Costume Central: Need a get-up for Halloween? Check this out

By Marci Laehr-Tenuta

Sunday, October 16, 2005 2:04 AM CDT

The key to a really great costume is taking the time to add the special effects, said costume maker Addie Grimal, who rents Halloween costumes to customers of her Hugs and Kisses Party Supplies store.

"I think when people take a costume and take the time to add the special effects, that's when the expertise shows," she said. "When people work at something, it looks good."

Over the years Grimal has had a lot of fun helping dress people for Halloween. She's helped create a dead Elvis, an unrecognizable werewolf, a mermaid, a leprechaun - who handed out Lucky Charms cereal - and the "Pizza, Pizza" guy from Little Caesar's.

"It's so much fun," she said. "I have a lot of people come back every year and tell me that they won a (costume) contest. That for me is the icing of my work."

Grimal even has pickup lines for men to use while in certain costumes. For example, she once dressed a guy in a prince costume and gave him a glass slipper as a prop. She told him if he was looking for a date, he should ask all the women at the party to try on the slipper. "He had so much fun," Grimal said.

"Carry the character out, it makes it more fun," she recommends. "The people who do it just have a ball. That's what Halloween is all about."

If you want the same access to detailed costume accessories, but would rather buy your costume, Halloween Express on Durand Avenue has a huge inventory. They can disguise anyone from an infant to a plus-sized woman or man. "We've got it all," said store manager Josh Sorenson.

The store boasts an enormous variety of wigs, funny or scary teeth, fake nails, masks props, tights, hats, fake blood, and anything else you might need for a costume. They even have fake teeth pacifiers for itty bitty Halloweeners.

Another interesting display at the store is filled with pet costumes. From doggy Darth Vader to the pom pon pup, the costumes fit a wide range of cats and dogs.

When it comes to annual favorites or year-by-year hits, Sorenson and Grimal say the following costumes are among the most popular you'll see: Five Popular Women's' Costumes: 1) Police officer 2) Nurse 3) Flapper 4) Cleopatra 5) Marilyn Monroe

Sorenson said the Leg Avenue brand costumes, which feature plunging necklines and short skirts, are their best sellers for women. "They always want to dress sexy," he said. "The police officer and nurse are usually the two hottest ones every year. We're actually sold out of one of our police officer outfits already."

Marilyn Monroe and 1920s flappers are some of the most popular women's costumes as well, said Grimal. "The women love the prettiness of the flappers," she said.

Five Popular Men's' Costumes: 1) Michael Meyers 2) Pimp 3) Freddy or Jason 4) Gangster 5) Gorilla

"Men usually go with whatever their women tell them to be," Sorenson said.

But if left to pick out a costume on their own, guys tend to lean toward the simple, scary stuff, he said. "They'll usually do a mask and a robe."

Oddly enough, Sorenson said, the best selling mask in the men's section is Michael Meyers. "For some reason, he's the biggest thing," he said.

Gangsters and big daddies in zoot suits are also pretty popular, Grimal said. "The guys like the fun stuff too," she said. "I find it so fun when the guys reluctantly put on a costume. Then get excited over the accessories. It's so much fun."

Five Popular Boys' Costumes: 1) Darth Vader 2) Power Ranger 3) Batman 4) Grim Reaper 5) Vampire

"Boys tend to lean toward super heroes," Sorenson said. "The Power Rangers are still pretty popular. The Grim Ripper too. Darth Vader has been huge. We only have one left."

Five Popular Girls' Costumes: 1) Princess 2) Friendly devil 3) Witch 4) Fairy or pixie 5) Dora the Expolorer

Little girls are all over the board with the kind of costumes they want, Sorenson said. They range from Disney princesses to friendly devils to scary vampires. "The Disney princesses are usually what the younger girls, like toddlers, want," he said.

Outrageous and strange costumes: * Toilet * Beer bottle * Chicken Poop * Baby car seat * Pizza slice * One night stand * A "Got Milk?" cow * Men's French maid

"We've got some pretty funny ones," Sorenson said.

Couples costumes: * Flapper and gangster * Priest and nun

* Ketchup and mustard * Wonderwoman and Superman * Adam and Eve

Grimal has a lot of couples come to her for costume ideas. And she has a ton of them. Including Wizard of Oz characters, Cleopatra and Marc Antony, Bonnie and Clyde, a doctor and nurse, a '50s couple, and a Playboy bunny and Hugh Hefner.

Special Offer: Get 5 Weeks of the Journal Times for $7!