Girls, strap on those leg warmers or that Madonna petticoat. Guys, buy that mullet and find some acid-washed denim, or just be a pirate or pimp. Whatever you do, prepare for an '80s invasion and a landing of pirates, pimps and other kitschy characters this Halloween.
Americans will relive decades by reflecting the '70s and early '80s explosion into mainstream fashion. Their costumes will also be modeled after Pirates of the Caribbean, with trick-or-treaters busting out buccaneer outfits. Tempe is no exception to these trends.
"The '80s are really strong this year because there's lots of different stuff," Plush Living co-owner Amy Bowling said. "Really, the '80s will always be different for every person."
Plush Living opened in December 1998 on the margin of Mill Avenue near the Towers apartment complex. Spread across a main floor, small balcony and a downstairs area, the store has accumulated offbeat clothing to satiate alternative tastes. Over 50 styles of vintage belt buckles and a plethora of Halloween costumes fill the store.
"What we sell is a little more alternative than costumes in a bag," Bowling said.
Bowling said fashion trends go in 20-year cycles, making an '80s invasion into fashion timely. Naturally, '70s and '80s gear floods much of Plush's clothing and Halloween selection. The most important of them all the is the joke-turned-fashion-trend, the mullet.
"I'll sell a million mullets," Bowling said.
Other features include neon glam-rock wigs, the red plastic Devo Dome and even an original vest with small built-in speakers on either shoulder.
While the '80s sit in Halloween's fashion limelight, some classic styles remain. Plush's consistent sellers are prison jumpsuits, the '70s Afro and numerous skimpy girls costumes.
"Anything naughty sells," Bowling said. "The theme always does good with college girls because they want to look pretty and sexy."
Bowling isn't the only one with the scoop on this year's Halloween trends. Tucked away in a quaint Mill Avenue strip mall is Fantasy Costumes. The store is owned by Doug Fielder, who said the foundation underlying his business is based off customer complaints about other costume stores.
Fantasy Costumes is purely a rental business. As a result, the average customer does not have to worry about draining their wallet for a reasonable costume. Fielder said he rents well-made, quality costumes that are better than those found at nickel and dime stores. He wanted to prove it, too.
After vanishing around a narrow corner into a jungle of costumes, he reemerged holding a flashy pimp suit. Adorned with purple crushed velvet, zebra lapels and a soft hat pricked with a feather, the suit costs $200 - that is, if you want to buy it. On average, rental prices are less than half of that.
Referring to the extra expenses in buying a costume, Fielder said, "You can buy a $30 costume, but when you buy the other stuff it can cost $100."
As he hung up the pimp suit Fielder started talking about Halloween fashions. Unlike the thoughts at Plush, Fielding said he hasn't noticed any major trends for this Halloween other than pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean and the Matrix because of The Matrix: Reloaded. Of course, there are always the old standards.
"My Austin Powers suits and pimps always go every year," he said.
Similarly, the sexually appealing costumes among college females are popular. Fielder said girls are interested in Fantasy Costume's fairy and Playboy Bunny costumes in the same way that Plush Living's "naughty nurse" and other window manniquins catch the eye of every passer-by.
Beyond the costumes, wigs, especially Afros, are popular items at Fantasy Costumes. Appealing to this year's white trash trend, Fielder addressed the mullet.
"I have some mullet wigs on order," Fielder said. "In the past few months I've gotten a lot of requests for mullets."
Fantasy Costume's '80s attire is overshadowed by disco-era costumes. Fielder stocks color-striped and shimmering gold dance shirts and bell-bottoms to accompany an Afro. There is even a phony hairy chest to boot.
"It's a kick," Fielder said. "Disco is so hard to beat."
Reflecting on disco, gangsters and flappers, greasers, hippies and punks, Fielder said he holds a philosophy on the popularity of fashion through the decades.
"I think that each decade has its own characteristics," Fielder said. "It seems like every generation is trying to out do the one before it."
According to Fielder, many adults between 30 and 70 years old are dressing up now more than 10 years ago. Dressing up has become a coping method for adults as they relive their own generation or just go out to have some fun.
Whether it's rocking the '80s or walking the plank, this Halloween will be a collision of the outlandish fashion of 2003, old standards and a lot of stress relief.
"People are starting to find out that dressing up is kind of an escape from day-to-day stress," Fielder said. "We've been through so much stuff and dressing up is a way of coping."
IF YOU GO: Fantasy Costume is located at 826 S. Mill Avenue, and Plush Living is located at 706 S. Forest Avenue.
Chris Kark is a reporter for the Web Devil. Reach him at christopher.kark@asu.edu.
