Groucho Marx is always a possibility - I did that in 2003 and '04. My girlfriend seems to have another idea every couple of days, but she gets more into this stuff than I do. I’m tempted to go for the old-timey reporter thing; the office crowd would like it and I’ve wanted a fedora for years. If I don’t do either of those, maybe I’ll write down her dozens of ideas and pick from them.
Woah. esoteric points.
Renaissance Girl. I wanna show off my shiney new corset.
I have a couple I’ve done in past years that may provide inspiration:
- You get a long overcoat from the thrift store for a dollar or two, and you wear only shorts underneath, so it looks like you’re naked underneath. Then you wear (this is key to the look) dark socks and dark shoes, sunglasses, and a hat of some kind pulled way down for maximum anonymity. You’re a flasher.
Advantages: Comfortable, cheap, easy to get into/out of.
Disadvantages: May cause you to get hassled by the cops. And not great for those who live where it’s cold in late October.
- My favorite costume ever was the one I wore for Halloween 2002. I got a jar of some kind of Force-Ten-Patti-LaBelle hair styling gel, and I screwed my hair up six ways to Sunday, and then I went to the parties wearing my pajamas and bathrobe and slippers. I was “a guy who just got out of bed.” This costume was great for several reasons:
First of all, it was incredibly comfortable. Everything I was wearing had been designed to be slept in.
Second and best, I was getting drunk in my pajamas in public. This is an extraordinarily liberating sensation.
A few years ago, I put together a short list of criteria to think about in planning a Halloween costume:
[ul]
[li]It should be comfortable. Remember, you’re going to be wearing it all night, trying to dance in it, trying to sit down in it, etc.[/li][li]If your costume is one that you’ll have to explain, be prepared to explain it to every single person at the party.[/li][li]Your costume should be suitable for the weather. Don’t go as a belly dancer if it’s going to be 35 degrees out, and don’t go as an Eskimo if you live in Havana.[/li][li]If your costume has any kind of headgear, be sure it doesn’t interfere with your ability to get a drink to your mouth. If necessary, bring a pocketful of straws for your own use. Recall the sad, sad parable of John “Boba Fett” Stevens.[/li][li]This is crucial: Be sure you can go to the bathroom easily in the costume. If you can’t, choose another costume.[/li][/ul]
Another easy costume for the fellas:
One suit, any color, with tie and collared shirt
One shaved head
one button of the Superman symbol with a “no” sign through it.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Lex Luthor.
I want to make a Quistis (FFVIII) outfit for Animaritime next year, and if possible for Halloween, but I doubt I’ll make it in time. My fall-back for Animaritime is Naru Narusegawa (Love Hina) but I doubt many people would recognise it around here.
If all else fails, I could just bring back my Lenne (FFX-2) outfit from last year.
We usually put together a Hallowe’en costume on the day of, or, if we’re REALLY ahead of the game, the day before. I have no clue what to do for Hallowe’en this year! Then again, seeing how I am now living so much closer to many really cool friends and cousins than I have been for the past 6 years, perhaps we should throw the party! I’ll think about it.
Last year, I was a mad scientist. Because I own two labcoats from school, I was able to wear them in such a way as to give myself a third arm (complete with gloved hand). I used string to tie it to my left wrist so when I used that arm, the fake arm moved too. I had test tubes (centrifuge tubes, actually, because they have a cap) filled with candy, a large pair of goggles and a half-mask respirator (I actually now own 2 of those…). People thought it was pretty cool.
My husband was an accident victim. We basically used all the Ace bandages and the hospital gown and sling he got when he actually had his accident, plus a bit of fake blood and bruises and stitches on the face, and voilà!
I would recommend staying away from the Waldo costume, unless you want to be part of the trend at collegehumor.com.
I still have no idea what I want to dress as yet, so I probably shouldn’t judge. 
Dress like chickens. If she’s cranky, be super-nice. If she’s giggly and cooing, be surly. Ta-da – you’re sweet-and-sour chicken! I’m sure it’s a lot less common than pirates.
My favorite costume was a last minute, day of one. I covered myself in dark blue face/body paint & wore dark blue leggings and a dark blue sweater. I sprinkled glitter all over myself. I was the night sky. (Boy, did I get some odd looks, though…)
When my daughter was about 4 that year, she decided she didn’t want to put her costume on. So she went to the Halloween parade barefoot, wearing her little pink nightgown & a jacket, and we told everyone she was Wendy Darling. Best part was, when she fell asleep in the car on the way home, I didn’t have to wake her up to get her costume off!
How about Reno 911 Lt. Dangle (with “package enhancer”)?
Speaking of “package enhancing,” if anybody wears a Superman costume this year, you might find that you want to wear a cup with it, so everybody at the party can’t tell if you’re circumsized* or not. Those are some seriously revealing tights!
*I find it interesting that there is one letter difference between “circumsized” and “circus-sized.” Just thought I’d point that out. 
I think I love you. 
For the record, my first name is Kim.
Last year I wore some military-like camo clothes and said I was “General Chem.”
This year I’m looking for a long dress in a flora print, a wreath for my head and a cornicorpia. I will be “Organic Chem.”
Sadly, I will undoubtedly be working on October 31st. In the event I’m not: Elphaba.
You could try Hercule Poirot. He would be distinctive, plus you could have fun with the accent.
As for myself, I’m doing geisha (full regalia, full makeup) this year.
That’s very interesting, but what will your costume be?
Because everyone loves Capt. Dumpydrawers, the Incontinent Pirate.
I kid, I kid. Your’s is a very valid point. I just realized I have no idea what I’m going as and need to get on that right away.
Kyth, can’t you dress up at work?
Luckdragon. A proper luckdragon, not the one from the movie. Dragony. With a mane. Red eyes. The mask is half-finished, and I’m still working on ideas for the body. I’m not wearing a catsuit with scales.
I think this year I’m going as an orc (World of Warcraft flavor, not LOTR flavor). My boyfriend and I do a lot of costuming, so Halloween is always a huge deal for us, and a great opportunity to show off. Last year I was a patchwork girl and he was an Illithid (Dungeons and Dragons monster.)
Those are all good suggestions. If I may add an item to your list: Try on your full costume before Halloween to make sure you’re not allergic to the fabric or makeup. Breaking out in a rash in the middle of a party is no fun.
I might have to borrow this one to wear to work - most of them should get it.
One I’ve always liked is an easy one: Wear a blue dress/jumper, with red horns, tail, & pitchfork - “Devil in a Blue Dress”. You do have to be of a certain age to get it, but it’s easy.
A few (three?) years ago, I dressed as a Software Pirate - your usual pirate-type costume, but I had a necklace made of CD’s & carried a string of floppy disks. Went over pretty well. 
I love these threads…they always give me ideas when I’m not feeling creative.
You could be good & evil: Dress WhyBaby as either an angel or a devil, and dress yourself as the opposite.
Not overly creative, but reasonably easy & coordinated.
It depends. If all goes well, I will be Dorothy and attached to me will be jointed mannequins of the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Cowardly Lion. They’ll mimic my movements.
If things do not go well,
I’ll just wear the tailcoat and stovipe/tophat I made from a motley bathrobe. I may borrow a friend’s professionaly quality big clown shoes.