Illegal Aliens and Swine Flu Costumes Join Popular Play-On-Words Halloween Costumes

Stow, MA (PRWEB) October 23, 2009 -- Swine flu rose to be the most popular costume idea this week at Costumzee, an online community of over 20,000 people focused on costumes. Community members have posted ideas on how to create a swine flu costume (www.costumzee.com/tag/swine+flu/). Meanwhile Illegal Alien costumes that combine outer space and green cards have created a stir among immigration advocates. A Costumzee poll of 600, however, revealed 90 percent consider the Illegal Alien costume idea to be fun and harmless.

"Costumes that create a laugh by being a play-on-words have always been popular but they've taken off this year, in part because they're often economical and easy," explained Scott Jangro, president of Costumzee. Examples abound for homemade or purchased versions of everything from Killer Bee featuring a bloodied letter "B" to One Night Stand (http://www.costumzee.com/contest-entry/5360/) made wearing a box with drawers and a lampshade hat. Use your imagination and become a Chick Magnet with a magnet and rubber chicks, or Texas Hold 'Em depicting a 'well endowed' female.

With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, retailers are expecting a last minute gasp by adults who typically don't dress in costume. Jangro offered a few additional tips for quick costume solutions:

1. Popularity Rules

It only took a few hours for Balloon Boy to become a popular costume idea. A quick glance at the magazines in the supermarket check-out aisle can often reveal some great ideas for easy, affordable costumes. Costumzee members regularly post their commentary, tips and photos for everything from Octomom to Michael Jackson (http://www.costumzee.com/tag/michael+jackson/) to Kate Gosselin.

2. Mask the Problem

Find a great mask and all the focus will be on trying to figure out who's behind it - so you can wear black simple clothes and be ready. In addition to scary ghouls you can find humorous ideas like the plastic surgery mask complete with taped nose and scars.

3. Go for Shock Value

You can get shock value and price value with a subtle but dramatic change to your everyday appearance like adding a realistic vampire bite to your neck or purchasing nylon tattoo sleeves. "You can literally create your entire costume with a few small accessories," Jangro explained.

Costumzee recently launched a Live Search to watch real-time costume idea searches and a Best Price Engine that searches up to 20 of the top online costume retailers and incorporates coupon information to find the lowest prices available. Launched in 2006, Costumzee is fast becoming the Halloween authority for costume ideas (http://www.costumzee.com), forums, trend tracking and best price shopping.

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