Serious Halloween costumes It's time for round two of our favorite Halloween costumes. In my house, the beginning of fall always coincided with a trip to the fabric store. There, my siblings and I would sit on the round bar stools and pore through the pattern catalogs, looking for the perfect costume. Then my mother would work her sewing magic and in a couple of weeks, we'd have a handmade, beautiful outfit to wear out trick-or-treating. I've been a pirate, a renaissance damsel, and a princess (which you can see my sister wearing in the same photo). But my all time favorite costume was dressing up like Indiana Jones, because it's all about the hat... and alright, the whip, too. Adrianna: My favorite costume was the Queen of Narnia which my mom made by hand. She altered one of her lace dresses and made me a crown out of tin foil. Even though other kids made fun of me because I didn't have a store bought costume, I felt like a queen and I didn't care one bit. Dave: My all-time favorite costume was worn back in 1965, when I made my appearance as the "Fat Fury." I was a huge fan (no pun intended) of the "Herbie" comic, but at the time, the comic was an utter mystery to anyone over the age of about 12. In spite of the confusion of the adults who were running the Halloween costume contest, I took home a ribbon for third place. I don't know if they were trying to just get rid of me, or if they just couldn't believe a kid would ride his bike to a movie theatre in long johns with a toilet plunger on his head, but a prize is a prize.... Robert: A couple years ago, I went as Clark Kent -- not Superman. Anonymous Yahoo!: Two years ago, I finally bought and put together a Star Wars Imperial Stormtrooper costume for Halloween. While researching how to put the costume together, I found an organization that brings Star Wars costuming enthusiasts together (I'm at the 0:43 mark). Who knew my favorite costume would lead to such great opportunities? Michelle C.: My most creative costume was when I was a picnic table. My head was the centerpiece circled by a garland of fruit and leaves. It came complete with a red and white checked tablecloth and full place settings for 4. Needless to say, it wasn't the easiest costume to mingle with. Julie: I'm a big fan of whoever came up with this one. Chris S.: In college, I blew off making a costume one year, and found one discarded on the sidewalk. It was a hat based on a current news topic at the time -- a whale stuck in the ice near Alaska. My head was covered in blue fabric with a white paper ring for ice, and a little igloo with people standing around it. For the next hour, I watched people squinting and trying to guess what the costume was, and ended up discarding it in frustration like the creator had. Suggested Sites... Coolest Recycled Costumes - pictures of the best homemade and recycled costumes. Top Ten Weirdest Baby Costumes - pictures of unusual baby costumes. Celebrity Halloween Costumes - the best and the worst costumes worn by celebrities. Best Pet Costumes - pictures of the most unusual and unique pet costumes. Halloween treat ideas - recipes and ideas for Halloween snacks at the Food Network.

Directory categories: Halloween Activities and Crafts, Halloween Trivia, Halloween Recipes, Dog Costumes, Children's Costumes

Archived under: Apparel, Clothing and Accessories, Costumes, Fashion, Halloween, Holidays, Make-Up

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Voodoo doll Halloween is nearly here, and if you haven't picked a costume yet, there's still time to get creative. Perhaps you're a traditionalist and like to stick with the tried and true: vampires, fairies, monsters, and witches. But why settle for what's been done before, when you can be one of a kind? Here are some of our own favorite costumes from over the years to help inspire you. Michelle H.: It's hard to pick just one! Recently I've been a pregnant victim of a zombie fetus attack, a voodoo doll, Laura Palmer from "Twin Peaks," and for a phobia-themed party I was buried alive, which might have been my most elaborate costume ever. I built a coffin out of foam, decorated it with fake wood grain, moss, and dirt, and even wore fake fingernails with splinters of wood and fake blood under them. Eugenia: This year, I am going to be a cheerleader and my sport is Academic Decathlon. In a fortunate coincidence, while I was visiting my folks this summer, my mother made me take my actual high school Academic Decathlon medals and my academic honor letter with me. I've incorporated both into my outfit! Joel: My favorite is a friend of mine who wore a baby blue shirt and sweatpants, glued a bunch of cotton balls all over herself and walked around with a squirt bottle of water. She was "partly cloudy with a chance of showers." Helene: Halloween never picked up in France, despite some intensive commercial efforts few years ago, so I've never dressed up for it. But now that I am the mom of a little American, I am all about costumes for him. Last year was his first Halloween, and I dressed him as a peacock. He got a lot of compliments at his daycare parade, although most of the people mistook him for a turkey. It's Halloween, people, not Thanksgiving! Brian: This is me dressed as pre-steroids Jose Canseco. And my sister, well, I have no clue what she was. Katherine: The year was 1991. I dyed my hair pink to be a punk rocker. Sarah: My best Halloween costume was in 6th grade when I dressed up as Abraham Lincoln. That's what happens when you're a history nerd who grows up halfway between Valley Forge and Gettysburg. And you enjoy wearing a stovepipe hat. Suggested Sites... Coolest Homemade Costumes - ideas for clever homemade Halloween costumes. WTF Costumes - a blog featuring the "best of the best" and the "worst of the worst" costumes. The History of Halloween - the history of Halloween at History.com, including traditions, costumes, and games. Halloween Costumes at Kaboose - Halloween costume ideas for kids. Disney Family Fun - more costume ideas for kids.

Directory categories: Halloween Costumes, Halloween, Halloween History, Halloween Safety, Costumes

Archived under: Apparel, Clothing and Accessories, Costumes, Fashion, Halloween, Holidays, Make-Up

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Who knows what bargains lurk in secondhand stores? (Photo by Janne Hellsten) Today is National Secondhand Wardrobe Day, which got me thinking about one of the perks of being an oldest child. Usually, being the first-born works against you: you're forced to spend your Saturday afternoons as free slave labor, babysitting younger siblings while your mother attends her Tupperware parties. But being the eldest also means that you avoid the dreaded hand-me-down; those secondhand atrocities with stubborn zippers and frayed hems that get passed down by older brothers and sisters. What recycled clothes I did inherit as a child were passed on by neighbors whose parents had better fashion sense than mine. I wore ill-fitting sweaters knitted by well-intentioned godparents, while my friends wore bright sundresses with ruffles in all the right places. As my friends grew out of their clothes, I reaped the benefits, collecting eighties-style jumpers with cute bows, trendy denim dresses, and shirts that didn't look like they were ordered out of a Land’s End catalogue (no offense, Mom). As I got older and was no longer reliant on my parents for my wardrobe choices, I discovered that having friends with good taste and an addiction to shopping worked to my advantage. Over the years, I've inherited form-fitting trench coats, black leather pumps, sexy strapless dresses, and other chic pieces I would have lacked the confidence to purchase myself. I've since moved on from my geeky childhood and adolescent years, eventually learning how to build a wardrobe and style of my own. But I haven't given up on the secondhand experience quite yet. While dropping off some odds and ends at a local Goodwill store recently, I happened to wander in and stumble across a gently-used velvet blazer from Banana Republic. I grinned, and snatched it up for a fifteenth of the original price. How’s that for being fashionable? Suggested Sites... Hand-Me-Downs - secondhand website for parents to swap and sell used childrens' clothing, furniture, and more. Freecycle - organization that helps people trade everything from clothes to electronics locally for free. Vintage Shopping Guide - directory of vintage stores nationwide, plus articles on recycled clothing and fashion. How to Host a Swap Shop - how to host parties toswap clothing with your friends. Clothing Swap - hints on trading and swapping clothes online and in person.

Directory categories: Vintage Clothing, Bartering and Swapping, Freecycling, Fashion and Beauty

Archived under: 1980s, Apparel, Beauty, Celebrations, Charity, Clothing and Accessories, Creativity, Events, Fashion, Freecycling, Green Living, In Character, Philanthropy, Recycling, Shopping

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Mrs. O - The flurry of interest in her arms has waned, but a number of people are following Michelle Obama's fashion choices. This blog provides a satisfying fix for those interested in knowing what Mrs. O is up to and who she’s wearing. (In First Lady Michelle Obama) Billy the Kid Territory - This weekend you might not be able to make it to the Billy the Kid Pageant in New Mexico, but the state's tourism department has put together a great website for any American history buffs who want to follow a self-guided journey following the outlaw's travels. (In Billy the Kid) Coach Cal - Fans of the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team should check out the official site of new coach John Calipari for behind the scenes tweets and blog posts. Soon you'll be able to get weekly voice messages from him sent to your phone. (In University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball) The Many Faces of Henry Gibson - Ashton Kutcher may have a Twitter following, but hey, he's not the only actor online. Septuagenarian Henry Gibson has a new site, reminding us that he's done a lot since "Laugh-In." (In Actors) AAA Seniors - Fatality rates for drivers over 85 are much higher than for teens. The Auto Club is addressing this problem by providing tips, expert advice, and resources to help us understand how aging affects driving. (In Driving) Vertical Dance - Some pole dancers dream of making it big by running away with Cirque du Soleil. Others have Olympic ambitions. The Vertical Dance site features classes and videos, with a petition to the International Olympic Committee to get pole fitness recognized as a competitive sport. (In Gymnastics)

Directory categories: Barack Obama Administration, The Old West, Men;s College Basketball, Seniors, Cirque du Soleil

Archived under: Actors, American History, Apparel, Basketball, Blogs, Celebrities, Circus Arts, Clothing and Accessories, College Basketball, College Sports, Driving, Entertainment, Fashion, First Ladies, Gunslingers, Old West, Olympics, Safety, Seniors, Sports, Yahoo! Directory

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Madrid fans renenact "El Show De Terror De Rocky" (Photo by José María Mateos) If you were an awkward teen in the late '70s or '80s, chances are you've been to at least one midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." The queen mother of camp classics became a cult phenomenon shortly after its premiere in late 1975, but long before Tim Curry kicked his fishnet-clad legs across the silver screen, he (along with many of his co-stars) was doing the "Time Warp" on the London stage. In fact, it was on this day in 1973 that the original production of "The Rocky Horror Show" enjoyed its opening night at London's Royal Court Theatre Upstairs. That production became a huge hit and ended up clocking in around 2,960 performances before finally closing in September of 1980. Audiences were enthralled and "The Rocky Horror Show" jumped the pond to play to enthusiastic crowds in Los Angeles, New York, and Australia -- but nothing could match the rabid enthusiasm engendered by 20th Century Fox's filmed version. On April Fools' Day in 1976, the Waverly Theater in NYC (now the IFC Center) decided to offer a midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," and, unbeknownst to those early attendees, a global craze was born. Within a few months, fans began showing up in elaborate costumes and started yelling witty cues and responses to the characters on screen. Acolytes arrived toting props like toast, toilet paper, water guns, and confetti, and emboldened fans would act out a floor show beneath the screen. The phenomenon swiftly spread and by the end of 1979, over 230 theaters across the U.S. were offering midnight screenings on Fridays and Saturdays -- and they still continue today. When out-of-work actor Richard O'Brien sat down to write a rock musical in the early '70s, he couldn't possibly have conceived that he would be creating a 30-year strong (and counting) bastion for self-proclaimed freaks and dorks and geeks and goths. It took the concept of audience partici...pation to an entirely new level and no other film has surpassed its staying power. Whatever its allure, the world of "Rocky Horror" has been a welcoming and deliriously happy home for all those who, in the words of Richard O'Brien himself, "swear, often and loudly, to strike a blow for glamour and frivolity, for rock-n-roll, for six-inch heels, for interplanetary intercourse, and for the Transylvanian Way." Suggested Sites... RHPS FAQ - features extensive FAQs regarding all things Rocky Horror. The Richard O'Brien Crusade - official site for Rocky Horror creator and star Richard O'Brien. The Rocky Horror Preservation Foundation - preserving the "Rocky Horror" experience for the future. Cosmo's Factory - features "Rocky Horror Picture Show" fan database, with online trivia game, and tons of images, downloads, FAQs, and more. RockyHorror.com - official fan site for "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

Directory categories: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Cult Movies

Archived under: 1970s, 1980s, Actors, Anniversaries, Broadway, Counterculture, Cultures, Entertainment, Fanatics, Fashion, Horror, Horror Films, Lingerie, London, Make-Up, Movies, Musicals, Performing Arts, Rock and Roll, Society and Culture, United Kingdom

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