This year’s hot costumes reflect pop culture

PHOTOGRAPHER: Marcy Velte

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From Angry Birds to Wall Street Protestors, this year’s Halloween costumes are once again reflecting pop culture.

But there are traditionalists as well, including 6-year-old Molly Jolicoeur, who loves Raggedy Ann books and consequently loves the idea of dressing up like the big, floppy doll for Halloween.

“I really like the white spots on her dress,” she said last week as she surveyed her Halloween options with her mom.

Her older brother Zane was also checking out costumes at Party City in Niskayuna’s Mohawk Commons and was looking for something more classic — a zombie costume.

“I got addicted to this game called ‘Plants vs. Zombies’ and I thought it would be cool to dress up as one,” said the 13-year-old. “I might carry a plant to go along with the idea.”

LAST YEAR’S NEWS

Costume sellers say that what’s hot each Halloween season is often based on what happens in pop culture the year before.

The game “Plants vs. Zombies” is a popular iPhone application that was released in 2010. This year, a newer version came out for more traditional gaming systems like PlayStation and Xbox. It was one of the higher-grossing games in the Apple App Store, along with “Angry Birds,” a game that itself has inspired its own Halloween costumes. Children and adults alike can dress as their favorite primary-colored bird character.

“The media really pushes what becomes popular so it’s a gamble each year when it comes to what we order,” said Party City’s manager, Finn Johansen.

One of the costumes that’s hot is that of actor Charlie Sheen. Some costume chain stores, like Spirit of Halloween, even have a “Sheen’s Korner.” A Charlie Sheen mask is available with a “Two and a Half Men” shirt and fedora hat. Women can go as Charlie’s “goddess.”

“We’re sold out of the mask right now and the bracelets we had that said ‘winning,’ so that says something,” said Amanda Remz, an associate at the seasonal Spirit store in Colonie.

Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and the cast of the TV reality show “Jersey Shore” also have their own sections, complete with wigs replicating the two singers’ iconic hair styles and fake muscles for the “Jersey Shore” guys.

Other popular costumes mimic this year’s movie season.

SMURFS BIG AGAIN

Eric Zenner, director of purchasing for The Costumer, said the Smurfs are big this year, as are the superheroes from recent blockbuster films like Thor, Captain America, and the Green Lantern.

Making a comeback from years past are characters from “The Lion King,” which was recently released in 3-D, and “Scream” merchandise, after the fourth movie came out over the summer.

Zenner said adults’ costumes surprisingly don’t stray far from those chosen by kids, but the adult version is typically “scarier, sexier, or more detailed.”

There is one particular costume in high demand by pre-teen girls. Stores are having trouble keeping costumes from the television show “Monster High” on the shelf.

The show is based on a doll collection depicting the female offspring of famous monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, and the Werewolf. There are characters with names like Frankie Stein, Draculaura, and Clawdeen Wolf.

“Girls are going crazy over these things,” said Remz.

Smaller children are asking for costumes from PBS’s “Dino Train.” Zenner said he took a chance last year and ordered a few of the costumes since his own children watch the show. They sold almost instantly so he ordered extra for this Halloween.

“You just have to keep an eye on what’s going on around you,” he said. “It’s usually a good bet.”