Countdown to Halloween: Anime Costume Ideas

I started watching anime when The Precious was tiny and would only sleep in my arms. I had to hold her all day long, so that ruled out much movement and led to the need for finding things to watch that had continuing stories. I have found a lot of shows I love, several that drive me crazy, and quite a few that leave me wondering what on earth is in the water in Japan!
Here are some interesting costume ideas from some of the ones I like.

Fullmetal Alchemist:

Fullmetal Alchemist Edward Elric Inspired Cosplay Apron Pinafore

Fullmetal Alchemist Blood Seal Pendant

Sadly, I couldn't find any place where you can buy a suit of armour like Al's. I guess that's not surprising though, really. It would be insanely heavy and expensive!

Black Butler

Dressing as Sebastian would be pretty easy--just look for a nice black suit, and don't forget the gloves. You could carry a teapot or flourish a fan of forks and knives.

For Ciel the darndest things come up when you search for costumes! It seems that for some reason, more people want to dress as Ciel wearing his girl disguise than Ciel in his normal Victorian boy's clothing. Who knows. This seller seems to have done a great job in making one of the dresses though.

Handmade Ciel Dance Dress

If you'd like to be Ciel in his regular clothing though, there are several options. This is probably my favourite but if you are looking for the others, they are on the same site.

CIel Phantomhive Black Suit Cosplay Costume

Oddly enough, I found an Undertaker costume on Etsy. I'm not sure how you'd manage to sharpen your teeth appropriately though.

Undertaker Cosplay Black Butler

If you wanted to dress as your favorite over-the-top, completely mad, man-chasing redheaded undertaker, yep, there's a costume for that too. It is in men's sizes but I'm thinking it will look more appropriate for the character if a female wears it. Will you choose a chainsaw or dual-wield scissors?

Gureru Sutcliffe Cosplay Costume

If you are a woman who wants to dress as a female there's always the screechy, clumsy maid, Meirin, who has a secret talent. Make sure that your glasses are easier to see through than hers are though, or you really will have a scary Halloween!

Meirin Cosplay Wig

Maylene Cosplay Costume

Spice and Wolf

I think if I ever go to a convention and am not dressed as something from Tolkien or the Whoniverse, I will probably be dressed as Horo/Holo. It really wouldn't be that hard!

Brown Long Fur Leather Wolf Dog Ears

Green Cloak Cape

Peeking from the bottom of the cloak, you'd need this.

Custom Furry Tail

Wear a little pouch containing wheat around your neck and carry an apple!

Mushi Shi

Really, I think only guys will be able to pull off the Ginko look. The clothes would be very easy--he usually wears a white long-sleeved button down and khakis. Wear a backpack and white wig. Ginko is usually smoking, so you could carry a hand-rolled cigar or cigarette (not sure which it is), but I think it's best not to encourage smoking. That one is your call.

I have a horrible feeling that I'm leaving out some great costumes, but I'm going to have to stop there. I realize that anime costumes are usually reserved for conventions,but why not wear them for Halloween?

What I Want for Fall: Dresses

Dresses

Dresses and skirts are my favourite garments--largely due to their comfort, believe it or not. And I guess there is something of the romantic in me that prefers dresses to trousers just for aesthetic purposes. The PreRaphaelite look will probably always be my favourite; it's just too bad that I can no longer fit my dear old favourite vintage Gunne Sax dresses! But I digress. The purpose of this is to show dresses that are actually available now that I would buy if I could. Hmm, I think I can manage that.

I must begin with Vivienne! I love the drapery of this dress (and the fact that it looks like it was actually designed for a real woman). I know most people think of white as a spring and summer colour, but just imagine this with gray (or bright blue or deep purple) patterned tights and ankle boots!

Apron Fish Dress--White

It's funny; I hate militarism and love military styling.

Femme Arsenal Military Dress

I love anything fishnet and actually designed dresses with fishnet portions similar to this back when I was in high school. I was so excited to see that someone else had the idea and was actually able to carry it out.

Fishnet Fashionista

I keep ending up at Victorian Trading Company!

There is something about this romantic old-fashioned dress that appeals to me.

Dusty Violette Dress

I would love to have this to wear to the opera. Then I would love to have a chance to go to the opera!

Grecian Empire Gown

There's something a bit mad about this dress--Ophelia singing bawdy songs and picking flowers springs to mind. I want it!

Ambrosia Dress

And for one last dress, a casual one for a change, I like this unusual little number from a very unusual company. Western looks are big this year and I can see a dress like this paired with some of those gorgeous designer cowgirl boots.

Iridescent Copper Dress

The bad thing is that I could find a hundred dresses at least that I want badly enough to share here. I think I had better let this be the end of this post, or it could go on forever.

Countdown to Halloween: Deathly Hands

I always get a kick out of projects that take really common, ordinary, humble objects and transform them into something cool. This one has to be one of the best examples I've seen lately!

Spooky Skeleton Hands

Latex gloves can now evoke fun Halloween memories rather than doctor's office nightmares!

Everybody Follow Me!

That's right, I'm begging you to become a Follower of my blog. There's this little button that says "Join This Site" and if you click it, every time you sign into google or blogger you will be able to easily see my updates. You will need a free google account for this, so if you don't have one yet, set one up! It's easy. And then you won't have to listen to me complaining about how the only follower I have is my own husband, who was given no option but to follow.

Countdown to Halloween: Tragedy with a Twist

I have just been dying (no pun intended) to share this artist's work and finally I have the chance! For clever, ironic, unusual, and macabre...well, one finds it difficult to call them "comics"...anyway, whatever they are, Benjamin Dewey does a glorious job making them!
Here are some of my favourites. Click the links to purchase and make sure you check out the whole shop!

Tragedy 234
Unemployment is striking everyone!

Tragedy 230
Ouch!

Tragedy 183
I don't know about you, but I never thought about that!

Not all of the "Tragedies" are creepy. Most are a bit silly and many are thought-provoking.

Tragedy 35
Some things never change!

So as you can see, Benjamin Dewey is brilliant and we should all buy his stuff because (I have to say it!) It would be a tragedy not to. Bazinga!

Countdown to Halloween: Bloody Good Invitations

Think outside of the envelope for your Halloween party invitations this year, and make something truly scary. Your guests may not be sure if it's safe to come!

Bones and Blood Halloween Invites

From the same link you can also find a great printable invitation in case edible bones are not your style. I think I would use these year-round. But I'm odd.

Countdown to Halloween: Cute and Nerdy Ghost Garland

I have never actually played Pac Man...it was a bit before my time. My time for video games actually wasn't until I met my husband, unless you count years of Age of Empires. I did grow up drinking out of Pac Man glasses, though, because my granny had several and often served us our drinks in them. Almost invariably it was soda in those glasses, btw, because Granny believed in spoiling her grandchildren when it came to food. So anyway, I may not have played Pac Man, but I have always thought the little characters were so cute! I love this idea for a Halloween garland inspired by Pac Man ghosts. I just might make one for our living room :D

See Pacman Halloween Garland and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

Countdown to Halloween: Edible Cauldrons

You'll never guess what these amazing treats are made of! Give up?

Chocolate Caramel Apple Cauldron
I know, right? I never would have guessed an apple could be decorated like that. It does look rather labour-intensive, but if you have some time and a Halloween bash coming up, go for it! Wouldn't it be great for a Harry Potter party too?

Nerdy Quote of the Week

“Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.”
― Albert Einstein

Ouch...this one hurts! I do know what he means though. How often I have had an idea for a story I wanted to write, but put it off for later because that would mean work (turning to a book to read instead) and found later that I no longer remember what my story was going to be about! I personally take the view that reading is only a bad thing if you do not take the time to think about what you read, analyze it, and make up your own mind. It is also bad if all you do is read, to the point that your house falls into ruins and you starve to death. Okay, so that is a bit extreme.

Do you agree with Einstein--that there is a danger to reading too much?

Countdown to Halloween: DIY the Corpse Bride Look

I admit it. I haven't seen this movie yet! I know, it's a Helena Bonham Carter movie and I should have seen it, but I haven't. I do want to though. I love the style of the animation and the character design.

If you would like to be the Corpse Bride for Halloween (or just for fun, because this is a free country after all!), Cut Out and Keep has it covered for you. You'll have to go to the site to find out how to make these items, so please click the link.

DIY the Look--Corpse Bride

I was hoping to be Miss Havisham this year but will probably end up throwing something dreadful together at the last minute. Why bring a Dickens character into this? Well, she is being played by Helena Bonham Carter in the upcoming movie, and of course, in many ways the poor thing is a corpse bride that just happens to still be alive and dangerous--very dangerous! Miss Havisham has fascinated me since I read Great Expectations in 8th grade (for fun--yes, I am a nerd).

First Look at Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham in Great Expectations

It would be such a great costume, and not too hard to do. I figure I would get a cheap old 80s Victorian style wedding dress and tea dye it, dirty it up a bit with maybe grey eyeshadow, tatter and tear it...it would be fun :D The only part I can't figure out is how to walk with one shoe off and one shoe on...that would get old fast! I guess that's why Miss Havisham mostly stays seated.