By Kimberly Tubré and Sarah Block

Ghost, goblins, witches, and vampires; surely Halloween is here! Already, you ask? Yes, and while it has crept up on us for yet another year, there is no need to fret if you are ill prepared for 2009’s Halloween season. It is true that Halloween night, in New Orleans, is nothing short of a big deal. You can find a good party in all parts of town, from the French Quarter’s famous Bourbon Street to a nightclub downtown. Or you can hang out where most of the locals will be, in the traditional Halloween area of the Marigny on Frenchmen Street. But, before you enjoy your fun filled night out, it is important to know that your costume choice must be appropriate for your venue. Women are usually safe in something sexy. If your Halloween plans include attending one of the metro area’s hot nightclubs like the Metropolitan, be sure to have your sexiest costume and look your best. Please don’t embarrass yourself with an old medieval costume or something from the Renaissance era; that definitely will not impress any costume contest judges. Also for ladies going to a nightclub, try not to go for the super scary look, not only will you look tragic, but I’m sure your night will end that way. Now for the men –  funny is always in style. As a matter of fact, the funnier the better! And if all else fails, go as a group, because couple and group costumes are always a hit.
So maybe I’ve made you a bit discouraged considering that you are just dying to wear that “Planet of the Apes” costume this year? Well, don’t worry because there is a place for all costumes, from the scariest to the weirdest to the funniest, and that place is definitely Frenchmen Street. On Frenchmen Street you will see such a wide variety of costumes that you might just go insane with Halloween joy. But in all honesty, when it comes to Halloween, a true New Orleanian is going to dress as they please; on the other hand, for those of ya’ll who need a little bit more help here are a few dos and don’ts that are sure to get you through this 2009 Halloween season.

Halloween Fashion Dos and Don’ts
By Sarah Block

    Fashion faux pas may be rampant on Halloween, but that’s no excuse to look out-of-season or unkempt, especially on the only night where “Dress to Kill” makes any sense at all on a party invitation. Keep these “Dos” and “Don’ts” in mind to ward off ridicule from your friends.
    Don’t wear your costume from last year: Sarah Palin, Batman, or one of Britney’s circus burlesque dancers will just not do for 2009. Uptown Costumes manager Martha Braun suggests vampires and animal prints as safe bets if you’re out of fresh ideas.
    Do consult YouTube for original costume ideas. Bottom line: circa 100,000 minimum views. I know you’ve seen the keyboard cat, but what about the grape-stomping lady? It may be just a tad out-dated, but if it’s still getting hits in October, it’ll probably still earn you some pats on the back, provided you’re creative enough to pull off an identifiable costume design.
Note: YouTube is especially useful for scoping out clips from popular TV shows that you may not have seen because you don’t have an HBO subscription. “I just had people come in seeking a black-and-white striped shirt and beret and accessories to portray the Foux Da Fa Fa skit from Flight of the Conchords,” says Rocky Deckert of New Orleans Party and Costume. “If it’s funny, it’s going to make a great costume.”
    Don’t wear a pre-packaged one-size-fits-all costume if you’re a vast exception to the average human BMI. Why bother being a Disguise © brand Power Ranger if your twig of an arm gets lost in the fabric intended as a sleeve? On the other hand, if you can’t do a high-kick without splitting at the seams, get yourself a generic pair of leggings that fit and make decorative adjustments according to the VHS cover on your coffee table.
    Do buy your garments a-la-carte for a more interesting twist on common costume themes. “Most people want to just take a costume straight out of the package, but it’s interesting to see a person turn a superhero into scary,” says Heather Flood of Gretna Costume Shop. Between Flood’s store on the West Bank, Uptown Costumes, Miss Orleans, and Miss Claudia’s, the possibilities are endless with all that’s out there in the departments of wigs, masks, and accessories.
    Don’t incorporate heavy garments into your costume that you’ll want to remove within the first hour of the party, or trick-or-treating. Deckert recommends using face paint rather than drowning your head in a heavy mask. Prioritize comfort in your preparations; if you don’t worry about it now, you probably will later after you’ve hit the bottle… and once that leather cape comes off, you can go ahead and kiss goodbye any costume accolades you were once counting on to cheese up the demure garden fairy across the room.
    Do bring along a Japanese geisha fan or handheld battery powered fan to prevent the urge for premature clothing article removal. Another option is a personal neck cooling device, such as the kind that comes in the form of a collar to be soaked in water and subsequently wrapped around the neck for hours of celebratory rituals.

Assemble your Halloween attire at these costume shops:

Uptown Costume
4326 Magazine St., 895-7969
New Orleans Party & Costume
705 Camp St., 525-4744
 
Gretna Costume Shop
2040 Belle Chasse Hwy #1, 324-8500