Halloween | Style Blog | Canadian Fashion and Lifestyle News

Halloween 2012: What They Wore (Toronto Edition)

2 November, 2012 Nelia 3 Comments

Odessa Paloma Parker (and husband) as Smithers and Mr Burns

Halloween is officially over, and though I didn’t end up dressing up this year (do sparkly cat ears count?), I know many of my friends and acquaintances did, and some of their costumes were just too good not to share!

From an editor cool enough to dress as Mr Burns, to a writer posing as Lindsay Lohan posing as Jesus, to a PR girl drinking her Go Go Juice as Honey Boo Boo, to another writer stripping down to his tighty whities to be Rocky Horror’s Brad, I loved every single one of these costumes…and even more so, loved the fact that none of these awesome people resorted to the obligatory “sexy cliché” costume. Way to go!

So what do you think about these creative Halloween get-ups? Take the poll below to vote for your favourite!

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Stephanie Fusco as Honey Boo Boo

Kevin Naulls as Brad from Rocky Horror Picture Show

Sarah Nicole Prickett as Lindsay Lohan as Jesus in Purple Mag

More after the jump!

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Halloween 2012: Last-Minute Costumes

25 October, 2012 Nelia 2 Comments

Halloween is next week, and as always, I won’t be spending money on a costume. Instead, I’ll rifle through my closet to pull together a last-minute outfit. This year, there are four options that I’m considering.

1. Anna Dello Russo

Perhaps it’s not very original to dress up as Anna Dello Russo anymore, but with the recent Anna Dello Russo at H&M collection still in stores, it’s never been easier to dress up as this colorful editor. Stack those bangles, rock that feathered headpiece, grab a stuffed chihuahua toy, and a shower head…and shower your fabulous fashion advice onto everyone you meet. After all, who doesn’t need a fashion shower?

2. Marc Jacobs at the MET Gala

Already lampooned by Seth Meyers, this one is fairly easy to pull together. All you need is a see-through black lace dress with long sleeves, a pair of white boxers, some chunky heels, and a Spongebob tattoo (sticker will suffice). If you can’t find a lace dress, a pink polo dress is a good option too!

More costumes after the jump!

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Halloween 2011: Toronto Fashion Heroes

25 October, 2011 Nelia 6 Comments

Year after year, I complain until my friends’ ears bleed about the crappy polyester slutty (insert a profession/object here) costumes that invade the streets of Toronto on Halloween. And this year is no different. I am sure the parties and clubs will be full of nurses, cops, flight attendants, etc. in cheap flammable outfits, and once again I will be wearing something that I pulled out of my own closet.

This year, I wanted to wear a costume that had something to do with fashion…avoiding the usual cliches of donning the “Anna” wig, the “Audrey” LBD, or something else equally predictable. And then, last weekend, while browsing the Halloween section at the Blue Banana, the inspiration came…in shape of a fake beard. My mind immediately went to the now infamous Toronto Life editor – Kevin Naulls. “Why hasn’t anyone else thought of dressing up as Toronto fashion notables?” – I thought. This city is full of vibrant characters equally as intriguing as Mr Lagerfeld, and Ms Wintour…or at least interesting enough to Toronto folks. And so this post was born.

If you’re not from Toronto, you might not be familiar with some of the people below…but I am sure you can conjure up costumes of your local fashion superstars too. All it takes is a little imagination.

1. Jeanne Beker – Fashion Television Host

Is there a person more recognizable in Canadian fashion than Jeanne Beker? I don’t think so. Jeanne Beker is an institution. And as such, she’s an easy target for Halloween costuming (is that a word?). Her costume is actually super easy to put together. If you aren’t blessed with a dark brown mane like Jeanne’s, pick up a wig with her signature blunt bangs. Grab a black shift dress (perhaps from her EDIT collection at The Bay?), cinch it with a cool belt (she wears one with a dinosaur buckle), pair with sky-high black pumps, grab a mic, and you’re ready to go find yourself in fashion!

2. Kevin Naulls – Toronto Life Online Editor

Main source of inspiration for this post, and a man that makes socialites tremble with fear and/or anger at his sometimes cutting, always hillarious photo captions. All you need to be Mr Naulls for a night is a good fake beard, something plaid (shirt, trench, scarf – use your imagination, people!), fun socks that he’s often spotted wearing, and a copy of Toronto Life in hand. Kevin, is that you?

3. Anita Clarke – Blogger

Bloggers are a huge trend, they say…and a trend that won’t be going away any time soon (we hope). And what blogger is more fun to emulate than Anita? My favorite (and most Halloween-appropriate) look of Anita’s of late was her fab Mark Fast jumpsuit – part catwoman, part fashion superhero, if you’ve got the body to rock it, then, I say, go for it! Don’t forget an awesome pair of shades, and a pair of Dean Davidson earrings to complete the look. Meow!

4. Sarah Nicole Prickett – Writer

SNP’s raw and insightful writing is the reason we tune in to her personal blog week after week. But it’s her killer style that makes us think she’d be so fun to wear for Halloween (err…not literally, of course). If imitation is a sincerest form of flattery, flatter her by wearing a rad pair of wedges (straps, peep toes, stripes…), tee off your boyfriend’s back, leather skirt layered over another skirt, and a swipe of red lipstick.

Finish the look with a tousled blonde wig (that you can trim to make it look slightly uneven). Use pink (or purple) highlighter to give the wig some fun highlights. And though we’ve seen SNP smile many a time, your costume won’t be complete without her signature smirk.

5. Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong – Designers of Greta Constantine

We see this designer duo everywhere! At industry parties, product launches…and of course, at their very own fashion shows. And their unmistakable style makes them perfect costume material! If you are looking to dress up with a friend – this is a great costume idea for you! Both Kirk and Stephen wear a lot of their own designs, so definitely go for something flowy and layered, in shades of black, white, and grey (leather shorts for Kirk, sweat pants for Stephen). Wear a pair of aviator glasses as Stephen, and thick black rims as Kirk. For Kirk’s outfit, you might want to find a paperboy hat similar to the ones he likes to wear, and for Stephen’s topper, choose a trucker hat, or just wear your hair in a knot on top of your head.

Hope you enjoyed this costume post. What other Canadian celebs Halloween costumes would you like to see? Share in the comments!

Halloween 2010: Heidi Klum and Seal

1 November, 2010 Nelia Leave a Comment

Amazing. That is all.

Photo Credits: www.hollywoodlife.com

Halloween 2010: Last-Minute Costumes

26 October, 2010 Nelia 5 Comments

Every year, I plan on dressing up for Halloween, and every year I inevitably wait until the week before the party to start putting my costume together. Most times, everything I need…well, almost everything I need, is right inside my closet. This year, I came up with these 5 easy costumes that do not involve much polyester, sluttiness, or money-spending. Shop your own closet for supplies this year, and I bet you, you’ll be surprised at how many costume ideas you’ll be able to come up with!

1. Lady Gaga in Telephone

People have been going gaga for Gaga’s eclectic and sometimes outright batshit crazy stage outfits, which makes them perfect for recreating come Halloween. One of the easiest and cheapest options I could come up with (short of taping a bunch of bottles to a nude dress to make a “bubble bottle dress”) was the “Caution Tape Outfit” from her video Telephone. All you need is some caution tape, safety pins or needles/thread, or possibly scotch tape, and the craziest shoes you can find in your closet.

All I did was wrap the caution tape all over my top/liquid leggings combo, safety pinned it in place (didn’t even have to cut anything), and I was done. If you’re actually serious about recreating the look, you could wrap the tape around your naked/near-naked body, or actually tape that crap to your clothes. Since, I’m neither dedicated nor patient, I wrapped it haphazardly, but perhaps if I actually end up choosing this look, I’ll also attach some tape to the 3D glasses I’m wearing. Cost me all of $2.50 for the tape…everything else was right inside my closet. Done. This look would also work with meat…but it might get smelly by the end of the night.

If you wrap yourself with toilet paper instead, you could look like a pretty hot mummy. Just sayin’.

2. Cousin Itt – The Addams Family

Ever since my mom made fun of my hat/hair/scarf/glasses combo, I’ve been thinking about incorporating said items into a costume, and here’s the final result. To pull off this look you will either need a wig, or if you have long hair, you’ll simply need to flip it in front of your face, put some glasses over it, put on a hat, wear a long-ass dress and something furry/hairy on top. Done. Cost? ZERO dollars…and possibly some bruises and broken bones due to poor visibility. Small price to pay for such an awesome costume! No one will ever accuse you of trying to look slutty this Hallows’ Eve!

3. Wenda – Where’s Waldo?

I am a huge stripes fiend, so this costume is actually came quite naturally. All you need is a red/white striped shirt, a red or white hat with a pom-pom, a blue or denim skirt, some rad (or red) frames, and some red/white striped tights. It also helps to carry a camera, and keep asking people “Where’s Waldo???”. Done! And it cost…all of NOTHING.

I do think that Odlaw’s costume is much more fun that Wenda’s…but finding a yellow/black striped shirt proved a difficult task. If you’re serious about your commitment to portray this baddie, get some yellow duct tape, stick stripes all over a black sweater, put on some black pants and a yellow/black striped hat, round-rim glasses, grow/buy a mustache and you’re done!

4. Dorothy – The Wizard of Oz

This one was a result of my affinity to my Rodarte for Target baby-blue dress. It’s been hanging lifelessly in my closet for over a year now, and I have finally found some use for it! This dress could also be worn as part of Alice in Wonderland costume, but it would probably work best on a blonde.

Back to Dorothy: all you need are some ruby slippers (red heels in this case), a blue dress, pigtails, basket, and someone to play the role of Toto. If I go with this costume, Pepper is getting a dog makeover…or not. Once again, it cost me nothing…

5. Terry Richardson

If you truly want a TERRYfying costume…then look no further than photographer/alleged model abuser Terry Richardson. All you need is a standard hipster uniform of plaid shirt, skinny jeans, Converse sneaks, some Terry-esque shades and a handlebar moustache. Obviously, I wasn’t particularly committed to this look…the glasses are all wrong, and the moustache is nowhere to be seen…but if I actually decided to go as him, all I would need are those two props to complete the look. Extra points for carrying a banana, a camera, and making strangers pose provocatively for ya.

What are you wearing for Halloween this year? I’d love to know!

What I Wore: Cousin Itt

19 October, 2010 Nelia 5 Comments

I adore my new Old Navy coat! Have been wanting something “camel” for a while now, and now, thanks to Old Navy Canada, I got it! Have you checked out their coat section lately? I believe most coats are 30% off in stores right now, and the variety is pretty amazing. This one is lightweight, with a removable faux-fur collar, and also comes in black. Most people that have seen it, cannot believe that it’s from Old Navy! But it is, and I love it!

Same day I got the coat, I stopped by H&M and picked up this hat, and circle scarf (at children’s department). I was so happy with my hat purchase, until I took some photos in it. As soon as my mom saw the photos, she could not stop laughing…the scarf + the hat + sunglasses + the hair = Cousin Itt in her mind. Well, I don’t mind if it brings uncontrollable laughter a smile to her face. To me, this coat and this hat scream 70s. Perhaps, I’ll re-think the scarf and the sunglasses next time around.

And speaking of Cousin Itt…have you figured out what to wear for Halloween? I think, I’m going to shop my closet for a costume this year. I can’t stand the sight of those polyester (Sexy Nurse/Cop/Schoolgirl) costumes. Any fun ideas?

What I Wore: Coat – Old Navy (courtesy of Old Navy); Top – Club Monaco; Pants – Forever21; Hat, Scarf – H&M; Bag – Prada; Shoes – Winners; Sunglasses – Ray Ban

Halloween 2009: Celeb Costumes

3 November, 2009 Nelia Leave a Comment

After a brief case of the “mondays” I am back to normal posting schedule! Yay!

Since babies are so in right now (just ask Bruno), lots of celeb parents were out this past weekend trick-or-treating with their little ones. And surprisingly, my fave Halloweened out celebrity this year was not Heidi Klum, but Gwen Stefani dressed as Jessie from Toy Story! I also loved her last year’s cat costume. I think it’s truly a testament of Gwen’s beauty…she can pull off virtually any look and still stay gorgeous. My other faves this year included Ellen as Oprah Magazine, Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo as Frankenstein and his bride, and Jimmy Fallon as Robert Pattinson. Also, though I really don’t want to promote this toxic duo, Twit and Twat’s portrayal of Jon and Kate plus Hate was quite funny and scary at the same time. Maybe celebrity impersonation is what Spencer Pratt and his plastic wife should stick to? Just a thought.

More after the jump!

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Halloween 2009: Scariest Jewelry of All Time!

30 October, 2009 Nelia 3 Comments

Okay, so who here likes taxidermied animals? What about the said animals as jewelry? Sounds insane? Well, someone actually thought that it’s a good idea, and people are actually buying it too! Mice on bowties, guinea pig on a comb, and rats on a headband…the Vermin Collection by Reid Peppard sounds morbidly horrific. I mean, really, who wants dead rats on their head? Not me! Though I do hope that the animals are not killed with this specific purpose, and either way it’s not something I’d ever be caught dead in! Thoughts?

More photos after the jump!

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Halloween 2009: Ghosts of Halloween Past

30 October, 2009 Nelia Leave a Comment

So tomorrow is the big day! Halloween is finally upon us! So many costumes to choose from, so little time left! I have to admit that for a few years now, I’ve been putting my “costumes” together at the very last minute from whatever is hanging in my closet. Like last year, I wore a “ballerina” dress from H&M to the office and a purple Zara leotard, coupled with leggings and my mom’s ankle weights to be an aerobics instructor at a party, and the year before that I was Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in an LBD with some knit arm warmers (I know, I know…that was the only thing I had that resembled long gloves). I also wore a Hawaii-girl outfit for a few years in a row (grass skirt, tube top, flower in hair and some leis). So my point is, even if you aren’t really into Halloween, chances are you might be into dressing up! So dig into your closet, and put together something creative this weekend. There are so many easy costumes out there: Gossip Girl (tweed skirt, headband), Mia Wallace (white blouse, black bobbed wig), Jackie O…or Michelle O for that matter (classy LBD, and some shades), Carrie Bradshaw (tutu, curly hair, and sky-high heels), Ugly Betty (retainer and something vintage/colorful/ill-fitting)…Options are endless! Here’s a little peek into my Costumes of Halloween Past.

Ok, so this was worn on a regular office day. But you could do so many things with these lips: Angelina Jolie, Octomom, Alexander McQueen model?

Hmm, you could also walk around with a painting in front of your face, or wear a Dollar Store nose!

This is from last year’s Halloween at the office. Tessa did her scary make up herself! When she walked through the door in the morning, it was fantastically scary!

Jo-the pirate-ess! Arrrrrr!

Here is moi as a way-too-perky aerobics instructor, SunYee as the Scream guy, and le boyfriend as Chupacabra-the luchador, with a towel-cape.

Carlos as the Fat Ballerina, my Hawaii-girl outfit, and poor man’s Holly Golightly.

This was…my attempt to decorate the office for Halloween, using recycled materials. Mr. Hueso is sitting in my former boss’ chair!

Trying on masks at Wal Mart in Houston.

Al is that Betty-Bo-sheep-girl, I’m a Barbie, some guy is a Pimp (very original), and Cit is…a pink Skeleton.

So this is not a Halloween photo, but if you have 2 BFFs, and a handsome guy-friend, you could be Charlie’s Angels! Kick-ass posing – mandatory.

Mmmm, candy! Happy Halloween, everyone!!!

Halloween 2009: Marc Jacobs and Bergdorf Windows

28 October, 2009 Nelia Leave a Comment

Most of us had come to expect festive holiday displays in various retailers’ windows come Christmas. Well, perhaps because of the scary economy, or just for fun, some stores decked their windows out in something other than “boughs of holly” and brought us these awesome Halloween displays! Whether it’s swampy in NYC, or abstract in San Francisco, Marc Jacobs didn’t lack the creativity and tried to perhaps bring some of the window shoppers into his stores instead. Although to be perfectly honest, I really don’t know whether I would be brave enough to venture into a toxic zombie waste swamp to shop for clothes. Eeek! I do, however, loooove the cow window! It’s got a perfect pop of color and is weird enough to catch my attention as I walk down the street! Wish I was in San Fran to witness it firsthand!

Bergdorf’s windows are also quite stunning, showing various fairy tales with a technological twist. Princess and the PC, anyone? Not as fun as MJ, but visually captivating all the same. So what do you guys think? Do these windows scare you away, or make you want to shop till you drop?