Trick or Treat
With nearly seven in 10 Americans planning to celebrate Halloween, Oct. 31 is one of the fastest growing holidays of the year. And for good reason, it is a chance to break away from day-to-day routines to let loose and have some fun.
A National Retail Federation survey said Americans will spend $8 billion on Halloween this year, and a good chunk of that will be spent on costumes.
Don’t be fooled: Halloween isn’t just for kids. In fact, more money is expected to be spent on adult costumes this year than on costumes for children.
The trade group estimates there will 6 million adults dressing as a witch, and 3.2 million dressing as a vampire. Trailing those costume choices are the traditional fare: pirates, super heroes, and zombies. Yet costume retailers also see some other trends creeping into Halloween fare this year.
Among them is a growing preference for humorous costumes. Some of these are based on popular television shows or newsworthy public figures.
“Choosing a costume is one of the most entertaining parts of Halloween,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. So choose wisely.
Presidential Masks
Suggested Price: $16.99 and up
With the election looming, more than 767,000 Halloween party-goers are expected to wear some sort of political costume, according to NRF’s survey, conducted by the firm BIGinsight.
This means President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will be going head-to-head at the costume shop, as well as at the polls. Some costume retailers suggest that mask purchases may even predict the outcome of the election.
Of course, not everyone uses their costume choice to express their political leanings. Some will just aim for a good laugh. So don’t be surprised if you see “Romney” at a Halloween party with “Snooki” from “Jersey Shore” at his side. He’ll probably just be spoofing Romney’s recent comment that he’s kind of a “Snooki fan.”
Funny costumes seem to be in higher demand this year – particularly those that are food-related, according to Karen van Ert, chief marketing officer of Buy Seasons.
If you want to go for gastronomic giggles, there are a wide range of choices: pizza, hot dogs, cupcakes, and yes, even bacon. In contrast to the supermarket, there’s no bacon shortage at the costume shop.
BuyCostumes.com sells the bacon costume, pictured here. However, if you are after a more formal bacon look, there is the option of a bacon suit or cocktail dress. They also have abacon baby bunting (say that three times fast. Bacon baby bunting. Bacon baby bunting. Bacon baby bunting.
Courageous Lion
Suggested Price: $89.99
Perhaps playing off the popularity of anime, there are a number of newer costumes that feature furry accessories. This costume portrays a lion, but the style is also seen in a number of monster costumes as well.
Passionate Princess
Suggested Price: $149.99
Sexy costumes are always a Halloween staple. This princess costume from the Costume Confidential line is a good example. There are 14 different costumes in the product line, each with a lot of detail and higher quality fabric than you typically see in less pricier costumes.
Everyday Heroes
“Ship Shape Captain” Suggested Price: $49.99
“Sailor” Suggested Price: $29.99
Spirit Halloween CEO Steve Silverstein expects to see a rise in the number of people wearing what he calls “everyday heroes.” This includes military-style costumes, as well as those resembling police and firefighters.
Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele – 50 Shades of Grey
Suggested Price: Varies
The desire to dress like a police officer may be why handcuff sales are up at costume shops. Still, there could be another – decidedly different –reason why sales for that particular accessory are on the rise.
With the huge popularity of the “50 Shades of Grey” series, more than a few people may be looking to create their own versions of the characters Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.
Some interpretations could be rather tame, such as taking 50 shades of grey fabric and stitching them together into some form or another. But it’s more likely an aspiring Mr. Grey will dress in a suit with a tie; a want-to-be Anastasia has a longer list of options. So many, in fact, that Pinterest has a page of ideas of what would be in Ana’s closet.
Pirate Shaper
Suggested Price: $69.99
Forget the flimsy costumes: this year, consumers are looking for higher-quality fabrics, well-sewn seams, and embellishments.
“They want a lot more bells and whistles and a more finished look,” said Cheryl Kerzner, vice president of design and marketing at Jakks Pacific’s Disguise unit.
It’s especially true for the more revealing women’s costumes. Many now are made with Shapewear. This, for example, is a pirate, which ranked as the third most popular choice for adult costumes this year.
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