PUBLISHED: 10-27-08

Halloween costumes get a little ‘dirty’

Shops throughout the city offer provocative costumes

“Rock out with your c–k out.”

That’s the name of a Halloween costume featuring a pair of pants with a rooster coming out of the zipper.

Year after year, costume trends come and go. This year, costumes deemed as being more provocative are the new Halloween fashion, so be prepared to see some pretty outrageous outfits while out and about this Halloween.

Tim Dennis, an employee at Fantasy Costumes Headquarters, 4065 N. Milwaukee Ave., said the “rock out” get up is just one of the many Halloween costumes being offered at the shop.

“These costumes are brand new this year, and they are pretty popular,” Dennis said. “The more risque, the better they seem to sell to college-age kids.”

Jasan Krupka, a shopper said he was very amused.

“The ‘Longuini and Meatballs’ costume is hilarious,” he said.

This costume includes a chef’s apron with a plate of spaghetti, meatballs and a large sausage strategically positioned and placed in the genital area.

“I actually laughed out loud when I saw this,” Krupka said.
Dennis said the costumes still make him laugh, even though he sees them on a daily basis.

“Justin Timberlake’s ‘D–k in a Box’ gig is now a costume,” he said. “I think of the ‘Saturday Night Live’ episode every time I see it.”

The more provocative costumes are mainly for men, but women said they find those costumes amusing, as well.

Amanda Schmidt, another customer at the store, was looking around for ideas.

“I would never buy one of these costumes because they are just too silly,” she said. “But I can’t help but look at them and laugh.”

“Anita Waxin” is a costume Schmidt said she liked. It’s a padded body suit that goes down to the knees, complete with a one piece bathing suit and fake hair coming out from the genital area.

Schmidt said the store gave her some ideas, but she was still undecided on her costume.

Other costumes similar to these include a scuba diver advertising his scuba diving school, “Mike Hunt Diving School,” and the costume for a workout instructor named “Camille Toe.”

Krupka said he wasn’t going to buy a costume yet, although he did get a lot of ideas from the shop.

“I think I’m going to be a beer pong table,” he said. “But there are so many good costumes to choose from.”

Dennis said if he were younger, he would dress in the “Breathalyzer” costume. It’s a box with a strategically placed “breathalyzer” in the genital area, as well as a false indicator.

Fantasy Costumes Headquarters doesn’t just sell inappropriate costumes. A lot of the other costumes sold at the shop come from hit movies of the year, Dennis said.

“Batman and the Joker are huge this year because of The Dark Knight,” he said. “Iron Man is pretty popular as well. Star Wars costumes are always big sellers; they never get old.”

Dennis said customers usually spend about $70 on costumes and accessories.

Halloween Express, Spirit Halloween and Halloween Hallway, all temporary Halloween costume shops, can be found in multiple locations throughout the city and the suburbs. They offer similar costumes for similar prices.

Halloween Express in Arlington Heights, Ill., has costumes with sick humor for couples as well. One example of a couple’s costume is a “Plug and Socket Set.” The man dresses as a plug, with the plug strategically placed in the crotch area, and the woman is the socket.

Kristin Kowynia, who shopped at Halloween Express, said her favorite was the “Wet T-shirt Winner” costume with large fake breasts and a transparent white T-shirt.

“I can’t believe some of the costumes they come out with,” Kowynia said.

Thrift shops all over the city also offer clothing and accessories to make a costume.

Dennis said a lot of people come in and ask a lot of questions, then leave the store. He said he assumes they are just trying to get ideas and they will make their own costume at a much cheaper price.

“The costumes are pretty expensive,” he said. “We have no control over prices. I know it is hard to spend that kind of money on something that will be worn once.”

Luckily, a lot of people may donate their costumes to resale shops after Halloween, Dennis said.
Schmidt said she has bought worn costumes from thrift shops.

“Those are sometimes the best costumes,” she said. “They’re usually original and much cheaper.”

Halloween costumes have changed through the years.

“At our age, Halloween is all about being funny or sexy,” Krupka, 22, said. “It’s not even scary anymore.”

chronicle@colum.edu