Platform Goth Gothic

3 Cool Ways to Use Your Halloween Costumes and Stuff All Year

Halloween costumes are not necessarily just for Halloween anymore, especially when you're talking about sexy costumes, Goth costumes, or party supplies. There are tons of ways to reuse those expensive items to extend their value.

My son taught me this lesson a couple of years ago. He was ten, and he had a real hankering to get a Goth or Punk costume, presumably to make him feel like a "big boy"...and of course, cool! I had no problem with this, and we set out to find the perfect Gothic look.

Let me tell you, there was no shortage in the stores and online. Goth was everywhere you looked. So he quickly settled on an uber-cool torn up red and black jacket with chains. It wasn't the best made piece of clothing in the world, but it wasn't the worst either. Next thing I knew, even though Halloween was still a month away, he was wearing it to school, getting tons of positive attention from his awe-struck friends. It was adorable.

The moral of this tale is - you guessed it - if you shop smart, you can use your costume for something other than frightening little kids with candy bags.

That whole ordeal got me thinking about other ways to use the great stuff I fall in love with in the stores every October. Since then, I shop for Halloween items in a whole new way.

Here are some examples:

Sexy Costumes

One of the most obvious alternate uses for costumes is lingerie. I'm sure we've all noticed the recent (and growing) trend in women's costumes to be sexier and sexier. Many of the costumes border on indecent to start with, but even the less revealing or suggestive of them can be used in role play between consenting adults.

Popular ones include Catholic School Girl Costumes, Sailor Costumes, Alice in Wonderland, and variations on the Disney characters, like the Disney Snow White Costume. Seductive Vampires work really well too, especially considering the popularity of the Twilight series.

Wigs are also great costume accessories to use in love play. If it's a high enough quality wig, you can wear it out for a night on the town as well.

Gothic Costumes

Take a page out of my son's book and consider some of the various Gothic costumes and accessories for year round, if you're into that sort of thing. They really pull out all the stops in October when it comes to stuff like that, and you can really find some neat items that stores don't normally carry. Some of them are even of decent or good quality.

Chokers, spiked leather accessories, gothic belts, wicked-looking jewelry, temporary tattoos, platform shoes, boots. They always have quite a number of interesting jackets and dresses that can do double duty in your closet. And don't forget the wigs! The key with using a costume in your wardrobe is to make sure you don't get the same one EVERYONE is wearing for trick-or-treating, and to accessorize to make your piece unique. During this time, stores also carry a much bigger selection of things like unusual hair color and stick-on body and nail decorations.

Other Accessories

Another type of Halloween item you can re-purpose is party supplies and decorations. It may sound cheesy at first, but if you think about it they have some pretty neat products that, when removed from the rest of the whole Halloween atmosphere, can stand alone in a unique way.

You can really make a statement with the right gothic style glassware or serving dish. People also tend to produce a lot of Victorian pieces for Halloween. If you shop in the right places, usually online or in specialty Halloween stores that are only in business for a couple of months out of the year, you can find some pretty surprising things -- lamps, dishes, serving pieces, curtains, chandeliers, trinkets, figurines, and more.

I hope this Halloween you will alter the way you look at Halloween items. Try to imagine them in another light. Picture what you could do with them AFTER October 31st. I'll bet you'll even come up with ideas I haven't thought of.

About the Author

This year's Sexy Costume Recommendations:

One of the most popular (for good reason!) is the Catholic school girl costume.

For sexy plus size costumes, you can't beat the ULTRA HOT plus size sailor costume!

Another recommendation: The right wig goes a long way! Sometimes, although we have perfectly nice-looking hair, it's nice to take a step away from ourselves for fantasy's sake. Wigs can be an inexpensive way to make a huge statement.

But make sure you get a wig cap. They are ultra-cheap, but can be the difference between a cheap-looking wig and a realistic looking one.

Gothic Romance (The Best Goth Love Songs) $13.49 Gothic Romance (The Best Goth Love Songs)

Goth Glasses $9.99 You'll see red in these Goth glasses. Complete your vampire, witch, devil or Goth costume with these unique black metal Gothic style frames with rose colored lenses - they're bloody

Kids Gothic Costume - Goth Fairy Princess $36.95 Is your girl a huge fan of Tim Burton films? If she wants to go goth for this Halloween, dress her in this Kids Gothic Costume! This Goth Fairy Princess outfit includes a black dress, sleeves, underskirt and wings to really bring that adorable gothic look home! All hail the dark princess! She's in charge of the castle anyway, why not have her in a dress that sums her up? Take home the Goth Fairy Princess outfit today, and for her siblings and friends, group up with some of our other Kids Gothic Costumes and accessories!

In Goth Daze: The Gothic Video Collection - $24.99 It's time for a celebration of all things dark with this compilation of various '80s goth bands that includes performances from Alien Sex Fiend, Flesh for Lulu, and Nico, who embraced the culture late in her eclectic career. The DVD was released by Cherry Red Records, an independent label established in 1978 that prides itself on releasing obscure material from all forms of U.K. punk and rockabilly acts from the '70s onward. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Adult Lord Goth Costume $49.97 Mens gothic/vampire costume includes: jacket with attached cuffs and shirt with attached jabot. Here is a stylish modern take on an old Goth favorite, the Adult Lord Goth Costume for men. The lord Goth costume includes an elaborate white robe with fringe trim and a pair of black pants. This Go...

Night Fright Goth Costume - Gothic Costumes $37.94 This Night Fright Goth Costume includes the calf-length black coat with a zipper front, two lines of button accents, leather-look strapped cuffs and pocket flaps, and criss-cross lacing accents at each hip.

Girls Goth Maiden Witch $31.95 Why just be an ordinary witch with a silly broom when you can be the most beautiful and feared Gothic Witch around in this awesome Girls Goth Maiden Witch Costume. This three-piece Girls Goth Maiden Witch comes with an awesome black, red and grey dress with inset and fishnet sleeves. Also included is a black choker with a stand up matching collar. You are going to love the adorable details in this awesome Girls Goth Maiden Witch Costume.

Goth: The Ultimate Collection - $14.99 Includes:Industrial Revolution (1991) Gothic Industrial Alternative Visuals (1995) Industrial Revolution 2 (1996) Goth Box (1996) Industrial Revolution No synopsis available. Gothic Industrial Alternative Visuals No synopsis available. Industrial Revolution 2 No synopsis available. Goth Box This release contains over a dozen music videos from various musical acts that are identified as goth bands. Included are promotional clips from Lords of the New Church, Alien Sex Fiend, Corpus Delicti, and Switchblade Symphony. The DVD release of this collection offers a dozen extra audio only tracks. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

In Goth We Trust - A Gothic Industrial Collection (DVD) $50.14 This is an indispensable guide to the underground Polish goth scene. Twenty bands are included in total, demonstrating the power of the movement, and the dark ferocity of the music. Among those featured are Moonlight, Closterkeller, God's Bow, Asgaard, Nocturia, and many more. The footage is a mixture of live performance and video clips, all providing a gateway into the dark heart of Poland's music industry.DVD Features:Region 1Keep CaseFull Frame - 1.33

Goth Goggles - Gold $11.95 Ready for take off this Halloween? These Gold Goth Goggles from Gothwerk are sure to add the finishing touch to your gothic ensemble this Halloween season!With a sleek design and metallic gold shade, these vintage looking airship goggles have dark lenses and a band that goes around the head so they can conceal your eyes or sit atop your head, however your taste may be.With these Gold Goth Goggles from Gothwerk, you're sure to be stylin' at any futuristic party! This Halloween, it's all about "Steampunk!"

Goth Goggles - Gunmetal $11.95 Ready for take off this Halloween? These Gunmetal Goth Goggles from Gothwerk are sure to add the finishing touch to your gothic ensemble this Halloween season!With a sleek design and glowering, gunmetal shade, these vintage looking airship goggles have dark lenses and a band that goes around the head so they can conceal your eyes or sit atop your head, however your taste may be.With these Gunmetal Goth Goggles from Gothwerk, you're sure to be stylin' at any futuristic party! This Halloween, it's all about "Steampunk!"

Goth Goggles - Red $11.95 Ready for take off this Halloween? These Red Goth Goggles from Gothwerk are sure to add the finishing touch to your gothic ensemble this Halloween season!With a sleek design and metallic red shade, these vintage looking airship goggles have dark lenses and a band that goes around the head so they can conceal your eyes or sit atop your head, however your taste may be.With these Red Goth Goggles from Gothwerk, you're sure to be stylin' at any futuristic party! This Halloween, it's all about "Steampunk!"

Mens Graveyard Goth Costume $63.96 The Men's Graveyard Goth costume is a spooky old-world style undertakers coat. The Graveyard Goth coat is midnight black and has a high satin collar and a built-in cape. The coat features seven gothic style buttons in the front and three on each cuff. You can picture a man in this jacket as he wandered the graveyard, checking the graves and looking for lost souls. He is the man who lurks in the shadows. His is a man to be feared. The jacket can be accessorized with a variety of hats, gothic jewelry and make-up. See below for some great suggestions. Size: Standard One Size Color: As Shown Material: Hand Wash/Line Dry Care Instructions: Standard, Large Condition: New

Goth Costume - Pirate Wench $33.99 Ahoy, ladies! This Pirate Wench Goth Costume is sure to bring some luck aboard someone's ship this Halloween!As the sinister Pirate Wench, this stylish disguise accentuates dark gothic tones to create that brooding, ominous look. This sleek pirate outfit comes with a midnight black top, a crimson skirt, an overskirt made from belts and buckle rings, and a skull-and-crossbones studded crimson bandanna. The overskirt has a band with a skull-and-crossbones design on it and fits over the skirt like a wire frame.With this elegantly murky Pirate Wench Goth Costume from Gothwerk, you'll have no trouble finding your "first mate" this Halloween!

Lord Goth White Costume Adult $52.96 Mens gothic/vampire costume includes: jacket with attached cuffs and shirt with attached jabot. Here is a stylish modern take on an old Goth favorite, the Adult Lord Goth Costume for men. The lord Goth costume includes an elaborate white robe with fringe trim and a pair of black pants. This Go... Gender: Male Age: Adult Occasion: Halloween Size: One Size Color: As Shown

Goth Purple Black and Green Wig $15.95 Gothic girls live life by their own methods of madness, to say the least! Although always wearing black, these girls possess individuality. If you can't live your everyday life by these rules, you can surely impersonate this style for one day by wearing the Goth Purple Black and Green Wig. This Goth Purple Black and Green Wig will make your Gothic costume complete. Now put on black eyeliner and white face make up, and truly feel the Cryptic side of you explode through every pore!

Vic Firth Goth T-Shirt Small $18.99 The Vic Firth Goth T-Shirt for men is comfortable and 100% cotton. The black shirt is printed front and back with the Vic Firth name in Gothic lettering.

Fetusmart Goth Fetus Gothic Ringer T by CafePress $22.25 I wish there was paper in here so I could write morbid poetry. Gothic Ringer T The Ringer T has made a fashion comeback, and ours is a popular favorite. This classic style is sure to impress even the most discerning t-shirt connoisseur with an eye for retro-coolness. Great for relaxing in comfort year-round.5.5 oz. 100% pres

Goth Gothic Dark T-Shirt by CafePress $26 Show your love of everything dark and creepy in this great tee Gothic Dark T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Don't waste time deciding on which shirt to put on each morning. This dark shirt t-shirt will never go out of style and hides stains better too. This high-quality t-shirt is pre-shrunk and 100% cotton, which makes it both comfortable and durable.

Tales from a Goth Librarian $19.46 Take a disturbing, yet fascinating walk through this collection of short stories and poetry expressing the darker side of the gothic / steampunk point of view as written by a goth librarian. Author: Richardson, Kimberly Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 264 Publication Date: 2009/03/01 Language: English Dimensions: 8.50 x 5.50 x 0.60 inches

Goth Vampiress Black Wig $28.97 Gothic Punk wig for a plus size halloween costume - A perfect mix of two styles combine to create an ultra dark, ultra mysterious look. This Gothic punk wig accessory...

Gothic Dollista Child's Wig $19.99 Create a fun and funky costume of your own or complete your Goth Dollista costume with this child's Goth Dollista black and pink

The Gothic in Contemporary Literature and Popular Culture: Pop Goth $121.88 No Synopsis Available

Adult In Goth We Trust (the Witch Adult) $19.97 Our In Goth We Trust Costume is a Gothic twist to the traditional witch costume. All decked out in black, this costume will put you in a dark mood. Comes with a black top, short plaid skirt with matching cape, & witch's hat. Pair this outfit a pair of fishnet stockings or lace-up boots for a truly wicked look.

Gothic Histories $110 In the middle of the eighteenth century the Gothic became the universal language of architecture, painting and literature, expressing a love not only of ruins, decay and medieval pageantry, but also the drug-induced monsters of the mind. By explaining the international dimension of Gothicism and dealing in detail with German, French and American authors, Gothic Histories demonstrates the development of the genre in every area of art and includes original research on Gothic theatre, spiritualism, ghost seeing and spirit photography and the central impact of penny-dreadful writers on the genre, while also including a host of forgotten or ignored authors and their biographies. Gothic Histories is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the Gothic and its literary double, the horror genre, leading the reader from their origins in the haunted landscapes of the Romantics through Frankenstein and Dracula to the very different worlds of Hannibal Lecter and Goth culture. Comprehensive and up-to-date, it is a fascinating guide to the Gothic and horror in film, fiction and popular culture.

Rubies Costumes 154913 Goth Makeup Kit $19.85 Take a trip to the dark side with the Goth makeup kit which includes: bold black lipstick black nail polish and a 4 color makeup palette (red white grey black) great for that gruesome gothic look. Includes: Lipstick Nail Polish Makeup Tray. Satisfaction ensured.

Gothic Queen Wig $12.99 Top off your Goth look with this dynamic black wig.

Gothic Charm School (Paperback) $22.36 An illustrated guide to the Goth lifestyle by the creator of gothic-charm-school.com shares whimsical advice on a variety of topics from how to dress with a dark flair while participating in job interviews, retaining one`s goth identity later in life, and how to communicate with concerned parents. 25,000 first printing. Original.

Goth Guy $179.99 Goth Guy

Ex-Goth $10 Ex-Goth

Goth Girl $10 Goth Girl

Tags: boots, clothes, clothing, goth, shopping

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