Costumes For Spring Break Skiing
Many mountain slopes across the country are readying themselves for one last blast of skiing and snowboarding for the season. For the Spring-Breakers who prefer fresh powder over fine sandy beaches, heading to a ski resort is the perfect way to keep the adrenaline rush going until there just isn’t a mogul left to master or a slope to shred. Who needs to catch a wave to ride when you can nab some big air off the half-pipe just like Shaun White (in your dreams!).
Spring break skiing is just as much about the party and perfecting your Bota bag swigging skills as it is about looking good out there on the runs. Everyone wants to make and impression in a “I-didn’t-try-too-hard-way” in their gear and snow outfits; why not take it over the top by wearing some of the best Halloween costumes from last year’s costume party. You’ll feel like swinging from the snow-dusted treetops in a great big hairy gorilla costume; yes, we’ve really seen these swishing down the slopes. In addition to gathering up all the attention, a gorilla costume wearing skier will also stay toasty warm with the benefits of a full-body, furry suit.
Another idea for spring break skiing costumes is to dress as a rabbit and turn yourself into a literal “ski bunny”. If the weather is still below freezing, go for the mascot-style Easter bunny costume, but if the weather’s warming up women can really make a sexy statement in a Playboy bunny costume which is perfect for après-ski activities as well! For spring break skiing, really anything goes – keep celebrating winter by dressing up as a snowman, a penguin or an Eskimo cutie. Or, be a harbinger of temperatures rising by suiting up in tropical beachwear, hula skirts, bikinis or whatever your bare skin can bear!
Some Of Oscar’s Best Film Costumes
With the 82nd Annual Academy Awards quickly approaching, movie aficionados will tune in to see who wins what in the year’s best movies. This got me thinking about what makes a truly memorable movie. Of course, the talent of actors portraying various characters pulls the audience into the story, but so does the cinematography, the musical score and the high-tech special effects. But, all these things aside, one of my favorite parts of the movie watching experience is admiring the costumes created and styled by talented costume designers. Some movie costumes are based in history, transporting us seamlessly to a time gone by – or to a reality we haven’t yet imaged. Other costumes are fantastical, over-the-top and beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, until we see them on the big screen. If you are movie fan like me, you’ll enjoy dressing up like characters from some of these past films that have received an Oscar for “Best Picture”.
Scarlet O’Hara: A true steel magnolia, the pretty protagonist from the 1939 Best Film winner Gone With The Wind wears the stereotypical Southern Belle costume. From the heavy velvet gown made from Ms. Ellen’s drapes to the delicate, tiered white dress and big sun hat worn at the barbeque, a Scarlet O’Hara costume is definitely for the sassy gal that does give a dang!
Rocky Balboa: Go the distance this underdog prize fighter from the 1976 Best Film winner, Rocky. Grab a Halloween costume of a boxer complete with silk shorts, a hooded robe (your name spelled out on back) and a pair of red boxing gloves.
Mozart: The historical biopic, Amadeus, won the 1984 Best Film Oscar and left us with an impression of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart not to be forgotten. Recreate the music, the magic and the madness with a 17th century aristocratic costume and powdered white wig that transforms you into this famous musical genius.
Frodo Baggins: In the 2003 Oscar winning movie, Lord of the Rings (Return of the King), hobbit Frodo prepares for the final battle in Middle Earth on his journey to Mt. Doom. Dress in a Frodo Lord of the Rings costume made of cropped brown pants, a hooded cloak, sword and hairy feet!
Creative Kids Make Costumes From Duct Tape and Trash
What do you get when you mix hundreds of creative kids with as much duct tape as they can get their hands on? You get an amazing array of costumes created especially for the Out-Of-The-Box Costume Ball at the Destination Imagination Global Tournament. Destination Imagination is a non-profit organization that provides an educationally-based outlet for students to learn and experience creativity, teamwork and problem solving and Each year at the Global Tournament, this unique and utterly fun event sponsors an “Out Of The Box Ball” as a way for the kids to cut loose and show-off their handiness with scissors, tape, cardboard, recyclables and little else except maybe a few good costume accessories! It’s amazing what types of costume ideas that these smart kids come up with – most have more creativity in their little pinkies that we adult have in our whole bodies!
From over-the-top “The Joker” costume from Batman made entirely of different colored duct tapes to ball gowns made of yesterday’s newspaper, these costume ideas would make the contestants on “Project Runway” green with envy. Watch the kids in action or ask for tips, these highly creative costumers often are asked to create costumes from paper, mailing labels and other leftover stuff in mere minutes during one of the signature events at the competition, the Instant Challenge. Not afraid to go out on a limb, these teams can fan fold, hole punch, tape, twist and tear their way into a costume that will make you say “wow”! One interesting technique an elementary school kid shared was making flimsy materials like foil, newspaper, or fabric stiffer and more durable by lining the back with slightly overlapping strips of duct tape. Next, you can cut your creation into any shape desired, connect with more duct tape – no sewing required! For Central Challenges, which can often take several months to solve, kids can get more elaborate with their outfits, adding silly costume accessories such as feather boas, oversized sunglasses, face paints, costume shoes, crazy hats and more!
Tooth Fairy Day Today
February 28th is certainly a day to smile about, so show those pearly whites (or lack thereof)! It’s National Tooth Fairy Day, a time to honor the beloved nighttime visitor of children all over the world. Losing baby teeth is a time of excitement and also anxiety; the character of the Tooth Fairy helps to allay any fears a little one might have with the promise of money or a little present left under the pillow at night in exchange for the tooth.
There is much debate about whether the Tooth Fairy is a man or a woman, but does it really matter as long as the tutu fits?! We like to think that the Tooth Fairy is exactly what you imagine, be that delicate little pixie or someone that is a little more, err, substantial in his style. And that brings us to the “Rock” and his muscle-enhanced portrayal of this magical being of teeth. In this kid’s movie, released January 22, 2010,, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays a tough hockey player who is fulfilling a 1 week punishment for misconduct by serving as the tooth fairy. Wearing the stereotypical Tooth Fairy costume complete with tutu, wings and a magical wand, Johnson puts a clumsy yet comedic spin on the everyday duties of the Tooth Fairy. The motto of the movies is “The tooth hurts”, but we don’t want to be a spoiler, so you’ll have to find out what happens by taking your kids to the movie!
There are lots of fittingly funny Tooth Fairy costumes for men and women alike, most look like white ballerina outfits sometimes embellished with a big satiny molar on the bodice. Add some great accessories from Costume Machine to your Tooth Fairy costume and become the fluttering ambassador of baby teeth adored by kiddos everywhere. Wear sneakers or high heels (whatever your preference), and add a pair of pliers around your neck along with some dollars for rewarding children’s lost teeth.
Have A Roaring (Chinese) New Year
We are a few weeks into the Chinese New Year which officially was rung in on in festival form on February 14, 2010. As one of the most important days on the Chinese calendar, this event is punctuated by regional customs and traditions that include sweeping away bad fortune and buying presents and clothing for a new start. Many of the Chinese costumes worn during these festivities include cheongsams, a one piece dress that skims the body with high leg-revealing slits, qipaos (similar to cheongsams), mandarin blouses, and jackets and pants.
During the actual Chinese New Year parades, the Dragon Dance is often the highlight. The dragon is a prominent figure in Chinese mythology, considered a symbol of good fortune, intelligence, courage, fertility and other desirable qualities (that’s why you always see it embroidered over Chinese clothing). The Dragon Dance always features a spectacular dragon costume that consists of a dragon head mask, carried by the head dancer, and a long slithering body that is supported on poles carried by the other dancers. Sometimes this Chinese New Year costume even features an animated mouth and tongue that spews out a fiery breath.
In 2010, tiger costumes will be big in Far East celebrations because it is the “Year of the Tiger”. The Tiger is the third sign in the cycle of the Chinese Zodiac and represents courage as a fearless fighter to ward off the three most feared household disasters, fire, thieves and ghosts. The tiger also represents power, passion and royalty in the Chinese culture. This year in China, you’ll be able to buy literally everything from umbrellas to underwear imprinted with beautiful images of the tiger. Tiger costumes will also be popular at many times through out the New Year, from adorable, cozy little tiger suits for toddlers and children to elaborate, ornate tiger costumes suitable for the stage. Faces painted up with orange and black makeup, in the image of this glorious creature, will also make a roaring impression at any Year of the Tiger event. Check out Costume Machine to see what you can get your "paws" on!
Get Funky In A King Tut Costume
How’d you get so funky, King Tut? In case you’ve been living under a pyramid or something, King Tutankhamen was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who is now most known for the widely-visited museum displays of his belongings, the fact that he was a “boy king”, the mysterious circumstances of his death. Reigning over Egypt from age 9 to about 19 years old, many have speculated that he was murdered by a blow to the back of the head. Recently, scientists have concluded that he probably died of gangrene after breaking his leg, quite likely in a chariot accident.
Who could forget Steve Martin’s rendition, later performed on Saturday Night Live, of “King Tut”. Performed in an over-the-top style and SNL’s most expensive set up until that date, Martin’s homage to the boy king became an instant classic with comedy fans everywhere. If you feel like dancing by the Nile, dress up in a King Tut costume like Steve Martin with a wrapped, long skirt in a metallic Egyptian fabric that had a criss-cross collar across a bare chest. Add a headdress and step out of a sarcophagus, and you’ll feel anything but dead in this afterlife.
There are other Egyptian costumes found through Costume Machine that work well for a King Tut costume. For example, one such costume features a gauzy white tunic with intricate gold lame and turquoise belt, cuffs, collar and elaborate headpiece that is actually modeled after Tutankhamun’s death mask. For an authentic look, wear heavy eyeliner around your eyes and pointing out at the lids in the same manner of the reconstruction photo of King Tut. Who knows, maybe you could wear this “golden idol” look to the “Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” exhibit as it travels from San Francisco to New York City in April 2010.
Snowboarder Flips for Wendy’s
As if we didn’t already have an idea; Olympic snowboarder, Shaun White, knows how to have a good time in costume (aside from those crazy “anti-uniforms” he and his team mates are wearing at the 2010 Winter Olympics). The picture, originally snapped by skateboarding legend, Tony Hawk, and posted on twitter certainly allays our concerns about what livelihood White might fall back on if the snowboarding and endorsement deals don’t work out. I’m sure that every snowboarder has flipped a burger or two in his day.
Even if you aren’t a snowboarder who has taken too many bangs in the head, you may still want to dress up as the young burger maiden, Wendy, from the eponymous international burger chain. Named after founder Dave Thomas’ fourth child, Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas, this fast food restaurant is known for its “fresh not frozen” square patties and Frosty frozen treats. To create a Wendy’s costume, you’ll need to gather up a few key elements like the blue striped blouse with the ruffled lace bib and a red apron. If you don’t have a friend employed at Wendy’s that can help you out with the apron, just use any old apron and iron –on letters. Of course, you’ll also need a Pippi Longstocking like red wig that curls up in two perky braids; check at Costume Machine for a few good choices. Use a grease pencil to speckle in a few freckles an you’ll be a hit with all the carnivores that you know.
If you are looking for other fast-food costumes, we’ve seen larger-than-life pizza slices, soft-serve ice-cream cones, hot dogs and sleeves of French fries. Or, recreate a corporate character by going in mascot costume from other restaurants such as the iconic clown, Ronald McDonald or the slightly subversive “King” of Burger King fame.
US Snowboard Team & The “Anti-Uniform”
By now, you’ve probably seen at least some of the XXI Winter Olympics in Vancouver that started this past Friday. Starting today and through tomorrow, the Snowboarding events will take place at Cypress Mountain, the venue set to host the snowboard halfpipe. If you didn’t catch a glimpse of the US Snowboarding Team’s uniforms in the opening ceremonies, then you’re sure to see them in all their (ragged) glory once the qualifiers begin.
Designed by Burton to “speak to individuality, heritage and the snowboard culture”, these uniforms are created to look like a casual plaid hoodie (in red-white-and-blue, of course) and pair of distressed jeans complete with fading and rips. Everyone agrees; wearing one of these uniforms is like wearing the ultimate “anti-uniform”. Although these snowboard costumes look like the clothes being worn by half the teenage population in America, Burton actually has them designed for warmth and performance using the Gore-Tex brand. Looking cool on the snow, guys!
Whether you think the snowboarding girls and guys are look like “homeys” or just the homeless, there is no arguing that the uniforms are especially unique (even for the non-conformist) and are sure to garnish plenty of attention one way or the other for the good, old U.S.A. Get into the competitive spirit yourself by decking yourself out with a snowboarder costume inspired by these Olympic costume or other snowboarder costumes. A pair of baggy cargo pants and jacket along with a helmet and goggles will give you the look of a fearless sportster ready to shred it up. Don’t take a real board with you, but make one out of cardboard and paint and tote it around under arm, bragging about the McTwist 720 you just did. For a spot-on impression, wear a long red wig found through Costume Machine and go as everyone’s favorite boarder, Shaun White, the “flying tomato”!
Ice Skating Costumes Are Golden
The Winter Olympics XXI, hosted in Vancouver this year, officially starts tonight with the opening ceremonies and ski jumping preliminaries! But forget about the luge, ice hockey or bobsled; what we’re waiting to see at the 2010 Winter Olympics are the costumes worn in the ice skating events. From glamorous costumes (think Nancy Kerrigan) to more garish outfits (think ice nemesis, Tonya Harding), watching the sport for the outfits alone is reason enough.
These flashy costumes, that can cost thousands of dollars, are designed months, even a year, in advance to fit with the athlete’s music, personality and style. To a professional skater, wearing the right skating outfit is no different than choosing the perfect Oscar gown for a movie star. Even celebrity clothing designer, Vera Wang, has made costumes for some of the top contenders in the sport such as Evan Lysacek, Nancy Kerrigan and Michelle Kwan. Wang reports that the costumes must sparkle from every angle like an evening dress yet hold up to the strains of working out hard, a tall order.
There are no fictional characters who can rock a sequined bodysuit better that Chazz Micheal Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy in the 2007 comedy, . These two rival Olympic ice skaters (played by Will Ferrell and Jon Heder, respectively) team up as an unlikely skating pair after being banned from single competition. You can create your own hysterical tribute to this laugh-out-loud farce by creating your own costumes. Just bedazzling some Lycra workout wear with rhinestones and spangles and you’ll have all the confidence you need to throw a triple Salcow jump. Add a long brown wig or perfectly-coiffed pretty boy blonde wig, headbands and face paint (all found through Costume Machine) to create a perfect 10 ice skating costume!
Commanding Costumes for Presidents’ Day
To many, Presidents’ Day is a pseudo holiday that means, if you’re lucky, you get the day off school or work and get to flip through the television channels watching the auto dealership guys wearing big Uncle Sam hats jumping up and down peddling their cars. But more historically-minded folks know that President’s Day, now celebrated the 3rd Monday of each February, is a federal holiday that originally started out in 1880 as a way to honor our nation’s first president, George Washington. Washington was born on February 22, 1732 while Abe Lincoln, our much revered 16th president, celebrated his birthday on February 12, 1809. In the 70s, Congress voted to dedicate the holiday to both men, and actually all of our past presidents regardless of what month they were born in. Interestingly, in addition to Washington and Lincoln, Ronald Regan and William Harrison were the only other two presidents born in February. The month boasting the most presidents born is actually October with six!
This year Presidents' Day falls on February 15th, celebrate in style by dressing up as one of the past leaders of the free world, excluding our current president, Barack Obama, you have 43 past presidents to choose from. Of course, because of his role in the founding of the United States, George Washington is always a top choice in president costumes. The most popular George Washington costume is designed to resemble is Colonial-era General uniform. Leather boots, a powered wig and a tricorn hat will lend you a commanding look – and that’s no lie! An Abe Lincoln costume, of course, features the tall stove pipe hat he was known for toting his legal documents around in! A beard with mutton chops finished the look off, honestly! If you are more interested in dressing up as a contemporary president, there are many latex masks that you can pair with a dark business suit – Obama, Bush, Clinton, Reagan, and Nixon are perfect choices for supporters and pundits alike!