Learning how to make historical costumes can be useful for various events: reenactments, school plays, even book reports. For beginners, however, it’s difficult to know where to start. Elaborate dresses from movies can be wonderful sources for inspiration, but attempting one of those on a first try is as ambitious as replicating a Van Gogh without previous painting experience. Just as one needs to learn the basics of brush strokes and blending to paint, a costumer needs to learn the basic regarding fabrics and styles of clothing worn during the specified era. This is an introduction and resource for those interested in 18th century France, the time of Marie Antoinette, Victor Hugo, Versailles, peasants and a glamorous aristocracy. This guide includes the basics on what clothing was worn by both women and men, images, and a list of instructional and contextual resources.

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What should you wear to fit your body type? It’s a question we all ask! There are many different articles of clothing that can either help show off our wonderful assets or slightly cover up something we don’t necessarily want showing. Dressing for your shape comes into play while shopping for your day-to-day wardrobe, but it’s just as important during Halloween. The costume experts at HalloweenCostumes.com have created a guide to help you make the perfect choice this October!

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If you're hanging out with your group of girlfriends this Halloween, you definitely have a lot to plan. Do you want to stay in and watch scary movies or do you want to go out? Do you want throw your own bash or do you want to hit the town and be seen? Do you want a candied apple or a bag of Twizzlers? Like I said, lots to plan. The most important thing, though: what are you going to wear? If you want to be remembered for looking great, and not for how many candy corns you can eat in 60 seconds, then you should start putting together an amazing group costume. We here at HalloweenCostumes.com have come up with a ton of awesome costume themes that are perfect for you and your group of girls to be noticed.

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Arrrr, pirates! Romantic, dashing, full of eyeliner and dreadlocks, they have entertained us for so long we tend to forget who the real pirates were. There's more of a chance you'll know the name Jack Sparrow over Edward Teach, or Captain Hook over Christopher Newport. Even hearing the name Dread Pirate Roberts will have you bellowing "You killed my father ... prepare to die!" before you think about Bartholomew Roberts.Since pirate garb is a time-honored costume theme for Halloween, it's time to cheer for the real pirates behind the dashing Hollywood characters. So break out the rum, host a pirate theme party, and let's celebrate by counting down seven famous pirates created by Hollywood, and a matching real-life pirate.

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Cosplay is so big right now. Like, huge. Sure, this hobby has been around since the 80s, but the originally Japanese-only fad has been steadily increasing in popularity. Cosplayers around the world are creating their own costumes and props to recreate their favorite characters from video games, movies, and TV shows. These enthusiasts often gather online before they meet at the conventions to share tips, tricks, and pictures. The costume experts at HalloweenCostumes.com have have found some of the best cosplay pages and resources out there. Enjoy!

Warning: While these links aren't obscene, please use discretion while browsing at work! Weapons and bikinis ahead!

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Makeup is what can take your Halloween costume from yawn-inducing to award-winning. I believe that makeup is just as essential as a wand is to a Harry Potter costume or an eye patch is to a Jack Sparrow get-up; without these accessories, the outfit would be alright, but with them, the costume is enchanting. Not sure how to get the look you want? Don’t fear! I’ve found the top 25 best makeup tutorial videos, from super-sweet to super-sick, and I am going to share with you! Here they are, in no particular order:

 

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Organizing a large group of people to do one thing can be hard. This can be especially if you want to make a good impression at a dress-up party! Anyone can show up at a Halloween get-together in matching cut-up sheets and say they’re ghosts, but it can take some serious brain-storming to come up with a group costume that’s both creative and fun. If you want to arrive on Halloween in a group of costumes that no one has thought of before, you’ve come to the right place! Check out these ideas.

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So, you’re going as a cartoon character for Halloween. How do you complete your look and wow all your friends this year? Why, with makeup, of course! Huge eyes are a staple in anime and video games, and if you achieve that effect, you’ll be sure to impress everyone. The look is versatile and works for different characters, ages, and events, like Halloween parties or anime conventions. Our HalloweenCostumes.com makeup expert put together this awesome step-by-step tutorial to help you transform into a cartoon.

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A lot of the best things in life come in groups of five. The Jackson 5, for example, had five members. Ben Folds Five didn’t, but they were still good. Other notables: the high-five, five senses, the number of piano concertos by Beethoven, the five-second rule, and the movie The Fifth Element. Another great thing that can come in a group of five? Halloween costumes! Here are some Halloween costume ideas for groups of 5.

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Marilyn Monroe is known for her embodiment of glamour, confidence and charm. Her classic look is unforgettable: platinum blonde curls, dramatic eyes, bright red lips, and, of course, her beauty mark. If you plan on dressing up as Marilyn or any other starlet for Halloween, you can't forget the makeup! You’ll need it to achieve the timeless 1950s look to complete your outfit. Our HalloweenCostumes.com makeup expert has put together a step-by-step video on how to look just like a pin-up bombshell.

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