Dressing Up for Halloween??
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| Mon, 10-24-2005 - 11:48am |
For those of you thinking of donning a costume for Halloween, here's an iVillage article to help pick out what's most flattering for your figure type:
Even though you're too old to trick-or-treat, you can still have a wild time on Halloween. This year, instead of raiding the candy bowl at home, why not throw on a fabulous costume and celebrate at the haunted Halloween party nearest you?
Halloween is the perfect opportunity to live it up in a costume that makes you look great. Maybe you've been hitting the gym and want to show off the results. Or maybe you haven't shed a pound but just want to party the night away. Either way, Halloween is the perfect night to live out your fantasies and dress to impress.
The following suggestions are from our sexiest costume archives. Find a costume that shows off your favorite features, or one that just makes you feel great. But beware - these are guaranteed to sizzle, so if you can't take the heat, step away from the cauldron!
If you love your arms and want to show off your triceps and biceps, the key words are strapless and sleeves -- so get ready to bare all.
- The Flapper:
- The Basics: A tasseled flapper dress, high-heeled Mary Janes, a colorful boa, a satin headband across your forehead and a long cigarette holder.
- The Trick: Prepare your sexy arms with some push-ups and pull-ups.
- The Treat: You'll feel feminine and fabulous while dancing the Charleston.
- The Basics: A tasseled flapper dress, high-heeled Mary Janes, a colorful boa, a satin headband across your forehead and a long cigarette holder.
- The Cave Woman:
- The Basics: A sleeveless animal-print dress, a thick fur belt, a large bone or club to carry with you and a can of hairspray to attain that prehistoric, messy hairdo.
- The Trick: To tone your arms for the big night out, try these easy arm stretches.
- The Treat: If your date gets out of line, you are armed and dangerous (no pun intended).
- The Basics: A sleeveless animal-print dress, a thick fur belt, a large bone or club to carry with you and a can of hairspray to attain that prehistoric, messy hairdo.
- The Greek Goddess:
- The Basics: An old white sheet wrapped into a toga, a laurel wreath for your head, a gold armband with a serpent on it and a pair of leather sandals.
- The Trick: To get your arms toga-ready, try some of these upper-body toners.
- The Treat: Wrapped in a comfy toga, you'll swear off binding Halloween costumes forever.
- The Basics: An old white sheet wrapped into a toga, a laurel wreath for your head, a gold armband with a serpent on it and a pair of leather sandals.
If you love your legs, a short skirt is a must. The following classic costumes will certainly have you steppin' out in style.
- The Schoolgirl:
- The Basics: A short plaid skirt, a white button-down shirt, knee-high socks, Mary Janes and pigtails.
- The Trick: Go to the head of the class by working out those inner thighs.
- The Treat: This costume will break hearts without breaking your budget.
- The Basics: A short plaid skirt, a white button-down shirt, knee-high socks, Mary Janes and pigtails.
- The French Maid:
- The Basics: A short, black maid's uniform complete with apron, stiletto heels and a feather duster.
- The Trick: Before you slip into those heels, try slipping into a pair of in-line skates to really work out "les jambes" (the legs).
- The Treat: This will give you an excuse to pick up some new French words, like l'amour.
- The Basics: A short, black maid's uniform complete with apron, stiletto heels and a feather duster.
- The Cheerleader:
- The Basics: A pleated skirt, a letter sweater (you can sew a felt one yourself), sneakers and a colorful set of pom-poms.
- The Trick: Maintain your legs for the big game by trying some of these at-home exercises.
- The Treat: You'll feel like you are in high school again.
- The Basics: A pleated skirt, a letter sweater (you can sew a felt one yourself), sneakers and a colorful set of pom-poms.
If you love your abs, bare that midriff! There is nothing sexier than a toned tummy, so grab a tube top or bikini out of your summer wardrobe and work from there.
- The Genie:
- The Basics: A colorful tube top, palazzo pants worn at the hips, a short vest, a high pony tail (if you can) and of course, a magic lamp.
- The Trick: To really look great in your skimpy tube top, try a killer ab routine.
- The Treat: Someone will surely offer to make all your wishes come true.
- The Basics: A colorful tube top, palazzo pants worn at the hips, a short vest, a high pony tail (if you can) and of course, a magic lamp.
- The Hula Girl:
- The Basics: A bikini top (made from coconuts, if you dare), a grass skirt and a bunch of colorful leis.
- The Trick: Before you showcase that sexy stomach, try this ab-toning workout.
- The Treat: Place a lei around a stranger's neck and make a new friend!
- The Basics: A bikini top (made from coconuts, if you dare), a grass skirt and a bunch of colorful leis.
- Carmen Miranda:
- The Basics: A ruffled blouse tied under your breasts, a colorful sarong, high heels and the entire produce section of your local grocery store (to pile on top of your head).
- The Trick: Find love at the party -- but make sure to lose those love handles first!
- The Treat: If you get hungry while dancing the night away, your costume comes complete with snacks.
- The Basics: A ruffled blouse tied under your breasts, a colorful sarong, high heels and the entire produce section of your local grocery store (to pile on top of your head).
If you love your bust, Halloween provides the perfect opportunity to show a little cleavage. The following costumes are all low-maintenance, low-neckline.
- The Nurse:
- The Basics: A white nursing uniform (leave the top few buttons open), a push-up bra, white shoes, a nurse's hat and a stethoscope.
- The Trick: For a natural "push-up," try these breast-enhancing exercises.
- The Treat: People at the party will be begging you for a sponge bath.
- The Basics: A white nursing uniform (leave the top few buttons open), a push-up bra, white shoes, a nurse's hat and a stethoscope.
- Elvira:
- The Basics: A long black dress with a low neckline, a black longhaired wig, tons of dark eyeshadow, black eyeliner and the dark lipstick of your choice.
- The Trick: Why not try something new to tone your fabulous upper body? Just take a plunge into the pool!
- The Treat: You'll feel spooky and sexy at the same time!
- The Basics: A long black dress with a low neckline, a black longhaired wig, tons of dark eyeshadow, black eyeliner and the dark lipstick of your choice.
- The Fembot:
- The Basics: A furry bra with attached sheer, a pink slip, lace underwear, pink satin gloves and furry high- heeled slides.
- The Trick: Prepare for battle with Austin Powers by blasting away all signs of bra overhang.
- The Treat: Why, you'll be shagadelic, baby!
- The Basics: A furry bra with attached sheer, a pink slip, lace underwear, pink satin gloves and furry high- heeled slides.
If you love your butt, you are not only lucky - you can probably wear anything! Here is your opportunity to really be daring: Break out some lycra, some leather or a leotard and allow the following costumes to showcase all your beautiful curves!
- Catwoman:
- The Basics: A black cat suit (made of patent leather if you are really frisky), a black mask with attached ears and high-heeled black boots.
- The Trick: Make admirers meow with delight by trying these butt toners.
- The Treat: You'll be free to sink your claws into any one you choose.
- The Basics: A black cat suit (made of patent leather if you are really frisky), a black mask with attached ears and high-heeled black boots.
- The Roller Derby Girl:
- The Basics: A pair of short shorts, a Seventies-style tank top, a helmet, a set of leg warmers and roller-skates, of course!
- The Trick: Why not tone that tush with a Pilates class?
- The Treat: Your costume comes complete with transportation to the party!
- The Basics: A pair of short shorts, a Seventies-style tank top, a helmet, a set of leg warmers and roller-skates, of course!
- Wonder Woman:
- The Basics: A Wonder Woman leotard (should consist of a red top with a yellow "W", a blue bottom covered in white stars and a yellow belt), knee-high red boots, a yellow headband with a red star printed on it and a golden lasso.
- The Trick: Sculpt your cute derriere with these knee-friendly butt exercises.
- The Treat: If you throw your magic golden lasso around someone, he'll be compelled to speak only the truth (just think about what you can ask …).
- The Basics: A Wonder Woman leotard (should consist of a red top with a yellow "W", a blue bottom covered in white stars and a yellow belt), knee-high red boots, a yellow headband with a red star printed on it and a golden lasso.
If you want to feel sexy but would rather cover up, the following costumes will allow you to show your Halloween spirit without showing too much skin.
- The Geisha:
- The Basics: A satin Asian-style dress or kimono, a short black wig, a fan and "Geisha makeup" (white face powder, thick black eyeliner and red lipstick).
- The Trick: Learn the secrets of the Geisha by reading Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.
- The Treat: You are permitted to drink all the sake you want.
- The Basics: A satin Asian-style dress or kimono, a short black wig, a fan and "Geisha makeup" (white face powder, thick black eyeliner and red lipstick).
- The Gypsy:
- The Basics: A long, colorful skirt, a ruffled blouse, a head-kerchief, many bangle-bracelets and necklaces, and maybe even a crystal ball.
- The Trick: Brush up on your fortune telling by studying some astrology.
- The Treat: You'll feel positively magical.
- The Basics: A long, colorful skirt, a ruffled blouse, a head-kerchief, many bangle-bracelets and necklaces, and maybe even a crystal ball.
- The Ghost:
- The Basics: A white sheet with two holes for your eyes.
- The Trick: Bring a gory, good-for-you snack to the party and cause others to scream with delight!
- The Treat: You'll be so covered up you'll be able to float around the party incognito.
- The Basics: A white sheet with two holes for your eyes.
One last note: If you are planning on bobbing for apples, you might want to go for one of the makeup-free costumes. Aside from that, go crazy! Happy Halloween!

