Whether you’re looking for authenticity in replicating a character or taking your own unique spin this Halloween, you can find a wide selection of ready-made costumes, props, and makeup at retail stores, party stores, and Halloween outlets.
Look for Details About the Character
If you prefer a one-of-a-kind fashion flare that also saves some money, try making costumes using on-hand resources. Or mix and match store-bought and homemade items.
Be sure to look for details and quirks about the character that make it unique and add to the fun. For instance, for guys who want to copy Ryan Gosling’s cool stunt driver in the new movie Drive, be sure to chew on a toothpick and sew a scorpion shape on the back of your blood-stained white silk jacket. Sometimes one or two homemade tweaks to a store-bought costume add the perfect touch of creativity and style.
Vampires, Swans, Bridesmaids, and Barbarians
Vampires are still popular this year, whether the pint-sized version (Let Me In) or a young adult creature of the night (Twilight). Vampire costumes have always been easy to obtain and make. Here’s your chance to add some originality by adding special makeup, a prop, or a costume detail that sets you apart from all the other bloodsuckers or specifically ties your costume to one particular movie.
To create a ballerina (think Black Swan or white swan) or superhero costume (such as Green Lantern), go to dance stores and sporting goods stores for unitards, tights, leggings, and ballet slippers or try large discount retailers like Walmart for less expensive versions. For additional costume accessories, such as masks and hats, visit dollar stores, consignment shops, thrift stores, flea markets, fabric stores, garage sales, and estate sales. Want to really save money? Go as one of the Bridesmaids and you’ll get to finally wear that ugly pink dress a second time.
Little girls might want to wear a long blond wig and purple dress like Repunzel in Tangled, which hit most theaters late last year. Little boys have their pick of popular superheroes with Captain America, Green Lantern, and The Amazing Spider-Man (coming in 2012 with a newly designed costume). After a few weeks in the gym, some men (or daring little boys) might want to try skin-baring characters from Thor or Conan the Barbarian.
2011 Movie Costume Ideas At A Glance
- Abby (Let Me In)
- Bridesmaids
- Bucky Larson (Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star)
- Captain America (Captain America: The First Avenger)
- Conan (Conan the Barbarian)
- Driver (Drive)
- Harry Potter and friends (and enemies)
- Giant Outer Space Robots (Transformers: Dark of the Moon)
- Green Lantern
- Nina Sayers (Black Swan)
- Pirates and Wenches (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides)
- Repunzel (Tangled)
- Spider-Man (The Amazing Spider-Man)
- Thor
- Twilight vampires and werewolves
Whichever character’s costume you choose, make sure it’s safe, comfortable, and covers the essentials. To find pictures of movie and television characters for costumes ideas, look in recent entertainment magazines (such as Entertainment Weekly) and try Google Images, Internet Movie Database, and official movie web sites.
For more ideas, read Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by 2010 Movies and Halloween Costumes Inspired By Movies and TV.
Leslie C. Halpern - Leslie C. Halpern, Romantic Films/Comedies Topic Editor, authored Passionate About Their Work, Reel Romance, & Dreams on Film.
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