Students, Specialty Shops Stress Costume Creativity

"My family is originally from Scotland, so I'm going to be William Wallace," Anderson said. "I'm just going to have a full wrap-around kilt, blue face paint and maybe a baseball bat wrapped with cloth for a weapon."

While Anderson already has planned the details of his costume all the way down to his underwear -- or, in his case, lack thereof -- many students say they are still deciding on their costumes.

But local costume stores say they have a variety of options for last-minute Halloween shoppers.

"Our store is basically divided up into different zones of costumes," said Darren Skeen, manager of Halloween Zone at Eastgate Shopping Center.

"We have your classic zone with the priests, pirates, etc., a fight zone with vampires and ghouls, an alien zone, a Hollywood zone and then a makeup zone where you can accessorize."

Annie Jackson, co-owner of Time After Time vintage thrift shop, said specialty shops like Time After Time allow student shoppers to be imaginative in picking their costumes.

"You can really be unique here," Jackson said. "We offer everything you need -- the right gloves, the right pants, the right dress, the right makeup -- it's like putting together your own costume."

Students also say creativity and individuality are the key ingredients of a memorable Halloween costume.

"Creativity is important," said senior Michelle Allen. "You have to be something that no one else would think of."

Senior Kathryn White said she and four of her friends are planning to dress as the Backstreet Boys.

"We're just capitalizing on pop culture," White said.

"We're going to have really stylish clothing, headsets and even a screaming fan to follow us around."

But Jackson said that despite a trend toward creativity in costumes, she has noticed common themes among Halloween shoppers.

"People are getting more specific and detailed with their costumes now," Jackson said. "People used to want to be fairies and witches, but now someone wants to be Glenda the Good Witch. It's basically a costume with a twist."

She also noted that several specific costumes have become popular among college students.

"We still have your usual witch, clown or devil, but the '70s look, cross-dressing and the `pimp' look are all really `in' right now," Jackson said.

Whether their costumes are traditional or unique, some students say Halloween is an opportunity to express their creativity and become a different person for one night.

"(Halloween) gives you a break from being what you normally are," said freshman Logan Davis. "You can be something completely different and out of the ordinary."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.