Creating the Costume

It takes planning to transform into a character who will get noticed

By Laura Latzko

Fuschsia and Katayna Grimm are sultry zombies.

Whether you are stepping out as a sexy vixen, a scary or funny clown, a flesh-hungry zombie or a heroic superhero, details like hair, makeup and accessories can help you create an illusion for Halloween.

With the right amount of time, materials and know-how, you can transform into the horrifying, funny or glamorous figure of your imagination.

We asked some local experts for tips for pulling together a costume that will get noticed.

Hair and makeup

Girard DeMuro, hairstylist and image consultant at Be.headed Salon, styled the models for the photo shoot for the cover of this edition of Echo Magazine. He said hair and makeup pull together a look.

"Hair and makeup can take your costume to the next level," DeMuro said.

DeMuro said that styling or dying a wig or adding color or hair extensions to your own hair can help you to transform into your character. For makeup, he suggested painting your whole face or create a more subtle effect with your eyes or lips.

More tips from DeMuro:

People who have little experience with elaborate hairstyles or makeup looks can consult a hairstylist, makeup artist or friend or look on YouTube for makeup tutorials.
Take pictures of yourself and have a trial run can help to see if your look works.
When putting a look together, check to see if the hair, costume, accessories, makeup and shoes complement each other. "Sneakers don't go with a pageant outfit," DeMuro joked. "You need to have the right shoes ... Make sure you are authentic."

"Wow" factor

Sherman Bush, co-owner of Boom Boom LaRue's, said that having a focal point for your look will help you stand out and let others know who you are portraying. He said the key is wearing a wig, clothing or accessory that stands out because of its size, shape, color or effect. burglar mask Bush said you should put the most money into the part of your look you want to stand out the most.

"If you want people to look at your dress, that's your ‘wow' factor. If you want them to look at your face and hair, focus on that," Bush said. "You can't have multiple ‘wow' factors. Otherwise it gets lost."

Bush said that he makes custom-made headpieces, hats or other accessories for Halloween costumes. He said that many people incorporate clothing or accessories they already have into their overall looks.

More tips from Bush:

Model a costume off something you like.
It is important to feel comfortable in your costume. Avoid a skimpy costume if you are a shy person, don't wear six-inch heels if you haven't ever worn heels and don't wear a mask if you plan to spend the night inside a bar.
Create a rough sketch of the overall look, but be prepared to change the plan if some parts don't fit together or aren't available. He said those planning elaborate costumes started work as early as August.

Economy costume

Andrea Engelsberg, owner of Annie Boomer Vintage, said to save money try to get clothing and accessories from thrift or vintage clothing stores or borrow pieces from friends.

She said clothing that's seldom worn, such as a bridesmaid or prom dress, can be reworked into something creative.

More tips from Engelsberg:

Get together with friends for a costume "happy hour" to plan outfits.
Get an original cardboard cutout to wear or put two costumes together to create a stand-out costume.

"Pick something you want to embody for the night," Engelsberg said. "This is one holiday where you can go over the top. This is your night for no boundaries." -E

Green Lantern costume

Classic costumes will mix with pop culture icons on Halloween

Classic costumes you may have worn during childhood are expected to make a comeback for Halloween this year, along with famous movie characters and singers.

Ashley Butler, a supervisor at Easley's Fun Shop, said that movie and TV characters such as the Green Hornet, the Green Lantern, the Smurfs, Alice and the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland and Captain America are popular costume choices. The costume shop sells and rents traditional and non-traditional costumes.

Butler said classic costumes include zombies, nurses, doctors, witches, fairies, princesses, werewolves and vampires.

"Vampires have never died. In the Halloween spirit, they have never gone away," Butler said. Snooki Costume Sherman Bush, of Boom Boom Larue's, said he expects that many people will dress up as pop culture icons and artists, such as Lady Gaga, Snooki, Nikki Minaj, Amy Winehouse, Cher and Katy Perry.

Brittney Vera, a customer of Easley's Fun Shop, said that she and her girlfriend plan to dress in complimentary costumes this year. Vera She said she wants to be Kermit the Frog because she loved the Muppets as a child.

"I think Halloween is a great time of the year," Vera said. "You can be something other than what you are." -E

A 2010 survey conducted by BIGresearch for the National Retail Federation found that the 20 most popular Halloween costumes for adults included witch, pirate, nurse, vixen, cat, zombie, fairy, athlete, Batman, Dracula, ghost, clown, angel, grim reaper, Superman, Star Wars characters and the devil.