Wizard World Comic Con officially arrived (squeeee)! Along with it, numerous celebrities and artists known throughout the world flooded the Minneapolis Convention Center alongside thousands of fans and geeks doing what they do best - getting their geek on.

The con ran from May 2nd through May 4th (May the Fourth, a perfect holiday for a con) headlining familiar faces such as Lou Ferrigno, Michael Rooker, Jason David Frank, Robert Englund, Dean Cain, William Shatner, Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and several other stars fans were more than eager to meet. The great Neal Adams and Bob Layton, not to mention a slew of other renowned artists, were also in attendance for those interested in comic books and their masterminds.

We pride ourselves on being costume experts and geeks, so we wouldn't have missed this con for the world! Over the course of the three days, we were thrilled at how well the con ran. Often times conventions can get bogged down with massive lines and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, but the convention center proved to be the perfect venue for the crowd of raving fans. If you wanted a photo or an autograph from an admired celebrity, chances are you had no trouble getting it as long as you were patient. Even the large Q & A sessions with celebrities were done incredibly well. The lines stretched long but if you wanted to hear what Matt Smith had to say you at least got in the hall to hear him.

We chose to visit some of our favorite celebrites and ogle over them as we got autographs. William Shatner was awesome. Sean Astin was impressed by our halfling slippers. Robert Englund said our Freddy Krueger glove was God! While Dean Cain and Matt Smith thought our custom printed images were sweet. The autographs are awesome, but we liked getting to see these folks at eye level. It's a delightful experience meeting your favorite actors and if you didn't catch it this year, make sure you do in 2015.

Here is our memory reel in all its glory. Oh Minneapolis Wizard World Comic Con, how we love thee.

Another reason we went to the con was to see all the amazing costumes, and boy were we impressed! We took hundreds of pictures with friendly and accomodating people dressed to the nines as they strolled through the stalls of comics, action figures, and prints. Naturally, Wizard World held a costume contest that showcased some of the best costumes, but we thought we should mention our favorites.

Here are our picks for the best costumes at Minneapolis Wizard World Comic Con.

Anna and Olaf from Frozen

A favorite for obvious reasons. This costume is elaborate, requiring many pieces to pull it off effectively and this woman nailed it. Carrying Olaf with her was icing on the cake.

Black Kat (Felicia Hardy)

Everything just worked with this costume. We wondered if Black Kat will make an appearance in the next Spider-Man movie.

Clone Troopers

What made these trooper costumes so great was the realistic dirt and grime incorporated in the costumes. It wasn't hard to imagine they just came from a distant battlefield in a galaxy far, far away.

Predator

A really great Predator costume is hard to catch in person. Until now! Her skin looked real and it's a FEMALE PREDATOR!

Inspector Gadget

This photo doesn't do the costume justice. The man was on stilts which were his go-go-gadget legs. The helicopter hat even spun around. This costume brought lots of small details together to make a convincing Inspector Gadget.

Sheik from Legend of Zelda

A very quality Sheik. Lots of attention to detail in the clothing and stitches. The cosplayer had the pose down too.

Loki in Chains

A wonderful surpise with this costume. We've seen Loki, but we haven't seen Loki bound in chains with a gag over his mouth. Not since seeing it in the movie, anyway.  Although, it must have been tough shuffling around the con with legs bound.

The Three Mistys

These guys went for it, and they knocked it out of the park. No regrets and no reservations - each and every one of them was having a blast in their costume and posing for the crowd going nuts over their costumes. Kudos, sirs!

Sonic the Hedgehog

Cute, adorable, and wicked fast. Sonic done in a simple and fun way. Everything fits so well with this costume. Look on the woman's right hand. See those gold rings? When she bumped into someone she would spill them on the ground like Sonic when he gets hurt. A subtle touch that made this a great costume.

Dragon Slayer Ornstein - Best of Show

There is no doubt this was the best costume of the show. One needn't have played Dark Souls to know this costume is incredibly intricate and detailed. Everything from the chain mail under his plate armor, to the rivets, the spear, and even the accents of red, were done impeccably well. Oh, and if you haven't played Dark Souls, play Dark Souls...then play Dark Souls 2.

Honorable Mentions

Obviously there were too many awesome costumes to list every single one, but here are some of the others that we thought deserved mentioning. Finn from Adventure Time, Tom Nook from Animal Crossing, everyone from Bob's Burgers (except Bob who was off making a burger or something), Spaceballs worn by a guy who looks like he belonged in the movie, Solaire (Praise the sun!), and one of the better Jedi we've seen. Last but not least, Salad Fingers! Salad Fingers even brought his three friends Hubert Cumberdale, Marjory Stewart-Baxter, and Jeremy Fisher. Might we say, they're all looking rather splendid this evening.

Look who dropped into our office craft room! (Why yes, of course we have a craft room - why do you ask?)

We love Mother's Day here at HalloweenCostumes.com and, to get into the spirit, we set up some craft supplies for anyone wanting to create a from-the-heart card for that special lady in their life. We turned our back for one measly hour and came back to find our favorite superheroes had created some pretty amazing "art projects." Yes, we are aware that perhaps some of these superheroes either didn't have, didn't meet, or don't remember their mothers. Nonetheless, in a world called "suspension of belief" these kid superheroes had a great time playing with some glue, glitter, paint ,and everyone's favorite kid craft supply of all time - macaroni! We hope you have as great of a time seeing what they made for their mothers as these little guys had creating them.

10 Kid Superhero Mother's Day Cards

1. Spiderman

We think Spiderman's mom will go just as goo-goo for this card as the googly eyes on it!

2. Cat Woman

A cat lover from the start, Catwoman must have tons are Karma Credits on Reddit ... we know how much the internet loves cats!

3. Captian America

Cap'n was never one to be afraid to get his hands a little dirty! Captain America loves America and mom. (And we bet baseball and apple pie, too!)

4. Thor and Loki

It's great to see these rivaling brothers play nice and create a card together. Well, sort of.

5. Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn has a lot to smile about with a mom that we envision is just as fun and zany as she is!

6. Hulk

Oh, Hulk. You tried. You really, really did. We know it's not easy to glue those tiny pieces of elbow macaroni with giant, green hands. Its ok, we understand.

7. Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy did her mom a favor by giving her paper plants. You don't have to worry about having a green thumb (or an allergic reaction) with card stock!

8. Superman

Those are some pretty impressive macaroni-craft skills kid-Superman has! Now, to work on his handwriting...

9. Wolverine

Even as a kid, Wolverine liked leaving his mark!

10. Wonder Woman

Defending the truth in elementary school might not make you too popular on the playground! Good thing Wonder Woman is willing to leave her lasso at home from now on.

Happy Mother's Day from HalloweenCostumes.com!

Maleficent has her own movie premiering this Friday, so she insisted on being in the middle. We thought it wise not to argue with Maleficent.

1. Maleficent

Maleficent is the self-proclaimed mistress of all evil. With that attitude and those horns, that sounds about right.

2. Cruella de Vil

Few could stand a chance against a woman that delights in causing the untimely demise of puppies.

3. The Evil Queen

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the baddest of them all?

4. The Queen of Hearts

She that liveth by the creed, "off with their heads," pulleth no punches.

5. Ursula 

We pity any poor, unfortunate soul that tangles with this famous sea witch.

5 Superhero Couples Costume Ideas

Have you tried coordinating costumes with a loved one? Depending on the interests of the couple, dressing up together can be a bit challenging. It’s amazing how tricky it can be to find similar costume interests between two people who are so close. Fear not! We’re here to help with couples costume ideas for 2014.

Superheroes are typically a safe common ground. Most people can identify with at least one hero and heroes have some of the most passionate and fun relationships. Here is a list of several fun superhero themed couples costumes to coincide with the numerous comic inspired films recently released in theaters.

1. Superman and Wonder Woman

Source: Insidepulse.com

Superman is a household name. Kal-El, his Kryptonian name, is one of the most likeable superheroes on the planet. Superman has a brilliant intellect, immeasurable super-strength, is nearly invincible, and quite dashing to boot. No one should have a problem stepping into Superman’s boots for a night.

2. Harley Quinn and Joker

Source: Wikimedia.org

For those who prefer the darker side, look no further than Joker and his overly attached girlfriend, Harley Quinn. Joker is one of the most entertaining villains in the history of comics. With timeless portrayals by Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger, and a slew of comic versions to choose from, you have lots of room for customization here. This costume gives the wearer license to behave psychotically and drop all kinds of jokes both good and bad. A favorite of ours is the acid flower. A little corny, but hey it’s Joker! Just don’t use real acid. 

When an intelligent psychiatrist working at Arkham Asylum developed a fascination for the Joker, Harley Quinn was born. Batman returned a roughed up Joker to the asylum causing Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel to lose her marbles. She became lethal, psychotic, and adopted an outfit befitting her new persona’s name, the harlequin jester. Her style has changed over the years, so Harley Quinn costumes can be cute and innocent or sexy and crazy. Take a look at this professional make-up tutorial our friend Katie Alves created for us:

3. Gambit and Rogue

Source: CarolSart69 at Deviantart.net

This is tragic romance at its best. Gambit is a smooth talking, Cajun charmer with a seedy past. Controlling and manipulating potential and kinetic energy is what he does best. The Ragin Cajun carries playing cards and a bo which he uses with startling precision. Remy LeBeau is the bad boy that doesn’t like to follow rules and this has made him widely popular. Rumor has it Gambit will be X-Men: Apocalypse the next X-Men movie.

Rogue is a southern belle from Mississippi and a powerful mutant. This is partially due to Rogue’s dangerous ability to absorb other people's powers. Well known for the streak of white in her hair, Rogue sports a green and yellow uniform with a leather jacket. Both Rogue and Gambit are down-to-earth mutants. They both speak with accents, and come from humble beginnings. You could classify them as working class mutants, which adds to their appeal. Their relationship has been on and off again for a long time. Rogue and Gambit both love each other but the two never seem to get on the same page. You’ll definitely stand out as these two, especially if you wear red contacts to match Gambit’s intimidating black and red eyes.

4. Batman and Robin

Source: Comicvine.com

The dynamic duo makes for a perfect couples costume. The Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder just fit well together. Batman is a billionaire playboy by day, but when he sports his cowl he’s transformed into the brutal vigilante Batman. The batsuit and logo are iconic and there are numerous versions to choose from, including a new style that will be featured in the upcoming Batman vs. Superman movie.

Robin has also seen his fair share of costume designs. His traditional red green and yellow outfit is one of the most identifiable costumes in the superhero universe. With so many iterations of The Boy Wonder, you won’t have any trouble customizing it to your liking. You might be thinking that Batman and Robin were never technically a couple, but they are two very close friends and they make a great team. That's all that matters when creating a great couples costume.

Catwoman also makes for a good couples costume alongside Batman. Batman and Catwoman have been in a love hate relationship for a while so choosing this couples costume would be a great excuse to practice your witty banter. Besides, is there a better combo than leather and spandex?

5. Colossus and Kitty Pryde

Source: Pinimg.com

These two are one of the more well-known couples in the comic-verse. Piotr Rasputin is a gentle and shy man from Russia. He has the ability to turn his entire body into an unknown composition of organic steel and is the resident strong guy for the X-men. Colossus can be awesome to wear because if you want to go all out, you could do some cool body paint effects! Even if you don’t think you have the physique for it, it doesn’t matter - just draw on those sculpted muscles. It worked in 300, right?

Kitty Pryde, codenamed Shadowcat, was originally the youngest member of X-men. She’s since been aged and stands strong as an important member of the mutant team now. Kitty possesses the uncanny ability to manipulate her atomic particles and phase through objects. Not only that, but Kitty’s also a tech genius.

In true comic relationship fashion, Colossus and Kitty Pryde’s time together has been rocky. The age difference got in the way for a while and Colossus died at one point. The pair even tried a long distance relationship. The couple has been on hiatus for a while now, but a lot of fans are still rooting for team "Pitty" to finally have a good relationship.

Wolverine and Colossus make for a great couple idea too. The two haven’t always seen eye to eye, but they work well together as seen by the often used fastball special.

For more couples costume ideas than you can shake a stick at, visit our couples costume selector!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

For the costumes used in these videos, and a hoth of a lot more,

explore our vast selection of Star Wars costumes, here!

WARNING: Spoilers up to and including episode nine of season three of Game of Thrones below.

If you tell your friends and family that you are planning a Game of Thrones themed wedding, it might be a little difficult to convince them to come to it. “Oh, I’ve seen The Red Wedding,” they’ll say to themselves as they mark an emphatic NO on their RSVP before they mail it back to you. (Even Joffrey’s wedding didn’t end so well, but that can be avoided if you forgo the pigeon pie at your reception.)

So, in order to help make your Game of Thrones wedding actually fun to go to (with, uh, less murder involved), we’ve concocted seven drinks perfect to serve at a reception. Or, if you are planning a finale party for the last episode of season four this Sunday, these drinks would work well for that, too, of course! As always, drink responsibly and remember -- winter is coming.  

1. White Walker Russian

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce coffee liqueur
• 1/2 cup milk
• Mix all ingredients together in a shaker and pour over ice.

Our White Walker inspired drink is definitely a little milkier looking than a normal White Russian, but the iciness of those creepy crawly White Walkers called for a more frigid cocktail. 

2. Mother of Dragons

• 3 parts Absolut Peppar
• 1 part Drambuie
• Tabasco sauce to taste

Dany clearly has a history with fire, so a drink based on her likeness just had to include a level of heat in honor of Drogo and the rest of her dragon babies. The tabasco mixed with the whiskey gives the shot a feminine pink color, but the drink's spicy bite stays true to the reason why we love Khaleesi in the first place. Her incredible intensity. It is known!

3. The Mountain and The Hound's Boilermaker

• 1 mug of beer
• 1 shot of whiskey
• Either take the shot and sip the beer as a chaser OR drop the shot into the beer (like an Irish Car Bomb) and drink both at the same time.

There are just so many things that relate to the Clegane brothers in this drink that it is almost too perfect. First: the size difference. You might think that a full shot of whiskey (the Hound) is big, but then when you add in a full mug of beer (the Mountain), you know things just got about ten times worse. Second: the fact that it is named Boilermaker after people who work on burning hot furnaces makes us wince for poor Sandor. Lastly: if you want to be even more meta with the name, you can serve Coors for the beer (you know, for the Rocky Mountains) and Black Dog whisky in honor of the Hound.

4. The Bloody Martell

• Bloody Mary mix of choice (the spicier the better)
• 1 ounce vodka
• Worcestershire sauce to taste
• Tabasco sauce to taste
• Pepper and celery salt
• Mix all parts and serve over ice. Garnish with celery, a lemon slice, a few pepperoncinis, and anything else you want to put in your drink. (May we suggest pickle spears, minced garlic, green olives, cubed cheese, a meat stick, and horseradish, to name a few more things?)

This one is a little too soon, but we couldn’t leave our favorite new character of the season out of this list. Prince Oberyn Martell was admittedly kind of a hunk, but we couldn’t help but to fall head over heels in love with the guy. So, when it was his time to go … well, we weren’t happy. Creating a spicy Bloody Mary in his name just makes too much sense, though. Add as much pepper and tabasco sauce as you can handle and try not to think too hard about details of how he went out. We're not over it yet, either.

5. Littlefinger's Sloe Screw

• 1 1/2 ounce Sloe Gin
• Orange juice
• Pour the gin over ice and fill to the top with OJ. Stir and add an orange slice for garnish.

Littlefinger is pretty sleazy, we can all agree on that. He’s shady, he has his own prerogative, and you never really know what he’s up to. Everything he has planned out is one slow build-up to screw over whomever is in his way. At least, that was the case for Lysa (and poor Ser Dontos!). We’re still not sure what his plans are for Sansa, but we have a feeling it will benefit him and him alone. So as you enjoy your drink, just think of all the other ways Petyr Baelish has screwed someone over. Cheers!

6. Sansa Stark's Lemon Drop Martini

• 1 1/2 ounce citrus vodka
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 1 ounce sweet and sour mix
• 1 lemon
• Sugar
• Wet the edges of the martini glass with the lemon and dip the rim in sugar.
• Mix the rest together in a shaker with crushed ice and pour into the glass. Garnish with a lemon slice.

A dainty drink for the auburn girl from Winterfell. Just like her mother, Sansa Stark has a weakness for all things sweet, especially lemon cakes. If she was invited to your party or wedding reception, Sansa would be all about this martini. It has a little edge to it, but the sweetness of the sugar and the tartness of the lemon even it all out to be a perfect mix.

7. The Night's Watch

• Piping hot coffee or espresso
• 1 (or 2, whatever!) shots of coffee liqueur
• Drink while it's hot!

The watchers on the wall don’t have the most fun job. It's really cold, really lonely, and really dangerous – especially after what happened last week in episode nine. After a night on the Wall like that, the guard deserves a hot toddy. Think of this as the late-in-the-evening cocktail if you’re serving it at your themed Game of Thrones wedding. Perfect for long nights and chilly evenings that you need to stay alert.

WARNING: Spoilers up to and including episode nine of season four of Game of Thrones below.

With a seriously epic season four of Game of Thrones nearing completion – giants, dragons and White Walkers (oh my) – it’s hard not to get excited about the finale of one of the most celebrated shows on TV. To mark this momentous occasion, we tinkered in our makeup studio to bring you a step-by-step guide for creating a DIY White Walker costume: the Night's King come to life!

You Know Nothing!

As usual, George R.R. Martin has significantly shaken our trust in the ways of Westeros, leaving fans squirming and looking a little something like Reek.

The season finale...is it going to hurt?

It’s only in this period of helpless reflection that we look back on the blood spattered stage of Westeros and say, “wait just a second! Who was that Night's King guy and when will we see him again?”

If that has crossed your mind, you are in luck! Regardless of what costume designers have in store for the Game of Thrones season finale, the Night's King cometh in the form of a DIY White Walker costume!

A lovely up-the-nose shot of our White Walker

Walk the Walk

This may seem a little intimidating at first, but we assure you: the project only requires moderate skill and a little bit of patience!

Step 1: Arm Yourself & Find a Squire!

It takes just a handful of products and an assistant – your squire – to get everything you need to look like the Night's King. Depending on your skill level, your squire will come in quite handy in the later steps of painting the details and gluing the mask and bald cap in place. So be nice!

        Robbie Zombie Puppet - Shop         Alien Horn Set - Shop
Blue Contact Lenses - Shop         Bald Cap Kit - Shop
Voldemort Hands - Shop         Medieval King Costume - Shop

Step 2: Get the Right Hue

You’ll ideally start this phase of the process the night before or at least several hours before gluing things in place to give the base coat of paint time to dry. By simply mixing acrylic paints together in a Tupperware container, you’ll be able to achieve the right white-blue-grey mixture to mirror the color of the Night's King.Our mixture broke down somewhere along the lines of 95% white, 3% blue, 1% black, and 1% grey. It's not an exact science, so don't worry!

Step 3: For Every King, A Crown

Next you will need your squire’s help. Slap on the unpainted bald cap to get an accurate feel for where to place the horns, and get to gluing. We used spirit glue and two packets of unpainted horns to be sure we had enough “prongs” to make the Night King’s “crown.”

It always helps to have a visual example to go off! A behind the scenes look reveals that the Night King’s crown is anything but orderly. The horn placement is a bit chaotic, yet still resembles a crown.

To get that look, you’ll want to stagger the horns as you glue them into place. It will give the crown a broken appearance befitting of an undead king! It’s simplest to glue two rows of four prongs on the right and left ridges of the skull where your head curves downward.

Once the two rows are in place, you’ll want to insert an additional asymmetrical horn or two to break up the formation and make it seem more organic.

Tip: A good test as you apply the horns is to have your partner look up from beneath and see if you are getting the Night King’s look from the baby’s perspective in the series. If it resembles a crown, but isn’t “perfect”, you are on the right track!

Step 4: Paler! Paler!

Once the glue is dry, you can get to painting the sickly, white-blue skin. By either placing the bald cap around a melon or Styrofoam manikin head, use your white-blue-grey paint mixture to apply an even coat of paint to the bald cap, horns, and gloves. 

Tip: Brush marks can show on the latex. Using a foam brush and moving in a backward stroking motion from the forehead helps the paint blend nicely. 

Step 5: The Transformation

This step is probably the most challenging part of the process, but it ultimately sells the look - so don't rush it!  If you are not even remotely capable of wielding a paintbrush, it never hurts to enlist your most artistic sell sword. (Just make sure they are up to speed on Game of Thrones – you don't want to be the person who spoils one of season three’s greatest moments for them!)

With the base coat of paint good and dry, throw on the undershirt from the king costume pictured above and get comfortable. It's time to adhere the bald cap and horns to the head with spirit glue.

Position the bald cap so it covers all of your hair. Only cut two slits over the ears to let them escape from the latex covering. Once your ears are out, they actually help anchor the bald cap down! After using spirit glue to carefully secure the cap in place, you are ready to apply the contact lenses. 

Tip: You want to add the contact lenses while you still have easy access to your eyes. So make sure you do this prior to spirit gluing the mask in place! It’s also important to note that contact lenses need an optometrist’s prescription to purchase (for more information, read the product page.)

After the contact lenses are in, the next step is gluing the mask into place. We used our flying monkey mask and cut off everything from the nose down. The top portion of this mask is very reminiscent of the harsh cheekbones and brow line of the Night's King. You can use liquid latex to blend the creases between the mask and the rest of your face. The latex also helps to thoroughly secure the mask in place.

Step 6: The Devil is in the Details

Once you are all glued up, the natural creases in the gloves and the mask give you a roadmap for shadowing and defining the marks on the Night King's face and hands. Just use a fine brush dipped in a darker shade than the base coat and follow the contours of the wrinkles in the latex. We took our time on this part of the transformation, to emphasize the flowing curves of the White Walker's face.

For the gloves, you can of course work ahead and paint them prior to completing the ensemble. We noticed that it was easiest to paint them with one hand while wearing or securing the glove on the other. So much can be enhanced with shadowing, so again, layer on the paint with thin strokes and take your time on these.

You can create depth in the fissures and wrinkles of the Night King's face (as shown below) by paying special attention to three key area. The space between the brows, the left and right cheeks. Use slow, repetitive dry brush strokes of varying thickness.  

Depending on how ambitious you are, you can even paint in faint veins running across the horns in blue-grey paint. The costume is already so distinctive, that how over-the-top you want to go with the makeup is up to you! Put as much devil in those details as you'd like.

Step 7: The Unveiling

Once you feel you've reached your desired level of detail, throw on a pair of boots, and carefully hoist the cape over your head and onto your shoulders.

While the original look calls for detailed black leather armor, to keep things more reasonable, we chose this specific cape for its snowy ambiance. Cosplay is all about working with what you can, so while we may not have access to the Westeros armory, we can certainly envision what else might be comfortable to wear beyond the wall!

Just…watch where you point that finger

As a fun accessory, and for those hoping to kick the costume up a notch in the conversation-starter-department, take some time to paint the eyes of our Robbie Zombie puppet blue, and you'll have one squirmy White Walker baby puppet on your hands in no time.

Valor Dohaeris!

If “all men must serve,” then perhaps so must their antithesis – the White Walkers of Westeros!

If you hear the call as we did between the whistling of the winter wind, don't be afraid to embrace it. Winter, it seems, just might finally be upon us this Halloween!

Friday the 13th - that’s today by the way - also happens to land on a full moon!

(Pauses. Absorbs.) Yes, you heard that right. The scariest day meets the scariest moon…it’s got to be rare, auspicious, and all things bone-chilling, right?

Well, the last Friday the 13th with a full moon occurred 14 years ago on October 13, 2000 and the next won’t occur for another 35 years on August 13, 2049. If that isn’t a cause for celebrating the macabre, gothic and generally spooky, then what is?

Queue the Theramin and pipe organ. It’s time to get weird! And we’re talking full moon, Friday the 13th weird! So deck the halls with blood spatters, trim the mantle with decapitated heads, and lock down your favorite Jason costume. Tonight is going to be one chilling night for a party!

Blood Guts and Horror: Non-Negotiables

Absolutely the best part about throwing a Friday the 13th party, is that "spooky" is built into the blood drenched fabric of the day. Unlike Halloween where people can be sexy, funny, ironic, cute, etc, Friday the 13th is good for one thing and one thing alone – pure, unadulterated horror! Here are the supplies we used to put our party together:

Catacombs Backdrop - Shop         Bloody Wall Backdrop - Shop
Camp Crystal Lake Sign - Shop         Moss Garland - Shop                
Jason Costume - Shop        Jason Machete - Shop 
Instruments of Torture Kit - Shop         Seaweed Boa - Shop                 
Decapitated Old Man - Shop        Decapitated Corpse - Shop
    Chain Link Rope - Shop         14 in. Jason Prop - Shop

So make it clear that the dress code requires blood, guts or the like, and buckle down for a night of scary movies, horror inspired cocktails and all things that go bump in the night.

Swap Your Bowls for Bowels

When throwing a proper horror party, spooky decor, dismembered body parts, and Halloween props are really shriek, errhmm, we mean chic. If your cupboards are currently filled with bowls, it's time to replace them with bowels, bloodied limbs, and heads.

Between iron chains, implements of torture, skulls, and anything else your twisted little full moon-infused mind can think up, it's pretty easy to transform your living space into Jason's lair in no time.

The Fixins that Sicken

Sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer. When it comes to cocktail hour, make it coctail horror with a themed Bloody Mary bar!

The best part about a Bloody Mary is that everyone makes theirs just a little differently. Be sure to give your ghouls of honor plenty of options (and vodka) to meet their Bloody-Mary-lust.

Sick Flicks

Slasher flicks are essential for a horror themed party (duh), and not just for the obvious reasons. It's not like we are hanging on the edge of our seats to piece together the intricate plot movements between victim six and victim seven in most old horror flicks, right?

Horror movies are great background entertainment, where tuning in and out between conversations doesn't leave the viewer completely lost. A little bit of conversation mixed with a little bit of squirming and gasping sets a nice tempo!

Yeah, we get it!

The classics can play amid a boisterous crowd and still mess with the senses: The Halloween/Michael Myers’, Jasons, Chuckies, Nightmare on Elm Street/Freddie Kruegers, Pet Cemeteries, Night of the Living Deads, Nosferatus, Psychos, and Children of the Corns of the horror industry are obvious go-tos. There are tons to choose from, so go nuts!

For a smaller group that’s more likely to actually pay attention to the plot twists of a movie, a psychological horror should make people feel good and uncomfortable. In the last couple of years, many of the movies on the IMDb most popular horror feature films list fit the bill. Sure some of them might be more on the slasher side of the tracks, but there is no doubt that the paranormal - less than the axe wielding maniac - is on the rise in the horror industries in the 2010s!

Where better to start than the IMDb list of the most popular horror feature films in recent memory? (You might be surprised just how many films slipped below your radar!):

1. The Green Inferno

Care to delve into the darker regions of the Amazon jungle? The Green Inferno received 6.2 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

2. Oculus

How do you prove supernatural forces were actually the cause of a murder for which a man has been convicted? Into the Oculus we go. Oculus received 6.7 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

3. Willow Creek

Have you been looking for a "found footage" fix since the latest Paranormal Activity, or perhaps as far back as the Blaire Witch Project? If so, Willow Creek might be the Friday the 13th flick for you. Willow Creek received 5.7 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

4. Vampire Academy

There is nothing quite like a new take on a classic. What happens when a half-human vampire goes toe-to-toe with vicious, immortal vampires, contending for the fate of the Moroi? Vampire Academy received 5.8 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

5. The Conjuring

Based on true events, The Conjuring is a wild ride for anyone who is interested in the paranormal, demonic, and all things possession-y. The Conjuring received 7.6 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

6. Carrie

This remake of the classic takes telekinesis out of the world of comic books and throws it onto the blood spattered stage of a senior prom. You know the story! Take it for another spin! Carrie received 6.0 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

7. The Human Race

There is something terrifying about the concept of being pitted against total strangers in the competition for your life. Follow the rules of the race or die! The Human Race received 5.6 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

8. 13 Sins

Each task, a sin. Thirteen tasks in whole. On Friday the 13th - well, why not?! Sounds like a fit. 13 Sins received 6.2 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

9. Zombieland

The star-studded cast of Zombieland breathes new life and reanimates the zombie concept, mixing horror with comedy and leaving the audience guessing whether they should laugh or cringe. Zombieland received 7.8 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

10. World War Z

The outbreak is sudden. The reach is global. When the world is consumed by a zombie pandemic, how will humanity survive? World War Z received 7.1 out of 10 stars on IMDb.

Don’t Forget the Re-Flesh-Ments

Now, in all honesty, usually the scariest part about any horror party is that it's not<gasp> catered. Expending all that mental energy on horror movies makes people hungry! So make sure they have all the grub they need.

In the end, just don't overthink it. A good horror party is like any costume party - the fun is in the company, costumes, and entertainment. If you can make it through tonight’s party alive, you just might have another 35 years to plan your next full moon Friday the 13th party! 

Until then, Happy hunting!

White gown. Black tux. So traditional, so classic, and, ah… kind of boring. If you’re a man about to get married, you don’t necessarily have to get pigeon-holed in the same style of tuxedo that groom after groom after groom before you wore when he walked down the aisle. It’s 2014, times have changed, rules are meant to broken, and you can wear whatever color suit you want on your wedding day!

All of us fashion-lovers at HalloweenCostumes.com obviously want you to look your absolute best on your big day (or any day, really!), so we’ve gathered the newest trends for tux colors this year for any style of wedding, just in time for wedding season to really kick off!

GREY

[Clockwise from left: one | two | three | four ]
Ideal for: An outdoor wedding with mason jars full of vintage inspiration.

A crisp, neat three-piece grey suit can be really striking at a wedding for both the groom and his groomsmen. A neutral shade of grey can go with many different colors for the shirt and vest – cream, pale lavender, or a light yellow, for example – and can also look really stunning with a ton of bridesmaid dress shades. (And if you’re a bride-to-be who has Pinterest boards stuffed to the brim with burlap table-runners, black chalkboard seating assignments, and a maid of honor with cute cowboy boots, you might want to suggest the grey suit idea to your almost-husband.)

KHAKI

[Clockwise from L: one | two | three | four ]

Ideal for: A sandy and sunny beach wedding, complete with bare feet and an ocean breeze.

When you think khakis, you might think of going to the office 9-5 and hanging around a water cooler, but the shade doesn’t always have to conjure images of a boring work day. A tan tuxedo can serve as the perfect finishing touch for a summery wedding look that’s both casual and super classy.

BRIGHT BLUE AND ORANGE

Ideal for: Bridal parties with a good sense of humor. (Or, you know, maybe prom.)

If you want to stray from a traditional wedding look – and we mean really, really stray – you may want to consider using Lloyd and Harry as your fashion inspiration. A bright orange and baby blue tuxedo will make the men in any wedding party stand out, especially when you include a matching cane and top hat.  

Orange Tuxedo – Shop         Pink Tuxedo – Shop         Blue Tuxedo – Shop

Tuxedo Costumes – Shop         Dumb and Dumber Costumes - Shop

CREAM

[ Clockwise from L: one | two | three | four ]

Ideal for: A New Year’s Eve wedding. Fashion forward bridal parties, or for fans of The Great Gatsby.

Grooms definitely should be able to wear white, too, if they want. (However, if you want to wear a cream suit, your bride should probably opt for an ivory colored dress. Trust us.) Cream is just so sharp looking! Perfect with black or navy accents, the groom and his groomsmen will look super slick walking down the aisle. This color scheme would also look particularly great with a martini in hand…

DARK NAVY

[ Clockwise from L: one | two | three | four ]

Ideal for: An elegant wedding, like at a royal ball or in a castle.

A dark blue is close enough to traditional black that it isn’t super risky to try, but it’s different enough to be eye-catching and noteworthy. Navy looks great against a grey stone backdrop, lush greenery, or inside of a church. And look! Aaron Paul wore a dark blue tuxedo at his wedding. That makes it automatically cool.

Maleficent is one of the most iconic villains in the Disneyverse. Or, perhaps as the new movie starring Angeline Jolie suggests, she is just one of the least understood heroines. Regardless, her style has been the envy of Disney fans for generations. This guide will show you variations of her costume to wear this Halloween, all the accessories needed to complete the outfit, and a makeup tutorial to finish the look.

Maleficent Costumes

Maleficent's costume is generally a long flowing black gown with a high collar and is always accompanied by a horned headpiece. Below in our costume round up, we feature the most current Angelina Jolie variation, alongside a few other options. Angelina's on-screen Maleficent style stays true to the original Disney version, with a few fun alterations. Also displayed is the classic cartoon Maleficent costume, a sexy fashion-worthy version featuring a trendy high-low hemline, and one more variant of the storybook sorceress that incorporates feathers and colors into the design.

New for 2014 Maleficent Costume - Shop         Classic Maleficent Costume - Shop

Sexy Maleficent Costume - Shop         Variant Maleficent Costume - Shop 

Maleficent Accessories

There are many accessories available to enhance your Maleficent costume. Most of the Maleficent costumes come with a horned headpiece, but if you decide to piece your own costume together (or you just want the Angelina Jolie style horns!) you can get the headpiece separately. If you decide you want to portray Maleficent in her fairy likeness, a pair of dark angel wings is the perfect addition to your outfit! Other excellent additions include Maleficent's staff, a pet raven for your evil assistant, or a pair of green and yellow contact lenses to mystify all your subjects.

Maleficent Horns Headpiece- ShopDark Angel Wings- ShopMaleficent Staff- Shop

Raven Prop- ShopGreen and Yellow Contacts- Shop

Maleficent Makeup Tutorial

This makeup tutorial will guide you through all the steps necessary for completing your Maleficent look for this Halloween. Here are the tools and products that you’ll need:

• Eye shadow primer.
• Eye shadow in beige, tan, and dark brown to get the stunning smoky-eyed look.
• Taupe brown shadow for the accented cheekbones.
• Black mascara and black liquid eyeliner.
• Dark brown brow pencil.
• Deep mulberry lip liner, dark red lipstick, and red lip gloss.
• Eye shadow and blush brushes. 

Additional Resources and Supplies

Looking to go out this Halloween as a mother-daughter pair? Or perhaps with your own Prince Charming?

• You can find all the newest looks from this year's blockbuster hit MaleficentHERE!
• Browse some more classic Sleeping Beauty styles HERE.
• Looking for even more Maleficent-ee goodness? Check out our Disney villainess mashup on our blog, HERE!

The final season of True Blood premieres this Sunday, and we can't think of any better way to pay homage to Sookie, Bill, and the rest of the Bon Temps bunch, than by changing your social media profile pic to a seductive vampire selfie! We drew our inspiration from the classic True Blood TV poster, which features voluptuous red lips, sharp vampire fangs, a drip of gooey blood, and of course, a flirty tongue (is that you, Miley??).

Basically all you need to achieve a look similar to those above is a tube of red lipstick, a pair of fangs, fake blood, and a wicked grin! But chances are, when you have those fun ingredients assembled, you'll want to have an epic selfie session and play around with different poses, accessories, and emotions!

For some of our selfies, we strayed quite a bit from the classic poster image by adding touches like a fake bite wound, a pair of earings, a shiny red mani, and of course, MORE BLOOD! Here are some tips, pose ideas, and additional suggestions, on how to snap a fantastic vampy selfie sure to get Alcede's heart-a-thumpin'!

Products Used

Vampire Bite Prosthetic - Shop         Black Gem Cross Earrings - Shop

Deluxe Vampire Fangs - Shop         Vampire Blood - Shop

First things first! Pull all of your hair up in a bun and secure it with bobby pins and hairspray. This selfie as all about the NECK, a vampire's favorite body part, so you won't want to cover it with hair! That's also why we opted for a strapless top. (Another reason to go strapless? The fake blood can get a little messy, and you won't want to stain the straps of any of your favorite tops!)

Next, apply a base foundation several shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Be sure to blend it into your face, neck, chest, and even your ears. We sealed our liquid makeup with a top coat of pressed powder as well, for a porcelein-like skin effect.

Next makeup step: the lips! We used a deep red lip liner to ensure perfectly straight lines, covered the liner in a generous coat of red lipstick, and topped it all off with a layer of clear gloss. Slick on a coat of mascara, pop in your fangs, and you're ready to start snappin'.

Tip: This is one time it doesn't matter if you get lipstick on your teeth, so don't stress. it looks like blooooood!

Selfie Time!

Sassy! This profile pic looks like it could have been taken in a back booth at Fangtasia.

In sticking with the style of the TV poster, we made these selfies about showing a lot of neck skin, and keeping the focus on the lips and fangs, rather than the upper half of the face. Of course youre free to play around with the angle and show more of your eyes!

Sometimes it takes a few selfie tries to catch a blood drip at JUST the right moment!

To break up the bottom half of your selfie a bit, you can drip some more blood down the sides of your mouth and onto your chest. It may take a few clicks to catch the syrupy blood at just the right moment, but when you do, the effect is so eerie! In a good way!

Tip: Use paper towels to cover the top half of your shirt. It's a great barrier between your clothing and the fake blood. The gel does firm up in a few seconds and will eventually stay put, but the towels will quell any potential fear of stray droplets in the meantime!

To bite, or to be bitten. That is the question. JK we choose both!

We love the additional POP of red that red nail polish adds to this photo. And the vampire bite wound prosthetic? What a creepy detail. Apply the patch using the adhesive that is included in the package, and cover the flesh tones of the wound with your foundation and powder, until it matches your skin tone. From there, drizzle on as much or as little blood as you care to, and snap snap snap those selfies!

Tip: For added collar bone definition, use a bronzing powder deeper than your skin tone, and apply it above and below the bone. It's may sound like a small detail, but the contrast will make a big difference!

This pic is the perfect blend of seductive and scary. Flirting with that balance is what True Blood is all about!

Alright, you caught us, we needed an extra set of hands to take this pic. It's the only non-selfie, selfie! Perhaps you can enlist the help of a tall, blonde, vampire of the Eric Northman variety to assist in your photoshoot? Jason Stackhouse would probably be too distracted to make sure that the angle is perfect.

That's it, you vamps and vampettes! Feel free to play around with free photo editing apps like PicMonkey, which can help you highlight a particular color in your photo, like...RED! Have a fun photo session, enjoy the season premiere this Sunday, and feel free to share your finished images with us. Just use the hashtag #VampireSelfie!

Disney movies tell some of the sweetest love stories in film history, so it is no wonder that many brides want to include details from these classics in their weddings. Here are 16 awesome Disney-themed wedding ideas that you can incorporate into your special day.

Frozen Weddings

This cake looks perfectly frigid – great for a winter wedding. This site includes the cake recipe, as well as how to make those edible ice chunks.

Martha is at it again with this seating card DIY– the name cards look like they are on icy mountain tops sitting in delicate snow. Definitely a memorable first look when guests walk into your reception.

See our Frozen costumes and accessories here.

Up Weddings

This wedding photographer captured this incredibly adorable idea for Up-inspired wedding cake toppers.

Trying to think of a creative guest book idea can be really hard. This idea, though, is amazing. Have each guest make a thumbprint and sign their name next to it.

• TIP: Have someone on wet-wipe duty right next to this set up, so your friends and family can wash the ink off their fingers immediately.

Beauty and the Beast Weddings

This Beauty and the Beast centerpiece is such a good idea! It would fit right in at a themed wedding, but could also be a nice touch in a more traditional affair. It could be your little secret that you love Beauty and the Beast.

Another subtly themed centerpiece! Who wouldn’t want Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast hanging out at each table?

Mary Poppins Wedding

A spoonful of sugar (in chocolate form) for every guest! Party favors can be simple and memorable at the same time.

Alice in Wonderland Weddings

If you are planning an Alice in Wonderland wedding, you are in luck. There are so many popular motifs from that movie and story that you will have a harder time deciding which way you want to go. If you’re going for the Queen of Hearts and all her cards, you can use this awesome idea for a dessert stand. Not into mini donuts? (What is wrong with you?!) Replace them with cake pops!

Maybe you want to have your reception feature a tea party theme, a la the Mad Hatter and March Hare. This “drink me” tag is such an easy and effective idea (and so are all the other ideas from this wedding!).

See all of our Alice in Wonderland costumes here for more inspiration.

Little Mermaid Weddings

OMG. We’re gonna go ahead and let these amazing Little Mermaid seashell macaron treats speak for themselves. We just can’t right now!!

Mermaids have the cutest stuff, it’s just a law that is written somewhere in the encyclopedia of imaginary creatures. This Italian cake designer created the most Ariel-worthy wedding cake.

Here are all of our mermaid costumes and accessories, filled with seashells and more to help you decorate your Little Mermaid wedding reception.

Cinderella Weddings

Here is a Cinderella themed photo opportunity inspiration. This is another example of incorporating your favorite Disney movie into your wedding day without going full-blown on the theme. Cute!

Our question while watching Cinderella was, “how are all those birds so good at garment dressing?” Our question for this Cinderella wedding cake is “how are those birds suspended in midair?!” Seriously. Comment if you know.

Look through our Cinderella costumes here for more storybook wedding inspiration.

Snow White Weddings

As long as your guests know that these treats aren’t poison, you should be good to go. Check out this adorable DIY treat here.

Shop our Snow White costumes here.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse Weddings

You didn’t think we’d forget about Disney’s two most famous lovebirds, right? Or, uh … lovemice? Maybe as a bride you wouldn’t be able to get away with donning ears for your ceremony, so sending your flower girls down the aisle with Minnie Mouse ears is the next best option. This Minnie Mouse headband would do the trick!

How adorable would it be to have your flower girl walk down the aisle, plucking petals out of this Minnie Mouse shaped flower purse? Or how cute would it be to have all your bridesmaids lined up for a photo opportunity, each with their own flower bag? Both options are cute, so don’t stress too much about deciding how to use this purse.

All of our Disney costumes can be found here. Our Disney accessories would also work great to fill in as decoration odds and ends while you are wedding planning.

No shoes, no shirt, no problem! This is ‘Murica, and we aren’t afraid of a little business in the front and a whole lot of party in the back. Taking this a little further – probably way too far, in fact – we dreamt up our own team of super-patriotic superheroes and named them Captain ‘Murica’s Freedom Force. Why ‘Murica, you ask? Let this piece of poetry answer your question:

“Hey, how exactly is a rainbow made? How exactly does the sun set? How exactly does the Posi-Trac rear end on a Plymouth work? It just does. It just does.” – Joe Dirt’s Dad

That’s right. For those blue-blooded Yanks among us who think that a Gatling-gun-strapped-American-Bald-Eagle streaming red, white, and blue smoke from its tail feathers makes perfect sense, the 4^th of July is as much about celebrating the independence of these mighty United States as it is for quiet reflection about demolition derbies, giant unnecessary explosions, and Tennessee Top Hats flapping rhythmically in the wind.

Urban Dictionary Definition:Tennessee Top Hat: Another word for a mullet, a long under-rated hair style that truly exudes power, respect, and most importantly, dignity.

So why not celebrate American independence this 4^th of July with a healthy clump of Chuck Norris chest hair sticking out of your Three Wolf Moon cutoff tee and let your mullet down? After all, a country that can’t poke a little fun at itself now and then – well that’s just un-‘Murican!

Captain ‘Murica’s Freedom Force Wants You!

ALIAS: Captain 'Murica

STRENGTH: ‘Murica | WEAKNESS: Not ‘Murica

When he’s not using the metric system (which is all the time), he’s making fun of the metric system (which is all the time). He takes the “u” out of “colour” and breaks the spectrum down to just three hues – red, white, and blue. His disdain for the stamp tax is rivaled only by his love for a glorious, unnecessary, and unprompted eagle shrieks and he still says “Remember the Alamo” every time he lights off a bottle rocket.

USA Flag Skin Suit – Shop           Statue of Liberty Tiara – Shop          Statue of Liberty Torch – Shop

ALIAS: Ruckus Randy

STRENGTH: Beer | WEAKNESS: Light Beer

With amber waves of cascading righteousness, Randy keeps his trigger finger trained and puns on the ready. His bowling ball is faster than a speeding mullet and his silhouette against a billowing pillar of flame is unrivaled. “Business in the front.” He fires.“Party in the back.” Chugs a beer and winks. While his glasses admit emphysema just might be in his future, Ruckus Randy has the distinct honor of never having a Zima in his life. Because, well, Zima is for wimps and tastes nothing like Busch Light.

Adult Black Combat Boots – Shop    Wolf Flag T-Shirt – Shop

Mississippi Mud Flap Wig – Shop      Gold Elvis Glasses -- Shop

ALIAS: Peekaboo

STRENGTH: Death From Above | WEAKNESS: Molting ... a lot. (Seriously, it's gross.)

Screams from a banshee are heard and a shadow appears. Majestic. Fierce. Peekaboo! He sees you! KABOOM! When the Freedom Force needs an eye in the sky, Peekaboo delivers a heavy payload from above. Since he was just a hatchling, he’s been cultivating the skill of firing an assault rifle without an opposable thumb.

Bullet Belt – Shop       Aviator Set – Shop       Inflatable Machine Gun – Shop

Eagle Costume – Shop       Eagle Latex Mask – Shop

ALIAS: Buck Die-Nasty

STRENGTH: Bustin' Skulls | WEAKNESS: Salads

Buck Die-Nasty would bite the bullet for his country. Literally. An actual bullet. He’d willingly punch a shark in the face. The raccoon skin he wears on his head? It's still alive. And he smells like a smokehouse. A man of few words, he eats by the herd. His steaks are uncooked and he has callouses on the backs of his hands. Buck Die-Nasty – he’ll give you a bear trap for Christmas and call it a hat.

ZZ Top Beard – Shop         Sunglasses – Shop         Mossy Oak Tux – Shop

Pick Axe – Shop        Black Boots – Shop       Raccoon Tail Hat -- Shop

ALIAS: Hershel Rawhide

STRENGTH: Patriotic Missles  | WEAKNESS: Any Music But Country & The National Anthem

Hershel Rawhide lost his right eye in a poker match with a bull. The bull’s horn was the poker. You think that’s bad? You should see the bull. “Just an eye,” Hershel growled, replacing it with a rib-eye. With his patriotic bullets, who needs depth perception?

American Vest – Shop   Gun – Shop    Mad-Eye Patch – Shop    Gunslinger Costume – Shop

Happy 4th of July from the Freedom Force

In this time of reflection this 4^th of July, just remember: “If you don’t like America, you can git out.”

From Captain ‘Murica’s Freedom Force and everyone at HalloweenCostumes.com, thanks for playing along and having a sense of humour humor. Now go and have some fun with fireworks and Happy 4^th of July!

EXTRAOrdinary Theme Weddings: Superhero Wedding

The best wedding advice is this: do what makes you happy. This is your big day. If “what makes you happy” entails superhero capes, Batman masks, vinyl boots, and a plethora of comic books, then so be it. Superhero themed weddings are becoming more and more common, but they’re still niche enough that you might need a little help on how to plan the perfect event. HalloweenCostumes.com has put together this guide with everything you need to know on throwing a DIY superhero wedding. Cheers!

The best way to give your guests the hint that your wedding will be a little more super than the average get-together is through your Save the Date. Dress up as your favorite comic book couple (or create your own!) for a fun photo shoot. It’s up to you if you want to go all out and wear a full costume or just incorporate a few geeky things, like a mask or t-shirt. For your engagement photos, you can recreate movie scenes, like that oh-so-memorable Spiderman kiss in the rain, or stage a comic book cover pose of your own. We took the opportunity to put on some costumes (it doesn’t take much convincing here!) and put together this bat-themed Save the Date.

Batman Costume – Shop  Batgirl Costume – Shop    Umbrella – Shop

Once you have your Save the Dates mailed out (usually around six months before your ceremony), the next order of stationary business is the invitations. To help you to continue on with your super-theme, we pooled together a few of our favorite pictures of comic book inspired invitation sets. Take a look through Etsy -- or hire your own graphic designer! -- to create a comic book cover featuring you and your spouse-to-be. That would definitely earn you a spot on the fridge!

[ sources clockwise from left: one | two | three | four ]

Fashion and accessories are a huge part of any wedding day, superhero or not. Maybe your vision is to have a wedding party completely decked out in full comic book character gear. If so, we can help you out with the superhero costumes. However, your ceremony dream might be a little more traditional. That doesn’t mean that you can’t incorporate your geeky love in little ways. In other words: accessorize!

[ sources: top | bottom ]

Wonder Woman Nails – Shop         Batgirl Nails – Shop

If you take the time to turn your wedding into a superhero wonderland, you better get some sweet snapshots out of the deal. Here is some eye candy and photo inspiration for your viewing pleasure.

[ source clockwise from left: one | two | three | four | five ]

Even if you let a caterer take care of the main course, you can still have some creative say over the two most fun parts of the meal: the drinks and the dessert!

[ sources: top – one | two 

bottom – one | two ]

One of the biggest trends right for wedding receptions is the inclusion of a photo booth. Having this novelty gives your guests something to do between dancing and mingling, and it also gives your photographer a little bit of a break. Include a box full of props for your guests to use for their pictures. Some superhero themed items are:

• Masks! Cut out shapes of famous “half-masks” (like Batman and Catwoman), glue to cardboard or thick cardstock, and attach to a thin dowel.
• Speech Bubbles! Have premade phrases, like “Kapow!” or “Bang!” for guests to hold up while they take some action shots. Create an empty one with either chalkboard or a dry erase board so party-goers can write their own phrases.
• Need more ideas? Here are some examples of other fun accessories to fill the prop box with:

Wolverine Gloves – Shop         Wonder Woman Tiara – Shop        Bat Eye Glasses – Shop

Batman Mask – Shop         Incredible Hulk Gloves – Shop         POW Shield – Shop

More Superhero Accessories – Shop

However you plan your wedding, and with whichever theme, don't forget to enjoy the day no matter what. This is a once in a lifetime party, so live it up! Don't stress the small stuff and enjoy.

Holy Batman Day, Batman! Do not adjust the contrast on your screen. You read correctly: BATMAN DAY! It's a thing, and it's happening this July 23, 2014, as part of Batman's 75th Anniversary celebration this year. We support any way you plan on celebrating this momentus occasion, be it hosting an all day Batman movie marathon, constructing your own DIY Bat-Signal, or simply covering the top half of your face and speaking in a husky voice all day. WE chose to honor The Caped Crusader by creating a visual history of the focal point of The Dark Knight's costume, the iconic bat symbol! Enjoy this fascinating progression, and you're welcome to click the image below for a larger version.

[Click infographic for a larger view]

Embed this Image on Your Site:

What do you think? Are you able to pick a favorite bat symbol? Let us know in the comments below. We're also curious to hear how and if you plan on celebrating Batman Day. We might just pick up a bunch of Batman costumes and run around town forming a group of vigilante crime fighters. Then again, that doesn't sound particularly legal.

Poodle skirts and 1950s style ensembles have been costume party staples for decades. With flattering A-Line silhouettes, girly scarves, flirty accessories, and shiny saddle shoes, it's understandable why! But we got to thinking...why should poodles be the only stars of the show? There are LOTS of other dogs that would look great, proudly parked in the corner of a demure fifties skirt.

With that premise, we bring you pop culture poodle skirts - a twist on traditional retro style, where the classic poodle has been replaced by 8 famous cartoon dogs, and the outfits are themed accordingly. There are looks for conventional animated pups like Pluto and Scooby-Doo, and even non-traditional "dogs" like Dino from The Flintstones! Enjoy.

1. Disney: Pluto Poodle Skirt

Isn't this precoius? Some Minnie-inspired yellow saddle shoes, white satin gloves, and a sweet mouse ear headband, transform this 50's gal into a shoe-in for the Mousketeers!

Close Up:

That's not a poodle, it's a Plutle.

Products Used:

Pin-Up Wig - Shop         Mouse Ears - Shop         White gloves - Shop         Ankle Socks - Shop

Bad Sandy Top - Shop        Red Poodle Skirt - Shop        Yellow Accessories - Shop

2. The Flintstones: Dino Poodle Skirt

It's a Yabba Dabba Doodle skirt! We made this fifties look Bedrock-chic by adding white stone accessories, a darling cavegirl wig, and some winged pink polka sunglasses.

Close up:

Does anyone know where we can get a Dino for ourselves? Fred never appreciated him, anyway.

Products Used:

Pink Polka Dot Glasses - Shop        Cave Girl Wig - Shop         Ankle Socks - Shop

Sexy Wilma Costume - Shop         Blue Poodle Skirt - Shop

3. Scooby-Doo Poodle Skirt

Jinkies! We channeled Velma in this easy-to recreate look, which just may be our favorite. All you need are some orange knee socks, red mary janes, a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and a turtle neck. (Plus a propensity for solving crimes if you REALLY want to sell the look.)

Close Up:

It could also be fun to grab a gal pal and have her put together a matching Daphne-inspired Scooby-Doo outfit. A green scarf, red wig, and some purple accessories would do the trick.

Products Used:

Velma Turtleneck - Shop         Black Rimmed Glasses - Shop         Black Scarf - Shop

Red Mary Jane Heels - Shop         Orange Socks - Shop         Red Poodle Skirt - Shop

4. Peanuts: Snoopy Poodle Skirt

For this style, we wanted to capture the essence of Snoopy's adorable Red Baron character. We chose an aviator cap and aviator glasses, and topped it off with a signature red scarf to complete the high-flying look.

Close Up:

Good grief that Snoopy is a cutie-pie!

Products Used:

Aviator Hood - Shop         Aviator Glasses - Shop         Red Scarf - Shop

White 50s Sweater - Shop         Black Poodle Skirt - Shop

5. Garfield: Odie Poodle Skirt

This sassy fifties look might leave John Arbuckle a little speechless, but that didn't stop us! A scoop neck top, Odie clutch, and some cute Garfield kitty ears complete the outfit.

Close Up:

We had to opt for a red poodle skirt to match Odie's famous tongue!

Products Used:

Odie Handbag - Shop         Bad Sandy Top - Shop         Garfield Accessories - Shop

6. Adventure Time: Jake Poodle Skirt

Jake and his wiggly arms are so excited to be the star of this Adventure Time themed 1950s garb. We threw in a fuzzy Fionna hood, the iconic green backpack, and topped it off with some sparkly rhinestone glasses.

Close Up:

Oh my glob! Put him on a skirt right now!

Products Used:

Adventure Time Backpack - Shop         White Studded Glasses - Shop         Fleece Adventure Time Hat - Shop

7. Family Guy: Brian Poodle Skirt

Brian is a classy, sassy, kind of K-9, so we chose a classy, sassy, kind of pin-up dress to match. Some rockin' tattoo print tights and a martini top off the look.

Close Up:

Whose leg do you have to hump to get a dry martini around here?

Products Used:

Blonde Pin-Up Wig - Shop         Pin-Up Dress - Shop         Tattoo Illusion Tights - Shop

8. The Jetsons: Astro 1950s Style

The idea of the poodle skirt can apply to more than...well...skirts. Cigarette pants were also a popular retro style (just ask "Bad Sandy" from Grease). We pumped up the attitude with this Jetsons inspired outfit, and stuck Astro on the top this time!

Products Used:

Judy Jetson Top - Shop         Bad Sandy Pants - Shop         Black Rimmed Glasses - Shop

Any cartoon pups we missed? Is this kind of costume twist something you might want to try out yourself this year? If traditional sock hop style is more your thing, you're welcome to browse our complete selection of 1950's costumes and accessories HERE! 

Not all Halloween decorations need to be scary or gory. Purple black and silver are beautiful colors alone, but when you use them together and add some glitter, the results are a hauntingly beautiful decor scene! Here are some simple steps which will help you easily create a setting like this for your next dinner party or Halloween soiree! Lots of pretty pictures included for inspiration :)

How to Create a Whimsical Halloween Table Setting

Various textures like chunky glitter, delicate lace, and soft feathers, bring this scene to life.

Step 1: Cover the Table

Black Spider Web Table Covering - Shop         Mini Purple Glitter Skeleton - Shop

• Start with a bright purple table linen (fabric or vinyl ones work well). 

• Cover your solid linen with the black spider web table cloth. This allows the purple to show through beneath the webbing.

Step 2. Create Height

Posed Crow - Shop        LED Flickering Spider Candle - Shop

Small Glitter Skulls - Shop        Skull Clutch - Shop

• Use items that are practical and that match the tone of the setting.

• A black tiered plate stand gave us the height we were looking for, and offered a fun way to hold some extra decorations.

• Consider creating warmth with candles. For a look that is both spooky and SAFE, we used LED candles like the spider one above.

Glitter LED Candelabra - Shop        Black Grass Spray - Shop         Black Glitter Thistles - Shop

• We paired a matte decorative grass spray and a glitter thistle spray to create fullness and height.

• Here again, the candles on the candelabra are LED and create a hazard-free glow

Silver Pumpkin - Shop         Purple Pumpkin - Shop         Small Purple Skeleton - Shop

• We placed a silver platter on top of a cake stand with a silver platter for additional surface space.

• Three different colors creates a visually interesting centerpiece.

• Placing a complex hat on the tallest pumpkin introduced a sense of whimsy.

• Small details like the boo sign and mini skeleton are useful for filling any empty spaces in your arrangement.

Purple Mercury Bottle - Shop        Silver Mercury Bottle - Shop

• These mercury glass bottles fit the decor scene perfectly! You don't even have to fill them with anything.

Purple and Black Feather Masquerade Mask - Shop

• Take-home party favors will always be appriciated by your guests. These fun masquerade masks fit the color scheme, and provide a great ice breaker!

Skull Ring - Shop

• Here we employed a simple silver skull ring as a napkin ring. The bright silver contrasts nicely with the black linens. This can also be a take-home party favor since it's an adjustable finger ring!

Small Silver Skull - Shop        Glitter Metal Spider Webs - Shop

• We enhanced each place setting with a glitter, metal spider web, placing it between the charger and the plate.

• We used plum glass plates with a small silver skull, and gave everyone a purple rock candy to sweetly pull it all together.

Silver Glass Pumpkin - Shop         Glitter Spider Prop - Shop

• Check your table design for any holes, and fill any negative space with glitter or glass props.

    Decorative Wooden Blocks - Shop        6.5" Purple Pumpkin - Shop

• Any items you feel are too small for the space can be placed on pedistals or risers.

• This wooden 'W' sign is one piece of a full set that spells the word "WICKED." Feel free to break up the elements or use just one peice for your Halloween decor - have fun and make the scene your own!

The headlines are everywhere: "The Video That Has North Korea in an Uproar!" "North Korea FURIOUS Over Dance Parody Video!" "The Video That North Korea Does Not Want You To See!" How could we resist clicking? This afternoon we became one of the 2million+ views that the infamous video currently bosts. Do we regret it? NO! (Sorry not sorry, North Korea.) In fact it made us want to dance. So we did. And we recorded it. And then we put it on Youtube.

We suspect we're not the only ones who caught the dance bug after watching the video, so in case you want to host a viral dance party of your own, we made the masks available for purchase on our website! Enjoy.

The Viral Video That Started It All

Catchy, Right?

Our Version!

Our co-workers are multi-talented. Did Obama just pop and lock?

Jumbo Kim Jong Un Dance Mask

Kim Jong Un Mask - Shop

Jumbo Obama Dance Mask

Obama Jumbo Mask - Shop

Of course you're not just limited to Obama or Kim Jung when it comes to making silly masks. You can make a jumbo mask of ANYONE using our custom mask creator. Sweeeet!

Sources: Watchmojo.com; Wikipedia.org; Anilinkz.com; Fansided.com

Chances are, you've been here: you and a group of friends are sitting around talking about what you’re planning to dress as for an upcoming costume party. Suddenly your big-ideas-but-no-details friend blurts, “We should all dress up together! You know, like, as The Avengers or something!” Everyone gets excited and says they’re on board, but the idea stalls because you're not sure what the next steps are.

If you're ever in that situation again, this article will help you SAVE THE DAY like your favorite hero. We'll provide several group superhero costume ideas, along with a character description of each hero, because it's fun to dress as a character with similar personality traits to your own!

We organized our ideas by group size, as that often dictates which specific theme to choose. Just as choosing a character with a similar personality to your own boosts the level of authenticity of your group costumes, so too does picking  a crew that your friends/family have a genuine interest in! Luckily, just about everyone has a favorite hero, and chances are that hero has joined forces with other heroes at some point.

Group of 3: Captain America

For three people, doing something that is customizable is a good idea. Captain America has worked with plenty of other worthy heroes and fought his share of deadly villains. He also starred in a new movie earlier this year, so he's fresh on everyone's minds. Since he's the leader of The Avengers, there are countless costume options for group members to choose from. Our example below includes three characters from Cap's latest movie.

Winter Soldier Costume - Shop         Captain America Muscle Suit - Shop         Black Widow - Shop

• Captain America: “Avengers, assemble!” Steve Rogers was a scrawny man with steadfast morals who volunteered for the super soldier serum project during World War II. A paragon of good and frequent leader of The Avengers, Captain America serves as a moral compass for humans and superheroes alike.
  

• Winter Soldier: The Winter Soldier is the result of a Soviet assassin project that took advantage of Captain America's once loyal sidekick (Bucky), and transformed him into a ruthless killer. When not on a misson, Winter Soldier was cryogenically frozen, thus preserving him. Winter Soldier was a formidable assassin, but was eventually confronted by Captain America, who restored his memory, enabling him to defect from the Soviet Union.

• Natalia Romanova: Natalia Romanova, aka Natasha Romanova, aka Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, has an alias for every part of her shadowed past. She is a femme fatale spy who defected from her home country of the Soviet Union and eventually joined The Avengers. She was biologically and psycho-technologically augmented by the USSR program that shares her codename. Natalia is cold, calculating, and a master at psychological warfare. She also had a thing with Winter Soldier back in the day.

Group of 4: X-Men/Mutants

Deadpool - Shop         Gambit - Shop         Storm - Shop         Sexy Wolverine Onesie - Shop

• Wolverine: Wolverine is probably the most famous member of X-Men, and one of the most famous superheroes of all time. His loner mentality and butt-kicking attitude make him easy to admire. His catchphrase sums him up well: "I'm the best at what I do. And what I do isn’t very nice."

• Storm: Storm, also known as Ororo Munroe, is one of the most veteran members of X-Men. She has proven herself a capable leader when in charge of the team, and is a powerful mutant with the ability to control weather. Mature and controlled, Storm must demonstrate strong emotional stability because if she gets to passionate, she brews a vioent storm!

• Gambit: Gambit shares similar traits to Wolverine in that he’s got attitude, but Remy LeBeau is more charming. In fact, his charm is even listed as one of his mutant abilities. Along with possessing bo staff skills, Gambit can also charge items by converting their potential energy into kinetic energy. The results are explosive! If you’re dressing as Gambit, don’t forget one of his important accessories: a deck of playing cards.

• Deadpool: The Merc with a Mouth, Deadpool is one of the most recognizable mutants with his smarth mouth and tendency to break the fourth wall. Engineered to be the perfect weapon through the Weapon X Project, Wade Wilson's mind  suffers from psychosis and dissociative identity disorder, but these are just some of the reasons that fans love this motormouth.

Group of 5: Batman Universe

Batman - Shop         Robin - Shop         Catwoman Body Suit - Shop

Child Joker Costume - Shop         Harley Quinn Tutu Costume - Shop

• Batman: Batman is another one of the most popular superheroes of all time, especially with the recent Christopher Nolan film franchise reboots. Batman appeals to a lot of people because he doesn’t actually have any super powers. He’s a man, an incredibly brilliant and skilled man, but still just a man. It has also been said Batman is the greatest detective of all-time.

• Robin: Everyone, even Batman, needs help sometimes, and in these cases Robin is your guy. Robin came on the scene to help Batman fight crime, but was also introduced to allow for dialogue with Batman, and to appeal to young comic readers. There have been five official Robins over the course of the comics, but probably the most popular was Dick Grayson and his medieval Robin Hood-inspired tunic outfit.

• Catwoman: She ain't your typical villain. Catwoman has shown more interest in high stakes burglary mixed with a cat and mouse relationship with Batman than being a truly devious villain. Although Catwoman is perfectly capable of holding her own in all types of dangerous situations, she's not as interested in violence and killing than some of Batman's other enemies.

• The Joker: The Joker is the perfect antithesis to Batman. He has been portrayed on screen by world class actors and is one of the most well known comic villains in existence. He's completely psychotic and has a sadistic sense of humor, which makes him particularly dangerous as a criminal due to his unpredictable nature and love of chaos.

• Harley Quinn: Harley is swiftly becoming a fan favorite in the Batman universe. As a psychiatrist at Arkahm,  Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel became entranced by the Joker. Slowly, over many sessions, the Joker twists the mind of Harleen and she comes to embrace his sadistic and evil ideals. Eventually Harleen goes insane herself and her descent to a life of crime is complete. Harley Quinn has numerous costume variations, so take your pick! The only rule is it must have include some harlequin jester details.

Group of 6: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are perfect for a group of six. Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael are known the world over as one of the best hero teams. Larger groups can easily expand on this theme by adding characters like Shredder, Bebop,,April O’Neal, Master Splinter, or Rocksteady. The turtles also have a reboot movie coming out this year, so this group would be timely.

Ninja Turtles Costumes - Shop

• Leonardo: Leonardo is the oldest turtle and the level headed leader of the squad. Wearing blue and wielding ninjato, Leonardo ensures he leads his turtle brothers to victory when taking down Shredder…and large pizzas. Either way.

• Donatello: This turtle is the the brains and engineer of the team. If the gang needs new equipment or any intellectual assistance, the purple clad, bo swinging Donatello is the middle turtle for the job.

• Michelangelo: Cowabungo, dude! Michelangelo is the youngest turtle and a total party animal. He’s a turtle with a real sense of humor. Don’t underestimate him, though, otherwise you’re liable to get a nunchuck to the side of the head.

• Raphael: Raphael is the stubborn loner of the group. He’s not opposed to working with his turtle brothers, but he has bouts of anger and rebellion, possibly stemming from his rivalry with Leonardo. Ralph doesn’t like taking orders and never shies from a chancee to use his sais.

• Shredder: Oroku Saki became known as the Shredder when he moved to America to operate the Foot clan. Living in NYC gave Shredder the perfect chance to exact revenge on Hamato Yoshi for killing his brother. Little did he know that Yoshi's pet rat would come back to cause him massive amounts of trouble. That rat became Splinter and he trained the Turtles to help fight crime and stop Shredder's Foot clan. Shredder is mean, cunning, and prone to anger, and his look is iconic.

• Bebop: Bebop began as a member of a street gang that was used by the Foot clan to cause trouble in NYC. After chasing April into the sewers and getting beat by the Turtles, Shredder asked for volunteers to undergo a special mutation that would make them powerful enough to crush the Turtles. Bebop became a mutant warthog and was physically strong, but his intelligence never grew. As such, he is the braindead 'muscle' for Shredder and his clan. Bebop is usually hanging out with his partner in crime, Rocksteady.

Do you have more than six people in your group? Easy solutions abound! Pick any of the group ideas above and add characters. X-Men, Justice League, and the Avengers have a huge cast of characters to choose from, especially if you include villains.

For more group costume ideas than you can shake a bo at, visit our group costume selector tool.

The whirlwind that is San Diego Comic-Con has come and gone. The lines were long, the celebrities were elusive, the previews were awe-inspiring, and the collectables made our inner-child squeal with glee. Strap on your exclusive comic-con bag across your back and join us as we round up the highlights of this epicenter of geek culture!

75 years of Batman

Preview Night (Wednesday) actually fell on Batman Day and the 75th anniversary of everyone's favorite caped crusader. The DC booth was celebrating all things Batman with classic movie memorabilia, exclusive artwork, and a preview of the newest Batman cape and cowl from the upcoming Superman Vs. Batman.   

Cool Toys, Collectibles, and Goodies

Comic-Con is full of the comics, toys, and collectibles that geeks dream about. Whether you are into LEGOs, action figures, mini-statues, or full size replicas, this con will meet all your nerdy desires. Who wouldn't want a full-size Han Solo in carbonite for their living room?

Sideshow Collectibles always produces cool works of art to be enoyed by all ages. The Legendary Scale collection boasts the most impressive statues with realistic detailing in true-to-life sizes. Our favorite charcters from the Marvel and Star Wars Universes were there on glorious display.

The Hobbit panel on Saturday was a packed event, but for those who couldn't make it into the coveted Hall H, Weta Workshops brought along a life size head of Smaug the Dragon. The prop even had eyes that opened and shut, making it an instant fan favorite of the crowds in the convention center.

Guardians of the Galaxy was one of the bigger licensed properties at the show and Rocket Raccoon was everywhere to be found. Clockwise from the upper left we have a full sized statue of Rocket and Groot made from LEGOs, a giant pop vinyl of Rocket, a scaled statue of Rocket and Groot, and finally a life-size statue of Rocket Raccoon. 

Dressing in geek finery is one thing, but this year's attendees were even ROLLING in style to Comic-Con! Here are two of our favorite geek vehicles from the show: The first is a Darth Vader mash-up with the bat-mobile, and that is followed by the Shag'n Wag'n from Dumb and Dumber. 

Makeup and special FX go hand in hand with the cosplay culture of Comic-Con. The Cinema Makeup School was set up at the convention floor, offering live makeup demonstrations. The X-Men villain Apocalypse was the highlight of their work and got everyone excited for the next film in the X-Men franchise, The Age of Apocalypse.

Comic-Con Costumes

Comic-Con would not be complete without a look at some of the world's best cosplay. All levels of costume enthusiasts attend the Con, from highly skilled fabricators, to amateurs just looking to get in on the fun!

Avengers Assemble!

Bat-Man Totoro!

Optimus Prime

Captain Jack and the 11th Doctor

Elsa from Frozen

501st Scout Trooper

Sgt. Calhoun from Wreck-It Ralph

Mash-up! Evil Knievel Boba Fett

Too Funny! Jurassic Park Workers

Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade Cosplay

Sharknado Cosplay

His and Hers TARDIS Costumes

???

Jewish Wolverine- A Comic-Con Classic

Want to see even more costume goodness?
Check out Part 2 of our Comic-Con coverage Here!