Costumes - Not Just for Trick-or-Treaters Anymore

Costumes are not just for kids to wear on Halloween. In fact, many adults love to dress up almost as much as children do, and thanks to costume rental stores, it is easier than ever to accomplish.

Halloween has evolved over the years since it's beginning as an ancient Celtic festival when the end of the harvest season was celebrated. On the last day of October, it was believed that the world of the living and the dead overlapped, in which case the dead could come back to cause mischief among the living. Bonfires were lit to keep the evil spirits away, and people would put on a costume in the hopes that it would frighten them off.

In America, Halloween is the first holiday that usually comes to mind when discussing costumes. Children love to get into the spirit of the night and dress up, and then make the rounds of the neighborhood to receive candy from the neighbors. Due to safety concerns, however, more and more parents are accompanying their kids on their trek, with many of them dressing up as well. Even the parent who is stuck at home handing out candy can be found decked out in monster or witch attire. Not surprisingly these days, some people even buy matching outfits for their pets.

There are other occasions that encourage wearing disguises besides Halloween. For example, New Year's Eve parties often require you to dress up in a costume, and since it is usually an adults-only function, the outfits can sometimes be very inventive, not to mention risqué. Many people have costume parties to celebrate a birthday, but some throw one for no special reason at all, other than they like having the chance to dress up differently than usual. You can also have a theme party, such as one featuring pirates or science fiction characters. Another option is a masquerade ball where your identity is purposely hidden.

Coming up with an outfit for either an adult or child can be expensive, but there are ways to keep costs down. For example, one or two visits to a thrift store combined with a little imagination could be all you need to put together a fun ensemble. You could always augment your thrift store purchase with several items or props from a rental store, such as a hat, wig, or wand. You could even buy what you need from the clearance rack of your local costume store at a very modest price, especially if you visit the store a week or two after Halloween or New Year's Eve to take advantage of any closeout sales. If your kids are close in age, you could also recycle their outfits, especially if you chose timeless characters in the first place, such as princesses or monsters.

The most popular costumes for children this season appear to be cartoon characters, comic book heroes, and the usual assortment of fairies and fuzzy baby animals. Adult favorites run the gamut, including characters from several popular movies, as well as outfits like vampires, French maids, and pirates. Pop culture figures are also popular, such as famous actors and singers. Additionally, you cannot go wrong dressing like a witch, zombie, or ghost, especially if you put your own distinctive touch on your appearance by adding a hat or a wig.

Do not forget to visit stores that sell costumes before attending any dress-up parties for some creative inspiration. You may find just the outfit you have been looking for or that final finishing touch you need.

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