says cynically.
Make headlines: Some of the season’s best costumes are culled from breaking news stories. This year, a few low-budget, high-impact ideas include Paris in jail and Spector on trial. One politically timely and ecological friendly example: Go as Larry Craig, complete with cardboard bathroom stall.
If all else fails: Boycott. According to Rose, that’s what the more than 700 members of the Costume Designers Guild do. “Costume designers are so sick of costumes that none of them would ever dress up for Halloween,” she says with a hint of cackle. “I’ve never even been invited to a costume party.”
-- Lea.Lion@latimes.com
