If you are dressing up this year, what are you going to be? (Yes, I am shamelessly trolling for ideas to swipe 
). If you’re not dressing up this year, but still want to play - what was your favorite/most successful costume?
I won a prize for being a wood nymph once. It involved much ivy.
Assuming I can find the stuff for it, I’m going as the Swedish Chef from the Muppets.
I’ll need to find a chef’s hat and apron, but I think that’s doable. I’m planning on making the bushy eyebrows / mustache out of brownish yarn. The nose I’m unsure of. (Any ideas?) Should be fun. I’m going to practice speaking Swedish Chef-ese.
I’m going to be a fairy. Silver gown, big glittery wings, silver face and hair glitter. It’s actually my costume from last year, but I didn’t get to wear it because I was too sick to go to the costume party I was planning to attend.
I can’t remember where I got the idea, either here or by googling, but last year I won a costume party by going as a pool table. I took a green felt-like table cloth and cut a hole in it for my head and wore is like a sandwich board, then i made little pockets using white mesh. I then took colored foam tennis balls and painted them to make them look like striped and solid pool balls and I sewed them onto the ‘table’. I carried around a fake pool stick, a triangle and chalk. Everyone laughed and by the end of the night there were no balls on the table, people kept ripping them off and throwing them around (so don’t skimp on the pool balls!!)
Cheers, Powers
Dartha Stewart
The evil Jedi home decorator.
I’m going to a wedding for Halloween, and part of it will be outdoors, so all suggestions will be welcome.
I’m wussing this year and going with a store-bought costume but adding some twists. I’m getting a full-body gorilla suit and I’m going to have a friend run up a gown to wear over. Add a tiara, sash and roses and I’m Miss Queen of the Jungle.
This Halloween, I shall be Spike Spiegel. I am always Spike Spiegel, and I will always be Spike Spiegel. Why? Because Spike Spiegel is cool. How cool?
Ignore the guy with the red hair. He’s cool too, but in a way that’s…different.
Last year my bf and I went as priest and altar boy. 
Is your friend Ed? Spike is always cool.
I don’t have a Hallowe’een costume idea yet. First time in years. I have to come up with something soon, and it can’t be too complicated because I’ve only got a month and a half (no hand beading or corset making). Aagh!
I went in 2001 as anthrax. That was… fun.
I usually go as a “girl” (I’m an ubertomboy). Get all gussied up, makeup, dress, heels, the whole shebang.
I don’t usually dress up for Halloween, but last year I saw an adorable costume on one little boy (it would be work for an adult, too): a chest of drawers! The costume was made from a cardboard box that was painted brown, and there were partially opened “drawers” (they even had knobs glued to the front) with clothes hanging out, and there was a hairbrush and hand mirror glued to the top. It was too cute, and the idea has a lot of potential for creativity.
I doubt I’ll be going out this year, but my best costumes were:
At a party at Limelight, mid-1980s, I dressed all in blue (dress, shoes, stockings, eyeshadow, lipstick) and festooned myself with tampons and maxi-pads. When people asked what I was, I shouted, “Picasso’s Blue Period!”
My friend Mara in B’more used to throw “dead parties” at her dollar mansion. You had to come representing your favorite famous death. One year I came as Amelia Earhart and didn’t show up; another year I was Isadora Duncan, complete with scarf wrapped around my neck and tangled in an old automobile tire.
Um, that would be hot, not cool.
I love Halloween.
Over the years, I have been
Cenobites (Most people know them as the S&M demons from Hellraiser)
One involved taking a pair of mom’s earings and fitting them into the eyeholes of a mask so that I had metal discs for eyes. I also fit a piercing through the eyesockets of the mask. I made a robe from garbage bags and decorated it with tiny, torture/surgical devices (actually weapons from the old Battle Beasts toys). I decorated a wooden puzzle cube as a Lament Configuration and fitted it to a skeletal hand protruding from my chest.
A similiar costume involving a hockey mask painstakingly covered in melted wax(not soaked in, or dipped, but dripped on the mask to leave trails) and fitted with protruding jaws, emerging from my chest.
Father Confessor-The only Cenobite costume I gave a name to. From the front, I am a standard monk in a blak robe. From the back (done with a men’s shirt manequin-full headless neck, the front of shoulders and a chest- arms and hands made of padded coathanger wire, the same cube, the same mask mounted on a head made from parts of milk jugs and soda bottles) I am a demon. Many folks who first saw me from the back started talking to the wrong head. Others though there were two people in the costume. The name came from the idea that the monk heard confession of your sins, and the demon made you pay for them.
Priest of Cthulhu
I make a mask of hunter green felt. It is padded with styrofoam and mounted on part of a gallon milk jug to make the whole head octopus shaped. I make a Cthulhu statuette form various things and mount it on an old curtain rod. I print up Cthulu pamphlets. I use an old table cloth and permanent marker to make vestments. I can’t find the right robe to use until I spot one of my mother’s cloaks. It’s black, with fringes and decorated with brown felt spots set with brass buttons. I worry folks will notice that the largest part of my costume is just a woman’s coat. Nobody does.
Tomorrow Knight
Tomorrow Knight-Mark I
A clear plastic staff filled with lines of light emitting diode. The bottom is a clear faucet knob. The top is copper crescents and a metal falcon’s head (I meant it to look like a very fancy axe. It didn’t work out so well). Pressing the base against the floor pushes a toggle and makes the leds come on.
From knee to ankle my legs are armored in goaley leg guards. These have been spray painted silver. I have also taken the irridescent silver backings from a large number of Flintstones The Movie buttons and glued them on.
One arm is covered in a scanning bracer- This has the lens array from an old projector, a radar dish, and various needle gauges. I made this brace from a half gallon milk jug.
The other arm is covered in a weapons bracer. This has retractable claws, and a swivelling gun connected to an ammo belt. This bracer is made from a large plastic cup. The claws are from a necklace I bought as a Halloween supply. They are attached to bits of the U frame from old earphones. Those pieces are mounted in a 4 plug module from an old stereo. The swivel gun is a dustbuster attachment, mounted on the ducted disc from the same dustbuster. The ammo belt is the built in rechargable batteries from the same dustbuster.
My face is covered by a clear visor, and a silver falcon mask. A piece of black cloth striped with thin, colored lines covers the rest of my head. Thick antennae stand up on either side of my head, a combination mouth and ear piece is set in the visor. The visor was from a motorcycle helmet bought at a flea market, the mylar falcon mask (a beak shaped nose, wing-shaped pieces cover the eyes) at another. The fabric is from an old robe I got from my Uncle Max specifically to use in this costume. I collect radio and tv antennae to use in various projects. The mouth piece was from a working mini phone I bought for a dollar.
My chest is covered, front and back, with shiny metal plates roughly 3"X3". The sides are connected with thin sheet metal. Over the sheet metal are various metal tubes. Other tubes connect to the leg armor, and bracers. I wear a cloak of shining silver. I wear translucent purple epaulettes, set with flashing leds. They are attached to a black V-shaped piece, lined with day glo orange tubing. The plates are from a trasch can Uncle Max was going to throw out. The sheet metal is from a roll in his basement. The tubes are the kind used to cover gas lines or electrical wiring. I found them on somebody’s curb on trashday. After very thorough, and repeated cleanings of the insides and outsides of the tube with rubbing alcohol and many other things, they were far cleaner than anything else in my apartment. The cloak is mylar thermal camping blanket. The shoulder pieces were shower organizers I bought just to use in this costume. The black v piece is from a spinning sculture toy I bought at a garage sale.
The scanner bracer keeps coming looses. The long tubes connecting the chest piece to the other armor do as well. The shoulder pieces meant to elevate the cloak and make me look regal, end up looking silly. The robe sleeves will not stay attached to my shoulders.
Tomorrow Knight-Mark II
I rework the helmet, using extra plates from the trash can and extra sheet metal. The result looks somewhat samurai, and many comment on a resemblance to the helmet of The Shredder (of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon). I keep the mylar falcon mask to cover my eyes.
I make new bracers. I re-use the irridescent backing of the Flintsone buttons. I mount these on the flexible mesh of a dollar store trash can bought for an art project. There are three lines of button-backs on each bracer. I cover the mesh betweent them with bits of purple cloth from an old pair of shorts. I decorate the cloth with copper fabric paint.
I make new leg armor. I buy a shiny puprle trash can at a local store. I cut it in half. Each half is armor from heel to knee. I put a line of button-backs down the front of each. I cut the oval base of the trashcan in half. I attach each piece to the top of the leg armor.
I have a friend trace a falcon emblem from a comic book (specifically the emblem of Saker, from the comic Elementals) on the front chest plate. I paint this deep purple. I use extra sheet metal to make long, thin strips. I make two groups of these. I punch holes in the ends and conect them with brads. I attach one group to each shoulder with industrial strength velcro. The strips fan out to make impressive epaulets.
I have the same friend trace the emblem on a square of plexiglass. I paint this purple as well. One corner of the plexiglass has a chunk missing. I hide this by cutting AOL cds into quarters. I attach these, shiny side out, to all four corners on both sides of the shield. I place the cut edges facing outward and hide those by attaching tubing from the spinning sculpture toy to the edges of the shield. I paint the tubing and the falcon’s eyes silver.
I use a purple mesh fabrice to disguise a quiver. I get a solid, lucite cylinder from Uncle Sam. I attach the heads of four purple, plastic forks to make a circular hand guard. I cover the stems in black electrical tape. At the base, I attach a small vitamin bottle with the bottom removed. I leave the lid, painted silver, exposed. Inside the bottle I place flashing led buttons from the dollar store.
I can’t find the right boots. I buy some cheap pairs of purple swim fins. I cut them and tape them into bizarre looking shoe covers. They no longer resemble swim fins. But, they don’t really resemble cyber army boots either.
Tomorrow Knight-Mark III
I had planned an impressive Tron costume (it included disc which could be opened to pop out a life cycle). But, it was a bad year. I got started very late. So, I just revised the knight costume again.
Using the purple mesh fabric from the quiver, a brass curtain rod that was in the closet when I moved in, a pair of ski poles somebody threw out, and the flexible blade of a toy knife, I make a seven foot long spear. The purple tassle looks impressive, matches the color scheme, and hides the tape holding the toy blade on. The spear disassembles to three 3’ long pieces for travel.
I make new knee armor. I use the lids of purple plastic tupperware. Rather than being attached to the rest of the leg armor. These are attached to sport kneepads.
I buy a set of work gloves studded with rubber. I paint these silver and attach bits of sheet metal.
I rework the helmet, using almost all of the sheet metal. Instead of terraced trash can plates, the sides and back are vertical metal strips. I make a metal face plate. I cover the eye holes with tight pieces of mylar blanket. I add a metal beak. It looks dumb and unrealistic. I rotate the it so the point of the beak is on the base of my nose. Some minor cutting and gluing and I have a marvellous falcon beak.
I disconnect the epaulette strips. I tape them together side to side and wear them running from neck to shoulder instead of front to back. The biggest and most impressive change is using an old set of antennae, still mounted in the black swivel piece, and two new mylar blankets to make silver wings.
For comfort, and to avoid damage, I don’t put the entire costume on until we arrive at the ball. Sadly, the wings won’t stay attached to my back. But, I’ve learned to carry a repair kit for my costumes. A friend duct tapes the black antennae base to the back of my armor in a pattern she assures me is artistic rather than looking like a last minute repair.
I cover my shoes in black fabric from an umbrella. I make six silver talons (actually made from the aluminum baking pan included in a box of Manishewitz potato kugel, and stuffed with styrofoam to resist bending and denting) and mount two on the front of each foot and one on the back. They keep coming loose.
Four strangers take my picture before I even finish putting on the costume. Nobody knows what I’m supposed to be (guesses range from the fantasy knight in Brazil, to an archangel) but everybody is impressed. Except the judges.
This Year
First costume-the tornado. The Gale house one side. The broom riding Wicked Witch on the other. The whole thing will be roughly seven feet high. It will also spin. I can lift it over my head to reveal
Second costume-The Tin man. The chest piece will be from the Knight costumes, but modified and with the falcon emblem removed. I drop the chest piece, change masks and gloves to reveal
Third costume-The Cowardly Lion. Brilliant redgold mane. Tale. Gloves with fur and claws. I remove all that to reveal
Fourth costume-The Scarecrow. Felt bell hat. Shirt with straw coming out of the cuffs. New gloves. Which, you guessed it, I remove to reveal
Fifth and final costume-Dorothy. Gingham dress. A black handbag in the shape of a Shnauser for Toto. I may put my hair in pigtails. Still figuring out the best way to do the ruby slippers.
Why the Wizard Of Oz? Because the judges at the Henri David ball are friends of Dorothy, and I want that 3 foot tall trophy very, very much.
My costume will consist of a brown suit, a rumpled trenchcoat, and a stub of a cigar.
I’m going as Lieutenant Columbo.
Assuming I can finish it (and the shirt is going to be a pain to sew, especially since I don’t have a sewing machine), I want to wear Yuna’s songstress outfit from Final Fantasy X-2, for those who are familiar with it. I’m actually dressing up as Lenne since I have long hair, but it’s roughly the same outfit.
One of my favortie costumes I ever saw was a teacher who wore all red (including white boxers with red polka dots on the outside of his outfit) and tied a child’s schooldesk to his head. He was dressed as gum on the bottom of a chair.
Everyone has such good ideas. I don’t know who to steal from first!
I’m a comic book/sci-fi geek, so this year I’m going to be Elektra. Since I was so cold in my flimsy little flapper dress last year I’m skipping the red dress from the comic and going with the black leather outfit from Daredevil. (Who am I kidding – I just like the black leather. :D)
I ended up getting vinyl instead of leather because I’m doing this on a budget, but the outfit should look like leather once it’s finished – I used black satin for an X-Men costume two years ago and my coworkers thought it was leather. I have a pair of training sais, and I’ve been letting my hair grow for the past year. Now I just have to sew the outfit.
Roland Orzabal, I’m drooling over the photos of your Spike costume.
I think this year I will take my united states postal service outfit and throw red paint on it. Or, something political. All camo with red all over me… Bush’s Foreign Policy, perhaps?
My costume is secret, per orders from my workplace. I will be permitted to tell you on November 1. dons tinfoil hat
