Scavenge Blog

Theme Parties for Tough Times

2009-02-10T22:15:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know, times are tough economically. Everyone is feeling it in one way or another. Contrary to some opinions, this is not the end of the world.

An economic crisis does not mean the end to theme parties, costumes, and good times. It’s just time to get creative and do things a bit more cheaply. Here are a few theme party ideas to grease up the gears of your imagination.

Color Party – pick your color and have everyone come dressed in that color.

Wig Party – everyone wears a wig, the crazier the better.

Shades Party – everyone wears glasses of some type or another. Big, brighter, wilder is the way to go.

Mustache Party – Draw on the mustache or buy one. This is guaranteed to bring smiles and laughs all the way around.

Clash Party – take some of this and some of that from your own closet, costume chest, or anywhere you can find stuff. Mix and purposely don’t match. Go out of your way to create the most conflicting, clashing, eye-assaulting outfit possible.

Drag Party - guys go as girls and girls go as guys.

Homeless Party – this is only for those who aren’t totally freaking out about the economy. Have everyone dress like the homeless. For those who want to go all the way with this theme, just skip showering and shaving and you’ll nail it. Another way you can really do the homeless look in a big way, and not be offensive to other’s noses, is to arrive with a shopping cart in tow.

Top 10 Creative Ways to Celebrate Valentines

2009-02-01T23:17:00.000-08:00

In case you didn’t know, the standard American date of “dinner and a movie” is really boring, uncreative, and overdone. So why is that when Valentine’s Day rolls around we just supersize the standard American date – dinner at a fancy, expensive place and a romantic movie? Is that any way to show your Valentine how special they are to you? I say NO, it is not! Doing something special, something creative, something out of the ordinary – now that’s the way you show someone they are special.

So here you go! I’ve provided the Top 10 Creative Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day. Use one of them, all of them, or tweak them and make them even more unique. Just, please, in the name of all things romantic, don’t settle for dinner and a movie.

1. Heart Shaped Foods – Make a pizza, a cake, some brownies, or cookies for your sweetheart. You can pick up heart shaped pizza pans, cake pans and cookie cutters at almost a nystore that carries baking pans and utensils. Deliver your heart-shaped creation to your Valentine’s office or to his or her home in person. You might even want to show up all decked out in something sexy and fun (lingerie would definitely be an attention getter), unless, of course you are delivering them to the office. (That might get all the wrong kind of attention.)

2. Serve it with Love - Prepare a wonderful, homemade meal of your honey’s favorites. Then serve the meal on heart-shaped plates or plates with hearts or other Valentinish designs. Of course, the rest of the place setting should be Valentine-themed as well – the silverware, napkins, wine glasses. Don’t forget the candles and romantic music. Top it all off with by serving this meal while wearing something totally hot and irresistible.

3. Romantic Games – Game Daze carries a variety romantic games that will help you make this a Valentine’s Day to remember. They’ve got everything from card games, kama sutra games, and board games that will leave you anything but bored. Let go of your inhibitions and have some good old sex-filled fun.

4. Chrome Bedroom Dice – Head for the bedroom and leave the rest to the roll of the dice.

5. Professional Massage at Home – There’s nothing like a full-body massage by a professional. Arrange for a masseuse to come to your home (or hotel room) – one you’ve prepared with romantic candlelight, soft music, and other accoutrements. Arrange for one and watch your beloved get all relaxed and de-stressed. Or hire two and get your massages together, side by side, holding hands.

6. Romantic Picnic or Meal Outside – Prepare (or buy) a fabulous picnic lunch or dinner and take your sweetie a beautiful setting such as a hillside, a beach, a mountain top, the rooftop of a building, to a river or lake. The locations possibilities are endless. Pick a place with gorgeous, yet peaceful scenery – a place that isn’t too crowded.

7. Karaoke Serenade – Get up on stage and sing a love song to your sweet heart. Go all out as you proclaim your love using the perfect song (choose wisely). Do more than just sing. Present flowers to her/him, give him/her a lap dance, use a boa and sensuously drag and drape it across your Valentine. If you are into marriage and this is “the one,” take this moment to propose. If you are going with the latter idea, substitute a ring for the flowers.

8. Romantic Settings – Take your heartthrob to a romantic setting and just enjoy it and each other and the moment. How about beach walk at sunset, a scenic drive to a great sunset spot, a sunset cruise, a walk through a romantic park or town, a horse-drawn carriage ride, a gondola or canoe ride (You don’t have to go all the way to Venice, Italy for this one. You can also do this at Coronado in San Diego, Naples in Texas, and San Antonio, Texas, just to name a few). How about a horseback ride, a scenic train ride. You could arrange for this to end at a romantic hotel to spend the night. Just make sure to have the room prepared with romantic extras like candles, rose petals, wine, music, and clothes for the following day.

9. Pamper – A bubble bath has got to be the ultimate pampering. So pamper your Valentine and prepare the ultimate bubble bath. First get rid of any and all distractions (kids, dogs, phones). Set the scene. We’re talking candlelight, wine, soft music, and favorite bath oils or bubbles. Have a brand new, extra large, ultra-soft towel ready and the sexiest lingerie possible ready for post-bath fun. This could be a great thing to give your sweetheart to enjoy all alone or something to indulge in together.

10. Surprise Romantic Getaway – This year, Valentine’s Day happens to fall on a Saturday making it the perfect time for a getaway. I think these are better when done as a surprise, though I admit it does take a bit more work on the planner’s part. Location, location, location. Pick one that will thrill your Valentine. Get it all ready – from the romantic flower petals on the bed to the practical clothes for the weekend. Get a friend to help if you don’t know what to pack or if the location is local enough that the friend can prep the room ahead of time. Hotel staff are also pretty helpful when it comes to getting the room ready.

This is the Party that will be all the Rage in 2009

2009-01-18T23:44:00.000-08:00

I have the secret inside scoop. So please handle the following highly classified information with extreme care. I can’t give you names and dates – that would put my life in jeopardy – but I can tell you this. Through a bunch of random, serendipitous, and chance meetings, emails, and conversations I have discovered what THE big celebration/party event is for 2009.

Disco Roller Parties will be all the rage in 2009. So if you want to be hipper than hip, the coolest of the cool, on the very cutting edge of all things awesome, make your next party a Disco Roller Party. Rent out a roller rink. Apparently this is quite easy. Hire the roller rink DJ, then either supply the funky 70’s tunes or see if your DJ can dig them up. Get some cool disco party decorations and have your guests wear their best disco, 70’s or 80’s outfits.

When your friends arrive whether wearing their flared pants, afro wigs, and sequined shirts, or tube tops, short shorts and striped socks, they’ll be ready to get down. Just have the drinks ready and the funky music blasting and the rest will be party history.

Top 10 Romantic, One-of-a-Kind, Valentine’s Day Gifts

2009-01-14T00:21:00.000-08:00

The day of love and romance is fast approaching. Do you want to settle for flowers and chocolates this Valentine's Day as the gift to show your special someone how wonderful and loved and important they are to you? Sorry, but in my expert opinion, while flowers are beautiful and chocolates are sweet, they really show no imagination. You gotta do something at least bit different to show someone they are really special to you. The idea is to show your valentine, that of all of the people on planet earth, they are the only one you are interested in. A one-of-a-kind gift is the perfect way to tell your sweetheart that they are unique, matchless, and one-of-a kind in your heart and life.

I’ve scoured the web, consulted the most gifted minds, and even done some brainstorming all on my own, and here are - my Top 10 Romantic One-of-a-Kind Valentine’s Day Gifts. Any one of these will show your heartthrob just how much you really care and how lucky you are to have them in your life. Just a note: I’ve left out all the “gifts” that are more experience-oriented. I’ll cover these on the Top 10 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day.

1. A Bottle of Memories. Memories on a Bottle will etch a personal message on a bottle of wine for you. Even better, for couples who have some history together, take an elegant bottle (perhaps the champagne or wine bottle from a special night out) and fill it with slips of parchment on which you have written individual memories of your time together.

2. A Romantic Bouquet of Cookies. You can buy custom cookie bouquets of heart-shaped cookies that are brightly iced with fun or romantic messages that you can personalize. This makes a thoughtful (and yummy!) gift.

3. Jewelry Done Right. If you are going to do jewelry (a long time favorite and an old stand by), make yours extra special by making it very personal. Choose a style or design that really fits your sweetheart. Or have it custom made with two interlocking hearts, or other symbols that are particular to the two of you. The best way to make a gift of jewelry really romantic is with a special inscription – and not “Valentine’s Day 2009.”

4. Framed Photo of You. Oh, but you can’t stop there. It has to be one of a kind. It has to be romantic and special. So add a lipstick kiss on the photo, a message, a favorite line from a song or poem, or a saying or quote that means something special to your valentine. The saying could be something that just the both of you get the true meaning of.

5. Framed Photo of You Two. Choose a photo from a special moment, place, date, or trip. Put the photo on one side and a piece of parchment on the other. Use your computer or have someone handwrite out a poem, saying, lines from song or poem, something about special a moment or milestone, or a special message.

6. Love Note in a Bottle. Pour your heart out on paper (a nice piece of

parchment), roll it up and place it in a decorative bottle. You can really go all out with this idea, by offering to draw a bath for your sweetheart then floating the bottle in a bathtub you’ve prepared. Picture this - a tub filled with nice warm water, bubble bath, candlelight, a glass of wine, soft romantic music playing, and a flower arrangement or petals surrounding the bath Now you can complete the moment by having a super-soft brand new towel, and some lingerie to slip into afterward. You can also go to Love Notes Messages and choose a really great bottle and have your words put inside.

7. Love Reminders. Engrave small stones or pewter shapes with words or a short phrase. You can give a single stone that will fit in the pocket or purse – “pocket rocks”. Or make bigger ones to be displayed around the house. Beach rocks are great for this. Or create a collection of engraved river rocks, each one listing a trait or feature you love about your sweetheart. Place them in a very cool glass dish or bowl and, presto, you’ve got an amazingly cool gift that tells him/her what you think about them.

8. Journey Journal – Put together a small journal that holds pictures of events from your relationship. Include things you love about him/her, favorite memories, milestone events, trips, concert, airplane or movie tickets from places you’ve gone together. Include your words, thoughts, and feeling along with inspirational or romantic sayings, song lyrics or lines from a poem.

9. Photo Book – With just a few clicks, you can create a high quality, totally professional photo book. Upload photos of the two of you at different stages of your relationship, maybe even include some photos of places you want to go together. Check out Kodak or Shutterfly.

10. Compose It. If you have a particular talent – let’s say in music, singing, writing, drawing, painting, sculpture, etc – use it to create at totally unique gift for the love of your life. Write and record a song just for him/her, write a story or poem, draw, paint or sculpt something just for her/him.

Yep, creating a personalized, unique gift takes more time. Your words and thoughts are the best presents. These are ways to capture them and preserve them. The time and effort you take to put them together will speak volumes about the way you feel about your valentine.

Jack-O-Licious

2009-01-03T01:04:00.000-08:00

Love it or hate it, I bet you watched at least some of it. The Rose Parade takes over television sets across America on the first day of every year. It wouldn't be a new year without it. There's always something in the parade for everyone. Personally, I take the marching bands and equestrian processions as my time to visit the bathroom. There are two things that I really like - really creative floats and totally cool costumes.

The Jack-O-licious float got my attention. It had the big (headed) man himself, Jack, in the middle of a floating Disco Party. Perfect for the New Year since disco parties are such a popular theme for New Year's Eve parties. You had to just love Jack's band, looking all Saturday Night Live-ish! This is the ultimate disco suit - it says shake your groove-thang like no other. Next time you are heading for a disco theme party, keep the Jack-O-Licious float in mind. Dress yourself up in a disco suit, in a glitter shirt, or a wild disco dress and you'll be ready to go.

Holidays from Your Pets Point of View

2008-12-20T17:01:00.000-08:00

The holidays? Oh, yeah, I love the holidays. My person brings a tree in the house, which is weird because when I bring stuff in from outside, I get in trouble. Anyway, I love the tree. I sniff it and, when she’s not looking, I pee on it – don’t tell her that part. I don’t understand all of the traditions of Christmas, but I like the one where she puts a water bowl under the tree for me. Very tasty. I like all the extra yummy foods too. I sort of help out with the cooking. It’s my job to look for falling crumbs or drops. But my favorite part of the holidays are the fun outfits I get to wear. I’m sort of a skinny girl, and I get a bit chilly in the winter. I just love my warm and, in case you didn’t notice, very sexy, Santa Paws outfit. It keeps me all cozy. And I am the best dressed dog on the block, if I don’t say so myself.

The holidays? You must be kidding. Bah-humbug, the whole thing is a waste of time, if you ask me. That freaky little dog gets all excited and bounces around non-stop. Why can’t she just settle down and act mature like me? Okay, I’ll admit it, there are two things I like about Christmas. I always get a special can of cat food. That is something I look forward to all year. And I get to look all intimidating in this hat. I pretend not to like it, but I do. I look pretty good huh?

Add this to your Jersey

2008-12-18T03:11:00.000-08:00

We’re getting to the best part of football season, folks. You’re either a die-hard fan, know someone who is, or you may be of the more mild variety (a fan, but not a fanatic). I know this next statement will sound utterly crazy to those of you who fell proudly into category one, but bear with me here. There are even some who, and it pains me to say this, are not football fans at all.

For those of you who aren’t into throwing around the pigskin, there are other sports you may be more excited by. It happens to be basketball season as well. Even if you aren’t a particularly huge sports fan, you can bring a big old thrill to your sports-lovin’ partner, spouse, family member or friend by heeding, and putting into practice the following tips.

Here’s a fun simple way to show some spirit, to support your local team, to cheer on your fave. Throw on your team’s jersey, or t-shirt, then add that little extra touch that goes soooooo far.
Wear something that relates to that team’s mascot or area. Let’s think about a few of the football teams looking play-off bound.

For example, how about them Panthers? (Stick with me, Panther rivals). Throw on your Carolina jersey, some black panther ears, tail, and “claws” and you are one fun, sexy Panther fan.

Jets fans, wear a jet on your head. Can’t find a hat that looks like a jet? Make your own. Glue some little plastic jets to a baseball cap. Or wear a pilot hat. This one is stretching it a little, but the sharp folks will get it. Pilots fly jets.

Those Giants are making a run at the Super Bowl again, but, alas, they don’t actually have a mascot. How do you spice up that jersey? Wear an oversized head mask?

Tennessee Titans have a raccoon as their mascot so you could paint a raccoon mask on your face, wear a raccoon mask, or at least wear some raccoon ears and a tail.

Just for pure simplicity, you might want to consider being a Viking fan. How easy and how cool is theirs? Just wear your jersey and a Viking helmet.

I suppose the Cowboys are just as simple. And there are a whole lot more cowboy hat choices than there are Viking helmets. If you want to be a sexy Cowboys fan, try pairing a cowboy hat with this outfit.

Personally, I wish those Buccaneers would do a bit better and get into the playoffs. I’d love to cheer them on, even though they aren’t really my favorite team of all. I could be easily persuaded to cheer them on like a nut, with the idea of wearing a Buc’s jersey and a pirate hat.

Whether it be at home, or at your local sports bar; whether you a are true-blue, died-in-the-wool fan, or a part-time, just-for-this game enthusiast, have some fun with the NFL. Even if you choose your teams solely based on the colors they wear, or if you don’t even know the rules (you might want to keep this last one to yourself) dress it up, yell and scream.

Don’t know a thing about football – not the teams, not the colors, nothing? You don’t have to be left out. Use this sexy football player outfit when he’s sitting down to watch the game and he may call time out.

And if you can’t come up with what to wear with your jersey, there’s always a crazy wig out there for you or face/body paint! These work for any sport, any team, any event.

'Tis the Season

2008-12-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

It’s Santa time, everyone! Back in the old days, there was only one Santa and he was only seen on Christmas Eve. And that was only if you were supremely lucky enough to spot him coming down your chimney or eating the cookies left out for him. Then he got so popular he had to branch out. Through some magical winter phenomenon, or possibly exposure to secret toxic chemicals, Santa began to multiply.

Santas appeared in shopping malls, in front of businesses waving bells and collecting donations, at schools and hospitals. Then he broke into the big time and appeared on the big screen and television.

Every year, there are increasingly larger numbers of Santa sightings. How about joining the fun? Join a Santa event or, even better, start your own.

Santa Run or Walk. Join a bunch of fit Santas out for a 5 or 10K run/walk or a get a group of Santas together for a bar-hopping walk.

Santa Ride. Hook up with your local bike club and peddle through the streets of town or out on the trails. Decorate your bikes with lights and ornaments or make them up to look like reindeer and go for it. Or do the Santa Ride on a motorcycle. Nothing says Christmas time better than a group Biker-Santa’s cruising the highways.

Santa Theme Party. Invite a bunch of your favorite Santas for some dance floor fun or rocking-out Kris Kringle style. Whether it be at a club, bar, or house you’ll have a blast with all the sexy and fun Santa variations that show up. No better way to heat up the holiday nights.

Santa Paddle Out. All you water-loving Santa’s out there, grab your wetsuits and Santa hats and hit the water, whether it be to surf, stand up paddle, or kayak. The sleigh isn’t only ride Santa enjoys.

Santa Date. Take your favorite mistletoe partner our for a jolly good time. Whether it’s dinner and a movie or a more creative date, you’re fun-meter will be at the top dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus for the night.

Tree tossing Santa at Santacon Santa Barbara.

If you've got your Chistmas spirit all stirred up, ready to go, and you're just looking for a Santa event to join, then hop on over to the Santarchy and Santacon site. Here you will find all sorts of events, all over the world, where a bunch of Santas get together for a good time, be it a pub crawl, and city invasion, a very merry party, or a tree toss.

Time to get Christmassy

2008-11-26T20:18:00.000-08:00

It’s now one month until Christmas. I remember the days when the Christmas season began the day after Thanksgiving. My mom always hit the big After-Thanksgiving sales. She was up before dawn and off to the Del Amo Fashion Mall in Torrance, California, along with her partner-in-crime, my aunt. At about this same time Christmas tree lots opened up and Christmas lights were hung. It was tradition. These were the things that kicked off the Christmas season.

Nowadays I’ve noticed a change. Christmas things appear in stores on Halloween day. They can’t even wait for November 1st. I was in a store on Halloween day, and they had all their Halloween things on clearance and in their places were Christmas displays of all sorts.

At our retail costume store, we actually keep Christmas costumes out all year long. You wouldn’t believe how many people buy a Christmas costume to use as their Halloween costume. I don’t blame them either. The Christmas costumes are very cute and fun.

Even our mannequins have been eyeballing the Christmas costumes for the last week. So we dressed them up for the Christmas season. They are at the front of the store, ready to greet all who enter.

Now the BIG question:
What are you wearing to celebrate the Christmas season?? There are so many choices – a huge variety of Santa hats, super-sexy costumes for private parties, fun Christmas costumes for parties, Santa and Elf costumes for more traditional events. I always pull out my loooooong Santa Hat during this season. I had a necklace that was mini-Christmas lights that flashed. I loved that necklace, but alas, it bit the dust, and I never replaced it. Santa hats from a favorite sports team is always a good way to go. Or maybe just some nice Christmassy accessory.

Don’t be all bah-humbuggy this Christmas season. Find a costume or hat or something that works for you and have add a little merriness to your mon

That 70’s Party

2008-11-20T20:22:00.000-08:00

There are birthday parties and there are BIRTHDAY PARTIES. Yeah sure you could just put together a list of friends of the Birthday Guy or Girl, have them all show up and serve food, drinks and cake. Throw on some music and maybe folks will get down a bit. I’m sure it will be a fine time. People will dance, talk, drink and laugh. What could be better??

I’m glad you asked. Make that party a theme party and that “fine” party goes way past being just fine. Just add a theme and your birthday party can be off the charts. Friends of mine just had the best time at a birthday party – with an 70’s theme. She sent me some pictures and they are all the evidence I need to prove my point.

Let’s hear it for big hair, long moustaches, silky, sparkly, polyester shirts with loud patterns. You just have to love the way the shirts are unbuttoned to show that manly chest hair. And who can forget those bitchin’ bellbottom pants! And if you are going to do the 70s right, you just have to have some cool platform shoes so you can strut your stuff under the disco ball. Blast some Bee-Gees or Donna Summer over the stereo and you’ll have a birthday party everyone will remember for ages.

Want that kind of fun? Plan your own 70's theme party!

Gobble Gobble

2008-11-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

Gobble, gobble, gobble. Turkeys all over the country are plumping up, getting ready for their big day. That yearly event where family and friends gather to gobble up a big old feast, watch football, play football, and have a day off work is almost here. Are you ready? I don’t mean with the food preparations! I mean, are you ready to make it fun?

I’ve started my own little Thanksgiving tradition. For the last three years I welcome Thanksgiving by wearing my turkey hat. I get all sorts of looks as I traipse around with this goofy bird perched on my head – my dog thinks it’s a stuffed toy for him and I have to stay alert, with eyes open, or he will take my bird and run off with it. All that hard work is totally worth it though, because this is my funnest, craziest hat of all. I look forward to this time of year, when I get to plop that turkey on my head and walk proudly about in public!

I ran across another fantastic turkey hat as well. This one is the naked, headless version and just brings back memories of that Friends episode where Monica a turkey has a turkey on her head. I love it (the episode and the hat)!

If you are a big old football, loving fool. If your Thanksgiving plans revolve around cheering on your favorite college team in front of the TV, there’s a special turkey hat just for you. Buy Costumes has the perfect companion for you. You’ll be totally into the holiday spirit and the game.

Wearing some fun holiday headpiece makes for great laughs and a day you just won’t forget. Not much for wearing a turkey on your head? Then how about something more traditional? Slip on a pilgrim hat or an Indian headpiece.

Do you have a play or event with school or church? Halloween Express has great pilgrim and Indian costumes for both kids and adults. Both Buy Costumes and Halloween Express even have pieces galore – from shoe buckles, to wigs, to moccasins - so you can put your own costume together. Wear a full Thanksgiving costume this year and see how much more memorable the day will be.

Now, if you are an all-out, over-the-top, Turkey Day fanatic, you could always go with the full turkey costume.

Buy Costumes has this fairly inexpensive version. If you are the cook for the day, I wouldn't recommend this one.

Now check out this deluxe one over at Halloween Express. Now I love to dress up, and I think this costume is awfully cool looking, but . . . . $500?! I’d have to REALLY love Thanksgiving to do that ---- or be a school mascot! Somebody out there must have been just that sort of person, because they are sold out! Even the one for $1300 is sold out!

I’ll just eat my pumpkin pie (the best part of Thanksgiving) and wear my snuggly turkey hat, keeping a watchful eye out for my turkey-hat-snatching-dog, of course.

A Halloween Survival Story

2008-11-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

ScavengeInc.com is our online costume store. In addition, there is our retail store, Scavenge, in Santa Barbara, CA. Things get downright crazy there as Halloween gets closer. Work days get longer and longer, the crowds get bigger, and the people get more and more desperate and stressed.

I put in lots of time there in the weeks leading up to Halloween. The feet get sore, the house gets messier and messier, and (just about) everything else in the world gets put on hold.

To keep in the spirit of the season (by the way, when exactly did Halloween reach “season” status?), I come to work in costume for those final days leading up to Halloween. So it’s not just thinking of one costume, but seven! And here they are . . .

Started out fun, and celebrating my refusal to grow up, wearing the coolest Peter Pan costume. I love this thing. It’s simple, it’s comfortable, it’s fun looking. I was ready for NeverNeverLand by the end of the day, though! My poor tootsies were aching after 8 hours standing a walking in ballet-type shoes.

Did I learn my lesson, though? NOOO! The next day, I dressed as first-mate pirate. Back in the ballet shoes, so I could show off my cool stripey pirate-type socks. I put this outfit together myself (mini skirt, striped t-shirt, satin bandana, belt and sword, to go along with my socks), but people kept asking where in the store they could find this costume.

I needed a break from aching feet, so I decided I would come up with a costume based on shoes first. So I picked out my most comfortable shoes (some big old Doc Martins) and came up with something to go with that. So here I am, a Rambo-inspired soldier. Maybe not the best look ever, but the feet were happy with me.

I had planned to be Wonder Woman for the next day, but that costume just wasn’t made to fit me. I already had the boots, so I was excited to get to do the whole look. The extra small size just crushed my chest, and the small was too long in the torso. It was all good, if I were doing Wonder Woman, I’d prefer the panty bottoms anyway.

So the ever-ready pirate outfit was my fallback. (Confession time – I have about 6 different pirate outits. Do you think that means something?) This one is actually made from a guy’s costume. I eliminated the pants, just wore the shirt and headband. Topped it off with some tights and my, way-cool, pirate boots. Not ultra-comfy on the feet, but not nearly as torturous as the ballet shoes. The feet merely grumbled a bit at the end of the day. This was a tough day, though, and I was one pooped pirate by closing time.

I let someone else pick my costume for the next day – my boss. I was a lucky Leprechaun for the work. It’s a one piece strappy dress, with a long-tailed shrug. Topped off with this fun hat, some black thigh-high stockings, and another pair of even more comfortable Doc Martins and I was a happy girl.

The final two days before Halloween are pure craziness. Mostly guys in the throws of last minute desperation. It’s nuts! We had a line down the street to get in the store and people smashed into every open space. This was a situation that needed some SUPERness. So out came the seasonal superhero – the Halloween Hero! She appears every Halloween to rescue those poor helpless folks who wait until the last minute to get their costumes. Faster than a speeding witch, stronger than Frankenstein, able to point customers to their perfect costume in a single wave. Someone suggested a name change – she may be called the Great Pumpkin in years to come. Something to ponder for the next 12 months.

Finally, a classic costume to finish out the madness – a simple, yet effective witch. I haven’t been a witch since I was a little girl. Maybe some green skin and a long crooked nose would have been a nice touch with those green and black striped tights of mine. Next time.

The DILG Factor

2008-10-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

The secret to a really great Halloween costume and having a great time at your local, monstrous Halloween party is a little known thing I refer to as the DILG Factor. You gotta have a good DILG factor or your night is probably going to be a disaster, or at least a major let down.

What is the DILG Factor you ask? As Ricky Ricardo always said, “Lemme splain.” DILG stands for, “Damn, I look good!” And that is what will make or break your Halloween costume experience.

Do you have that DILG attitude? Or are you doing one of these all night:
“Does this make my butt look big”
“Is it too short?”
“Do I look fat?”
Pulling and readjusting all night to try to hide something you think is bulging, popping, or escaping?

If you are doing any of those, you don’t have the DILG factor in your favor. You have got to feel great about yourself, and how you look, to have a good time. If your outfit is so complicated you have to mess with it all night, that’s all you’re going to remember. If it’s a size to small, you are going to be sucking that gut in every 10 seconds, and probably missing out on a great time. So make a pledge to knock that shit off right now.

Wear an outfit with a high DILG factor and you will have a blast. You’ll be focused on the fun and not feeling all self-conscious.

This guy's outfit is simple, but he's got a high DILG factor.

Cool wig, but check out the expression - no DILG factor here.

This girl's got DILG all the way.

Girls, I know Halloween in your time to go a bit scandalous, and that’s all good. But make sure the costume fits you – in size and feel. How do you feel in it? Is it “Damn, I look good,” or “I feel fat/stupid/skanky/uncomfortable?” Wear what works for you and gives you real DILG feelings.

Guys, I know for most of you it’s all about simplicity and comfort. You just want to throw on a hat and a shirt and call it a day. But do you have the DILG factor? Come on, step it up a notch and pick a costume that you look hot in!

It’s not just one type of costume that will give you the DILG factor. It can be anything . . .

from a clown, to a pirate . . .

or a sexy cop, . . .

or a sailor, . . . a witch, or a fairy tale character.

Whatever it is for you, that’s what you should be. When you feel DILG, then you act it as well.

Trust me on this – when you feel all DILG, you are pretty much guaranteed a great time.

And the Countdown Begins

2008-10-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Something mystical, supernatural, and terrifying happens when we get within 10 days of Halloween. People, all of a sudden, realize, “Oh my God! It’s almost Halloween and I don’t have a clue what to be!!!”

Everyone knows its October. And they know the big event of the month is Halloween, because it’s the monster party of the year. So why the last minute panic-attack? Here’s my theory on the cause of this frightful phenomenon. Rest assured, it is based on years of study, probing interviews, along with tapping of phone lines and other highly-sophisticated, spy-type behaviors I learned by watching Alias (and that Sydney Bristow, she knew a thing or two about the whole spy-gig and about costumes!)

While the dates stay in the single digits and teens (October 1st - 19th), everyone (except for the true geniuses out there) thinks they still have plenty of time. This is also known as "denial." Then it happens, the 20th of the month appears, and it hits them like an egg in the face. This moment of revelation is usually accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, breaking out in a sweat, and several moments of complete panic.

Once we hit the 20th of the month, well, then it becomes undeniable --- the 31st is almost here. Now it’s just days away instead of months. If you are one of the many who have yet to come up with a costume, let alone a great costume idea, I’m here to coach you through this moment. First BREATHE in and out deeply, several times.

Then ponder these questions:

How many parties am I going to?

How many costumes do I need?

Is there a certain theme to the party?

What look am I aiming for? (Sexy? Funny? Live out my fantasies? Be totally opposite ofwho I usually am? Pay homage to a favorite movie, character, person, or band? Express your naughty side, your dark side? )

Am I dressing as a couple or group?

How much money do I have to spend?

These should help stir up some thoughts, and maybe point you in the direction of this year’s Halloween costume. Spend a few minutes, ponder a bit, jump online and browse, or hit your local year-round costume shop for some inspiration. (Did I mention, we are 52 Helena St. in Santa Barbara, CA?)

Then, in the name of all things Halloweeny, start putting your costume together! Like today!!! Seriously . .. NOW!!! If you wait, the symptoms of I-Don’t-Have-A-Costume-Itis become even more severe. And you even run the risk of developing a terminal case of the last-minute-losers. These are the folks who finally come up with a great idea, but can’t then find it anywhere. Or it’s too late to have it shipped on time. Don’t be one of those who end up having to settle for throwing a sheet over their head, and being a ghost.

Best Couple's Costume Idea for 2008

2008-10-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

So you’ve got yourself a special someone this year. Wooo-hooooo! While that’s a great thing for your emotions, makes life funner, gives you companionship, yada, yada yada, lets get down to the real reason this is great news. It opens up a whole new world of Halloween costume possibilities. You get to coordinate your outfits and be a costumed couple.

There are your standard couples costume ideas -

Dr. Frankenstein and the Monster
Referee/Umpire and Player (football, basketball, etc)
Cowboy and Indian
Cop and Crook
Wild Animal and Hunter
Dog and Cat
Barney and Betty Rubble
Fred and Wilma Flintstone
Or for those who think there may have been something going on in the neighborhood:
Barney and Wilma
Fred and Betty
Mario and Luigi
Batman and Joker
Angel and Devil

As you can see the possibilities are, fricken, endless. You can match things that naturally go together or two opposites. Or try how about this . . .

Here’s an idea that’s good for this year only – I hope (oooops, did I just hint at my opinions on our Presidential candidates?). Go as McCain and Palin! The costumes are easy to put together and you can all sorts of fun. It’s an idea that will be unique to this year’s Halloween only (there I go again, letting my bias show), so make the most of it.

For McCain, just throw on a really boring black suit and a John McCain mask.

Palin is even easier. Outfit yourself with a conservative red dress or go with the pink and black outfit that Tina Fey made ever so popular in her SNL skit. A pair of glasses paired up with the hairdo and you’re almost there. You’ve got to do the Sarah Palin hairdo right - brown hair piled up in the back with bangs hanging down in the front. Do this with your own hair or use a wig with bangs. The icing on the Palin cake is the huge, fake, plastic smile. We have no costume piece for this, you’ll just have to plaster that toothy grin on and keep it there all night. Have a few drinks and before you know it, you will sound like Governor Palin as well – speaking in fragments with no apparent connection between the thoughts.

Get Ready for the LFL

2008-10-08T14:24:00.000-07:00

For the last three years, as part of the halftime show during the Super Bowl, fans have been entertained with the Lingerie Bowl. Outfitted in matching bra and undie sets, along with helmets, shoulder pads, knee and elbow pads, two teams of good-looking, women battled it out on the grid iron.

Gotta love the cleats, with athletic tape --- what a great combo with lingerie!

What once existed only in the realm of every man’s fantasies, is now going to have its place in the real world. This skin-baring halftime event, is growing into a league of its own, the Lingerie Football League.

Ten teams, with 12 players per team, will play an eight game season, uniformed up in crowd-pleasing lingerie. The top two teams will then compete in the Lingerie Bowl on Super Bowl Sunday! Tryouts were held just days ago, where looks and some level of athleticism were rated. Looks, of course, being the most important quality being assessed -this is the Lingerie Football League, so how one looks in lingerie is a key factor. Football skills would be taught later.

Skimpy panties and bras, adorning curvaceous beauties, who are out there trying to run, catch, throw a block and ultimately score will be the ultimate entertainment for many.

Uniform malfunction in the making!

I can’t help but wonder . . .
where will the teams’ names and logos go?
will numbers and player names be on the lingerie or painted on their bodies?
what sorts of new penalties will be created (“uniform malfunction, automatic first down”)?
do they have full uniform practices?

can people volunteer for the second team for practice scrimmages?

will their be male cheerleaders?

how is a fan to dress to show your team spirit?

Lovin' White Gold

2008-10-03T12:58:00.001-07:00

One of my latest favorites from television land is not a show or a series, but a set of commercials. I can’t help but smile and get a huge kick out of the newest gimmick by the milk coalition. White Gold is pure brilliance. I hate milk – haven’t had a drop of the stuff since I was 12 or so. Even so, I must admit, those cow juice loving folks have some fun marketing approaches. Milk moustaches, to “GOT MILK”, and now White Gold.

This White Gold character rocks. His outfits are utterly fabulous – all that gold lamé and white – and his whole 80s hair band look – just wonderful.

I haven’t found a company yet that makes a White Gold costume, so if you are lovin’ this character like I am, it’s going to be a operation requiring a keen mind, a creative sense, and the bravery to venture into new territories. The good news is this costume is perfect for the latest spiral our economy has taken.

In order to complete your mission, you will need to make a trip to your local thrift store. Look at everything white and shiny gold. Gold lamé is the key carrying off this look in style. Inspect everything from tights, to knickers, tops, jackets, tights, shoes and accessories in search of pieces you can combine in White Gold style. He wears several different outfits so you have some flexibility here. Just remember these key points - gold lamé, white, gold lamé, and more white all combined in a loud, over-the-top way.

There are just two more items you just gotta have to make the White Gold look complete. His guitar and his hair. You’ll have to pull out your creative skills to create the guitar. Think cardboard, plastic, foam, or even wood (if you know you way around a saw and other sharp, pointy objects).

White Gold’s hair is . . . well . . . white and gold – big shock there, huh? He’s got that long super light blonde wig, with long gold bangs framing his face. I’d get a long blonde wig and color the bangs. And don't forget the moustache!

White Gold for Halloween!

The Buzz about Bees

2008-09-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

The weather is changing and I feel fall creeping its way back. I’m missing spring - you know, the whole birds and bees thing. I’ve always thought this Busy Bee Costume was pretty stinkin’ cute so I thought I’d take it out for a spin and have my own personal springtime. I also thought it would be good to see what I thought of it as a wearer instead of just a spectator.

Some costumes look one way on the model (cute and quality) and entirely different on you. Well, I have good news to report. This costume isn’t one of those – it rocks. It is super comfy – the stretchy spandex tube dress is as comfortable as wearing a workout shirt. The tube part (the upper half of the dress) is cut sort of long – this makes it work for both people with long torsos and those of us with a more condensed midsection. I just tucked the extra into the skirt, and you can hardly tell. If I would have pulled the top to its full length, the skirt would have started at about my thighs. So there’s plenty of costume for you tall girls, but it can easily work for someone my size (about 5 feet tall, on a good day). On top of being comfy and versatile, the costume feels really well made. Roma has a habit of making really high quality stuff for a good price and this one is a prime example.

As you can see, the straps that hold the wings on are out for the world to see, since I don’t have long hair like the model. Accessories could do the job of hiding those straps, if you wanted. Most obviously, you could wear a long wig. Or you could throw on a boa to cover those straps.

While we are on the subject of accessories, there are a ton of little ways you could tweak the look of this outfit, just by adding little extras. Let’s start with the shoes. I wore black boots, but you could do black pumps, black fairy tale shoes, or even the bumble bee shoes (that are totally cool). Raise the look another notch by adding fishnet pantyhose or some yellow and black fuzzy striped leg warmers. What fun!

Now we’ve got the creative juices flowing. How about a petticoat underneath? Just a little touch, adds lots sexification to the costume. While you’re at it, you might as well throw a matching Honeybee purse.

Make yourself the Queen Bee by accessorizing with a yellow boa and a crown. Some elbow length gloves would be a nice touch as well. A yellow afro or short and sassy wig with this costume would be a fun combo too. Let your imagination go wild, and accessorize.

We carry quite a few different styles of bee costumes, some even come with antennae! And they are all made by either Roma or Leg Avenue, both of whom are known for making a high quality products. All the bees in our hive are fun and happy, with just the right amount of pizzazz to make them sexy. Heck, since we're on a roll here, why not have your favorite pooch join your hive with her own bee costume.

My Pirate Adventure

2008-09-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

Ahoy there, me hearties. I be bettin’ ye were wonderin’ about me whereabouts these last few days. Well, just so ye be clear, I was well aware that the finest of all the holidays were being celebrated just days ago. Aye, it were only four days ago that noblest of days, International Talk Like a Pirate Day, were being honored by true buccaneers and landlubbers alike worldwide.

Being the truest of pirates, deep down inside, I could not settle for merely talking like a pirate fer a day. I set me mind to liven’ the pirate’s life. So off I sailed into high seas, with a terror of a captain in charge, and a bunch of ol’ seadogs in the crew.

I didn’t want them thinkin’ me to be some sort of scurvy, bilge rat, so I did my best to outfit meself proper-like before boarding the vessel.

I took one look at myself in the mirror in this pirate outfit, and knew without a doubt that I’d be keyhauled by the crew if I took a step onto the ship dressed like this. No real pirate would take me seriously in a cutesy outfit like this.

A fine first mate’s outfit seemed like a ship-shape outfit - perfect for plundering, pillaging and looting the unlucky ships who might cross our path during my voyage. Ah, but alas, I had to admit, I had higher ambitions. Savvy?

Shiver me timbers, I wanted to be the captain of a pirate vessel. I desired to be the one giving the orders, “Weight anchor and hoist the mizzen mast,” “Swab the deck ye scallywag,” or ordering some adversary to walk the plank. I aimed to have the doubloons, pieces of eight, and booty of all sorts to come into my possession and no one elses.

So I had a mind to dress like it. I almost went with this regal pirate look, knowing it would send fear into the hearts of not only my enemies, but the crew as well. Just seeing me in this outfit, I was sure they would give their current captain the dreaded black spot and follow me as their leader instead.

Then the finest idea ever to enter my mind appeared. Why not dress as the most feared pirate of all time. I dressed as the (wo)man in black, the Dread Pirate Roberts (you have seen The Princess Bride, right?). I was fully convinced the crew would send their current captain straight to Davy Jones’ Locker, as soon as they saw me with my cutlass held high.

Sorry to report that my outfit choice was a bit overly-ambitious. The crew greeted me with raised eyebrows. As we shoved off, an old seadog advised me to be watching my back. I thought nothing of his warning, and soon regretted it. That night I guzzled me grog, and thought it only a joke that the crew kept calling me “shark bait.” Being three sheets to the wind, doesn’t really sharpen a pirate’s perception. The next thing I knew, there was a shout, “Blow the man down!” I was surrounded and tossed overboard.

It has taken me until this very day to swim my way back home. Despite my ill-fated pirate adventure, I am still a pirate-loving fool. I cast my vote for September 19 to be not only Talk Like a Pirate Day, but also Dress Like a Pirate Day, and Act Like a Pirate Day! Or maybe we should just call it “Yo-ho, Yo-ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me Day.” Okay maybe that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. I’ll keep working on it.

Adorable Dog Costumes

2008-09-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week, but we have just received the cutest dog costumes! My sister brought in her dog, Lily to try on costumes this week and check her out in the Froggy Doggy Costume. This costume tends to run a little big because Lil could have fit in the next size down and she's... well, shall we say a little on the beefy side for her breed.

Here she is showing off her new costume...

Check out some of the other great Dog Costumes. A few fav's of mine...

Designing Costumes

2008-09-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, you’re out shopping for a Halloween Costume and find it's completely overwhelming. I mean, how many different Halloween costume ideas really have to exist? Or, how many of the SAME costume have to exist for pennies difference? I see it every day in this business. One costume company comes out with a really hot design. It sells out the first year, so the next year, every costume company knocks off that costume - maybe using slightly different material and then shaving off a few pennies here or there in price.

This knock-off approach kills the costume. What was once a great Halloween Costume is now just another costume. Now, I know the difference (since we buy costumes from these companies year after year) and I know who came out with the costume first and I know which company creates a quality costume. Sometimes these are not the same costume company. I always go with quality because I know my customers will not stand for any costume that is going to fall apart after wearing it once.

The problem is that the customer doesn't know the difference between the original designers of the costume versus the costume company that consistently creates quality costumes. So maybe the first year, a costume company that historically creates very poor quality costumes comes out with a great idea. As a costume retailer, we won't buy that costume - we can't risk the customers’ dissatisfaction. We wait for the costume manufacturer that consistently creates quality costumes to produce the costume. Sure, we sometimes miss out on a nice design, but we don't ever miss the hassle of dealing with all the complaints that are sure to come from that poor quality costume.

So, how does a costume purchaser find out which costume company will consistently create a quality costume? That's a tough question. Most costume retailers won't just give out that information since they want to sell costumes no matter what. I can tell you that Leg Avenue puts out some of the best quality costumes on the most consistent basis. Sure, they've had a few that didn't meet our expectations, but year after year, they have provided great quality costumes.

If you're looking for a Halloween Costume this year, be sure to check our selection of Leg Avenue Costumes. They are hot and sexy and will appeal to your naughty side. Have questions about two seemingly identical costumes? Comment here and include links to the two costumes (or maybe even 3) and we’ll help you sort out the differences.

Costume Fusion

2008-09-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

We’ve got fusion in music, fusion in cooking, and it seems only right to have fusion in costumes. Costume fusion, like any other type of fusion, is creating something new and unique (in this case, a new and unique costume idea) by blending, mixing or joining aspects of different costumes.

I love this idea!! It solves two problems at one time. First you are pretty much assured that no one else is going to show up in your costume. Don’t you just hate it when you think you’ve got a great costume idea and then you get to the party, only to discover that you are one of 50 other Batmans.

It also solves the problem of deciding between two great ideas. Just put them together!

My favorite recently is the Hello Kitty Darth Vader.

Or maybe it’s the Princess Vader.

Then there is always the Elvis Trooper.

As you can see Star Wars costumes seem to fuse well with other costumes. But I think it’s time for costume fusion to happen with other costumes as well.

We have our Miss Sister Contest going on right now and I think I will submit a nun fusion costume. I’m thinking Nunder Woman (a much-needed superhero nun) or Twisted Sister (80s hair band nun). Imagine that! I’ll post pictures in a bit.

What are some costume fusion ideas in your head? Share them in our comments section.

Miss Sister Pageant Is ON!

2008-08-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the horrible news? The Miss Sister Pageant has been called off! I KNOW!! Devastating news! Nuns everywhere are in deep, mournful, mourning. They finally get their chance of a lifetime – a chance to show the whole world how hot and sexy . . . --- ooops, my bad! Disregard that, I meant to say, how beautiful and attractive nuns are (of course, with the main emphasis being on inner beauty – wink, wink).

Apparently the brains behind Miss Sister 2008, Father Antonio Rungi feels that maybe his intentions were misunderstood. He insists he never intended to have nuns on the catwalk. Basically Father Antonio got all sorts of negative feedback – from his catholic bosses and the community - and wussed out.

I know many of you out there were getting your habit together and planning your photo shoot. So I am now going to open up our blog for all those of you anxious to compete for the title of Miss Sister. We won’t even require that you be a real nun, or even a female. Just send us your photo in your best nun outfit. No bio, no proof of great acts of philanthropy, heck, you don’t even need to know all the books of the Bible.

We’ll post all the good submissions we get on our blog on September 12, 2008. So that gives you just under two weeks to get into your best looking habit or other fancy, schmancy nun apparel. Send a jpeg submission to sales@scavengeinc.com. Then we'll pick Scavenge's Miss Sister and crown the winner.

Hot in the Habit

2008-08-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

There’s a brand new beauty pageant on the block, girls. This one, “Miss Sister 2008” is the brain child of an Italian priest, Father Antonio Rungi. You guessed it, it’s a beauty pageant for nuns! Such a simple idea, such an obvious way to go – how come no one thought of it earlier?! Way to go, Father Rungi.

Apparently this beauty contest is going to be held online – at first. Father Rungi is hoping it becomes a real world event as well. We’ll see how this first one goes. The goal of Miss Sister 2008 is to dispel that age-old assumption that nuns are old, homely women, who are only nuns because they couldn’t get a man.

Sorry everyone, but he says there won’t be a swim-suit competition in this pageant. They can pose in a full habit or with their heads uncovered. Nuns from all over the world are invited to participate. Photos and bios will be posted on Rungi’s blog starting in September, so the online community can vote.

Here are the requirements – well you have to be a nun (a novice or a full member, whatever that entails) and between the ages of 18 and 40. And, although this isn’t stated as a requirement, I suppose you ought to be good-looking as well. Rungi is expecting (or hoping for) 1,000 entries.

Don’t miss this opportunity, girls. Are you a good girl with a naughty side or a naughty girl with a bit of a good side? This pageant could be just the place for either type. And I suppose being a real nun or something close might help your chances.

See, the thing is, we’ve known for years how hot a habit can be. And, as luck would have it, we happen to have just the outfit for your photo submission. Check out this hot little habit.

We’ve field tested this outfit and found that it is quite effective. You should try it out at home first. Believers and unbelievers alike have been known to fall to their knees, thanking the heavens, when their girl walks into the room wearing this one. Many have even reported having almost religious experiences as well.

Good luck to all the contestants.

The Almighty Wig

2008-08-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

All bow before His Royal Highness, that illustrious piece of costumery, the All-Powerful WIG! What? How dare you not bow?! Who do you think you are to show such disrespect to his majesty? You surely would bow if you but understood the far-reaching influence of this oft-underestimated item. So, this once, I shall spare you the punishment normally handed out for failing to show proper reverence to the almighty wig – beheading, of course – and shall instead enlighten you.

Though the wig may seem to you nothing more than an afterthought or a mere accessory when it comes to costumes and disguises, nothing could be further from the truth. The wig has a power all its own. Take time to ponder the following examples of just a few of the wig’s grand uses.

~Place a wig on your head and a transformation occurs. It magically allows you to take on a whole different persona. Put your average person in room full of wigs and watch how their facial expressions, body language, and behavior change with each wig they put on.

~It is virtually impossible to stay in a bad mood once you have placed a fun wig on your head. Wigs have the uncanny ability to cheer people up and make them smile and laugh.

~For certain looks, a particular hairstyle is an absolute must. For example you must have the rocker hair if you are in (or pretending to be in) an 80’s metal band. An afro is a key ingredient for the disco look. A bouffant or greased back ducktail is the only way to be really convincing for a 50’s look. There are so many situations like these, but do you really want to make a permanent change to your real hairstyle. Get a mullet, afro, or dread locks and see how well that goes over at the office. Wigs let you create that perfect look, without changing your everyday appearance.

~Gotta go undercover? All it takes a wig and you have everything you need to take on a secret identity. Don’t believe me? Ha, just watch a few episodes of Alias. All, secret agent, Sidney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) has to do is throw on a wig, and presto! - no one recognizes her.

~Wigs give those of us with a truly nutty, wild side a way to express it or give it an outlet. Turn a stroll though downtown into a wacky wig walk. Grab some fellow nutjobs, throw on some fun wigs and take a walk in a busy downtown. You’ll have a blast and be true entertainment for the crowds at the same time. Heading to a formal affair that has the potential of being a bit stiff and boring – a wedding, a fancy dance, funeral? Go ahead wear the tux, suit, or formal dress and top it off with a crazy wig – that’ll spice the whole thing up a bit. Your yearbook picture will be so much more fun and unique when wearing a wild wig. Everyone will remember you for years to come. Heck, just wear a costume wig to do your grocery shopping or house cleaning and it will take on a whole new feel.

~Test drive a new hairdo or color before you take the leap. Wear a wig in the style or color you are contemplating. It’s a great way to try before you buy. You may find that redheads do have more fun. Or you may discover that style that you thought was so sexy on Miss Famous-So-And-So, looks utterly hideous on you. Won’t you be glad you did the wig test drive first!

~Ease the suffering and avoid ultimate humiliation with a wig. Maybe your barber or hairdresser was having a bad day and you ended up with a butt-ugly hairdo. You don’t have to endure shame and embarrassment while you wait for it to grow out. Just wear a wig instead.

~Times are tough financially, but that’s no reason to miss out on the fun of having a great costume at your next theme party. A great, yet totally affordable costume wig plus a trip to the thrift store equals a great outfit. Just think of all the possibilities – from clown, to disco, to 80’s rocker, to 70’s, to white trash, to hippie, and the list goes on and on.

I can already feel your remorse for refusing to bow to the All-Powerful Wig at the beginning of this post. You are now beginning the realize the grand place the wig has in the costume world.

Ah, but there are so many more potential uses, so many ways to give the wig it’s proper place. To show your admiration and respect of the wig put on an event where the wig is the central theme. A Wig Party is a great theme party to have. It’s cheap and easy to do. The only requirement is that all attendees come wearing a wig (you might want to have a few extra wigs handy. There’s always someone who will show up without one). You can give a prize for the best wig. You can have a wig exchange, throwing all wigs into a pile then taking turns either picking a wig from the pile or off someone else’s head. In the end you’ll leave with a different wig than you wore when you arrived. Whatever you choose to do Wig Parties are always a good bet. Wigs bring out more laughing, more joking around, more energetic dancing, and more all-around fun.

Another great wig-centered event would be to organize or take part in a Wig Walk or Wig Run. Do this just for fun or for charity. Just keep the distance short (1-3 miles should do the trick), since wearing a wig will have your head heating up pretty quickly. Or keep it all cool with a Wig Paddle or Surf.

Now that you have been edumacated on some of the wonders of the wig, I’m sure you are quite prepared to show proper homage to His Royal Highness the Wig in the future. For your next costume, pick the wig first and build from there, or go with just a wig (that’ll get you some attention). And whatever other ways you choose to honor the Almighty Wig, don’t forget to bow.