Avoiding the Rack

I don't want to seem like I'm obsessed with sharks or anything... but you guys should really see this shark. I have to admit, the Superbowl was quite grueling to watch as a Seattleite but the one highlight for me (and the rest of the internet) is Katy Perry's left dancer in the amazing shark suit (whom I am now in love with). Left Shark's dance moves may not be as on point as right shark but they have definitely stolen all the thunder from anything else that might have happened during sports ball. The left shark costume is the best excuse to dance as drunk and high as you like (most likely any day of the year). Alternatively, this can turn into a couples costume (or even a threesome Katy Perry sandwich). Who this costume is for: Anyone looking to mesh their keen interest in shark week with their significant other's Top 40 music taste Many of those who would like very much not to forget this Superbowl ever happened What you...

2014 has been the best and yet, at the same time, the worst year for women. So much so that I have had an incredibly difficult time thinking of female costumes this year. Thus far just some of the topics that have seen light on women's issues have been equal pay, domestic abuse, catcalling, misogyny, graphic female violence in video games, and, of course, feminism. All of which are important issues to shed light on but none of them make very fun halloween costumes. So it's been a big year for women but not a truly positive year. I really wanted to find some bad ass women to showcase because that is just what the world needs right now. Luckily, many big comic book icons are being redesigned to suit a female audience. Rather than donning tight leather spandex suits and high heels to appeal to the male gaze, now icons like Batgirl are sporting stylish and practical crime fighting gear and ass-kicking doc martens to boot. Thor being redesigned as a female is probably m...

This year may have presented many new and exciting dangers that we can potentially die from. Drone strikes are forever ruining the idea of blue skies all the while, Ebola sleeps in our wake. Despite the introduction of these new terrible world dangers, 2014 is still one of my favorite years largely because it hosted the World Cup and boy do I love the World Cup. Large sports events are going to boast many heroes and titans but, by far, my favorite figure is the one painted as a villain. Meet Luis Suárez from Uruguay who is most famous for chomping on his opponents in all sorts of zombie fashion. Having suffered his third warning for biting his opponents, Suárez was forced into suspension to think about his flesh eating ways but his antics will always live on in glory as our favorite real life zombie costume. Who this costume is for: Football fans around the world  Those who think the impending zombie apocalypse may have already started in B...

Every few years or so, Wes Anderson comes out with another quirky visual masterpiece that is instantly a hit with all our hippest friends. To their credit, our hippest friends have good taste! Anderson has a talent for making all his characters eccentric from the inside out which makes for an incredible range of diverse iconic personas to choose from. Personally, as a Halloween costume scrambler who is always looking for ideas, Wes Anderson movie years are the best years. The Grand Budapest Hotel is by far the most mustache-full flick of all. From the brooding villainous mustache of Adrian Brody to the the thin drawn on lip hair of Tony Revolori there is enough facial hair to fit everyone's style types. So I'll be looking forward to a very mustache-full hallow's eve. However, bonus points will be awarded to whomever can pull off a coveted "Boy with Apple" costume! Who this costume is for: Wes Anderson fans Especially those who have ex...

2014 has been a year of bad news ranging from missing airplanes, racial issues, gender issues, and missing dictators (*cough Kim Jong-Un). We're really grasping for happy straws this year. Thus I wanted to start off my first post of 2014 on a happy note with, possibly quite literally, the happiest person of the year. Not only does Pharrell have his insanely popular Oscar nominated song but he also got a chance to sing alongside Daft Punk on their new album. Yeah, this guy is having a good year. Pharrell Williams may very well be one of Hollywood's most stylish men however, he's more well known for his incredible hat than his incredible style. Which is why he is this year's easiest costume choice. Put on your sharpest (track) suit and add a few dozen gold chains for flair and you just might be the bell of the ball. Of course, top it all off with Pharrell's signature hat and you have yourself the best dressed costume of the year. Who this costume is for...

The Syfy channel may be bordering on the lines of Sci-Fi these days with titles like Sharktopus and Dinocroc vs. Supergator (which are all perfectly adequate costumes by the way) but for some reason nothing can even come close to crossing the line between ridiculous and completely awesome quite like Sharknado .  For those who have never heard of this truly mind-blowing sensation here is the trailer to catch you up to speed: In terms of things taking the internet by storm, Sharknado was definitely one of my favorite things to witness blowing through our lives. The tweets surrounding it might have been just as enjoyable as watching Tara Reid escape this jaw-dropping epidemic or land sharks in tornado form. Which is why, in my deepest belief, a Sharknado costume would be more deserving of a high five than anything else we see come out of this year. Read those tornado costume tutorials online because this one is worth it! Who this costume is for: Fans of Sharktopus ...

In lieu of the long awaited final season of the most underrated television series of all time, Arrested Development is now more relevant than ever! I can almost predict that no home-made costume will be more popular nor more well received and those lucky enough to recycle their old AD costumes can get away without spending a dime this year. Those looking to stay in luxe threads while partying all night can easily pull off a Lucile or Lindsey while gentlemen can stick to Michael or a very obscure personal favorite, Bob Loblaw. However, no character is more recognizable than Tobias as a blue man or never nude and Buster comes in a close second with his hook hand. If you have a very willing friend, you can convince them to dress as Buster's archenemy, the seal. If anyone owns a segway, it is almost mandatory to go as Gob this year since you will never find a better opportunity to look cool traveling on a segway while party hopping or trick or treating....