ANGIE SHEEP
<Staff Writer>
One of the most celebrated occasions of the year has finally crept up: Happy Halloween! With only a few days remaining to prepare for what I think should be a legitimate holiday, I hope your costumes are all ready to go. Though realistically, your answer is probably no and I totally understand; Osgoode students simply do not have the time to aimlessly peruse around Toronto to discover their inspiration. Those readings are not going to do themselves! In light of our busy and sometimes just downright scary lives, I have devised a list of costume ideas and costume stores for you to consider. Even though this is one more article to add your reading list, it will be worth the trouble. On the other hand you could go as a law student, better known as a drone/zombie who idly walks down Queen Street.
Costume Ideas:
US election: What better way to celebrate this year than to compose your very own “binder full of women”? Mitt Romney’s famous words have popped up in every type of social media and will surely be an inspiration for a Halloween costume this year. This idea is also fairly simple: all you need is a sharp suit and a binder. Most of you already own both! But you may not want to carry around a binder all night, so I suggest taking the actual 3-ring binding out and attaching it to your suit by means of tape, string, or any other method you can think of. Making the binder itself a wearable accessory will also bring it to everyone’s attention, making sure no one is left confused about who you are. Lastly, don’t forget to fill those rings with all the women you’d like to hire!
Join the superhero family: The box office this year was undoubtedly characterized by tights-clad and dreamy heroes. Batman will surely be one of the top selections this year, and if you have not seen the trilogy, you must do so! It is not only one of the most thrilling experiences in cinema, but it also provides you with a good grasp of how every piece of the costume is assembled. Other dreamy lifesavers of the year include Captain America and Iron Man. Catwoman is also a classic, particularly because the movie has been remade about nine times. Whether you prefer Anne Hathaway, Michelle Pfeiffer, or Halle Berry, you are bound to be leathered up, sexy, and ready to rule. Whatever superhero you choose to be, wear your costume with confidence and always be prepared to save the world at a moment’s notice. Leave the more cliché costumes to the less extraordinary.
Join the villains instead: What is a superhero without its counterpart? Nobody. The villains are arguably the best part of the dynamic, and it is certain that Bane will march the streets of Toronto on the last day of the month. Begin the countdown! Compared to Batman, Bane’s costume is a lot easier to put together; the integral part is the mask. Other elements include a white ribbed tank top, grey trousers (though you can probably get away with just dark jeans), and some sort of body/arm armor. All of these key components can be found at the costume stores found below.
Pregnant Snooki: I think this would be a hilarious character to take on for the night, especially if you plan to get extremely drunk and obnoxious. The pregnant Snooki is amore current and even more ridiculous evolution of the classy lady. All you have to do is tie a pillow around your waist with a belt, dress up in outrageous fabrics, and coif a “poof” as tall as the CN tower. If you want to commit even more, spray-tan yourself orange. Didn’t you hear? That’s the new natural! Which gives me another costume idea: Oompa Loompa!
Gangnam Style: If you are into pop culture, you know what I am talking about. This video has become a sensation across the globe and the look is quite easy to put together. Just make sure you fully commit and do the Gangnam on the dance floor!
A poster board: This is definitely for the lazy and last, last, last minute. You basically show up to the party with a plain shirt, tape/stapler, and scissors. Throughout the night, you cut pieces off other people’s costumes and stick it to yourself. A great benefit of this idea is that it will allow you to meet many people and take a bit of them with you as souvenir. Translation: great way to pick up.
Partly cloudy: This is the most memorable costume I’ve ever encountered. It is very rudimentary and easy but quite clever. You need a blue shirt or sweater (any shade will do), white paper, scissors, and tape. Do you get the idea? Clue: the paper is for the clouds!
Where to Buy:
Queen St. West, between University and Spadina: If you have time to visit several stores, this is one of the best areas to go. There are many vintage, costume, and consignment stores for you to browse and they are all of reasonable price. I found my costume essentials here for under $20! They also had the superhero masks and costumes.
Value Village: This is a personal favorite among many for Halloween. VV carries both entire costumes themselves and individual pieces of what you need (e.g. stockings, gloves, wigs, and accessories) for cheap. Go here for one-stop-shop and variety. The downtown store is located at 924 Queen St. East.
American Apparel: AA is not only a great place to shop period, but also incredible for people who need bright and/or leather pieces. One of their signature items is leggings that come in many different fabrics, styles, and colours. It is a bit more expensive than the above stores, but every piece I’ve purchased at AA for Halloween-specific motives, I have also been able to wear on a regular basis. So it definitely does not have to be a waste, just bear in mind whether you will still use the item after that day. If so, totally worth it!
Reflections Vintage and Antiques: For people living uptown, this store might be more feasible to get to: 676 Yonge St. (between Bloor and Wellesley). Its philosophy is to: (1) not sell anything over $100 and (2) be a one-stop-shop for all your costume needs. The store itself can be a bit hectic and over-shelved, but do not hesitate to take advantage of the storekeepers, who are happy to help transform your vision into reality.
I hope these pointers will save you a lot of time in this year’s Halloween hunt and awaken some ideas that have been pushed to the back of your minds to make room for law. Winter is coming, which means exams are imminent, so go out and be your fantasy for the day; it’ll be a refreshing release from midterms and OCIs and a way to get the party bug out before you really have to settle down. Happy Halloween!