Movie Costume Ideas

Hollywood's Secret To Great Movie Costumes

Looking for movie costumes online?  Welcome to MovieCostumeIdeas.net - your source for the best movie costumes.

Here's exactly what you need to know about getting great movie costume ideas for you and your kids to wear this year.  Top studio wardrobe designers use this strategy and you should too.  It comes down to three steps: first choose an appropriate theme, second brainstorm your ideas, and third research your character.After reading this page you'll be able to select the best costume and ensure that you have a great time at your Halloween party, favorite movie or TV show convention, or other costumed event.

The first step is to choose an appropriate theme. Movie costume ideas run the gamut from cartoons to horrific.  There are tons of movie themes -- western, sci fi, sexy, war, high tech, spy, and on and on and on. Make sure the theme you choose will be appropriate for the event you're going to.  For example if you're going to a party with young kids, it may not be appropriate to dress up like chainsaw-wielding Leatherface from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Or if you're attending an office costume party, you may not convey the desired image if you dress up in Nicole Kidman's sexy "Moulin Rouge" dancer outfit. If you're still not sure if your theme choice is appropriate, just ask a friend or two that you trust.

Also make sure the theme you select will be comfortable and safe for your event.  Make sure you're not dress up like the polar bear from "Ice Age" if your going to a 6-hour indoor dance party.  And make sure you don't wear Kiss bass player Gene Simmons' high heel boots if you're going trick or treating with the kids.

But, not to worry. From the tons of movie characters created through the years, you still have thousands of costumes to choose from. You're sure to find something that you'll love. Which brings us to the Step 2 - Brainstorming. Keeping your chosen theme in mind, take 5 minutes and write a huge list of movie characters you think you might like to dress up as for your event.  Don't censor yourself with comments like - "I'll never be able to find that costume" or "I can't pull that on off" . Just write and write and write for at least 5 minutes, straight through. If you get stuck just remember great Hollywood characters from the different popular movies you've seen over the last couple of years.  Don't just limit yourself to the main characters. Also remember the great support character's that caught your eye. Next, beside each character choice, write an "1", "2" or "3".  A "1" means you absolutely would love to dress up as this character, a "2" means it would be pretty neat, and a "3" means it would be OK.  Now cross everything off your list except the characters you put a "1" beside.  Then, out of those favorites, select the top three that excite you the most when you think about dressing up like them.  But you're not quite finished yet. Carry these top three over to your final step. Finally, Step 3 is Research. Don't worry this is the most fun stage.  Go to your movie magazines or You Tube and check out movie clips of your 3 characters choices.  Write down on a pad of paper different parts of their costumes.  Be as detailed as possible.  Note hairstyles, shoes, dress, colors, jewelry, makeup, etc.  Also note the attitude of your character or any catch phrases you can say (i.e. "I Want In!" - G.I. Joe" or "Fascinating ..." - Spock in Star Trek or "But I Fear It Will Soon Be" - Optimus Prime in Transformers). Now after this research you will have no doubt absolutely fallen in love with one of your three characters.  That's your costume choice!

And that should do it!  The whole process shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes. Just remember to first narrow your choices down to an appropriate theme, then brainstorm (nonstop and without censoring yourself) for 5 minutes remembering all the movie characters you saw from recent or classic movies, then take about 15 minutes to research your three characters and select the one you've fallen in love with.

Now take this information, choose your best costume ever, and go have a terrific time at your event!

Brainstorming Costume Ideas

If you're having trouble brainstorming creative costume ideas, then here's 3 great, "never-fail" theme niche ideas to save you lot of time and headaches: Traditional costumes, period themes, and famous people.  By reading this section you'll get your brainstorming juices gushing like the proverbial fire hose!

Traditional costumes are those all time favorites we remember from our childhood.  Witch costumes, pirate costumes, ghost costumes and vampire costumes, for example, all fall within this category.  The secret to making it to making it special is to add a creative twist.  This is done by uniquely exaggerating a special feature of your character.

Two recent examples I've seen were a vampire with obsessive cleaning disorder who handed out wet wipes and asked people to "Please clean your neck";  and a "diva" witch dressed in Prada and Gucci who walked around casting spells on party goers in a cosmopolitan New York City accent.

Another great idea is Period Costumes Themes.  Gangster costumes, remain a favorite.  I still see Bonnie & Clyde costumes every year.  Renaissance costumes continue to please people, as well.  Again, add your own creative twist.  For example at an office party last year I saw the ghost of Bonnie & Clyde complete with tattered ganster suits with hundreds "bullet holes" dripping "fake blood".

Another third fantastic, and frankly, my favorite theme is Famous People Costumes.  This category is divided into historic (i.e. Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart), and pop/modern (i.e. Madonna, Tiger Woods, Ryan Seacrest).  Again remember to add your own twist by exaggerating well known characteristics.

For example, two of my recent favorites were an disheveled Amy Winehouse costumed party goer (complete with huge eyelashes and bad hair), stumbling around with an empty champagne bottle in one hand, slurring off key "They tried to make me go to rehab, I said no, no, no..." ; and a guy dressed in up like shortstop Alex Rodriguez with about 100 syringes taped to his Yankee's baseball uniform sincerely pleading his case, "You know I only took steroids that one time, right..."

Do you see what I mean about brainstorming costume ideas?  Most people simply aren't aware it's as easy as picking a theme then adding your own unique twist.  Three of the best are Traditional, Period, and Famous People themed costumes.

Now that I've got your creative brainstorming juices flowing, take 5 or 10 minutes and come up with a few ideas yourself. Don't forget to add your own unique twist.  Have fun!

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