In the middle of a semester filled with studying for tests,sending off resum�s and preparing to graduate, Halloweenprovides a much-desired break in the usual routine. And althoughmost U of M students are too old to go door to door, they're stilllooking for a fun way to dress up.
There are several costume shops around Memphis and countlesssites on the Internet with ideas for creative costumes for thoselooking to spend a lot of money or just a little.
Movie-themed costumes are always popular ideas with youngpeople, said employees at Party City and The Fun Shop.
"Movie stuff is always gone really fast," said Rene Griffin,assistant manager at Party City. "Costumes from the Chicago setwere gone weeks ago, and Matrix stuff was gone the day after we gotit. For kids, the pirate stuff went fast because of Pirates of theCaribbean."
Disney princess gear, which was not popular last year, has beena big hit this Halloween at Party City, Griffin said, butcharacters such as vampires, witches, zombies and clowns are alsobig sellers each year.
Many U of M students, like Jami Stein and Perrion Hurd, said agood idea doesn't die and choose to recycle their costumes fromprevious years.
"I am going to be a Moulin Rouge girl again because I like mycostume so much and it saves me money," said Stein, a junior musiceducation major.
Normally, Hurd dresses as a vampire each year, but this year helooks forward to wrapping himself in gauze and wearing make-up andfangs to be a mummy vampire.
"I'm just trying something different," said Hurd, a juniorbiomedical illustration major. "I just have to make sure to stayaway from the barbeque grill and people who are smoking."
Much of the Halloween gear in costume shops is geared towardwomen because men don't seem to want to dress up -- unless thecostume is themed, the party store employees said.
"Some of our stranger requests have been Osama (bin Laden) witha bullet through the head, Roy (Horn) with tiger slashes andVillage People costumes," said Griffin.
At The Fun Shop, the strangest request this year was a KobeBryant costume since he has been in the news so much, said DougHendrickson, costume manager, who said that popular gag gifts forHalloween also include smoke bombs, stink bombs and flashpaper.
Customers at Mr. Lincoln's Costume Shoppe prefer old-fashionedcostumes to modern ones. Renaissance costumes, like Henry VIII andAnne Boleyn are always popular because people like to dress up insomething fancy, said owner Barry Lincoln.
"We always get strange requests -- an Old West prostitute was anodd one this year," said Lincoln. "We also have a lot of men thatcome in looking for costumes to make them look like women."
For those on a tight budget or who want to take the creativityin their own hands, Web sites like Google.com offer ideas. One sitelists many homemade Halloween costume ideas that can come from thecloset or a second-hand store.
For example, a tacky American tourist costume can easily bethrown together for men by using a loud Hawaii shirt, shorts and alarge straw hat. Women can wear a bright, dress, flat shoes, a bigsun hat and a straw bag. Don't forget the camera and maps -- andthat look of being lost.
An old man costume is easy, cheap and only requires dark pantsand jacket, any dress shirt, a flannel hat and a walking cane. Graythe hair with commercial temporary color or just use a littleflour. An old woman costume can be achieved by wearing an old-styledress, just below the knee, knee-high stockings rolled down alittle, Oxfords and a large black purse.
