When trying to choose a Halloween costume, I beg you – stay away from purchasing a bag containing the “sexy” version of anything.  If you are sexy, it will be obvious to everyone.  If you need to wear your underwear on the outside, or basically wear a sign saying how desperately you want to be viewed as an object, then you don’t exactly exude the confidence necessary to be a truly HOT MAMA.

In my first of edition of costume inspiration for the hipster-oriented, I am featuring pop culture at its finest!

Paint Yo Face

The options for face painting are infinite!  Here we have the Cheshire Cat, and comic book lady face.  I’m thinking about making the comic book-look my everyday thing.

80s/90s Icons

Go fishing for costumes in a guy-friend’s dirty clothes hamper and you can be Kurt Cobain!  Fall asleep for 16 hours after binge-drinking in your babydoll dress and red lipstick and you’re already on your way to reppin’ Courtney Love.  The cast of Heathers is back, big time.  Unfortunately so are shoulder pads.  Why, oh why?  For a tougher look, Sigourney Weaver was a badass beauty in all of the Alien movies.  And last, but not least, Siouxsie Sioux minus her Banshees.  The Queen of Darkness, Punk Princess and no one pulls off the Egyptian eyes like she does, but you should try!!

Wes Anderson Characters

You can’t go wrong with Wes Anderson.  Shop around at the vintage shops in your hood, or Etsy (of course).  Get a fake fur, a retro dress with a Peter Pan collar and some black eyeliner.  Don’t limit yourself to the female characters, dear ladies.  Gender is on a continuum and not binary.  Feel free, always.

Tim Burton Characters

Always a Halloween costume classic, Tim Burton.  You may say, “so overdone Ella!”  One would think so, since Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Alice in Wonderland are a cornucopia of gloomy glam, but I have never seen an actual Lydia costume worn in my experience.  DO IT!  Send me pics, I will put them up post-Halloween!

Mary Kate and Ashley

Flat iron your hair, add the boho curl to the ends, don’t forget some black eyeliner and slap on a fake fur.  Oh, and maybe skip breakfast, lunch and dinner for a day or two.  BAM!  You’re the twins.  It’s that easy.

Ewwww Factor

This is awesome.  If it won’t give you nightmares of bugs trying to eat your flesh, this could be for you!  Just get some glue, nylons or tights, and you have a prize-worthy costume in the works.