Halloween Costume Trends in 2012: What's Hot?

Zombies are big this year.

“It’s a little bit of zombie everything,” said Durton Koble, manager at Halloween Express Superstore near Ridgedale Center.

Koble has been following the tends this season as people decide the big October question: “What will I be for Halloween?”

The Halloween Express Superstore is open through Halloween day on 1501 Plymouth Road South in Minnetonka, in a new location this year near Champp’s and Marshalls. The last three years, the costume and decor shop was located next to Sports Authority across I-394 from the mall.

“Traffic is insane,” said Koble about the new location. 

The store also has locations in Richfield, Burnsville, Anoka and Maplewood.

One big trend that costume companies didn’t catch up to quickly enough is Hunger Games characters.

“Everybody that comes in asks if we have anything Hunger Games,” Koble said. “Nobody does, even if you look online.”

Zombies

Although she said she's not sure what sparked the interest this year, Koble said, “Zombies are classic and fun"—and that he goes as one himself most years.

Last year, kids were choosing “cutesy” costumes. A big change this year, is that they want to be scary.

“Every little girl wanted to be a princess or a ladybug,” he said. “Now even six-year-old girls are wanting to be creepy. Like they’ll still be a princess, but now it’s a ‘bloody princess.’ They’ll buy make-up to pale their face and some blood to throw on.”

Superheroes

Batman, Robin, Superman and Wonder Woman are big sellers this season.

The trend of experiencing a night as a Marvel superhero or villain is a trend for both kids and adults, according to Koble.

"City Workers"

As far as women’s costumes go, the most popular is what Koble refers to as “city workers”: police officers, nurses and construction workers.

“Women usually stick within the same boundaries each year,” he said. “They all want to be the sexy version of a ‘city worker.’”

Another trend in women’s costumes comes from another generation.

“One trend is ‘greaser,’ like everyone wants to come from the ‘50s,” Koble said. “Or they want to be a ‘50s housewife with beehive hair, pearls and dress with the white apron.”

Popular 2012 Costumes

• Zombies
• Pirates
• Harry Potter
• Superheroes
• Power Rangers
• Morph suits (nylon skin-tight suit that covers the whole body)
• Clowns (inspired by Madagascar 3)
• Jake and the Neverland Pirates (toddlers)
• Toy Story (toddlers)

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