Naughty or Nice? Sexy Playboy Halloween Costumes!

Some of the HOTTEST costumes this Halloween are the new Playboy Sexy Costumes. Sexy Halloween costumes have been all the rage the past several years and Playboy has officially joined in the sexy costume party with their new line of sexy costumes they are producing - and putting their name on - literally.





Each of the costumes have the distinctive Playboy Bunny logo. And although there is no official Playboy Bunny Costume, you will not be disappointed with the designs and the construction of these fine, unique costumes. With names like Scandalous Pirate Costume, Saucy Marie Costume and Heff's Naughty Angel Costume, you just can't go wrong!

Most people will get excited just looking at the costume pictures since the models are none other than "The Girls Next Door" a.k.a. Hugh Heffner's three girlfriends: Holly, Bridget, and Kendra. Each Playboy costume comes in a signature Playboy garment bag for safe keeping.

These high end, deluxe sexy costumes are made for repeated use, so you will be able to keep them around even after Halloween is over for some fun dress up and role play! For more news on these popular new Playboy Halloween Costumes, see our costume news online.







Don't worry, men, you can participate in the dress up fun too, we have the Official Hugh Heffner Smoking Jacket Costume complete with the pipe.

Dogs in Costume on Parade

Don't forget about your best friend this Halloween! Your pet dogs can certainly participate in the Halloween holiday. We have costumes for your pooches in all sizes at www.spoiledrottendoggies.com

That is a website that we put together after the popularity of our pet costumes grew. We decided to also offer other boutique pet items like carriers, beds, dog treats, toys, spa products and more. Stop by and check it out today!

And remember that whether you are having a Halloween party at your house or out trick or treating, take along your dog in costume! We have many dog costumes that match the same theme, so if you are planning a star wars theme, see Yoda dog and many other Star Wars dog costumes. We also have a Spiderman Dog, Superman Dog and Batman Dog and quite a few other super hero dog costumes, if you are planning a "Super" Halloween. There are so many different dog costumes to choose from in so many sizes, I am sure you will find one to match your Halloween theme or your pet's unique personality.















Maybe your town is having a pet costume parade, like this one in New York: The Dog Halloween Parade 2006.
These parade goers are so adorable!

Curse of the Golden Flower Costumes

Gong Li in The Curse of the Golden Flower

Descriptive reviews of this film from TheAge.com website: "This costume drama is a chamber piece on a grand scale, a sometimes dazzling spectacle of royal intrigue." Says Philippa Hawker, Reviewer. See her whole review and synopsis of the film.

For more awesome images, videos and descriptions of the costumes worn in this film, see the official Sony Site for the Film.

This film is not only visually and aesthetically pleasing, with the awesome settings and beautifully designed costumes, it is also an informative look into the life style in China during the later Tang Dynasty in the 10th Century.

The movie is directed by Zhang Yimou, who has also directed other Chinese epic color laden films such as House of Flying Daggers and Hero. All three movies are more than worth your time, check them out! The extras on the DVD for Curse of the Golden Flower go into great behind the scenes details and show the costumes extensively.

Decorating Your Home for Halloween

After much deliberation, you’ve finally decided on this year’s perfect Halloween costume. But what about your home? Will it be decorated to do your costume justice?

Whether you plan to wear your costume to frighten trick-or-treaters or if you’re having a spooky Halloween party, how you decorate your home can take your guests’ experience to a frighteningly new level.

Here are some tips from a how-to article on decorating your home for Halloween:

Pay a lot of attention to your lighting. Turn your lights very low, or even turn them off, using only candles to create a spooky Halloween glow.

• Fill your home with spooky wisps of smoke and fog made from dry ice.



• Make a few ghastly head centerpieces for your buffet.



• Place shrunken apple heads in the least expected places such as on dining room or kitchen chairs, in your guests' coat pockets, or at the bottom of a snack bowl.



• Play spooky Halloween music inside and outside your house.



• Welcome your guests with spooky jack-o-lanterns lining your walkway.



• Create creepy spiders to scatter everywhere including your buffet table, chairs, ceilings and anyplace else your guests might be surprised.



• Spread cobwebs in choice corners of your home (available at most party stores) and selectively place miniature spiders in each web.



• Cover your furniture with white sheets to simulate a deserted haunted house.



• Buy your own Fog Machine.



• Shop at Pumpkin Masters for a wonderful selection of pumpkin carving tools and instructions.
  

Star Wars Costume Pageant

CE Report: Star Wars Costume Pageant

Posted By Curto on TheForce.net on July 18, 2007

The costume pageant was a great showcase of fans' dedication and creativity. Warwick Davis presented this event, which was divided in two categories: under 16 and over 16. The judges were creature shop supervisors from Ep. III, Dave and Lou Elsey and costume designer John Mollo.

In the under 16 category there was a great clone trooper outfit and a parade of cute little Jedi, princesses and bounty hunters. While some had definite star quality - there was an Obi-Wan Kenobi who even perfected the Jedi Master's fighting stance -, some nearly ran off the stage, making it a little difficult to take good photos!

This category's prizes were given out by Ray Park and the winners were:

3rd: Yoda - this toddler in a Yoda outfit stole the show. If the huge smile on his little face is anything to go by, Star Wars will still be going strong another 30 years from now!

2nd: Boba Fett - This was a good costume, almost entirely handmade. The judging panel definitely gave points for care and effort.

1st: Lego Darth Vader - Yes, you read it right. This young boy's costume was Darth Vader as a Lego figurine! A definite win for creativity.


The adult category (over 16) had some amazing costumes ranging from Jedi Knights to Expanded Universe characters. There were many women in the pageant, and I don't mean just Amidalas: there was Aayla Secura, Shaak Ti, a slave girl from Jabba's palace, Mon Mothma and a very realistic Asajj Ventress.

There were some great moments of unexpected humor in the pageant: somehow Warwick Davis' cue cards got mixed and all the costume descriptions started coming out wrong. There would be a Jedi on stage, in somber brown robes, and Warwick was describing flower embroidery… Everybody was laughing, including the contestants, and Warwick just made it the pageant's running gag!

The awards were given out by Jeremy Bulloch, who was very nice and took the time to speak to each winner about his/her costume. The winners were:

3rd: Hoth Han Solo with Tauntaun - This outfit must be seen to be believed, check out the photos! A brilliant idea, very well executed.

2nd: Amidala Senate Gown (Episode II) - This was indeed the most accurate of the Amidalas, up to the flawless hairdo. The costume was well tailored and showed great craftsmanship. Also, her serene regal pose rivalled Natalie Portman's!

1st: Wookiee - Upon taking the stage, this Wookie turned out to be bald… He also revealed that he'd nearly fainted from heat exhaustion earlier that day! That's what you get for impersonating a walking carpet.

Blizzard World of Warcraft Costume Contest

Blood Elves at BlizzCon

Last month a convention called BlizzCon took place in Anaheim, CA. Blizzard is the company that makes the online multiplayer game called World of Warcraft and this is their convention. That's the downlow for those of you who don't already know. And my guess is most of you reading this might have already known about WOW since it is one of the most popular games in the world with something like 8 million users.

In the game, you make your own character and you have a few different fanatasy characters to choose from, like elves, dwarves, and such. All types of characters based on original Tolkien like ideas further developed in the D&D world.

All of these fantasy characters lend themselves to great costume ideas and the participants are extremely creative. The combination of these two things makes for one of the best costume competitions I have ever seen in my life! (And I have seen quite a number of them!)

See a gallery of BlizzCon costumes!

Another costume gallery from BlizzCon

And here is a series of 3 videos of the costume contest. The videos might be a bit long, but for anyone who loves costumes or the game, they are well worth it. Each costume is better than the one before it. There are about 150 entrants and not a dud among them. (Except for maybe Chuck Norris!) Kudos to all the entrants for your amazing talent and imagination to boot.

BlizzCon Costume Contest Part 1:



BlizzCon Costume Contest Part 2:



BlizzCon Costume Contest Part 3:




Which one won the costume contest? See the BlizzCon Costume Contest Winner!

Where Did Halloween Come From?

Every year millions of Americans celebrate Halloween. We decorate our houses and our yards to try to make them look as spooky as possible. In recent years the decorations have become more and more elaborate. It is almost as though people are getting into the Halloween decorating with as much fervor as they do at Christmas.

Our children, as well as a lot of adults, dress up in costumes that range from horribly scary to outright funny. Children look forward to Halloween because they love to go out Trick-or-Treating, roaming up and down the neighborhood streets knocking on doors and holding put their treat bags.

Did you ever wonder where the traditions we observe at Halloween came from? What is Halloween really all about? According to an article on the origins of Halloween, contrary to what some people may believe, there was never anything inherently evil about Halloween.

The ideas about witches, the devil and monsters being associated with Halloween are later additions to the holiday we celebrate late in October.

Halloween actually has its roots in the Celtic culture. Many of the traditions we observe today have come straight to us from the Irish. The Romans came along soon after the death of Christ and added their own influences on the already age-old traditions and celebrations. Over time the meanings and observances of Halloween have changed both in function and purpose.

If you'd like to learn more about the origins of this fascinating holiday, visit True Ghost Tales, where you’ll find lots of scary ghost stories and more on the history and origins of Halloween.

And to get in the Halloween spirit, start shopping for this year's costume from the amazing selection of Halloween costumes at http://www.anniescostumes.com/.

Magic Trick Videos from WizardsApprentice.com

For all of you magic enthusiasts, The Wizard (a.k.a. my brother, Jack Maxwell) at The Wizard's Apprentice Magic Shop has rolled out some great magic trick videos showing off the magic tricks as well as his awesome talent. Check it out:

Ring Case Magic Trick


The Vanishing Deck


Ball thru Glass

Bewitching festivities at Central Florida theme parks

What comes after a Harry Potter summer? A fall filled with Halloween parties.It's no trick. Gruesome goblins and ghosts, witches and wizards, not to mention headless horsemen, are taking over central Florida's theme parks beginning in September and continuing full blast through early November. The parks are ready for visitors eager to celebrate the season with spooky haunted houses, scare zones, and even coasters in the inky darkness of night. Some parks present nightmarish events sure to spook the bravest visitors; others feature family-friendly festivities that are fun for all ages. Here's a park-by-park look at what's going bump in the night:

Walt Disney World
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a family-friendly event at the Magic Kingdom. Highlights include the "Boo To You Halloween Parade," during which Disney characters — including Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy — can be seen in their favorite Halloween costumes parading along with others down Main Street.

The party also features "Happy HalloWishes" fireworks spectacular. And the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions, including Pirates of the Caribbean with Capt. Jack Sparrow and the park's Haunted Mansion, are open.

Visitors are invited to come in costume and trick-or-treat at a variety of stations throughout the park during the event. Party hours are from 7 p.m. to midnight. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is featured on Sept. 14, 21, 28 and 30; Oct. 4, 5, 8, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30 and 31; and Nov. 2. Tickets at the gate are $63.90 for adults, $54 for children ages 3 to 9. Visit www.disneyworld.com/halloween; or call 407-934-7639.

Universal Orlando
Now in its 17th year, Halloween Horror Nights is where you can come face to face with Freddy Krueger, Jason and Leatherface. There are also chilling haunted houses that terrorize even the most intrepid guests; intense, skin-crawling, scare zones; scores of "scare actors" roaming around; and themed shows which are sure to chill and petrify.

Halloween Horror Nights are presented on Sept. 28-29; Oct. 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 24-28, 31; and Nov. 1-3. It is too intense for youngsters, and guests in costumes are not admitted. Single-night admission (valid all nights the event is presented) is $71 for adults and $60 for children ages 3 to 9. A Frequent Fear Pass offers 13 nights for the price of one ($64.95) valid on select nights: Sept. 28-29; Oct. 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28, 31; and Nov. 1. Call 877-284-4679 or visit www.halloweenhorrornights.com.

Sea World
Halloween meets the sea with friendly sea witches, flamingos, mermaids, schools of pumpkin fish and other costumed characters haunting the park during Sea World's Halloween Spooktacular, an event suitable for the whole family. The event's theme is, appropriately, "FantaSea." If you like, dress in costume, as there are trick-or-treating treasure troves with treats galore throughout the park. SeaWorld's otters and sea lions present Halloween-themed shows.

Sea World's Halloween Spooktacular is presented on Oct. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 26-28 and 31. It is included in park general admission ($64.95 for adults, $53.95 for children ages 3-9). Park hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 800-406-2244 or visit www.seaworld.com.

Whichever park's festivities you choose to attend, you'll find the best selection of costumes at AnniesCostumes.com.

Costumes and Your Personality

What Your Halloween Costume Says About You

Getups can say much -- maybe too much -- about the personal -- and often hidden -- makeup of their wearers

Halloween from a psychologist's prospective.

This interesting article comes from Seattlepi.com. Written By: LAURA LICA

Sally Foster, a psychology professor with the University of Miracosta, Calif., and John Suler, psychology professor at the Rider University in New Jersey are two experts that say our costume choices are not random, even if we think so. And although you might think your mask hides you, it's not entirely true. Although price, comfort and convenience can factor in, when you choose a costume, you live a fantasy and you show the others a part of your inner self.

Here's what Foster and Suler say about various costume types.

Sexy characters
French maids, hot nurses or prostitutes can represent one's own repressed sexuality, Foster said. They also can be healthy expressions of someone who is not very repressed.
Suler said the increasingly popular "pimp and ho" characters represent inner struggles.
"Should we be pure and chaste and holy ... or let loose with sexual desires and acting out? In those costumes you see these inner struggles (again, a polarity) being expressed."

Celebrities
Costume choices rooted in fame and popular culture tend to follow trends, and like trends, they may spread quickly then disappear, Suler said. People may simply wish to display a knowledge of current events or share their interests. Or they may use them to express personality traits or social issues that are associated with the celebrity's image (sensuality, intelligence, power, corruption, rebellion, etc.).
"I think this is a likely choice for the Walter Mittys of the world to be someone more dashing and daring, someone with real power," Foster said.

Scary characters
Zombies, vampires, skeletons and other monsters show our fascination with the macabre, the grotesque. Death has always been something we humans are scared of, yet drawn to, Foster said.

Innocents
Fairies or princesses represent one's lost innocence or beauty, or a return to a safer and simpler time, Foster said.

Animals
Generally, animals represent strength, basic instincts, with other specific traits for specific creatures, Foster said. For instance, cats are sensual, purring, soft creatures.
"I saw two women dressed as cats even though in real life they're very reserved persons and do not display their sensuality," Foster said.
Because animals symbolize certain traits or attributes in myth as well as popular culture (such as strength, loyalty, grace, independence, cunning, transcendence), an animal costume may represent some real aspect of a person's identity, or some admired characteristic, Suler said.
Thinking in the tradition of the Native American, he added, we might even regard an animal costume as being an individual's totem -- a symbol of one's essential nature or potential.

Comic/cartoon characters
Clowns and the like represent whimsy, playfulness and youth, Foster said. People want to leave their serious natures behind on this holiday.
Some cartoon characters have very cultural significance and may even represent archetypal personality types (for example Bugs Bunny as a confident trickster), according to Suler. And some adults wear more sophisticated cartoons, such as anime. The psychological tone of these costumes tend to be more seductive, whimsical or mysterious.

Evil characters
Evil costumes allow people to safely -- and even creatively -- express their dark side without guilt, Suler said.
He adds that some people may use evil or aggressive costumes as a way (consciously or unconsciously) to alienate others, which indicate anxiety about intimacy and being vulnerable.

Powerful characters
This can be a variation of the "evil" costume, or a more benign expression of a fantasy of omnipotence, Suler said. They also can express underlying feelings of helplessness and insecurity.

So before you put on your costume, whether it's a monster, a "Matrix" hero, a witch, a priest or a prostitute, consider your choice -- it may tell people more about you than you realize.

Written By: LAURA LICA

Awesome Costumes at the Cosplay World Summit

Brazil's Marcello Batista de Andredo Fernandez poses in costume during a news conference ahead of the World Cosplay Summit 2007 in Tokyo August 1, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

For those of you who don't know Wikipedia defines Cosplay for you:

Cosplay (コスプレ, kosupure?), a portmanteau of the English words "costume" and "roleplay", is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, or Japanese pop music bands. However, in some circles, "cosplay" has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.

The World Cosplay Summit 2007 took place earlier this month in Tokyo, Japan.

People in costumes pose during a news conference ahead of the World Cosplay Summit 2007 in Tokyo August 1, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Here are the winners of the Cosplay Championship, which is not only for costumes, but performance as well.

Winners: France

The duo of Isabelle and Damian who performed as Tsugiri and Myoubi from ‘Alichino’.They were presented with a trophy from Judge Monkey Punch, a return trip ticket to Japan from Judge Ken Nagata, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Prize (this prize is for those who promote friendship between Japan and other countries in the world) presented by Judge Hiroshi Tokita.

Runners-up: Japan B

The duo Naoki Shigure and Kikiwan, who performed as ‘Light Yagami’ and ‘Deathnote Misa Amane’ from ‘Deathnote’. They received an assortment of manga and anime goods worth €100,000 from Judge Ichiro Mizuki.

Brother Prize: Mexico

The duo of Linaloe and Alejandra performed as ‘Eternal Sailor Moon’ and ‘Sailor Galaxia’ From ‘Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon’. They received a Brother super-slim digital ‘MyMio MFC-850CDN’ Multifunction Machine from Judge Essai Ushijima.

To give you an idea of what its like, check out this video, I'm not sure if its a parade or just crowds of people walking. You will spot some really awesome costumes!


So, for all you do-it-yourself costume makers out there, kudos to your creativity. You are awesome!

Trick 'r Treat

In Theaters October 5, 2007

IMBD Plot Summary: Four interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: An everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the one guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank; a woman who loathes the night has to contend with her holiday-obsessed husband




It is said that Halloween is the night when the dead rise to walk among us and other unspeakable things roam free. The rituals of All Hallows Eve were devised to protect us from their evil mischief, and one small town is about to be taught a terrifying lesson that some traditions are best not forgotten. Nothing is what it seems when a suburban couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight; four women cross paths with a costumed stalker at a local festival; a group of pranksters goes too far and discovers the horrifying truth buried in a local legend; and a cantankerous old hermit is visited by a strange trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick. Costumes and candy, ghouls and goblins, monsters and mayhem... the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety-human and otherwise-try to survive the scariest night of the year. Written by Warner Bros. Pictures

Halloween is ON in Lahaina, Hawaii

In years past, Halloween in Lahaina, Hawaii, has meant a big celebration with a parade, costumes, and sometimes a wild affair attended by residents and tourists alike. The Halloween celebration in Lahaina has raised some concern as of late, with many expressing concern that the celebration gets too out of control for the small island town to handle. Not to mention the contoversy that has arised when several native Hawaiian groups have expressed their disapproval of many components of the event taking place on the same grounds that are rich with their heritage and traditions of the past.

I have been following the story in the news the past few weeks and, as a Halloween enthusiast, I am happy to see that the StarBulletin.com is reporting that Halloween is ON in Lahaina!

Here are some excerpts from the article posted in the StarBulletin.com:

LAHAINA » Revelers will be out in force on Front Street again this Halloween after Maui County's Cultural Resource Commission voted in favor of allowing the Lahaina event to proceed as planned.

Dissent from several native Hawaiian groups has done little to spook event organizers in the past, but ensuring that all goes well this year "puts a little bit of a fear of God into us," said Joan McKelvey, a member of the Lahaina Town Action Committee, the group tasked with organizing the event that draws an estimated 35,000 people annually.

"We're hoping everything will go as it always does -- very well -- on Halloween night," said McKelvey.

Criticism has grown in recent years that the celebration has become too wild, with some of the costumes unsuitable for young eyes.

Nani Watanabe, who joined her fellow commissioners Aug. 2 in voting 5-1 in favor of running the event as planned this year, remarked, "By approving Halloween in Lahaina, we know it's going to be safe, controlled and organized."

See the whole Lahaina Halloween story written by Wendy Osher

New Movies Announced at Comic-Con = Future New Costumes!

I'm always on the lookout for what's next in the costume world. The Comic Con convention in San Diego earlier this month is defnitely a crystal ball into the future costumes of Halloween 2008 and beyond.

I know, Halloween 2007 is still two months away, and here I am talking about 2008 already!

Well, here are some futuristic movie highlights from Comic Con courtesy MTV.com

» Marvel executives and "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau revealed plans to begin teaming heroes in future flicks (see "Comic-Con: 'Hulk' Smashes At Marvel Panel, Plus 'Iron Man' Cameos To Spawn 'Marvel Heroes' Flick").

» Steven Spielberg revealed live via satellite that Karen Allen would return in the forthcoming fourth "Indiana Jones" as the whip-wielder's greatest love, Marion Ravenwood (see "Comic-Con: Karen Allen To Appear In 'Indiana Jones IV' ").

» "300" director Zack Snyder revealed the poster and cast for his highly anticipated "Watchmen" movie (see "Comic-Con: 'Watchmen' Poster Revealed!").

» Sam Raimi let it slip that he recently met with Marvel producer Avi Arad to lay the groundwork for a "Spider-Man 4" script.

» The villainous Zachary Quinto was announced as Mr. Spock in the upcoming "Star Trek" re-launch flick (see "'Star Trek' Earmarks A 'Hero' To Play New Spock In J.J. Abrams Flick").

The MTV Movie Blog has a list of BIG movie news uncovered at Comic Con:

– Seth Rogen told us his “Green Hornet” isn’t going to be all laughs.
– We found out Tyrese Gibson and Joan Allen are going to take a “Death Race.”
– The Marvel panel blew our minds with “Incredible Hulk” news and “Iron Man” footage.
– Hope you aren’t feeling Narnia’d out because a lot more flicks are on the way.
– We spent a day with the man of the moment, “Watchmen” director Zack Snyder.
– You got a sneak peek, courtesy of Dee Snider, of “Hatchet.”
– We found a pretty creepy dossier on “The Dark Knight”’s Joker.
– We took a look at J.J. Abram’s secret monster movie and its guerilla marketing.
– We found out that the only thing better than one Spock is two Spocks!
– And we got psyched for the return of Marion Ravenwood to “Indiana Jones.”

Top Ten Costumes for Halloween 2007

Extreme Halloween just announced their top 10 Halloween costumes for adults, teens, kids and babies. Some of the costumes include Captain Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones from Pirates of the Carri bean, the Harry Potter robes and Princess Fiona from Shrek. You can view the entire list at http://www.extremehalloween.com/tophalloween.htm

Those who visited www.ExtremeHalloween.com were asked to take the Halloween costume survey where they were asked several questions. This also entered them into a weekly drawing for prizes. The information from the years past and the costume survey helps determine what costumes join the top 10 list. Where can you get these top Halloween costumes? Just visit www.anniescostumes.com.

Halloween Makeup Tricks of the Trade

Here are some great Halloween Makeup Tricks of the Trade.

First, be safe. Before applying any makeup effects, follow these simple safety guidelines:

1. Always perform a skin test to ensure skin compatibility


2. Never use makeup or baby powder around sources of open flame.


3. Only use approved makeup for facial areas.


4. Do not mix different kinds of makeup.


5. Apply makeup thinly, one color at a time allowing the makeup to adequately dry (a hair dryer set on cold air can speed the process)

First begin with a clean face. Most FX artists recommend a good astringent to remove facial oils followed by a cold water rinse to close the pores. An extremely thin coat of vaseline at this point will aid in makeup removal.

Find a place in front of a mirror with a good light source. A good comfortable chair would help. Ensure there are no sources of flame near the makeup.

Decide if there will be any prosthetic pieces such as scabs, scars or areas where the face will be built up. I like to apply them first, as the spirit gum adheres better to a clean face.

Prosthetics

Start with any of the prosthetic devices you want to add: scars, warts, nose etc. Where the device will go, apply spirit gum to both the face and the device. Allow the spirit gum to get tacky before applying the device. If using latex, apply a base coat of latex and gradually build the area. For scars, apply a thin layer of latex then cover with a single piece of tissue, repeat the process until the scar is formed.

Foundations

When you're satisfied with the build-up or prosthetics, apply a foundation makeup. The color will depend on the required outcome, white for vampires, gray for corpses, red for devils, green for witches and goblins, blue for a frozen look. The foundation should be applied lightly rubbing on face then patting to blend the makeup. With the foundation applied it's time to highlight and shadow. A makeup brush will assist in even coating.

Setting the Makeup

The final step in any makeup design is to set the makeup. For any who has tried to wear makeup while acting in a haunted house or going to a party can tell you, unset makeup while run with sweat ruining the makeup in a matter of minutes. The key is to set the makeup. There are many commercial products but nothing is cheaper and works as well as baby powder. A simple dusting of baby powder while keep the makeup fresh and set throughout the night. Baby powder is also especially useful for creating the look of age in zombies. A good powdering of the hair and clothing provides instant aging.

For scary, gorey, glamorous, or just different makeup kits, visit anniescostumes.com.

Batman & Superman Costumes from 1965

I saw this fun post and picture on a vintage blog called Found in My Mother's Basement. Costumes have come a long way since 1965! This is from the 1965 Sears Catalog.

Current Batman Costumes on http://www.anniescostumes.com/

Current Superman Costumes on http://www.anniescostumes.com/

5 Steps to Taking the Best Halloween Pictures

By Jim Brown

Photographs may be just bits of paper prints but it has potent effects to your memory. With pictures, our memory runs wild. It makes you recall, let alone reminisce the time that the photo was taken. Then you will find yourself smiling if not laughing at the thought of it. Thus, photographs bring memories, fresh and crisp to our minds.

In addition, photos are sort of like an evidence that we were once such and so. With pictures taken, you can show it to someone just to prove that you were at some concert or that you were once dressed as a die at one Halloween party. Hence, if you love dressing up during Halloween, you'd better take hold of these tips so you can take high-quality pictures. You'd never really want to miss out the fun in the pictures, do you?

First, take your camera. Use the kind that you know how and is comfortable at operating. It doesn't matter if it's high-tech or not because even disposable cameras could shoot good pictures. Just as long as you know how the camera functions, it'll do.

Second, look at the people you're going to take pictures of. Examine each of them and the point that draws attention in them. It could be their faces, their masks or their outfits. Take into account the source of light, too. If you want to give pictures a scary feeling, you can let your subjects use a flashlight right down under their chins.

Third, if there are a number of them, make sure to let them stand close to each other. Never place them in one line. If possible, have them in a number of rows. You can let others stand while others kneel in front. If your subjects are children, make sure to get that picture within their level. This means you would have to go on your knees if needed. That will give you good results. You may also take candid pictures. Just always be poised for action.

Fourth, let your subjects stay calm and comfortable. It would be more fun to have them let a sound of the personalities they're dressed up for. If someone's dressed as a tiger, make him or her growl. This would bring out laughs in everyone not just kids but grown-ups, too.

Fifth, click the camera and get the picture! However, if you wish to take photos of Jack O' Lanterns, make sure to do it at stark dark. As much as possible, the background should contrast the bright, translucent appearance of the lantern.

Flash Gordon: Saviour of the Universe Edition Released

Here is a review on the release of Flash Gordon: Saviour of the Universe on DVD:

The original bare bones DVD of Flash Gordon (released almost a decade ago) has long been out of print and commanding high prices on eBay; those days are pretty much over now, with the arrival of this spanking-new “Saviour of the Universe” edition (and no, that’s not a typo; for some reason, they’re using the British spelling of “Saviour”), although, except in terms of image quality, this isn’t much of an upgrade.

But that image quality is a biggie. The box (which has a hinged, flip-open lid, like a Star Trek communicator) touts the usual “digitally remastered” image, and it really does look spectacular, every vibrant color pulsing with life.

Screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr. also speaks out in a short interview segment, which is the highlight of the disc due to Semple’s brutal honesty and straight talk about his role in the film and the finished product. The inclusion of the first chapter of the original 1936 Flash Gordon serial with Buster Crabbe seems appropriate, and demonstrates that the 1980 version really wasn’t all that outrageous in what it was recreating. A trailer for the new Sci-Fi Channel Flash Gordon series is literally twelve seconds long, and features only a title graphic, with no clips from the show.

And that’s it. No commentary tracks, and no nuts-and-bolts material. Where are the deleted scenes and “making of” doc seen on the UK “Silver Anniversary” edition? This is definitely a missed opportunity, though it’s tough to quibble with the overall presentation of the film.

If you were one of those who was cranky about Flash Gordon in the old days, give this disc a spin and see if your opinion doesn’t change. If you loved it then, this is a great keepsake, especially if you missed the first edition. And if you’ve never seen it, prepare yourself for a goofy, candy-colored, funky-retro treat. Flash Gordon is a unique confection, and one of the most enjoyable SF films of the '80s.

Get into the 'Flash' spirit! Check out the cool superhero costumes from AnniesCostumes.com.

Rob Zombie Halloween Movie Remake

The horrifying return of Michael Myers through the eyes of Rob Zombie! The movie will be released on August 31, 2007.

You might have seen the previews already and this remake looks even scarier than the original. Granted, the original movie is a classic and was quite scary enough, especially since I was pretty young when I first saw it.

The voice over on the Halloween trailer says, "This August, Rob Zombie unleashes an extreme vision of terror and reinvents a legend." Some critics, although fans of Rob Zombie, are asking why? Why remake a classic? I personally think the trailer is spooky as is and has intrigued me enough to want to see the movie. Although, I am a movie fan, contrary to what you might imagine, I am not a huge horror movie fan. I guess growing up in the Halloween business has somewhat desensitized me to some things, and at the same time, some recent movies are just too sick or gory for my taste. I guess I live in a world of costumes, makeup and horror, so I like something different in most of my movies. But I will go and see this new Halloween movie, I'm kind of excited about it, actually.

The new Halloween movie trailer, I feel, is actually too scary to post here on my blog, since I want to keep my blog PG and family oriented about things related to Halloween and Halloween costumes.

There is an interesting interview with Rob Zombie posted on Final Girl's blog. I just linked to it, rather than post it here along with a warning that you might find a few bad words there - doesn't bother me, but just in case it might bother you. : )

I almost forgot . . . for any of you avid fans out there, http://www.anniescostumes.com/ carries the official Michael Myers Mask as well as the Michael Myers costume for adults. If you get it now, you can wear it to the premier and at Halloween so that you can get double the fright time out of it!