We know what you’re thinking: another February, another box of store bought chocolates and a Hallmark card.

It doesn’t have to be that way. With a little planning and your own creativity, you can make this February 14th memorable. Throw away the old and boring and usher in a whole new way of looking at this favorite holiday of love.

Why We Celebrate the Day

Originally a religious feast day, church seniors admitted by late Medieval times that information about the exact person known as Saint Valentine (there were at least three) have been lost in the shroud of history. Valentine was as common a name in the middle ages as “John” is today.

Not to worry! Romantics were there to pick up the slack of a now-empty calendar day. There are a variety of origins, one being the Roman Lupercus festival, the god of fertility and hunter of wolves. Unmarried men and women would partake in wild romps during the festival, and purification rites were performed - actually, male priests would run around Rome flogging women with the skins of sacrificed goats. Ahh, those Romans! As an aside, “February” comes from the Latin februa, or “to purify.” Take that knowledge to your next party! (And promptly receive some embarrassed silence … never mind.)

Blending this open date with earlier pagan traditions of love and strange rites of purification, Valentine’s Day as a “day of love” was referenced as early as the 14th century by English writer Geoffrey Chaucer.

The rest, as they say, is, well, history.

Make Valentine’s Day Your Own!

With such changeable and celebrate-as-you-wish origins, shouldn’t you continue the spirit of Valentine’s Day with a great, unique idea? You don’t have to spend a bundle to celebrate romance and love. Create a great holiday with one of these winners:

• Proclaim your love to the heavens. Write love notes to one another on empty balloons. Have them filled with helium (party supply stores usually have helium tanks, and so do many grocery stores; ask an employee). Then take a scenic drive to a favorite mutual locale and set your love balloons afloat. Kiss one another for luck as you watch them float to the clouds.
• Have a second first date. Go back to the place of your first date and relive it. You’ll be surprised how that first excited flush creeps back to your cheeks as you and your love go through the motions all over again of that first fateful courting day. Memories can evoke the same strong feelings the individual had at the time, such as excitement, humor…and, as a welcome, sexual excitement.
• Have a midnight picnic. Fill a basket with all of your and your love’s favorite treats. Grab a blanket and drive or walk to a romantic spot under the stars. As midnight falls on Valentine’s Day, put down the food…and reach for anything else that seems tempting.
• Arrange a secret tryst. Tell the boss you have an urgent meeting to get to…then check into a local hotel or meet at a shaded, out-of-the-way café. Try to feel sneaky; that’s the whole point. Sneaking off to meet a lover (including one you’ve already been faithful to for years) gets blood pumping and hearts racing.

If You’re Just Not Feeling Romantic

Even the most solid relationship is prone to down times. The good news is that with a little effort, you can bring things back up a notch…or ten. Remember the little things that first attracted you to your spouse. Think about how your blood raced the first few times you met; if you’re married, recall every detail of his proposal (or yours).

Then relive these positive feelings with your significant other. Sharing–and laughing over–the good times can bring the feelings back…and may be the breath of life for a flagging relationship.

Keep in mind that the best gift you can give your significant other this Valentine’s Day is time. Give him or her your complete and total attention. Make the time for just the two of you. Then continue the tradition as often as you can, all year long. You’ll love the rewards … and so will your partner!

We’ve supplied eight hot ideas for you and your mate to try on for size, but why stop there? Once you’ve tried a role playing game or two, you’re sure to want to try more…and perhaps even create your own spicy scenarios for the next big holiday!

1. Surrender the Booty: the Pirate and the Princess
   Let him steal your heart and more in a getup fit for the wiliest (and sexiest) of sailors. You’re the princess whose boat has been set adrift; he’s the bad guy who’s ready to carry you off to a desert island…and to the one night you’ll never forget.

   For him: a white shirt, unbuttoned to show lots of chest; for her, a blousy old-fashioned dress, preferably with front lacings that can be pulled open easily.

2. Love on the Lam: Bonnie and Clyde’s Hideaway
   A near miss on your latest bank robbery has your hearts pounding with trepidation…and perhaps a little something more. You whisk one another to your hideaway where you let off a little post-robbery steam…one costume piece at a time.

   For him: a 1930s style hat and easy-to-unbutton shirt; for her: a slim-fitting, low cut dress and cigarette (leaving it unlit is fine; it’s the attitude that counts).v

3. Bad Girl: the School Girl and the Principal
   Have you been a bad girl again? It’s up to the school principal to teach you some manners (and a few other tricks he has up his sleeve).

   For him: stern-looking, buttoned up clothes, a tie and, for the adventurous, a switch (be careful! Remember…it’s play); for her: a short, plaid skirt and knee-high socks.

4. Fun and Feather Dusters: the French Maid and the Businessman
   It’s anything but all business when the man of the house comes home to a maid whose work isn’t done. He orders her to clean up…one dirty area at a time.

   For him: business clothes; for her: a black French maid outfit, feather duster and a very short skirt. (Try out your best French accent to add to the fun.)

5. Hands Up: the Policewoman and the Thief
   Stop right there and turn around! You’re busted…by the sternest and sexiest cop in town. She’ll do whatever it takes to whip you into shape, so watch out!

   For him: a black stocking cap, black sweater and tight fitting pants; for her: a policewoman’s outfit with several buttons undone, super tight hot-pants and of course, handcuffs. (Shhh…we’ll never tell.)

6. Forbidden Meeting: the Gladiator and the Empress
   The chained gladiator receives an unlikely visitor: the Empress! She’s come to deliver one last trial…and it’s going to be a doozey. What will it take to convince her to sneak him out of his imprisonment?

   For him: bare chest or gladiator breastplate, scruffy pants and handcuffs or chains; for her: a long, extravagant dress cut much too low…and the key that unlocks her lover’s bonds–if she wants to.

7. Babes in the Woods: the Nymph and the Hunter
   A barely-dressed woodland nymph is surprised when a hunter captures her, then orders her to show him the whereabouts of her hidden lair. Reluctantly, she agrees to take him to the secret place no other man has gone before.

   For him: a bow and fake arrow (or just a bow), bare chest, brown thigh-hugging pants and boots; for her: a filmy, short dress, tinkling silver jewelry and a pair of wings.

8. The Angel and the Devil: Never the Two Shall Meet…Except on Valentine’s Day
   It’s so wrong…but it feels so right. A too-charming demon tries to convince a goody-goody angel that his world is more fun. When she doesn’t quite believe him, he offers to show her.

   For him: two horns and a bad-boy goatee; for her: an all white, super-short nightie and a halo that just won’t stay on!

In Love at Sunrise

Get started off on the right side of the bed on Valentine’s Day morning: serve up a special breakfast for your sweetie. It doesn’t have to be fancy; in fact, couples we’ve spoken to say it’s all in the presentation. Wear something flirtatious, outrageous or barely-there … and wake your darling with a kiss and a hot plate of his or her favorites.

If you’re shaky in your cooking capabilities, simply waking your significant other up with a kiss–and perhaps more–can be a special Valentine’s Day surprise that will leave you both warm and tingly the whole day long. (Psst: Experts say men’s testosterone levels are highest in the morning. So wake him up early … with all the spice you can muster.)

Our favorite tip: Be prepared ahead of time. Buy or create a sexy outfit, go to the grocery store for specialty ingredients and set the clock on mood music so you both wake up in the mood to do your Valentine’s Day justice!

Cupid in the Afternoon

Yes, love can be as hot in the afternoon as it is by candlelight. Catch a matinée together; these are usually much less crowded than feature presentation times, giving you and your Valentine more privacy to snuggle up.

Another idea that can really fan the flames of romance is to schedule a “steamy afternoon affair” for Valentine’s Day. Take a long lunch from work, meet up at a low-lit restaurant and feed one another bites of wonderfully prepared brunch … then head home if time permits. (We think you’ll want to make the time.)

Our favorite tip: We love children, but this one time, look for a movie that’s decidedly kid un-friendly! Try a sappy romance or rom-com (we love these!) or something advertised as extra-extra-spicy. You’ll want to be able to cuddle up without being interrupted by a spray of thrown popcorn or continuous interruptions.

Spicy at Night

Hands down, night time is considered the time of day most conducive to romance. Start your Valentine’s Day evening date right with something special to eat; go to a favorite spot or toss a blanket onto the living room rug, get a fire or candles going and have an at-home picnic.

If you live in an area that’s cold and snowy in February, blindfold your love and lead him outside, then show him your special surprise: “I love you” stamped in the snow earlier by your own two feet, or drawn with a stick. Then take him back inside to warm up on a bed of flower petals, an idea that’s fresh and new every time.

Our favorite tip: Play in the snow! Energetic play gets the circulatory system going, making you red-hot from your head to your toes and more than ready for a romantic nightcap.

Whatever your pleasure, any time of day can be filled with romance. Choose your favorite and have the Valentine’s Day experience of your dreams!

The Secretary and the CEO Costume

If you happen to have a corporate-style business suit, open the top few buttons and wear it with your highest heels. An updo with a few hanging tendrils, a pair of dark-rimmed glasses and nylon panty hose with a seam up the back complete the look. As you put the look together, ask yourself “If I walked out of the store room like this, would the girls giggle?” Carry a briefcase, a few file folders or a manila envelope, just so you look like you’re working. Men can wear a three-piece business suit, a little hair gel and loosen up their tie.

The Lost Hikers Costumes

Ladies, toss on a pair of khaki shorts or even cutoff denim jeans, high top hiking boots and a white tank top. Braid your hair if it’s long enough, or tie a bandanna into a scarf. If you’re going for a sexy hiker look, make sure your shorts are rolled up or cut short. Vaseline or baby oil rubbed on your legs will make them look sweaty, like a real hiker. Just for effect, wear a backpack and carry a water bottle. Men can toss on an Indiana Jones hat and dig up some dirty Halloween fun.

Sexy Chef Costume

A kitchen apron can turn any lingerie into a sexy chef costume. Just for effect, you could carry a notepad and “take orders.” Tonight’s chef specials; tube steak, oysters, chocolate covered cherries, head cheese, hard salami, a banana split, rump roast, cherry pie, and a rack (of ribs)!

Daisy Duke Costume

Wear short cutoff jeans, high heels, and a button-down shirt tied right between the breasts. Daisy Duke was the fantasy of boys all over the U.S. for several years. With her glamour girl 1980’s hair, full face of makeup, dimwitted personality and half-naked country bumkin duds, she made cowboys everywhere wanna roll in the hay. In fact, a few pieces of straw behind the ear would be cute, too. On Dukes of Hazard, Daisy would sometimes chew a piece of straw.

Naughty School Girl Costume

A simple white button-down shirt, plaid skirt and Mary janes with knee socks makes a great school girl costume. Pigtails and a necktie (loose, of course) finish off the look. A book in hand would make a great prop. You could stop at a convenience store and pick up some pink bubblegum or a big swirly lollipop, to suck on. Boys can tie a sweater around their neck and pair it with a white polo shirt and pleated pants. Just for kicks, sneak under the bleachers for a little while or smoke in the bathroom. You might get detention, but sometimes it’s worth it.

Gothic Vamp Costume

Black everything is the key to pulling off this look. Try swiping your dog’s spiked collar, and sharpen that black eyeliner. Black lipstick, a black corset and some black combat boots in addition to plenty of silver jewelry make the look complete.

Bikini Car Wash Girl Costume

This one is so easy; all you need is a bikini! You can get a giant sponge and a cardboard car wash sign for special effects. If you don’t want to bare your bum as much, you can cover up your backside with a pair of low-rise cutoff jeans, and flip flips are, of course, the best kind of footwear with a bikini. You can’t wash a car in heels.

Be imaginative! Take a look at your sportswear, uniforms and off-season clothing. Raid every closet in the house. Chances are, you can come up with a few ideas of your own. Pay attention to every detail, the accessories and the hairstyle, and you can come up with quick and easy Halloween costumes at the last minute!

Roman theme - Antony & Cleopatra

A Roman warrior falling for a resplendent queen dressed in white robes with gold trim. Add a wreath of basil or ivy on your head and wear a lot of gold jewelry, and you’ll be Anthony and Cleopatra. Strappy leather sandals and a short black haircut (or wig) complete the look. Antony was a Roman general fighting against Octavian (later Augustus) for the Roman throne. Cleopatra was the Queen of Egypt but their love, as told by Shakespeare, transcended space and time. Antony said that other women may satisfy him, but Cleopatra left him thirsty for more. It’s no wonder the Italians have such an amorous reputation!

Greek theme - Zeus and Hera

Ancient Greece’s Mythological god and goddess. They were also sister and brother, but the Greek Gods are strange that way. Zeus was also a bit of a ladies man – okay, he was the First ladies man! He pursued mortal women so frequently that there are dozens of demi-gods and mortals who claim Zeus as their father. Hera, of course, was also enraged at his infidelity.

A couple playing Zeus and Hera could have a lot of fun sneaking eyes and flirty comments to other women. While the mythological Hera would often take mortal vengeance upon “the other woman” you could just punish him later. Togas or dresses with lots of jewelry are appropriate.

1930’s Gangsters theme - Bonnie and Clyde

On the run with nothing to lose, Bonnie and Clyde repeatedly escaped the law stealing cars, money and even commiting murder to escape. In the end, they lost but they were together. You can be Bonnie, with a 1930’s style pageboy hair cut and a cigar. Clyde will wear the typical pinstripe gangster suit. A toy tommy gun would complete the look. Be quick, they’re after you. Don’t get caught!

The French Court - Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI

Bring cake to the party! As Marie Antoinette, you look down on your mere peasants, aloof and sexy in your extravagant dress. The king’s royal attire is blue and white, with a puffy shirt, vest, open embroidered coat and a bicorne hat. Large white wigs are a must – the French court wore them too! Mingle with the upper crust, and forget about the poor citizenry. There’s no way they would dare rebel!

Medieval theme – King Arthur and Guinevere (or a love triangle with Lancelot)

Guinevere wore a long gown (blue or green), with long locks of hair. Pair with King Arthur in a typical medieval king’s costume with a fleur-de-lis crest, and a crown and sword. Or dress as Lancelot, the champion of the Round Table, and explain that you are stealing away Guinevere for a secret tryst. Sure, we could make a lot of puns about Lancelot’s name, but we won’t. However, I’m sure he has a lot of lance and knows how to use it. (Oops).

Spanish theme - Zorro and Lolita Pulido

What isn’t sexy about a mysterious man in black, master swordsman and fighting for justice against the oppressed? The only thing sexier is his graceful senorita, sensual in a long Spanish gown and falling for Zorro’s dashing, swashbuckling lifestyle. Zorro is, of course, dressed all in black, with a black cape, black mask and black Spanish hat. His main weapons of choice are his rapier and fox-like movements. His love interest, Lolita Pulido, is a Spanish noblewoman fallen on hard times. However, she can still muster an exotic tango dress with layered ruffles, a long slit up the side, and an vixen sway to match Zorro.

Renaissance theme - Romeo and Juliet

The original star-crossed lovers, with their forbidden love and tragic ending, makes this one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Stronger in passion for each other than the deadly feud between their families, the lovers yearn to overcome all obstacles, meeting secretly and laying plans to escape and live happily ever after. It almost works.

As Romeo, you are the perfect Renaissance lover. Dress in an elaborate tunic with drawstring shirt underneath, loose pants and high boots. Bring a rose for Juliet, who is the fair sun, resplendent in a shimmering gold-trimmed gown and headpiece. Be careful your parents don’t catch you!

American colonist theme - Pocahontas and John Smith

When Captain John Smith landed in Virginia and was captured by a local tribe, Pocahontas (“Little Wanton”) begged he not be executed. Though the couple never married, you can play out their romantic story in early American history. John Smith is an English soldier dressed in a blue and gold vest and buckskin boots, and Pocahontas can be as wanton as she wants to be. You can go from a full-length suede dress to a sexy mini dress and anklets. Braided hair and decorative war paint on the face and arms adds a nice touch.

Early Medieval theme - Robin Hood and Maid Marian

Be generous to the poor – that is, do not mock those in poor costumes as you trounce into the party dressed as Robin Hood, with the beautiful Maid Marian at your side. Extra bonus if your friends each dress is one of Robin’s merry band of forest-dwelling thieves. Robin Hood can either be wearing tights, but as that looks silly, make him look more rugged and sexy with a heavy capelette over the shoulders, a long leather vest, an imposing belt, white shirt, heavy trousers and high boots. Have a rugged, five o’clock shadow and don’t forget the hat with feather. Maid Marian can be either dressed in a traditional Medieval gown, or make her into a sexy forest vixen with short skirt, knee-high boots and plunging neckline. You’ll make every guy at the party very merry indeed!

Hippie theme – John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Give peace a chance! As the quintessential hippie duo, you defy all conventions while creating new one. All you need is love – and long hair, rose-colored spectacles, bandanas, beads and sandals. You can easily find hippie outfits at any second-hand or vintage clothing store. For men, look for bell-bottoms, a suede vest and a loose, colorful shirt. For women, any tie-die top or skirt will do. Flower power never looked so good!

Renaissance costumes are designed to accentuate a girl’s curves. Instead of “a few extra pounds,” the renaissance girls had “more to love” with several layers of flowing fabric, gowns in dramatic colors with romantic accents like bodices, petticoats, puffy sleeves and doublets. The ample bosoms and voluptuous lines of Rubens and other Baroque artists are testaments of what is ideal beauty.

European Nobleman and Woman

Recreating a Renaissance or Baroque style can take many forms. You can dress as a European noblewoman in fine brocade fabric with a long, flowing cape, skirt and tight bodice with a collar completely covering your neck. High powdered up wigs and large, bulky jewels make you stand out. In the social class system, you are second only to Royalty.

You can play the part by generally looking down upon everyone and showing emotional restraint. The plague, highway robberies and gypsy curses have no affect upon you. You are untouchable. You spend your days being entertained by fawning courtiers. You attend parties and gossip. You make it your business to see that no one marries above or below his or her rank. In the bedroom, you’ll need to summon your modern personality, because these noblewomen felt that it was barbaric to enjoy sex or even to be seen naked. Seems like such a waste, because the dresses were so beautiful! However, if nobody bathed back then …

Your Nobleman gets to wear the same type of upholstery fabric, only he gets to wear what amounts to a skirt and tights, with a v-cut plunging waistband and long sleeves with puffy shoulders. There was a time when a girl would have looked at all that finery and found a desirable man of quality. If you find the whole look more clownish than sexy, just tell yourself “He’s wearing that for me” and suddenly, it will all be handsome again.

Of course, you can just rush ahead a couple hundred years and wear pants, or at least a long jacket. breeches and thigh-high Renaissance Boots.

King and Queen

Similar in fabric and stuffiness, the King and Queen have the obvious addition of crowns, which, if you’re a fan of Shakespeare-inspired movies, can be very sexy. Royalty wears deep (royal) purples and bright reds, shades that were not available to even the nobles. Rich, fur lined capes and jeweled crowns will make everyone at the party bow down to you. If not, you can have them beheaded, naturally.

Bawdy Peasants

For all-around sex appeal, the peasants are a no-contest win. Just picture the St Pauly Beer girl, the life of the tavern, with gigantic mugs of mead (medieval honey brew.) Nothing says romance more than the long, curly hair flowing in romantic ripples over the white peasant blouse with a shapely bust-enhancing lace-up bodice over a long, flowing skirt!

The medieval and renaissance peasant girl has graced the cover of thousands of romance novels. She works hard and she plays hard. She can drink and dance with the rowdiest of boys. She might even beat her man in an arm wrestling match (after he’s had a few drinks.) No wimpy princesses here, these girls are self-assured and confident.

Plus size renaissance costumes often consist of a bodice, skirt and top. You’ll need to get your own footwear. Barefoot is popular at a grassy renaissance faire, but for safety’s sake on Halloween simple sandals should be the minimum. In reality, they probably wore lace-up boots or leather slippers.

For a peasant man, you will wear a leather jerkin vest, a simple loose “bag” shirt, a flat cap, regular trousers with a belt and pouch and soft leather boots. Keep a couple buttons undone on your shirt - after all, you’re all hot from the fields, and need some ale served by your favorite lass.

Choose colors that suit your complexion and keep that in mind when you’re looking at wigs, too. If your hair is naturally long and curly then you’re in luck. You might have a hairstyle that’s easily adaptable for a renaissance outfit already. Braiding ribbons into your hair, or a wreath of lavender or ivy are popular, too.

Whether you decide to go with the stately royal renaissance look, the noble courtier or the lowly peasant, you’ll find the stylings of the renaissance period are suited just fine for a plus sized body. In that era, it was considered healthy to actually have some meat on your bones. Enjoy, celebrate your beautiful, sexy self and cut loose this Halloween with a costume that flaunts your curves.

Vampires, like the aristocratic Count Dracula, can turn into bats and fly. How sexy is that? Isn’t flying one of the most common dreams / fantasies? And the idea of flying away with your vampire lover to the top of some abandoned medieval castle just reeks of romance. That whole living undead thing and stealing cows and rats, not so much. Thank goodness for role-playing. You can pick and choose which elements of vampirism you like best.

The Allure of the Vampire

Vampires are the ultimate bad boys. Once bitten, you’re forever part of their world, immortal and thirsting for the same thing. Immortal and vulnerable, full of thirst and sadness, destined to an eternity of lust. The role-playing involved in vampire costumes can take many forms.

There’s also something swinger-ish about Vampire love. Even if you manage to capture her heart and spend eternity together, you’ll both still be looking for blood. You must know that she’ll be sucking on someone else’s neck the following week, and so will you. Once you’ve satisfied your needs there will always be something that you can no longer provide for one another - it’s always unrequited. The hunger always grows.

Vampire Costumes

It’s all about being a dark and dangerous stranger. The ultimate Gothic and debonair vampire will have his roots in Victorian society. Because of that, look for a velvet or white vest over a white satin shirt with collar and cuffs. Wear Sharp black pants and black dress shoes. White gloves add an operatic touch. A sweeping black velvet cape completes the look. Slick your hair back, and of course you need the fangs. Finish with Gothic jewelry, such as a heavy chain with a ruby or medallion, and large rings on your fingers (if your not going for the gloves.) You can also watch Bela Lugosi to see his eternal ensemble.

Your paramour female vampire can wear any gothic costume - from a long elaborate gown to a short, sexy countess dress.

Vampire Makeup

When you apply white face makeup, be sure to moisturize your face thoroughly and then wait several minutes. Blot excess moisturizer from your skin and apply cornstarch or translucent face powder with a brush. A vampire’s white skin is meant to look natural, and not like a clown or a mime. An alternative is to use a creamy white face makeup and blot away any excess with a paper towel. Be sure that other areas of skin you expose look washed out, too.

Make your eyes look sunken and hollow by using black or grey eye shadow. Smudging a teeny bit underneath your eyes and more above your eyelids gives the classic skeletal vampire look that comes from an ungodly eternal life. Use the same grey powder in the hollows of your cheek and neck bones to make your skeleton stand out.

Fake blood, applied in two spots on the neck to simulate your bite, is characteristic of vampire Halloween costumes.

Alternative Vampire couples costumes could be a Vampire man walking into a party with an unsuspecting 1960’s schoolgirl. Aristocratic wigs and formalwear companied with a vampire complexion, fangs and blood are also notoriously popular costumes.

Masquerade and Mardi Gras vampires are also popular. The allure of a masked man in a cape is historic. Remember Zorro? His sexiness was completely stolen from a vampire.

No matter which kind of vampire costume you choose, be sure you get a high quality pair of costume fangs. The silly plastic ones from a vending machine won’t do - mine fell out two minutes into a party. Get the ones that have a waxed or epoxy filler that keeps them in place.

If going as a pair, communicate with your vampire-lover to be. Will you both be sexy vampires in a long cape, lingerie, or party wear? Or will she be the innocent girl being seduced by your vampire charms? From Dracula to Spike and Angel, there are enough vampire possibilities to keep you busy for an eternity.

Pulling off a Victorian costume isn’t the easiest thing to do. There’s a lot involved in getting the costume to look right – it’s about hair and makeup as much as it’s about polite and high-society clothing. But this is an attention-getting costume for sure, so it’s worth the effort.

Let’s start first with the costume. You could fashion one yourself, perhaps with an old prom dress that you add some petticoats to, or a homemade dress you make specifically in the style of a Victorian dress. You can also easily buy or rent such a costume, and some of the more elaborate ones can look quite authentic.

Anatomy of a Victorian Costume

Underneath your costume, plan for a corset. Not only will this also add to the authenticity of your costume, but it will help to add to your sexy Victorian allure.

Once you have the basic costume, it’s time to accessorize it. How you outfit your basic costume is pretty important. It’s what will make your costume go from promising liaison to dangerous liaison, though promising and dangerous together is an equation not out of the question!

Think about jewelry, hair and makeup. Your makeup is important. It’s what moves the luxurious dress into clearly Victorian territory. Makeup in the Victorian age focused on lips and overall face. White makeup was the norm for courtiers and the emphasis was on red cheeks and red lips. A Victorian from lesser society might not wear any makeup at all.

It’s not impossible but it is hard to create hairstyles similar to those popular in Victorian times. It might be best to buy a wig and use that instead of trying to create the style with your own hair. But if you do want to do your own hair in the Victorian style, think about curls and hair that’s either just to the shoulder (when curled) or about two inches below the shoulder. Dark hair was the norm.

Your jewelry? If you’re a courtier, you wear a good amount of authentic jewelry that’s also luxurious and decadent. Of course, there are many costume jewelry choices available that will work for these needs.

The Prim and Proper Victorian Couple

Going to a party as a couple and want to introduce the Victorian couple concept? The man in this day (if also from high society) would wear a suit with tails. Think about making it a light colored suit, though dark morning-style suits are also appropriate to the time.

Couples who head to a party together should both be in the same style. That is, you both might wear a Victorian costume that’s darker and simpler, or you might choose to think more royal and wear a dress or suit in a light, rich fabric. Whatever you choose, make sure that both of you are on the same page and costumes and styles are in agreement.

Want to end the night on a sexy note? Consider a striptease. Getting into all those clothes took some time, which was why servants were certainly vital. But getting out of them can be fun, as one piece after another comes off. The whole burlesque striptease came about due to the parodying of polite society styles with all those layers! You might need a little help getting some pieces off, but that’s hardly considered work after a hard day. That’s just the frosting on the (Victorian) cake.

First, there’s the part about seeing beauty within someone that looks like a beast. Everyone in the world is seeing something horrible in this person, and you are the lucky girl who sees a treasure inside. That one factor could possibly be the base of a large percentage of dysfunctional relationships.

Falling in love with someone who’s not quite perfect is definitely not a new phenomenon. The twist that makes Beauty and the Beast so alluring is that the Beast falls for the girl and tries, with all his might, to suppress his animal instincts and become a prince for her. In Disney’s version Belle actually trains him up to drink from a teacup, to wear a suit and learn ballroom dancing. And he likes it. Even the cartoon had to use magic to account for his house turning clean; no real beastly bachelor will go that far!

At Halloween, however, you can dress your man up like a beast and spend the whole night trying to keep him tame. After a night spent of suppressing his animal side, let him loose when you get home and enjoy his beastly side. Make him a big fat meaty steak for dinner and reward his efforts with a passionate treat.

Beast Costume

The beast is big and hairy. You could use a fuzzy wolf’s costume and put a formal coat with tails over the top of it. Find a coat that matches your dress, so everyone knows exactly whose beast he is. The inner dominatrix in you might enjoy teaching him how to be a real man. As long as you look like a princess the whole time. See if you can’t get him to communicate in cave-man grunt, just for the drama, of course.

Beauty Costume

In Disney’s version, Belle had a Southern-Belle style party dress in yellow. Her hair had a matching yellow flower over one ear and of course, the obligatory Disney cartoon pumps to match the dress. She was forever trying to convince everyone that he wasn’t a Beast. When someone says “Ooh- you’re Beauty and the Beast” you might want to protest, stand up for his honor as a gentleman and let them know he is NOT a beast.

Beauty and the Beast on Television

The story ran as a television series in the 90’s, and has been reproduced in other forms, too. So if Belle’s puffy yellow dress isn’t what you had in mind, you can go for a totally different style. The television series promos had Beauty in a slinky red cocktail dress and the Beast in a black and white tuxedo with a bow tie. Instead of towering over her, he was only slightly taller, with a beard and a little extra facial hair. He looked more man than monster, whereas the cartoon Beast was more like a lion.

Regardless of how you choose to emulate Beauty and the Beast, you’ll find that the timelessness of the theme lends itself quite easily to fantasy play. Every man is capable of being both beast and prince. Learn how to summon whichever side of him suits the moment. There’s a time and place for everything.

The Geisha are trained to entertain through dance, tea service and musical performances. During the Allied Forces occupation of Japan, opportunistic females began entertaining male soldiers as “Geisha Girls” or “Panpan Girls” outside of the ancient Geisha tradition. These women were, in fact, prostitutes, and they tarnished the reputation of the ancient art of Geisha.

Madame Butterfly Costume

Fans of the Madame Butterfly Opera might wear a Geisha dress as a Madame Butterfly costume. To turn a geisha dress into a Madame Butterfly costume, carry a dagger and wrap a scarf around your neck, because Butterfly killed herself at the end of the opera. Any kimono and costume wig with white face makeup like a traditional geisha will do.

Japanese Kimono Costumes

A kimono would be the basis for any Japanese costume. Footwear is there wooden platform style shoes, made from bamboo, to be worn with a Kimono to really make the look distinctive and authentic. The white makeup and black wig complete the look. You can buy a makeup kit that has sketches and application ideas for several different faces. A traditional Geisha face has a certain look, but you might want to make yours scary, more animal or sexier to match the pattern of your silk, the cut of your dress or just for fun.

Geisha Costumes

Asian costumes for women mostly all start with a kimono. The richly embroidered sash that is tied around the waist of a kimono is called an obi and in unmarried women, and Geisha, it is tied in the back. Married women tie their obi in the front, and the folds and pleats are sometimes used for carrying things, almost like a purse. Men who fantasize about geisha girls often imagine dominatrix-style play using the obi, so you might want to practice wrapping and rewrapping yours . . . just in case.

Of course, if you don’t care for the authentic look, nobody will turn up their noses if you wear a sexy short skirt, look a bit goth or punk, or heck, even wear a silk robe with a black sash (urr, obi.)

Asian Couples Costumes

A woman dressed as a Geisha can party with a Ninja, a Sumo wrestler, a U.S. army soldier or an old Oriental Emperor. What sounds like fun to you?

Hair Style of a Geisha

For Geisha hair, a loose bun is made on the top of the head and secured with beaded chopsticks, flowers or embellishments. Traditionally, of course, chopsticks are not used but for costume fun, a chopstick bun is effective. To make the loose bun that’s typical of a geisha, begin by putting mousse or gel into dry hair and back-combing it to create a tall poof of hair on top of the head. Gently roll the poof into a bun shape and secure with hair pins. Use a comb to smooth out the hair along the hairline so it doesn’t look ratty. Spray with hair spray to make it shiny and stable. If your hair is shorter, you might want to try the Geisha costume wigs, they look awesome.

Being a Geisha

Aside from wearing the proper costume, a Geisha must behave a certain way. Geisha are obedient and demure, serving tea silently and entertaining in a very feminine, graceful way. To play the part of a Geisha, you might want to have a costume accessory, like a shamisen (traditional Japanese musical instrument), or a tea set. Follow your man obediently, like a 1950’s housewife, and tend to his every need. If silent obedience isn’t your style, the make-up will help. Go ahead, try it! You can always get even after the party.