Creativity inspires clever Halloween costumes

By: Ashley Smith

Posted: 10/10/06

College students may have long outgrown the joys of trick-or-treating, but Halloween success can still be achieved without the free chocolate and lollipops. As any veteran of a Syracuse University Halloween knows, the key to costume perfection is originality and creativity.

Take seniors Jillian Ring, a marketing and supply-chain management major, and John Sorriento, a music industry major. They were a smash at off-campus parties last year, dressed as an Italian mafia couple.

"I think a lot of people thought it was pretty funny, and I've always wanted to be a mafia princess," Ring said. "And John's so Italian."

A few days before Halloween, Ring and Sorriento headed to Boom Babies on Westcott Street, where Ring said there were still plenty of costumes and accessories in stock. For about $50 each, the pair was able to put together convincing costumes complete with a fedora, suspenders and a garter-turned-holster.

Amy Ciesielski, a Boom Babies employee, said right now the store is just beginning to set up its Halloween merchandise with a variety of costumes, including 1920s gangsters and genies.

"We might have what you want, we might not, but we'll find you something," Ciesielski said.

Ciesielski recommends coming to Boom Babies with an open mind. The employees know what accessories and styles look best together and are eager to help shoppers create a custom look, she said.

For students looking to dive more into their own creativity, a homemade costume is an inexpensive alternative to store-bought options. Junior Andrea Rommel, a music education major, created her own at-home costume last year.

"My floor mates and I went as the five Power Rangers, but we just made our own costumes with white felt and electrical tape," Rommel said.

Junior Jon Stark, a music industry major and senior Ben Halladay, a history major, also got creative last year. Each donned a T-shirt and plunger and walked side-by-side to dress up as a pair of breasts.

While these students' innovative ideas may have been hits on Halloweens past, students can find costume help for this year's holiday at Dougherty's Masquerade, located on Erie Boulevard. The store has virtually everything one might need for Halloween, including stage makeup, plastic jewelry, leopard-print "pimp" hats, a wall of wigs and a back room devoted entirely to rubber masks (complete with a display refrigerator, charmingly stuffed with severed body parts).

The most popular costumes are "Sexy Referee" and "Catwoman," according to Dougherty's employee Elena Dellios.

Packaged costumes typically cost between $20 and $60, depending on the line. Dougherty's also offers a wide selection of rentals, which range anywhere from $10 to $100.

Dressing rooms allow shoppers to try on costumes before making a purchase, and all sales are final after October 15. Students should also note that there are no refunds, and personal checks are not accepted.

Dellios' advice for potential customers is "to come in with a basic idea in mind." The size of the store can make shopping overwhelming, and employees are there to help customers find exactly what they need to put together the right costume.

Another easy way to find a Halloween costume is to shop online. Halloweenstreet.com, a Los Angeles-based, family-owned company, has been in the retail business for over 25 years, said co-owner Morissa. Halloween Street ships costumes all over the United States and handles a lot of international inquiries as well. The site features many different categories of adult costumes, including plus-size and sexy.

"My favorite costume is the 'Wet T-Shirt Contest,'" Morissa said. "It's a great costume, and it's a lot of fun."

All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, and typically arrive within four to five business days, Morissa said.

Finding just the right costume can be a daunting task, especially given the variety of options open to students. Stores like Dougherty's and Boom Babies make the process easier by providing customers with assistance and advice from helpful employees, while online sources like Halloweenstreet.com offer fast and easy access to hundreds of costumes. This year, students can stand out from the overdone school-girl or pimp crowd and check out a professional Halloween costume source. If all else fails, Wal-Mart has white sheets for under $5. A homemade ghost costume is still fierce.