Creativity Flows As Halloween Nears
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The rush to find a costume is on in the days leading up to Halloween. Festive revelers were on the hunt this week for outfits ranging from the classic and traditional to the kooky and unexpected.
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
"People are looking for an excuse to kind of dress up as somebody else and put themselves into a different character," Chuck Nicklow, manager of Costumes on Haight, explained the excitement surrounding the holiday. "I think that people are naturally inclined to role play and it's a great time for them to do that."
He predicted plenty of Jersey Shore cast members and perhaps even some Chilean miners at Bay Area Halloween parties.
"It's always popular, culture stuff that we see reflected in what ends up being hot," said Nicklow. "Vampires of course are hot with True Blood and Vampire Chronicles and Twilight."
"Alice in Wonderland stuff has been really big, though, and that's a great one because that's a classic costume and it's also a new look costume."
A fair number of Nicklow's customers dreamed of turning back the clock.
"We're really seeing a lot of 18th century costumes like Marie Antoinette and those are always popular, but they seem to be even more popular this year for some reason."
"I'm going to be a medieval queen," confirmed one Costumes on Haight shopper. "It's a long red gown, beaded and jeweled, and a hat with a long white tail off of it."
"I'm going to be a Henry VIII kind of guy," declared another shopper. "You know, Renaissance court lord or earl."
Other shoppers readily bypassed the Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Brett Favre getups in favor of the Halloween classics.
"Maybe like a vampire or a zombie would be fun," declared one woman.
"Right now I'm trying to find stuff for a pirate costume," said another. "I found this sash and a belt, it doubles as a pirate belt or a Santa belt so that's cool. Maybe I can wear it around Christmas, too."
The clock was ticking for other shoppers.
"I'm a bit stumped right now. Maybe one of those suits of armor. I'm going to a masquerade so I just need something that covers my head."
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