A creative approach will yield unique costume ideas.
Halloween or otherwise, women's costumes have fallen into a predictable pattern. Stores and online shops abound with getups for naughty nurses, pregnant nuns and sexy pirates. If you want a look that's unique, consider a costume that goes against the grain or puts a new twist on a familiar idea.
"Moody"
For a truly unique costume, consider dressing up as a mood or feeling. "Abysmal" might be an all-grey look, complete with face paint and a perpetually dreary expression. Drape yourself in brown, grease down your hair, and maintain a somber demeanor to represent "Dreary." Affix a few horns (available at costume shops and other retailers) to yourself and your clothing to make you "Horny."
"Ceiling Fan"
Get fired up on this look, which you can easily create with minimal expense. Write "Go Ceiling!" on a white t-shirt or a sign. Add a peppy hairstyle that includes colorful ribbons, and match the colors to a pair of homemade or store-bought pompoms. Reserve a cheer for yourself for being so creative, and for being the best "ceiling fan" around!
"Carrie-oke"
Stephen King's doomed teenager makes a comeback as an amateur singer. Wear a blue party dress, smear some heavy makeup down your face to mimic Carrie's tears of anguish, and be liberal with the fake blood. Add a blinged-out microphone for some well-deserved sparkle and a touch of some real karaoke. If asked to actually perform, consider a cult classic like Julie Brown's "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun," or U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
"Old Spice Girl"
Give a nod to the ultimate 1990s girl band with an "Old Spice Girl" costume, which reinterprets the sexy songstresses' dated look. A hot pink spray-on hair color, combined with dark lip liner and frosted gloss, will pay homage to one of the group's most popular members. Turn yourself into "Old Spice" by adding sagging cleavage (available at some costume shops, or you can make your own with stuffed tube socks pinned to your regular bra). Draw on a few facial wrinkles with eyeliner. Carry or wear a British flag, and rock the English accent. If you'd rather not explain yourself, feel free to add a name tag labeled "Old Spice," and tell everyone that you "wannabe" home early.
Tags: costume shops, down your, Spice Girl, unique costume