Jason English
Our Readers’ Favorite Halloween Costumes
by Jason English - October 30, 2009 - 9:30 AM

captain-america

Lots of superhero costumes. Rebekah Davies sent in this photo of her co-worker Michael as Captain America. (“He made it from scratch, including sewing the shield from individual pleather tiles he cut out…hundreds of them.”)

highlighter-girl

Heidi Hurst is Highlighter Girl! (Superpower: “I brighten your day!”)

wonder-woman

Melissa Shumate as Wonder Woman (with a Burger King crown for good measure).

dr-o

Rachel Moore as Doctor Horrible!

two-face

Christopher Schwarz makes his third and final appearance on our list, this time as Two-Face.

optimus-vance

It’s Optimus Vance Rutherford!

pinhead

Nathan Stewart gives away his how-to-be-Pinhead-from-Hellraiser secret: “I used liquid latex to cover my entire head, then painted toothpicks silver for the nails. A little dab of latex on the end of the toothpicks and they stuck without any problems. I even made my own Lament Configuration out of a block of wood.”

tooth-fairy

Is the Tooth Fairy a hero? Kevin Kroll put an intimidating spin on the role.

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Comments (25)
  1. Those are awesome! Great collection. I had to laugh out loud at Carole Burnett and the Ding Bat.

  2. Dingbat!! I love it!

    Other favorites: Stacy’s costume from last year; Toucan Sam; Frida Kahlo; the little baby! Too many to list. Thanks for posting these!

  3. Is that a Donald Duck cookie jar in Christopher Schwarz’s kitchen? If so, he is awesome.

  4. I can’t BELIEVE I didn’t get my pictures in on time! Sometimes I amaze myself.. I’m struggling with a costume idea for this year since I’m not sure anything can top my condom costume! Hopefully I will remember to submit next year… *huff*

  5. Oh I am so glad to see all those gorgeous homemade box costumes. Now I don’t feel so bad about dressing up as a book in third grade even though, I have to say, mine is still a turd compared to these ones.

  6. I just emailed my mom and asked her to make me a Care Bears costume for next year.

    Yes, I am 26 years old.

    And the Carole Burnett costume is utterly brilliant!

  7. The dingbat is too funny, maybe next year!

  8. Ahahahaha!!!

    It is ALL about the Ding bat costume… First I was looking at the chest like huh? What does that say…

    Moaning Myrtle is pretty creepy. But cute…

  9. I’m proud to say that last year, two of the costume ideas on this list were combined into one for me. I was Dr. Horrible, and one of my friends was Bristol Palin. I don’t want to share other peoples’ photos without their permission, but there’s a great pic of me holding her hostage with my Freeze Ray.

    Also, Captcha: phantom me <- very appropriate!

  10. @biolo Bri – I missed it too…and I go whole hog!

    I LOVE Scott Allen’s DC Metro. That’s utterly brilliant! Kudos to all the wonderfully thought out costumes on here! Long live creativity!

  11. I’m loving the Richard Simmons costume!

  12. Stacy Conradt is HOT!!!!! I’m pretty sure I’m in love. She’s married. Dammit!

  13. Darn! I missed the deadline! Oh well….I can send them in next time. Usually people don’t know what I am anyway.

  14. It is a Donald Duck Cookie Jar in my Kitchen… And thank you for vailidating me being Awesome. I keep telling my wife that, and she keeps rolling her eyes :)

  15. One year, in college, I went as the Scarecrow from “The Wizard of Oz.” I won second place in the costume contest!
    I was the scarecrow the year before in high school.

  16. Loved the Carol Burnett, that took guts to walk around w/ a curtain rod on your shoulders during a party.

    Also, really liked the Dr Horrible, especially the way the photo was taken. Brilliant.

  17. Why don’t Americans understand Halloween? It’s not about just throwing on any old costume, it’s about All Hallows Eve, when spirits roam the earth. You are supposed to dress as a ghost, goblin, witch or a character that reflects the day. Not as a household appliance or something completely unrelated.

  18. @Steve: Who pooped in your Cheerios? Halloween is supposed to be fun, there are no RULES!

  19. Several things:
    1.For the last two years I was a zombie for Halloween.
    2.This year I’m going to be Doctor Horrible.
    3. A few years back, I almost went as Sweeney Todd, but it ended up being too hard.

  20. @ Steve, sure that’s what you’re supposed to do if you’re a practicing Wiccan along with lighting a candle in the at least one window in your home and preforming a Sabbath ritual.

    However, if you’re not a practicing Wiccan and you have no other religious or spiritual reason for dressing specifically as a witch, goblin or ghost. Then follow the grand tradition and fool the wandering spirits as a toaster if you would really like too. It’s really currently about just having a good time.

  21. I feel that it is my duty to inform all of you that Halloween is in fact an Irish holiday. Don’t believe me? Look it up!

  22. I’m loving the Frida Kahlo costume! I decided to be her this year just last week! She’s my favorite artist after all!

  23. Wow! “I saw it in the window and I couldn’t resist.” Carol Burnett is an amazing choice.

    Thank you for sharing.

  24. That baby has a severed leg!!! Yuck!

  25. Blue scrubby girl is hot!

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