[Jack'sEckstein]

You could do a storybook villain, like from snow white or the little mermaid. Characters that can be glam and creepy, like you want. Just put your own spin on it. Dark fairy or nymph, Greek goddess, or even just create your own new character. You could do Elvira, Morticia or Lilly Munster.

 

[BrandiH]

I dressed up as Tippi from The Birds last year.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/431760_3333741921513_597016292_n.jpg

 

[BrandiH]

My Husband & I also dressed as Wayne & Garth. Not very Glam though! HaHa!

 

[CassintheUK]

I'm doing a witch this year. Going all out. Grunge witch hat, ripped lace back dress, cloak, stripped tights, buckled shoes and to top it all off, fake nose and chin. I'm also having my husband make a huge cauldron with green lights and fog machine. My little town in the UK really just started getting into Halloween so I'm gonna give them some Amercan style Halloween!

 

[tweety16_6]

costumes are getting too sexy. was looking for a nurse costume and all the dresses go just under your bum and that's it. also quite a bit of cleavage.... ( i don't want the girls to fall out!!) even say one that looked like a bathingsuit with holes in it. ( what nure would wear that?)
Being just a bit on the heavier side ( european size 42),,, no one want's to see me in a costume like that!!,, heck, i don't even want to see me like that!
Will try and make something myself now with a skirt just above the knee....

 

[Guest]

I can't say I have ever tried on a "sexy" costume. I would be way too uncomfortable..and weight wise I just don't think anyone would be thrilled to see me in it.

Have I wanted to? YES! I saw a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader costume one year that I wanted to wear..but....:-/ :-/


I haven't dressed up in years though so my costumes from the past probably wouldn't benefit much...considering I was 13, haha.

 

[Dismantled Soul]

A lot of the female costumes are sex-themed these days, but you can usually find some of the old fashioned ghost and reniassance themed cotumes out there. They cost a little more usually, but they are put together very well. Just a thought.

And welcome back to Halloween costumes Chileofthecorn. 8)

 

[Jules17]

Yeah, I hate those costumes too as they just doesn't say Halloween to me. In looking at Spirit's website, they do have some decent costumes under their Witch & Gothic Beauty section. Some seem a bit expensive for what they are but you could always use them for inspiration to create something pretty close to it for less. Here's some that looked interesting and don't scream ****:

http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/ic-salem-witch-adult-md/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/rb-dead-bride-adult-std-sz/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/ghost-in-the-attic-ghostly-bride-adult-costume/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/fn-purple-poison-adult-std/

 

[diggerc]

You have to scroll through a lot of "tedious" images to find one maid costume that fits this thread.
http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Magic-Elsa-Ghost-Costume/dp/B008ERIZAS

 

[Guest]

A lot of the female costumes are sex-themed these days, but you can usually find some of the old fashioned ghost and reniassance themed cotumes out there. They cost a little more usually, but they are put together very well. Just a thought.

And welcome back to Halloween costumes Chileofthecorn. 8)

I love the renaissance themed costumes!

I may have to just deal with it and purchase one at the Renaissance festival this year

 

[diggerc]

Lots of classy "ghost costumes out there.

 

[Guest]

Lots of classy "ghost costumes out there.

I think a ghost would be cool too. Don't think I have ever done that.

I was always a witch every single year. Minus the one year I dressed as a Veterinarian, lol!

 

[Gwen_Grimm]

I went as a non smutty ghost last year, so I KNOW it can be done! My blue ghost from last halloween!

 

[Gwen_Grimm]

Last year I wore a very modest costume that got a terrific response. I bought an old wedding dress and veil at a thrift shop and painted my face white and went as a ghost bride. It was creepy enough to be fun but not so scary that little kids were afraid to approach me.
I personally have no issue with revealing costumes and have worn them myself. It can be great fun.

oooooooooooooooooooooh I was a ghost bride last year too! do you have pics?

 

[Dark Passenger]

While looking at new costume selections on various sites this year, I kept thinking, Don't any of these costumes come with pants? Does anybody go to the zoo and say, "Man, giraffes are sexy, I can't wait to dress up like one of them, or a sexy bear, a sexy penguin, or maybe a sexy Ninja Turtle, or a sassy Care Bear." Using "sassy" as a euphemism isn't fooling anyone.

Looking at the selections was worth a laugh, albeit with an air of dejection.

Back to costume suggestions that can be beautiful and creepy.

Day of the Dead could work (I believe someone else also suggested it). I love the look of the lacy dresses and the various makeup jobs.

Mythological characters might also work. I dressed up as Persephone one year: black flowers sewn on a silver, Greek-style dress; a sheer cape with ghostly faces painted on it; various foliage glued to boots, with skeleton hands reaching up from inside the boots (to make it appear that Hades wanted to pull his wife back down to the Underworld, but she ignored his attempts to grab her by the knees); a bat tiara (from the BuyCostumes site); strands of white Globys glowing in my curly-black wig (also from BuyCostumes). People (friendly strangers in San Francisco) especially liked the Globys and asked where I bought them.

Medusa's another great character for a blend of beauty and horror. Youtube has a bunch of cool makeup tutorials.

Whatever you choose, I hope you're pleased with it and have fun.

 

[Pursilla]

You could always go as Morticia Adam's or maybe Lilly Munster.

 

[kakugori]

Hello Halloween fellows, yes, I'm new and yes this is my first post so I can rant a little and share my thoughts on costumes.


My issue with the all-sexy-all-the-time costume trend follows along with my issues with store-bought costumes in general. For me, and I realize this is not true of everyone but I believe I'm hardly alone here, is that Halloween is not about cute. It is not about friendly. It is not sexy. Halloween is supposed to be SCARY. There are never any women's costumes that are really scary. Maybe a few accessories that are unisex, maybe there's a few men's costumes that might do, maybe you can do wonders with makeup or a mask or prosthetics. I still want more. And I feel like men's costumes are easier in this regard, because it might not be so unusual for a guy to want to be strong, powerful, frightening types of characters. I couldn't care less if a woman wants to do the sexy costume thing, because there are definitely times and places that's appropriate, but that should not be the only option. /feminist ranting ends here for brevity's sake.


I've been all varieties of horror monster/warrior/evil priest/creature. I was Pinhead one year, but while that costume is amazing that's a little too much pop culture recognition for our yard haunt. The last couple of years, I've wanted to maybe look a little bit like there's a woman under that costume (no, really, I've had it up to ^here^ with being mistaken for a guy b/c of my horror type costumes).

So, I'm DIY or die. Also, plus size costumes suck so there's that. The last few years, I've been a necromancer. A la Garth Nix's Abhorsen series, but think Chlorr of the mask rather than Sabriel herself. I've made all sorts of stuff - fake scale armor (ask me about how fun it isn't to apply billions of sequins by hand), dagger frog, Medieval inspired executioner type hood/capelet. Last year I made an awesome corset and skirt combination piece, because if a steel boned corset doesn't feel like armor and send you on a little evil cackling power trip I don't know what will. I've even got a big 4.5" diameter hand bell from Etsy - that sucker will wake the dead (or just the neighbors).


My advice is to find a character first, then find pieces that work with that. The Halloween stores are ok for props and masks and such (if you don't want to DIY) but I think it's easier to look for real clothes for the costume itself. Never underestimate the usefulness of leggings, tights, and the basic t-shirt. Also, having a weirdo, semi-goth wardrobe stash doesn't hurt. Also, big stompy boots and texture, texture, texture.

 

[Angela70]

I had the same problem last year when I wanted to be Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. All I could find in-person was the slutty version, which I did not want. The more authentic looking costume was $60 online and if it was the same quality as all the other costumes I saw, it was crappy quality. My husband insisted that I was capable of sewing my own. So I tried. It wasn't perfect, it still needs a couple of tweaks, but it was good enough to wear last year and cost me less that $20! And I plan to tweak it for this year. I have a life-sized Jack Skellington that I put up every year, so I intend to always be his Sally to give out candy. At least until I get tired of it, if that ever happens. I don't want to be scary because I want the kids to come to the door, not skip our house.
My fifteen year old wants me to make her a costume this year that "isn't slutty" (we are doing SOMETHING right!) , so now I have to figure out how to make a Rapunzel dress (and frying pan, and Pascal!) this will be a challenge.
I agree with what others have already mentioned. The best costumes are home made. Whether that is gleaning items from a thrift store to put together, or breaking out the sewing machine.

 

[Palladino]

I was Erzebet Bathory a few times. Probably the most evil woman of all time. I've also been Anne Boleyn. To do it right you should be 'headless' and carry the head with bloodied severed neck under your arm or by her long black hair.

 

[LimestoneGraveDigger]

How about a cyborg? You can go stylish futuristic grunge. My daughter did it last year and it turned out great. I made a latex appliance for her face that was a blinking circuit board embedded in her cheek.