Undecided on what you’ll wear to this year’s Halloween party?
Top choices reflect celebrities and characters from the silver screen, said Susan Stringer, manager of Beauty & the Beast Costumes in Red Bank.
“I’ve been in the business for nearly 20 years, and the most popular costumes every year are typically based on the year’s top movies or top entertainers,” she said. “And if a movie stars Johnny Depp, like this year’s ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ the costume based on the Johnny Depp character is always the No. 1 seller.”
This year’s favorite costume for young-adult women is Lady Gaga, followed closely by Alice of Alice in Wonderland and the characters from “Avatar.”
Despite a down economy, Americans are expected to spend more money for costumes this year than last, according to a National Retail Federation report.
“After pulling back considerably last year, Americans appear ready to open their wallets for Halloween,” the report noted. “The average person will spend $66 on Halloween this year – similar to 2008 – and total holiday spending will reach nearly $6 billion.”
Stringer said shoppers are spending an average of about $45 for a costume at her store.
“So far, I’m getting about the same amount of shoppers I had this time last year, but they are buying more expensive costumes,” she said. “I am, though, selling a lot of Disney princess costumes, and they sell for around $58.”
“In recent years, Halloween has provided a welcome break from reality, allowing many Americans a chance to escape from the stress the economy has put on their family and incomes,” National Retail Federation president and CEO Matthew Shay said on the organization’s website.
North Chattanooga resident Leah Anderson Golden said Halloween has been one of her favorite holidays since childhood.
“I grew up on Lookout Mountain, and Halloween was so fun up there,” she said. “I remember getting a group of friends together every year and trick-or-treating all through Fairyland.”
Golden and her husband, Russell Golden, dress in costume to accompany their toddlers on a trick-or-treat adventure through their neighborhood.
“Russell ends up being an astronaut each year because he has a personalized flight suit from an adult Space Camp trip,” Golden said. “I like to have a different costume each year so the kids can see Mom being silly. Last year I was a queen bee. This year I am a 1950s girl, which is fun since big belts are back in.”
The children will wear Mickey and Minnie Mouse costumes, Golden said.
“Now that we have kids, Halloween is even more fun. It is great to dress them up and let them see all of their buddies dressed up, too,” she said. “This year I found the kids’ costumes at the Jack & Jill consignment sale.”
TOP COSTUMES
WOMEN
1. Lady Gaga
2. Wonder Woman
3. Alice in Wonderland
4. Neytiri (“Avatar”)
5. Batgirl
MEN
1. Jake Sully (“Avatar”)
2. Capt. Jack Sparrow
3. Halo master chief
4. Thor
5. Viking warrior
GIRLS
1. Hannah Montana
2. Alice in Wonderland
3. Hermione Granger (“Harry Potter”)
4. Bo Peep (“Toy Story”)
5. Tinker Bell
BOYS
1. Iron Man
2. Aang (“The Last Airbender”)
3. Harry Potter
4. Spider-Man
5. Wolverine