Halloween Hot or Not

Posted by: Team Intern in General on Oct 26, 2009 Print PDF

Team Intern

phpAtyZbuPM.jpgOne week. No. LESS than one week remains before Halloween, the one time out of the year when you can wear nearly anything you want and no one gives you grief. Unless your costume is boring. Which is why BUST is here.

Something scary? Something clever? Something to top last year? Figuring out a good costume can be rough, 'specially when most Google searches result in 1,000 listings for 'Slutty [insert profession, animal, fictional character here]'. So for all y'all still coming up blank with costume ideas, here's a the beginning drizzle of what, with your comments and suggestions, will soon become one wallop of a brainstorm. Read 'em over, comment with your ideas, and, if anyone can add some helpful how-tos, please do! Let's end rock-tober with a bang!

1) Madonna: okay, good start. Especially because that's about 20 different costumes right off the bat.

2) Elaine from Seinfeld: bring back the 90s with a thrifted women's skirt-suit and a pair of Himalyan Walking Boots.

3) Lady Gaga: an awesome costume idea, but, SPOILER ALERT: everybody's doing it.

4) Liz Lemon from 30 Rock: this year's Sarah Palin.

5) Anything Mad Men: super fun, and you know you'll wear that costume to work all year.

6) Michelle Obama: with or without hula-hoop.

7) Little Edie from Grey Gardens: this one could lead to a great buddy costume (Little Edie and Big Edie), or a group gig (if you find some friends to dress as cats and raccoons).

8) Beyonce: another suggestion with about a bizillion different incarnations.

9) your fave Baby-Sitters Club gal: get yourself a crimper and a scrunchie and the world is your oyster.

10) your fave BUST cover!: use a big piece of cardboard for a backdrop--paint or draw on the logo and some headlines. You can 'attach' yourself using a little elastic to make arm loops, or a belt at your waist. Then, find an outfit to match the celeb of your choice; my faves are Beth Ditto, Chloe Sevigny, Eve, and Amy Sedaris, but you can find (tiny) pictures of back issues here: http://www.bust.com/Info/About-BUST.html. Or, just make the background and picture yourself on the cover! Bonus points if you end up matching our December/January issue!

Comment with what you come up with, and any suggestions you have for your fellow BUSTies!

Anna C

photo courtesy quickblogcast.com

Tagged in: General   

The opinions expressed on the BUST blog are those of the authors themselves and do not necessarily reflect the position of BUST Magazine or its staff.



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written by laurie, October 26, 2009
I'm really stuck this year, did Little Edie a few years back, maybe Billy Jean King or Gloria Steinem? I want to be something scary this year, but am not feeling inspired.
I know an 11 year old girl thats going as Lady gaga- ha!
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written by Liza, October 26, 2009
I'm going as Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction. During the overdose scene, of course.
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written by simonedeb, October 26, 2009
how about a sexy kitten hooker french maid? you can dress up like all those people who dress up as sexy things! pretty meta, right?
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written by niki, October 27, 2009
Murphy Brown!

all you need, of course, are shoulder pads.
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written by Bette, October 27, 2009
everyone i know is going as max from Where the Wild Things Are. Which I was going to do. mostly bc my date looks like a monster.
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written by Sarah, October 27, 2009
I'm going as tank girl. It's gonna be super awesome!
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written by Tess, October 27, 2009
I'm sure there will be plenty of Sarah Palin clones too, maybe even more than lady Gaga and Beyonce..
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written by Rae of Sunshine, October 27, 2009
I'm going to a costume wedding and had the luck of getting to see some of the other guests choices - slutty cops/witches/nurses a-plenty! - so I decided to bring the class with a Joan Halloway costume (that and it's easieer to handle my toddler "Bob the builder" in a full legnth gown than it would be in stilletos and a mini skirt!)- Now if only I could find a Roger or Don look a like my costume would be dead on!!!
I wish I was a guy tho, I would love to go as sexy Jesus!
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written by susan, October 27, 2009
i'm going as one of Richard Prince's "Nurses"-anyone know what i'm referencing here? i hope it goes over well, definitely NOT sexy nurse.
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written by laurie, October 27, 2009
Good idea Susan, like the sonic youth cover? I like stuff like that, not very obvious, but the people who know will get it. Actually Rae gave me a good idea, Jesus!! oh brother, I am all over the place.
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written by naomi, October 28, 2009
or if you're a crafty gal be new releases and go as Amilia Earhart with a wee airplane built around you...
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written by laural, October 28, 2009
villains never get enough credit for how awesome they are. i am going as ursula from 'the little mermaid'. (but like if ursula was punk rocker.)
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written by @my!!, October 28, 2009
I'm totally going as Amelia Earhart this year. The day after I decided on this, I learned that Hillary Swank will be starring in a biopic about her.
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written by Brittany, October 29, 2009
Decided after working on a presentation yesterday and today that I'm going as Valerie Solanas and making my boyfriend be Andy Warhol. Yes. Yes yes.
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written by Kristen, October 29, 2009
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. But I gotta say, the past few years I've been feeling more anger and less excitement. When did it turn into "dress like a slut day?" I know sometimes it can be fun to have an excuse to show more flesh than usual, or to throw an ironic twist in to an otherwise boring costume (sexy Nancy Reagan, anyone?), but it's gotten way out of hand. Have you walked through the costume section of a store lately? Little boys get to chose from Iron Man, police officer, soldier. Little girls, on the other hand, are given the options of Barbie, slutty police officer, slutty soldier. Seriously. If you think I'm exaggerating, check out the girls' costumes of Heidi, Captain Cutie, Cop, or Pumpkin Spice on Target's website. Under the category of "girl's sports costumes" there are two choices: sexy referee or cheerleader. Why should only boys get to be strong superheroes, heroic soldiers, and awesome athletes? Ladies, - I say it's time to take back Halloween. Be a crafty wizard and create costumes that remind you (and your daughters) of how strong and fabulous we all are. Vote with your dollar and don't spend any money supporting the "Turn Our Daughters Into Whores" costume trade.

Off now to put the finishing touches on my Dr. Horrible costume.
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written by Brandy, October 29, 2009
Kristen, I'm totally with you in my hatred of slutty costumes. Especially b/c Halloween tends to be a night of binge drinkng too. That's a *holiday*?

BUT I am super excited that my good friends are having a party with the theme of Superheroes. It sounds like many folks are picking existing characters, but I LOVE that it's a theme that inherently works with strengths.

I asked my boyfriend what I'm really good at it - and he said "being earnest." Ha! I considering being Super Earnest Girl, enemy of ironic hipsters, but it's a bit hard to visualize. I've got another costume percolating.

anyway - I'd add Your Very Own Superhero to the list, because you can make it anything and you can kick serious ass. Plus, Boots and capes are fun.

Happy Halloween, everyone! Stay safe and have fun.
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written by Squirrelfood, October 29, 2009
We are having a winter theme this year my son is going to be a snow owl, my hubby is going as some weirdly masked winter nymph and I am going as "Yeti Page" the idea of all that hair in a leopard bikini makes me laugh!!!
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written by LeRuth, October 29, 2009
My husband is dressing up as Colonel Sanders and I am going as a mutant, genetically-modified chicken.
Without a beak of course.
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written by @my!!, October 29, 2009
My fiancee finally picked a costume - he is going as a ghost. He bought a white sheet at Target and we're going to cut eyeholes in it. I think its brilliant since Halloween has become incredibly complex and these nice, simple costumes get overlooked all the time.
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written by Ryane, October 29, 2009
I completely missed out on Halloween last year so I don't know if this was a big costume idea then, or if it will be this year, but my boyfriend and I are going as Juno and Paulie Bleeker!
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written by kelly, October 29, 2009
me and my boyfriend are going as Hansel and Gretel
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written by Kate, October 29, 2009
Trump traditional Halloween ideas and try adding sexy where it doesn't belong... i.e. Laura Ingalls Wilder, Octomom, your 1st grade teacher-- the more recognizable the traditional unsexy character, the better. Tramp it up ladies!
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written by Meghan, October 29, 2009
I like the idea of being Ursela, you could get really creative with that costume! My roomate is being Mrs. Butterworth and we are making the costume ourselves - brown dress, red apron with the logo in white felt and a yellow bucket as the cap. Last year she was "Blossom" complete with a cheesy flower power floppy hat! This year I'm going to be a bushel of grapes - just blow up a bunch of purple balloons and pin them all over yourself.
Happy tricking!
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written by Andrea, October 29, 2009
I'll be Dead Penny from Dr. Horrible. I already have the clothes and I'm a super geek. Done and done. And, it's a lot easier to pull together last-minute than my original though of being Dead Bowie from the Evil League of Evil.
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written by Corey, October 29, 2009
Last year the husband and I went as history's best and worst swimmers (Michael phelps and a drowned Ophelia)...this year we are contemplating going as Where's Waldo and Carmen Sandiego.....also thinking about being Flo from the Geico commercials or a goth I Love Lucy with "ricky" neck tattoo.......good luck everyone!
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written by Abigail, October 29, 2009
I'm going as the lead viking in a viking horde. There are about 6 of us, and we'll be pillaging Seattle. Should be fun, as I'm ~6ft and scare the hell out of men anyway, might as well really terrify them with a horned viking helmet and a large sword!
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written by emmale, October 29, 2009
My first idea was to go as a ballerina. Then someone suggested I go as a dead ballerina. Then I found out a frend of mine was dressing up as a leopard so I thought I'd dress as a ballerina who's been mauled by a leopard. But now my friend and I have decided to go as freaky half-ballerina half-leopard mutants, products of an unsuccessful genetic experiment.
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written by Jenn, October 29, 2009
I think it'd be helpful to have some ideas outside of dressing like a celebrity or television or movie character. And it'd definitely get away from the "slutty fill-in-the-blank" costume.

More abstract costumes or group costumes. My friends were going to go as a pentecostal congregation, but sadly couldn't find enough people to join. I really wanted to go as Castle Crashers (video game character) or as Eagle vs. Shark, but I'm ending up going as a leaf monster - a jumpsuit covered in layers of leaves pulled from fall trees. smilies/smiley.gif Should be fun!
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written by Victoria, October 29, 2009
My boyfriend and I are going as Kurt & Courtney! We made great thrifted costumes.
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written by nerissy, October 29, 2009
I'm going as a representative of Abstinence Only Education... wearing a thrift store schoolmarmy blazer with a pin that says "Federally supported in 25 of 50 states!," carrying a big heart-shaped cut-out of the Jonas Brothers, and handing out Promise Rings left and right. I like a costume that allows me to say things I would never ordinarily say, like "Slam those knees together, young lady!" Would another pin reading "Iron Hymen" be going too far??
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written by Holls, October 29, 2009
I will be going as Puss in Boots. I found the whole thing at the thrift store. A cat with a sword? Heck yeah!
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written by Whitney, October 29, 2009
I decided to be Jem this year, truly outrageous! I love any excuse to wear a funky wig and this one is huge and cotton candy pink! My boyfriend is being Alex from A Clockwork Orange, complete with codpiece and fake eyelashes. Creepy!
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written by snowwhite, October 29, 2009
YETI Page is the best (the abominable snowman version of Betty Page). That takes home the prize, for sure!
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written by stinkymcb, October 29, 2009
My boyfriend and I are going as Jean & Jacques Renault from Twin Peaks. All we need are jeans, logger boots, plaid shirts,mustaches and toques. Especially good since it's a bit chilly and rainy here in Vancouver (BC). And then, when the Halloween party gets going, voilà , instant hipster costumes -just roll up the cuffs on the jeans and plaid shirts!
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written by Butterbean Bouquet, October 29, 2009
My 3 year old is going to be a race car driver complete with homemade cardboard race car, my hubby & I are wearing coveralls and dirty faces and going as the pit crew and my 5 month old is going to be a gas can.
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written by nolajen, October 29, 2009
i'm going as a sexy lunch lady, complete with hairnet, big hairy moles, and a grease-stained apron. woo!
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written by Lynda Lee, October 29, 2009
check out the artist COOP, I am going as a plus size devil girl
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written by javagoth, October 29, 2009
I'll be going as a sea goddess (as a bonus I'm goddess sized to go with it). I created much of the components of my costume. I can honestly say my costume is made out of at least 25% recycled material and 98% stuff I had around my house already - because I've been unemployed for a long while so that was my challenge to myself...
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written by pyroqueen8, October 29, 2009
I went to my work contest as a DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS. Turned out great, if I do say so myself. smilies/smiley.gif
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written by Kat, October 29, 2009
I'm going as Mrs. Lovett, using the Helena Bonham Carter incarnation as inspiration. I don't have any meat pies but I do have a bloody knife and stained apron to go along with my dress. I'm so excited about my costume!
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written by shannon, October 29, 2009
my husband is going as Borat..Im going as Sookie Stackhouse (waitress) from TrueBlood along with bite marks on my neck....
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written by dawn, October 29, 2009
i am going as Coraline, because I wanted to use the navy blue wig i've had for the past 10 years and only used for 'playtime'!
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written by little lion, October 30, 2009
last year was a haunted doll. lots of lace and velvet, plus bloomers and scary make up. year before i was a train robber and my partner was the engineer.
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written by cheshire cat, October 30, 2009
I'm going as the cheshire cat.
One of my friends decided to do a gwen stefani inspired mad hatter. And now I'm joining her along with another friend that will be the march hare! I made my entire costume except for the purple skinnies that I bought second-hand.
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written by ellephabetic, October 30, 2009
i'm doing emily dickinson. found some vintage lace up booties and an awesome white victorian style blouse. i'm ditching the petticoat for tight white levis, because hey-em was a modern woman. last year i did a really fun sock monkey girl-converted a thrifted sweater into a monkey dress, eyes and ears sewn on a woolie cap, and spray painted a painters mask for the monkey face-complete with sewn on yarn monkey smile. the tail was way fun to dance in!
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written by Katja, October 30, 2009
I'm going as Zelda, from the Legend of Zelda games. My boyfriend's going as Princess Peach, from Mario Brothers. We'll be the ladies of Nintendo!
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written by steph, October 30, 2009
2 friends and I are doing up a surreal Victorian thing. One of us made a pair of articulating wings from dowels and copper, using an Instructable as a guide. He's going as an inventor/huckster to lure in new investors for this revolutionary invention. My other friend is looking classy and if we have time, I'd like to make her an overskirt with octopus tentacles, just because.

My character has a complicated back story which involves being the cousin of Philadelphia anarchist and feminist Voltairine DeCleyre, but my character has been working as a logician's assistant. (Get it? Magician->logician?) In her horticultural studies, she contracted an odd case of poison ivy or poison oak, and since then she can't stand the taste of meat. She's turned into something of a vegan vampire with a strange relationship with the plants she raises tenderly, then eats savagely. I'm hoping I have a little calendula or bee balm left in the garden to chomp on during the party.

The costume involves a floor length skirt with a gather, a wide brim hat, choker, velvet jacket with big puffy sleeves added, brocade dress for dinner that can be ditched in favor of a very fun bustier, and a bustle/overskirt made of fresh English ivy from the yard. Ivy will decorate the choker and hat as well. Haven't gone all out like this in a while, and looking forward to it!
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written by Amy, October 30, 2009
I'm Julia Child this year, rubber chicken and all. Sadly though I've already been mistaken for Susan Boyle.
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written by Zloduska, October 30, 2009
Sometimes even slutty costumes can be fun. I usually dress up in skimpy outfits when I go to specially themed nights at clubs (I am a burlesque performer and frequent goth/fetish clubs) so for me it's normal. I love costumes like feeling sexy, sorry if that bothers some women.

There are ways to make sexy costumes that are still creative. For example, this year I am using one of my burlesque costumes for Halloween-- killer robot. I do a routine to Flight of the Concords "Robots", and it's awesome (severed head and body parts included!) I have a crazy robot head piece, red/silver futuristic glasses, silver lame gloves and arm gauntlets, shiny silver boots and tights, a silver vinyl zip-up dress, a chrome metal choker/collar a corset covered in tin-foil and a vintage 50's bullet bra that I spray painted metallic silver. It's really fun, but still kind of sexy!
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written by Gia, October 30, 2009
I'm being tank girl too!!! I really wanted my girlfriend to be Jane but she backed out and it being a robot. yay homemade costumes!
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written by Yeni, October 30, 2009
Me and the bf are going as Marion Crane and Norman Bates from Psycho. I got a nude body suit and a cheap shower curtain to wear over it. He got a huge house dress and a granny wig. We'll be all bloody of course. Can't wait for him to slay me all night!
I find movie characters are pretty fun. I was the gal from the Birds last year.
Ps. I love the abstinence only rep-please wear the iron hymen pin!
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written by susan, October 30, 2009
i've now decided to go as varla from Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill! you know, as Tura Satana!
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written by gianna, October 31, 2009
I'm going as a rollergirl but can't wear that costume at work, so will also be going as Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Both women after my own heart. =]
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written by anita, October 31, 2009
dear gianna,
youre amazing! smilies/smiley.gif

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