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Boo!

Halloween will be here before you know it, and you definitely don’t want to be the girl who’s scrounging around in your closet at the 11^th hour trying to throw together a costume. If you want to look put together on Halloween (whether your goal is to look sexy or to scare the living daylights out of everyone) it’s best to coordinate your costume well in advance. Getting an early start ensures that not only will you have a better selection of costumes at your disposal, but that you’ll also be able to take advantage of some great savings:

As the name implies, Nothing But Costumes specializes in nothing but Halloween costumes. And if you make your selection by October 31 you can get 10% off orders of $20 or more (code: WINNER10)

Milanoo offers products of all varieties, from wedding and special occasion dresses to lingerie, jewelry and handbags. But until November 1 the company is all things Halloween! You can choose from costumes that range from funny to scary to superhero, as well as all sorts of Halloween accessories, including makeup and wigs. And you have until November 1 to get free shipping on all of your Milanoo Halloween costumes (code: MILANOO-FS).

The Spirit of Halloween is alive and well at Spirit Halloween, where you can get 20% off one item (highest price). Just use the code: SPAFF20. And if that deal isn’t good enough for you you can check out the offerings of Wholesale Costume Club where until October 31 you can get a one-year membership (code: SAVENOW) for free! 

Dana Robinson

Dana Robinson is the Editorial Manager of CouponWinner.com

5 Pieces from Marilyn Monroe’s Wardrobe We Want Today

Having watched a Marilyn Monroe documentary, there couldn’t be a more excellent time to talk about her lovely clothes. While the icon was far more than the sex-on-wheels type she portrayed in her films, clothes lovers will quickly latch on to her natural sense of style. Since we might have spent hours paging through pictures of the actress--we’ll never admit it, though!--we thought you might be interested in some pieces every Marilyn Monroe-lover should have.

Slinky, Ruched Dress

A dress covered in ruched lines isn’t just a fashionable piece--it’s another way to flatter your figure. This dress should be constructed from soft, stretchy, thick jersey fabric, and it can have cap or long sleeves to complement. Buy one that’s a size smaller if you feel comfortable with something more body-con, because it will look stunning.

Boat-Neck Top

A boat-neck blouse is a fun spring or summer selection to have, and if you really want to channel Marilyn? Grab a pair of pegged, slim pants with a crease down the center, and wear a pair of ballet slippers to match. Boat-neck tops are classic in stripes and daring in prints, so pick what suits your closet best.

Headscarf

A headscarf that wraps around your head is a perfect statement piece, particularly when you’re zooming in a convertible. Simply tie a scarf up and around your hair and loop it around your neck, and you will look like a startlet of yesteryear (without the tragedy). We like lightweight headscarves in white, pastel, and cream.

Wide-Strap Shift Dress

If you are buxom like Marilyn, then you’ll want something that can conceal your rigging underneath your dress. Choose a wider-strap shift that can hide your straps more easily, preferably with a scoop neck, and then pair that with some lingerie pins to hold your straps in place.

Strapless Dress with a Short Train

Going to a black-tie event? A strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and long sleeves is exactly what Monroe wore in films like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and we hardly need to tell you how successful her choice was. If you can wear a strapless dress, then this is a look you must try at least once.

Don’t be afraid of wearing some costume jewelry, either! We haven’t hidden our appreciation for glass and paste gems, but a necklace with a central stones, surrounded by sparkling mini-gems, is something that happens to look absolutely perfect with a Marilyn-inspired dress.

More Halloween Finds: Before It's Too Late

Since my favorite season is fall and my favorite holiday is Halloween, I thought you might like to check out some more picks. Besides the usual women's costumes (which are awesome, by the way), I included animal costumes and a kid's costume as well. If you're shopping for stuff for yourself, you might as well get things for the family, too!

(Dead Maid Costume)

This is a creative item if you're looking for a way to show off your figure for Halloween. This is an easy piece in terms of accessorization and makeup, so if you're headed out to a party post-work, I recommend this item. A wig will help even further-- just toss your hair up into a bun! I prefer something long and Cher-like.

(Deluxe Corpse Bride)

Romantic and not overly revealing-- this costume is a "Deluxe" option for partiers going to venues where a good costume is key. The main pull behind this costume is the shaped skirt, dyed an earthy grey/brown, a lace overlay, and a ripped bodice. Best accessorized with wilted or otherwise dark and ugly flowers.

(Chicago Flapper Costume)

A little bit of fun, and more on the conservative side, for a classy night on the town. This costume is stylish, shapely, and easy to pull some "repeat wears" for next Halloween. If you hate wearing costumes but you have to for an event, this is a good buy.

(Geisha Costume)

Wheee! This Asian-inspired costume has a great look and is a good compromise for comfort lovers. If the idea of trussing yourself up in a corset and fancy mini skirt makes you feel like staying in (and you'd rather be wearing a bathrobe on Halloween anyway), this is a good compromise. This piece is also good for glamour-loving girls.

(Zombie Prom Queen Costume)

You're a prom queen! This is a perfect way to relive your high school years. If you're going to a reunion/Halloween combo (there's got to be at least one out there!), this is it. If you want to be a hot dead prom queen, get an awesome blow-out so that you can change after the party and go out for drinks.

(Princess Leia Pet Costume; Yoda Pet Costume)

These dog costumes are just hilarious! If you're single and you have a little dog, or you want your canine to be a perfect part of the dressed-up crowd, these are amazing costumes. If you treat your dog like your kid, it's even better!

Halloween Costume Tips

1. Avoid overt cultural references in a sensitive environment. While the geisha costume can be viewed as just a gorgeous dress, you might not want to go for the face paint and traditional hair. In addition, squaw costumes are not recommended.

2. Wear something comfortable. You don't want to be tugging your outfit all night.

3. Try something creative. If you can't afford a full costume, mix together a sexy dress and a fringed headband for a flapper look.

8 Easy Halloween Costumes

It's no secret that Halloween costumes are frighteningly small for women. If you've already been to the Halloween shop and seen a lifetime's share of sexy kittens, here's a more attractive option for you, and one that you'll appreciate if you're not 18 anymore (or even if you are).

You don't have to wear a miniscule costume to look good, and here are some perfect examples.

(Queen Gorgo Adult Costume)

This costume, based on the movie "300," has a figure-flattering bodice, but it has several things going for it (as opposed to something half the size). It does feature a prominent slit, which lets you show off your shape, but it's comfortable enough to wear out without feeling over-exposed. Less is not always more!

('50s Girl)

Are you a mother looking for a Trick-or-Treat worthy outfit? This is a good way to look cute, not scare the neighbors, and still feel comfortable enough to chase down the kiddies if they happen to make a break for it on the candy route. A cute poodle skirt is easily accessorized with pieces you already own, like a plain t-shirt (tucked in), folded-down socks, and a neckerchief.

(Flapper in White)

This costume is a little of the seductive side, but it's historical. If you're a girl who likes to make a point, this is a good one: flappers celebrated their freedom by rolling down those stockings and donning shorter (not short) dresses that made conservative ladies gasp. So really, we're just channeling our inner feminist when we dress up like flappers! Don't forget the pearls, please.

(Midnight Fairy)

Fairy costumes are a good choice because they are fairly ambiguous. If you live in a multicultural area, be it a New York borough, Miami Beach, or L.A., for example, wearing a full squaw costume just won't fly. Instead, you should try something innocuous like a fairy, which won't get people too offended.

(Black Magic Woman)

The white takes the above fairy costume to the next level, and allows you to actually wear pants on Halloween. From a woman's point of view, this is a luxury. Throw on a pair of pointy, black boots and a pair of tight black going-out trousers to look good and feel even better as Halloween gets underway.

(Regal Princess)

Good news for my plus-size friends-- this Renaissance costume is available in extended sizes! It's comfortable and stylish, and if you'd like to add more shape, look for a corset-style belt to wear on top. You'll add lots of shape to your frame, and since it's Halloween, who cares about being historically accurate, anyway?

(Cleopatra)

Cleopatra is a great costume choice mainly due to its potential for wig buying! If you love to experiment with makeup and all the trappings, this is the look for you.

(Cold-Weather Cutie)

This might be called the "Eskimo" Cutie outfit, but let's face it: it's a great piece that acknowledges that all of us don't live in balmy climates. Since it can snow on Halloween in the Northeast, this is a great option. Wear heavyweight tights underneath and boots if you're going to spend your time outside.

Posted on October 09, 2008 in Costumes | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)