Newswise — Trends around this year’s Halloween include saving some green, according to a University of Cincinnati pop-culture expert, as the focus on having fun is also tied in with responsible budgeting in a tough economy. Rebecca Sutherland Borah, a UC associate professor of English and comparative literature, says she expects to see recycled or revamped costumes on this Halloween.
“’Pirates of the Caribbean’ will never die,” she says, so expect to see some swashbucklers with their candy buckets or pillowcases. “For other themes, once you have a basic costume, you’re set for a couple of years. It’s easy to come up with a hockey mask and Army camouflage, and I really think the economy is coming into planning costumes this year,” Borah says.
Vampires and zombies will be as popular as ever, Borah says, as well as any Disney princess imaginable. Movie superheroes (especially Spider-Man and Batman) and real-life superheroes – soldiers, firemen and policemen – will be roaming the streets as well. “Wouldn’t it be nice to see a superhero teacher among the bunch,” adds Borah.
Borah says she followed the thrifty trend in envisioning what she’s considering for her own costume – the Evil Wall Street Warlord – which includes a Darth Vader mask that she picked up at a yard sale and a man’s suit handed down from a family member. After her eight-year-old son, Andrew, trick-or-treated as a Transformer for a couple of years, he’s getting a new costume this Halloween and will dress up as an astronaut.
Borah says Andrew’s brother, seven-year-old Pete, will be getting his hair buzzed to become a Clone Wars’ Captain Rex (costume purchased from Once Upon a Child), after several years of dressing up as Thomas the Tank Engine, superheroes and Frodo Baggins.
Here are some of the other themes Borah expects to see on Halloween:
Children’s Costumes
VampiresZombies“Pirates of the Caribbean”Spooky characters like Jack SkellingtonPrincessesDragons and dinosaursCharacters from family movies such as “Cars” or “Toy Story.”Classic movie characters like those from “The Wizard of Oz,”“Monster High” characters
Disney Favorites
Mickey and MinniePrincesses
Superheroes
BatmanSpider-ManJokerIronmanCaptain AmericaThorIncredible HulkWolverine (easy to find a leather jacket, a pair of jeans and hair gel)
Everyday heroes
SoldiersFiremenPolicemen
Borah says she has seen some charming homemade children’s costumes for siblings such as bacon and eggs, easily made from cardboard.
Adolescent/Young Adult/Adult Costumes
Angry BirdsZombiesVampiresAlice in Wonderland, including Alice, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts, gaining popularity from the movie directed by Tim Burton.
Celebrities
Charlie SheenLady Gaga Katy PerryAny Kardashian (with short skirt, plunging neckline, and dark wig.)Snookie (Same as above)Politicians
TV, Movie Characters
Sue Sylvester (Just get a blond wig and a matching sweatsuit)Jason (“Friday the 13th”), Michael Myers (“Halloween”), “Scream”Classic cartoon characters, such as Judy Jetson, Fred Flintstone and Yogi Bear
Borah says she’s seen homemade costumes as well, including Muscle Man cutouts, couples dressed as a plug and socket or lock and key, salt and pepper, ketchup and mustard.
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