Use a Fog Machine for the Ultimate Halloween Atmosphere

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Lou

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There’s just something about a foggy night which says spooky and what night should be spookier than all the others? Halloween of course! Whether you’ve chosen to go with a graveyard theme or a zombie decor or something completely different for Halloween this year I’m betting you can make it even better with a fog machine.

Eliminator Lighting Fog Machine

This fog machine is the best selling one on Amazon and seems to do a great job for party use, I like to use it outside as opposed to inside because most fog machines tend to get a little hot when used inside. The key to getting a great effect is to use the right liquid aka fog juice as it’s called.

When you buy this particular fog machine it comes with a bottle of fog juice that you can use, unfortunately this can cause the machine to get a little plugged up. This can be fixed by running water through the machine after use, but I’d recommend getting a different fog juice.

In the States I’ve been told that Froggy’s Swamp Juice works beautifully in this machine so I’d try that out and see what a difference it makes. Getting the right ‘juice’ really is the key to making the right fog for you so experiment before the actual day so that it’s perfect if you’re holding a Halloween party.

Now I’m sure you’re wondering about making your own fog juice and you’ve seen that it has to be water based so you’re about to start searching the net in an attempt to save money for your Halloween event – am I right? Don’t do it! There are lots of problems with making your own fog juice that far outweigh any of the economic savings that you may make.

One way to ensure that your party is remembered for all of the wrong reasons is by poisoning your guests with formaldehide (a colorless, toxic gas that can be released if you get your chemistry wrong when making up your fog juice). Save any mad scientist urge for your Halloween decor and not for mixing your own ‘juice’ and you’ll have a great party with plenty of atmosphere!

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Lady Gaga’s ‘Bodysuit Era’ Costumes

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Lou

Lady Gaga has certainly made her stamp on pop culture and in particular with her array of amazing costumes. In her early days she really seemed to re-define the simple bodysuit turning it into a number of different outfits, let’s have a look at how she did this in her unique style.

Black, red and nude are all colors of bodysuit that Lady Gaga has embraced as her own and each one has been worn differently.

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Lady Gaga’s Black Bodysuit Inspired Outfits

If you purchase a black body suit or you already own one there are two different ways in which you can turn it into a Lady Gaga outfit.

One way is by copying this poster image and combining the bodysuit with a Lady Gaga inspired ‘hood‘, black gloves, a red belt and (of course) a pair of classic wayfarers.

Another look which has been based around a black bodysuit called for it to be teamed with a black jacket, black gloves, a long blonde wig (unless you have long blonde hair yourself – straight not curly). Complete the look with a pair of wayfarers and a gold multi strand waist chain around (funnily enough) your waist!

Lady Gaga’s White Bodysuit Costumes

The white bodysuit gets a totally different look and this is where you can let your creativity take over as you make some origami diamonds! Lady Gaga combined her white bodysuit with the same long blonde wig used above, but added origami style diamonds on one shoulder of her bodysuit. These should also be white in color.

How to Make Origami Diamonds – This link will help show you how to make them, now okay I’ll admit I doubt the Mother Monster uses actual origami herself, but it’s the look that she adopted and for a costume affair I wouldn’t try and replicate the look in fabric myself and would stick to cardstock.

The Red Bodysuit – Lady Gaga Style!

When it comes to wearing a red bodysuit you need to team it with a black belt, red gloves, a red hood, long blonde wig, large oversized wayfarers and a long gold chain around her neck.

You’re going for the screen siren look so make sure you paint your lips as red as the bodysuit and wear very high black stilettos so that you give that ‘Marilyn wiggle’ when you walk!

As far as make up goes (besides the red lipstick) stick to false eyelashes, eyeliner, mascara and an almost nude eyeshadow – you can keep things understated because you’re not going to be taking off those sunglasses day or night!

How Lady Gaga Rocked The Nude Bodysuit

When it comes to pulling off a Lady Gaga costume starting with a nude bodysuit you have three different outfits you can try and emulate.

The first look is one that scandalized Parisians when she first ventured out in it as at first glance it looked like she’d gone out wearing a blazer and nothing else!

You’ll need to team your bodysuit with a beige/taupe blazer style jacket, a string of pearls, a large bag (the YSL downtown bag is the one Lady Gaga actually used, but I would use an imitation myself!), Harry Potter inspired glasses and the infamous Gaga hair bow.

The second look is completely different and requires you to team your bodysuit with a big pair of wayfarers, a leather jacket, fishnet tights (and they can have holes in them if you like) along with a thick leather choker style necklace.

The third look is what I’ve seen referred to as Lady Gaga’s Purple Beehive look. Team the bodysuit up with a white jacket that has 3/4 length sleeves and large purple framed sunglasses (I think they were Tom Fords). Combine this with a pair of high heels that have laces tied up and around her legs and then the hair ……. what can I say? You’ll need a wig and a hair piece for this style I think – basically add a long, straight, blonde wig and assemble a purple beehive on top of this with the hairpiece – I haven’t quite worked out how to do this yet!

Costumes Beginning with X

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Lou

If you’re looking for costume ideas that start with the letter X then you’ve come to the right place. X is a tricky letter to think of costumes for, but we’re found a few ideas for you which I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

I compiled this page along with a number of others as resource pages for anyone who’s been invited to an alphabet party. I used to get invited to a lot of alphabet parties when I was in my 20s and I think it’s high time they caught on again! In a nutshell you have to dress up as something beginning with a particular letter and if you’re on this webpage then the letter chosen is the letter X! I have other webpages available that cover the rest of the letters of the alphabet, but let’s look at costumes beginning with X right now.

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Fancy Dress Ideas Starting with X

X marks the spot – A great idea for a diy costume idea, use cardboard and make it look like an old treasure map with a big red X to mark the spot. Stick this cardboard on your front for an original handmade costume idea.
Xavier – Professor Xavier from X-Men
X-box console
Xena Warrior Princess

Xena Warrior Princess Costume X-Ray Skeleton Costume

Xerxes – A Persian King who lived 519 BC until 465 BC. Dress in a loincloth with lots of chains around his neck, arms, legs etc as well as bangles and a robe.
Xion – A character from the RPG Kingdom Hearts, Xion is the Rank XIV member of the Original Organization XIII
X-Men – Dress up as your favorite X-Men character from Wolverine to Storm and any character in between.
X-Ray

Marilyn Monroe Costume Ideas – Evening Dresses

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Lou

Marilyn Monroe certainly wore a number of iconic dresses made famous from movie scenes such as the white dress from The Seven Year Itch and the pink dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. There were lots of other costumes which were pure Marilyn though and I’m going to look at how you can create a gorgeous, Marilynesque costume around a few evening gowns that she made famous.

Let’s start with what I call Marilyn’s Platinum Dress and then move on to her Lady in Red number before finishing with her Iconic Gold Dress. I’m not including how to get the Marilyn hair and make up look on this post, but if you need some help on that front be sure to check out this Marilyn Costume Site.

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Marilyn Monroe Platinum Evening Gown Costume

When you look at images of Marilyn in evening wear over the years you’ll notice that she didn’t wear a lot of jewelry with her gowns except for ear rings.

Women’s Platinum Marilyn Costume

This licensed Platinum Marilyn TM Costume is sure to elicit a lot of oohs and aahs. This glamorous outfit has star written all over it! It includes a long, sequin dress with lining and a shoulder wrap.

Earrings such as these would be ideal to complete this Marilyn costume –

Oval White CZ Sandblast Prong Wire Hook Earring

Dangling Heart Earrings in Sterling Silver Cubic Zirconia CZ

The first drop ear-rings look very much like a style of ear-ring that Marilyn would wear out in the evening and compliment this dress perfectly. Marilyn Monroe also had a romantic side and I have seen a number of pictures of her wearing a couple of different heart pendants which is why I included the drop heart style of ear-rings as I think they would work as well.

The next important aspect of a Marilyn Monroe outfit is the shoes…..it is extremely important to wear heels as this will help to accentuate Marilyn’s walk and was designed to show off her figure to it’s best advantage.

Pleaser Women’s Monroe-36 Sandal

These silver heels would be ideal to wear with the Marilyn Platinum dress.

Marilyn Monroe – a Lady in Red – Costume Idea

This costume is based on a Marilyn Monroe dress that was a red halter neck with a rhinestone reindeer on the front instead of the rhinestone pin that is featured on this one.

Satin Halter Dress Crystal Pin Prom Holiday Gown

Add the signature Marilyn hair and make up and a pair of high heels, no jewelry (not even earrings) and you have a fantastic Marilyn costume that is sure to make everyone go, “ooohhh!”

Marilyn Monroe’s Iconic Gold Dress Costume

If you want to emulate Marilyn Monroe in her gold dress then make sure that you do not wear a necklace. Marilyn’s gold dress was cut low to accentuate her breasts and she didn’t detract from them with a necklace instead she wore only earrings with this outfit.

Gold Marilyn Monroe Costume

Shawna’s Thin CZ Gold Vermeil Drop Earrings

Chinese Laundry Women’s Willy Dress Sandal

These earrings are probably the closest to the ones that Marilyn wore that I can find online – they appear just a little smaller than Marilyn’s ones, but they are really elegant and will be easy to wear on other occasions besides just when you’re dressing up as Marilyn 🙂

To be perfectly honest I haven’t seen any images of Marilyn’s shoes when she’s wearing this dress, but the sandals above are really dreamy and seem very in keeping with the Monroe persona.

So there you have it some fantastic Marilyn Monroe costume ideas that are sure to make you look and feel like a star, if these aren’t the Marilyn costumes that make you want to dress like the iconic sex symbol that was Marilyn Monroe then perhaps you’d prefer one of the costumes at – Marilyn Monroe Costumes.

Amazing Halloween Eyes – Make-Up The Easy Way!

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Lou

I’m sure you’ve browsed YouTube a few times looking at the make-up tutorials available for creating some amazing forms of Halloween make up, but then to create it on your own it doesn’t always turn out the same does it?

I don’t know how many times I’ve found myself with one ‘perfect’ eye and one that I’ve messed up! This Halloween, however, there’s a solution, one that means your eyes will actually be the same – and they’ll look awesome!

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They go by various names such as eye decals, stick on eye masks and eye stickers and this is what it looks a little like this –

Bloodlust Glitter Eyes Vampire Costume Makeup

Now this particular kit includes the glittery, blood dripping eye make up as well as rhinestone eyelashes to really stand out. I think this will allow you to outshine any other vampires this Halloween. It’s certainly an easier option than adding vampire inspired contact lenses which, if you’re not used to them, can feel like you’ve got a piece of grit in your eye all night!

Black Widow Eye Make-Up

I love the look of this one as I do like spiders. I’m constantly amazed at how many people are actually scared of spiders which is why I’d love to freak them out by having spider webs on my eyes!

I’d probably pair this make up with a long black dress (like a Victorian/Edwardian mourning dress) and spider jewelry, a spider purse or a plain black purse with some plastic spiders attached to it along with some spider webbing as a shawl.

Xotic Eyes – Widow Mask

This is a little different to the previous two as it’s not glittery instead it’s a couple of velvet eye appliques which look very Gothic in appearance. This could be used on a range of different costumes and is quite a stunning effect perfect for Halloween.

Simply click on the image you like to find out more about these products including how to apply them etc, they really are a cool option for any occasion. These eye decals for want of a better terminology also come in some more non-Halloween inspired forms as well as more specific ones that would work for certain costume ideas.

An example is that if you’re going as one of the big cats you may want to check out the animal print eyes that are available – purrrfect!