The Best and Worst Halloween Costumes from 2011….
Just like Lindsay Lohan said on Mean Girls, Halloween is an excuse to dress up like a total slut every year, and no one can say anything to you, even if you’re wearing next to nothing on a Monday night. Some costumes were drop dead sexy, whereas others were just scary –and not in the “zombie eating your brains” way. Here’s a list of the notable costumes from 2011.
I saw a bunch of girls put on a short, black dress and a pair of animal ears and call it a costume. Don’t get me wrong, I love Mean Girls, but it’s not 2004. The movie was released seven years ago, and for every Halloween since, girls have been calling that a costume. You don’t have to buy a ridiculously expensive costume, but at least get creative with it.
I love it when people get creative with their costumes, while still being sexy. I saw a girl dressed as the Chiquita Banana girl. She must have been six feet tall, so the long dress glided with every move she made, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the bright colors in the outfit. The Chiquita Banana was a way to be sexy, while still having fun with a costume.
If I had a dollar for every Jersey Shore character I saw, I would never have to work again. I don’t understand the appeal in dressing up as one of the seven bright orange train-wrecks…Does anyone even watch the show anymore? Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice that dressing as one of them gets rid of the awkward question, “Wait, what are you?” but come on. It’s so overdone.
I saw a girl dressed as a sexy race car driver, and I really didn’t understand the point of the costume. Obviously Halloween is about trying to show off your body or try on someone else’s shoes for a day, but a sexy race car driver? Last time I checked, you aren’t driving formula one cars, and you’re not carrying racing flags, so what about the costume makes sense?
The box of Franzia costume that I saw over the weekend was hands down the best costume of the week. Being a broke college student, Franzia is my wine of choice after a long day because it’s cheap and doesn’t (usually) taste terrible. Halloween is the one time a year you can be anything you want, so why not pay tribute to the world’s most popular wine.
Halloween isn’t just about dressing less conservative than a stripper, its about being someone completely different from yourself for a day. Normally I have a very preppy style, so I dressed as a “Lax-Bro.” I donned the mid calf socks, that I despise with a passion, and a pair of Nike 6.0 sneakers. I topped off the outfit with a pair of “stunna shades” and a mesh pinnie. I have written countless times about how much I hate “broture,” and after walking a mile (or three) in their shoes, I still don’t understand why it’s a trend around college campuses. Even though I don’t understand why someone would wear that everyday, it was fun to experience someone else’s style, and the perks that come along with it. While I was enjoying Halloween festivities, some other partygoers encouraged me to do a keg stand. Normally, I can’t do them to save my life, but that night, I held the record for the longest keg stand at the party. I’m not saying it was the costume, but having everyone cheer me on because I dressed the part of a keg stand champion definitely helped my record. Try to walk around as someone completely opposite from you, and you’ll be surprised at what you find about yourself and how others perceive you.
What We’re Wearing: Halloween Edition
We here at PW Style have been preparing for this night for a couple of weeks now.
We’ve told you the top local shops to find your Halloween duds, gave you three easy, not so typical costume ideas and even humored you with the 10 dumbest sexy costumes of 2011.
So now it only seems right that the PW Style bloggers reveal what clever costumes they’ve come up with this year (not a single “slutty nurse” in the bunch!)…
Mark: A Bro (see left)
“Basically I wore the tank top, a pair of matching sunglasses, basketball shorts, mid-calf socks and a pair of Nike 6.0s. I looked like a stereotypical lax-bro.” On Friday, Mark went out as a UPenn Occupy Wall Street protester. 
Kat: Wednesday Addams (right)
Fajr: Nothing. Tricks are for kids.
Me: Depending how tonight goes, I’ll be donning the same costume I have the last two years: 50s housewife. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo to share. But here’s what the costume consists of: vintage housedress, baby doll, pack of cigs, black-eye.
From all of us here at PW Style, we wish you a very merry, chocolate-covered and beer-soaked Halloween!
Monogram Your Wall
Photos: simplemom.net, shabbynest.blogspot.com
If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a barren wall.
So much in fact, that I’ve gone to the extreme of covering literally every inch of free wall space in my bedroom, which I’m pretty sure an interior designer wouldn’t recommend.
Anyway, my friend Ashley got the idea from her friend Ali to start a collage of “As” on her wall and while I’m no design expert, I’d say it’s a really nice and easy way to add some visual interest in your room.
Basically, the possibilities are endless: you can do either the first letter of your name or your initials, cover an entire wall or just a portion or incorporate photos/artwork in the collage.
My friend opted to go the fun route, mixing letters of all different sizes, fonts, colors, patterns and textures (see right). But if you were looking to make it a tad more chic, you could stick to a certain color scheme. I imagine black and white or silver and gold could look really snazzy.
Whichever way you choose to do it, you’ll probably want to start out with four letters then continue to build. Most craft stores like Michael’s have a variety of wooden letters that you can buy and design however you please—paint, bedazzle or cover in fabric.
You can also find letter décor online and at a surprising numbers of stores. For example…
Anthropologie ($14.00, $18.00)
BoConcept (top: $16.00, bottom: $19.00)
Urban Outfitters (top: $12.00, $10.00; bottom: $10.00, $8.00)
JcPenny’s ($7.99)
Target ($9.99)
Cute, huh?
What To Do This Weekend
Ok, so most of you are probably still scrambling to figure out what Halloween parties are going on this weekend and what you’re costume is going to be. Unfortunately, I can’t really help you out with that. I’m still trying to make plans myself.
I can however assure that there’s plenty of stuff to do this weekend before you go out and get shit-faced. Here’s a few…
Friday
If you’re on the prowl for some discounted fall/winter duds, today is probably going to be the best day for you to head over to Urban Outfitters’ University City store and peruse their massive sidewalk sale. Can’t make it tonight? Don’t worry—they’ll be offering a additional 30 percent off all sale items the entire weekend.
Saturday
Stop by The Rosenbach Museum from 3-8 p.m and have local Steampunk artists get you in the Halloween spirit with some Dracula-inspired arts and crafts. You can also borrow a costume and hop into their scenic photo booth for a sinister snapshot.
Sunday
Local cyclists rejoice: now in its second year, the Philly Bike Expo is returning to the 23rd Street Armory for two days of non-stop workshops, lectures, demonstrations and activities celebrating all aspects of bicycle culture. In addition to an array of vendors selling the latest bicycle gear and apparel, students and faculty of Philadelphia University’s Fashion Merchandising Department will be producing the 2011 Bicycle Fashion Showcase.
The High Fashion Overall
Confession: I never stopped wearing overalls. I became obsessed when I was about 12 or 13 and was completely enthralled with the movie My Girl. I always thought Vada Sultenfuss looked so cool in her overalls and I wanted to be just like her, but man, were they hard to find.
I think my mother finally found a pair for me in the little boys section of Walmart. Years later, I would revive them in high school when I found a perfect-fitting pair at the Army-Navy store. I still wear this pair to this day, often, to glares, and fashion-winces from my friends. But, I’d like to make a case for the grown-up overalls. Ralph Lauren, Jean Paul Gaultier and Cavalli are just a few of the designers that have incorporated bibs into their collections, proving they can be sleek, quirky , and, yeah I’ll say it, sexy. Here, a few of my favorite interpretations:
LAGOS Rittenhouse, Now New and Improved
Last night, folks packed into LAGOS’ quaint flagship store at 18th and Walnut to celebrate it’s grand reopening with wine and snacks. Taking inspiration from their ‘Interlude’ and ‘Unlaced’ Fall collections, the space was modernized with high-definition video walls, state-of-the-art lighting and a gold.
While I lack the means to even fathom buying one of their beautiful pieces of jewelry for myself, I still very much enjoyed oogling at them from behind the glass. Should a day ever come that I can afford to accessorize myself with real karats, I will most definitely return. I was really impressed by how elegant, yet simple their pieces are.
It’s rare to find expensive jewelry that you could actually wear day to day, not just for fancy occasions.
Founded right here in Philly in 1977, LAGOS is best known for their signature two-tone, 18-karat gold and sterling silver jewelry. The store’s redesign is all a part of the company’s new re-branding strategy which includes a revamp of their Web site and the opening of their first ever shop-in-shop in the Bloomingdale’s at the King of Prussia Mall.
Bridal Gowns Paint Runway Black
Last winter, I was lucky enough to travel to Florence and Rome, Italy for several weeks. While wandering through one of the many winding, cobblestone alleyways making up the maze that is Florence, I happened upon a bridal store, Atelier Aimée, one of Italy’s leading bridal gown production companies. Though marriage is nowhere near my future as of yet, I still profess a love for bridal wear, especially the black wedding dress. I saw my first one ever at Atelier, and I’ve been hooked since:
So imagine my surprise when I, reading through NYTimes.com, I happened upon an article by Bee-Shyuan Chang, “All Dressed in Black,” which profiled Vera Wang’s latest bridal collection, rife with black gowns. Wang debuted her 16-piece collection – without a shred of white in sight – at New York’s Bridal Fashion Week last week.
To keep the femininity alive, Wang designed the dark dresses with layers of tulle, lingerie-inspired corsets and black lace layered over champagne.
Wang’s new line is truly intended for the unconventional, yet show-stopping bride, who seeks to push the envelope much like Wang. Though some critics claim the line is too goth, too dark, effeminate or just ugly, I have to disagree. The black bridal gown has the capacity to make quite the romantic statement. And this is especially true with Wang’s 2012 line; she manages to capture the softness of the female body through layers of fabrics, yet juxtaposes it against the unconventional color.
To see Wang’s full Fall 2012 collection, click here.
Skinny Minority x WearHouse Boutique
“Fancy, Fashion & Fashionable”
On November 3rd 2011 Skinny Minority is hosting their first annual Focus For Fashion Event at WearHouse Boutique in Philadelphia. Earlier this year we debuted our first clothing collective KRA. Now as we gear up to market this line we want to share it with a select group of women in the Philadelphia tri-state to get their personal feedback on the line. We also want to meet the women of philadelphia that love fashion and support Skinny Minority. The event will be small, intimate and chic, truly a night of sweet treats, explicit drinks and unadulterated fashion talk.
Skinny Minority x WearHouse Boutique
November 3, 2011
401 S 16th St
Philadelphia, PA 19146
To RSVP, gmail us your name, age, and occupation to skinnyminority@gmail.com
Local Love: Moon & Arrow Boutique
The real reason for my stroll down Fabric Row two weeks ago: to check out Bella Vista’s newest boutique, Moon & Arrow.
Even if you weren’t looking for the store, its beautiful window display with bio-dome terrariums and crystal accessories hanging from tree branches would be enough to draw you in.
The interior is just as inviting: an uncluttered open space with a natural ambiance and burning incense.
Impeccably dressed, owner Chelsea Pearce is like a walking model for the boutique, which just opened its doors back on Oct. 1.
The Philly native decided to create her own vintage haven after having successfully launched an online store two years ago. So far she says business has been good and it was easy to see why.
Besides the fact that I immediately wanted to own everything she was wearing, when stocking up on merchandise for the grand opening, Pierce clearly took the changing weather into consideration. The racks are filled with stylish and very reasonably priced vintage coats, knits and wool ponchos.
Some of those ponchos as well as many of the pieces of jewelry were actually handmade by Pearce herself.
Fascinated with the natural world, she uses all natural materials like rough-cut stones and crystals, reclaimed suede, found objects, naturally shed antler, dead stock fabrics and reconstructed jewelry parts.
There’s also a few items throughout the store that are Pearce’s souvenirs from her various trips around the world. “They’re like my shot glasses,” she jokes.
I particularly enjoyed trying on a goofy, yet oddly cool hat she brought back from Russia. I looked like one of Santa’s badass little helpers.
If you’re looking for a unique and timelessly chic new coat for winter and maybe some feminine, bohemian-esque accessories to go with it, you should definitely check Moon & Arrow out. You will not be disappointed.
DIY Style Contest This Week!
Since I know this city is overflowing with creative talent, I figured I would pass this along…
As part of their first-ever “DIY Style Week,” TODAY.com is asking readers to share their DIY style projects—accessories, clothing, shoes, whatever—for a chance to win a DIY prize pack including roughly $200 worth of cool crafting goodies as well as a post on their Web site about their project.
All you have to do is submit a photo and/or video of your creation/design along with a short essay about the project (100 words or less). You’re allowed a total of eight entries (one per day) between now and 5 p.m on Friday. TODAY style editor, Bobbie Thomas will select a winner on Nov. 1.
Considering how simple the contest is, I encourage anyone working on any sort of style/design fixer-upper or craft to enter. As an additional incentive, I’m even going to welcome readers to share their DIY style project with PW Style.
That’s right, submit a photo and/or video to pwstyle@philadelphiaweekly.com, tell us a little about you and the project and next week, we’ll highlight the submissions on this here blog (unless it’s just absolutely terrible). Deadline: Friday afternoon.
In the meantime, should you just be looking for some tips or inspiration, TODAY.com will also be posting a different DIY style tutorial from pros each day this week. Here’s the lineup:
Monday: TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas
Tuesday: Erica Domesek of PS I Made This
Wednesday: Geneva Vanderzeil of A Pair and A Spare
Thursday: Kristen Turner of Glitter ‘n Glue
Friday: Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY
Ok, so what are you waiting for? Start crafting!