Ghosts and goblins, witches and spooks, things that go bump in the night... and sexy nurses? Halloween is one holiday that’s no longer just for kids. Parents and adults are increasingly more apt to play dress-up with the little ones, or to let their alter egos shine for their own costume event.

LetsPartyMagazine.com talks with Easley’s Costumes & Fun Shop in Phoenix to find out just who- or what - you’re most likely to see haunting the streets of Phoenix this Halloween...

Vampire & Goth Costumes
“Vampires are always popular, but we’re getting more requests than ever for vampire costumes and accessories this year,” says Debbie, a third generation Easley. With the popularity of movies like Twilight and the True Blood series, it’s no wonder that these creatures of the night are expected to be out in full force for 2009.

Go gothic, like the costumes pictured above, or play the part of a contemporary vamp with modern clothing and special effects makeup. Whatever you do, don’t forget your fangs! Dracula Fangs by Dracula House include two pearly biters and adhesive that sticks to your own teeth. You can even drink and eat with them attached, though it may take some practice chewing with your new canines.

Princess & Fairytale Costumes
What girl, big or little, hasn’t dreamed of being a princess? These heroines come in all shapes and sizes, and range from human to mermaid and sweet to sassy. Playing the part of your favorite Disney or Mother Goose character is easy with a readymade costume, or try a look that’s all your own. Lots of ruffles and lace is the key to most fairytale costumes. Top your costume with a tiara or sparkling headband, or create your own princess hat with colored poster board, glitter glue, and a generous length of pastel tulle.
 
 

Comic Book & Movie Superheroes
“Comic book characters are requested a lot, and when they’re made into movies we get even more requests,” says Easley’s employee Jeff Fox. Predicted to be among this year’s top sellers are Storm Shadow from G.I. Joe, Wolverine of the X-Men, Optimus Prime from Transformers, and for the second year in a row, Iron Man. Costumes from The Watchmen are also slated to be big hits among men and women.

“Of course, some costumes are popular every year,” Fox says. “It doesn’t matter if there’s a movie out or not, we always sell a ton of Batman and Superman costumes.” Comic book purists may choose to pay top dollar for a head-to-toe ensemble, but in many cases the look can be recreated with a mask and a few key accessories. Easley’s sells a variety of masks and headpieces separately, for those who’d like to take a more do-it-yourself approach.

Entertainers & Political Costumes
From the recent passing of the King of Pop to the media’s constant focus on the presidency, there are bound to be lots of Michael Jacksons, Barack Obamas, and everything in between.

“We’ve been waiting for the Michelle Obama wigs to finally arrive. We’ve had so many calls about them, it looks like the Obamas will be attending a number of Halloween parties around Arizona this year,” says Debbie Easley.

Other pop culture costume predictions include the incarcerated Bernie Madoff, tween idol Hannah Montana, and Lady Gaga, who dresses as if everyday were Halloween.

“Hollywood and the media are, by far, the biggest influences on costumes,” Easley says. “You see what’s going on in the news and entertainment, and that’s what people will be asking for.”

Scary, Silly, Sexy, or Sweet?
For most Halloween revelers, costumes usually fall into one of these categories- though it’s preferable to leave ‘sexy’ to the 18 and over crowd. Whether you’re looking to scare or seduce, choosing a generic character like a fairy, a witch, an angel, or a zombie allows you to really use your creativity to build a costume around a few key accessories- and often can be a money saver, too.

“There are always the usual suspects. You can never have too many witches or clowns or cowboys,” Easley says. “It’s really just about dressing up and having fun – that’s what counts.”

Easley’s Costumes & Fun Shop is owned and operated by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations of the Easley family. Easley’s sells or rents thousands of costumes and accessories for all ages – even pets, and offers a full line of special effect and theatrical makeup.