177) Costume Predictions

It's that time of year again. Time for some serious self-reflection and creative brainstorming. Because if you don't start thinking now, October 31st will sneak up on you and you'll be stuck with a (gasp) mediocre Halloween costume. This is your official three week warning.

Today, I thought I'd take a stab at predicting some of this year's most popular alter egos.


1) The Jersey Shore kids. Break out the spray tan, hair gel, and the Ed Hardy. A loud, look-at-me costume that requires the wearer to get stupid drunk and obnoxious to stay in character. Great for groups, though Snooki and The Situation will also be popular solo costumes thanks to the iconic hair poof, and the 12-pack, respectively. Clever trios can go as Gym, Tan, and Laundry (GTL, collectively).


2) The Old Spice guy. A towel, a bottle of Old Spice body wash, and BAM, you're one of the most recognizable and viral characters from the ad world this year. Oh, just one more thing - you have to be black. I hate talking about race, but Isaiah Mustafa as a whole brings a certain something to the spokesperson. A white guy in the costume somehow falls short.


3) Avatar. Halloween dabblers need not apply. This is for the hardcore costumers. We're talking full body blue make-up (Tobias Funke, anyone?), loin cloths, long hair, pointy ears and tail. Also good for groups, or tribes.

4) Elin chasing Tiger with a golf club. Lindsay Lohan in cuffs. BP execs covered in oil. Take your pick of train wrecks this year.


5) Justin Bieber. Funniest on a female. The must-have piece of course, is the wig.

6) This one isn't really a prediction, just something I think would be funny. As an updated 2010 version of the Facebook profile costume, how about a The Social Network movie poster costume? Just print "YOU DON'T GET TO 500 MILLION FRIENDS WITHOUT MAKING A FEW ENEMIES" in white type on a large transparency, and figure out some way to rig it to your face. Practice wide-eyed, mouth agape pose in the mirror.