Gypsy Fortune Teller Halloween Costumes - Easy to Make

As a little girl I often loved to dress up as a gypsy, whether it was for Halloween or just for play. Maybe it's because I long to be free to do as I want and go where I wish, without the societal constraints we have to live by (that's why pirates are so fascinating to people too). Whatever it is, creating a fortune teller costume was the highlight of Halloween.

Back then there weren't many places to buy fancy costumes (nor did we have the money), so putting my own costume together was a bit of a challenge. Today we can purchase practically any costume we can think of and there are some pretty nice fortune teller Halloween costumes to choose from.

** A Brief History of Gypsy Costumes **

The gypsy people were called Roma or Romani. They are made up of loose nomadic tribes that wandered much of the European countries during the Middle Ages and often lived in caravans. There are still nomadic gypsies in the world today.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the basic dress of the woman was a simple robe gathered at the neck worn over an under gown made of chemise. They also wore a length of cloth which was draped down the back, around the opposite waist, up the front and tied at the shoulder (think Roman toga). A turban was worn on the head.

As time went on, fashions changed. For the most part, gypsies actually dressed very similar to the peasants of the area in which they traveled and cultural dress of the time. Most of the style of gypsy clothing that we picture today probably came from the Renaissance period when laced vests, flounced skirts, men's breeches and pirate shirts were more popular.

** Making a Gypsy Halloween Costume **

For those that want to put together their own gypsy costume or are planning on being a "fortune teller" for Halloween this year, you may have to do a bit of shopping around at used clothing stores for some items. If you are handy with a sewing machine, there are many fortune teller costume patterns available as well. Here are some suggestions for both men and women (and boys/girls) that can easily be created once you get all the items:

Women/Girl's Fortune Teller/Gypsy Outfit 1

* Long tired skirt in a bright color.

* Gypsy style shirt - gathered scooped neck, puffy sleeves gathered at the wrist or long wide flowing sleeves

* Brightly colored front-laced vest

* Black leotard stockings

* Black shoes

* Brightly colored sash for the waist

* Matching bandana for hair

* Gold hoop earrings and some long, colorful beaded necklaces, bangles for arms

Women/Girl's Fortune Teller/Gypsy Outfit

* Long wide-flowing black skirt

* White peasant's shirt

* Black front-laced vest

* Black stockings

* Black shoes

* Brightly colored apron or a shorter overskirt

* Long black wig with tight ringlets or curls

* Colored 2" to 3" wide headband

* Gold hoop earrings and some long, colorful beaded necklaces, bangles for arms

Men/Boys Gypsy/Pirate Costume

* Black or brown breeches

* Black boots

* White pirate shirt

* Long-length black or brown vest preferably trimmed with a gold-colored braiding

* Red or another colorful long scarf for the sash at the waist

* Colorful bandana

* One gold hoop earring

Let your imagination run wild with the colors and styles you could mix and match. The trick is to dress in layers and use clothing that is loose and flowing. Add jewelry like bangles, long flowing necklaces, large earrings and ankle bracelets to enhance your outfit. Use colorful sashes accent the waist (and also to hold daggers). Women could drape several sheer scarves from their waist to hang down in points around a solid colored skirt. Include headbands, bandanas and even eye patches for that gypsy pirate look. Purples, blues, greens, bright yellows, reds and blacks are the most popular colors and will make your outfit stand out.

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Author Resource Information:

(c) 2005. Rose Smith owns Halloween Howl - a website designed for Halloween fun for all ages! Are you planning to have a Gypsy Fortune Teller Party this year? Visit our website at: http://www.halloweenhowl.com/fortune-teller-party.shtml for some great ideas on decorations, recipes, games and more.

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Sexy Halloween Costumes to Make You Stand Out from the Crowd

Okay, Halloween is just around the corner and you want to use the chance to dress up and have some fun. Selecting a sexy Halloween costume, or better still selecting a sexy Halloween party theme, is a great way to ensure that Halloween will be fun. You've dressed as the sexy nurse and you’re tired of being the same old sexy maid; so which costume should you choose and how should you go about finding it?

There are a number of premium internet based costume supplier websites offering hundreds of different sexy Halloween costumes, and not just of ladies. More and more fancy dress costume manufacturers are creating costume ranges that allow both halves of the couple to dress their best during the holiday season. Take your time, get yourself a drink and shop around the net. Most internet based retailers offer unconditional money back guarantees, usually discount prices to offset and the level of security offered by the best sites is as good as it can be and at least comparable to that of most shops and malls.

Looking at some of the best ideas for your Halloween costume, still the most popular is the sexy pirate costume. The popularity of this theme is double edged; firstly you may encounter many pirates over the holiday season however the upside is that all of the manufacturers have been busy developing sexy characters and costumes to meet the unquenchable demand for good quality and sexier costumes. To complete the look and to take absolute control over proceedings, make sure you wear your longest sexy black boots, rhinestone eye-patch and your prettiest pirate captain's hat. You will not need a press gang to sign up men for your crew.

More traditionally for Halloween there is a huge selection of sexy witches from which you can select. These can be either short dresses or longer more elegant skirts but with long revealing split seams. Again wear your sexy boots, find some elegant or just plain sexy gloves, a broomstick and cast your spell over any man you please.

As an alternative to traditional witches, look for sexy designs for lady vampires. Again short or long these can be incredibly sexy Halloween costumes and with the careful selection of the key fancy dress costume accessories, the overall achieved look can be outstanding. Look out for stick on vampire fangs with either crystal insets or small golden crosses, these look amazing. The best part of this is that your man can be either a vampire with a costume from matching or complementary fabrics or even perhaps a frog simply seeking a princess for that loving kiss. Oops; too early, panto season is another 40 days away but you get the idea.

Inevitably we have to consider the sexy schoolgirl costume. Always a best seller with any man who wants to be taught a lesson, and for couples there are options of either school masters or schoolboys fancy dress costumes. As with all fancy dress, it is the selection of the accessories that completes the costume. Schoolgirl costumes need long white over the knee socks or hold-up stockings with small bows, short plaid skirt and white blouse. Glasses, plaited wig and straw hat complete the look. There are a number of schoolgirl costumes, some realistic others more stylised, the choice is yours.

So to find the very best of sexy Halloween fancy dress costumes for yourself and your partner get on-line now the choice is huge and we're sure that you will be able to find a sexy costume and accessories to suit your taste, budget and modesty level!

Karnival-House has a fantastic range of flirty Halloween fancy dress costumes at http://www.karnival-house.co.uk/acatalog/Flirty_Halloween_Fancy_Dress_Costumes.html Karnival Costumes also has extensive ranges of traditional and new style Halloween fancy dress costumes as well as a huge range of Halloween accessories from Hollywood quality makeup and monster makeup sets at: http://www.karnival-house.co.uk/acatalog/Monster_Mania_Makeup_Kits.html

Article submitted by: KV Sinclair. Keith Sinclair has over 35 years of business experience and in addition to being a part time University Lecturer on Business Studies, he is CEO of Cavalcade; a group of companies operating in the party sector. Cavalcade operates Karnival-House http//:http://www.karnival-house.co.uk one of the UK's leading internet Fancy Dress Retailers. With massive stocks for immediate dispatch and an ever expanding range, Karnival-House continues to strive simply to offer outstanding service combined with outstanding value.

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Little Red Riding Hood Halloween Costumes - The History of Halloween

On Halloween 2008, Little Red Riding Hood costumes are just going to be scarier! A horror film is to be launched soon with a new twist on an old tale. A Tale of LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD- the movie- is an action packed thriller. Hmm...I wonder...Who will be the killer?

The scary remake of the classic story takes us deep into the dark woods to show what really happens when a naive young girl meets up with a stranger. All the details about the version are being kept under wraps- or hoods. What we do know- the BIG BAD WOLF is very hungry!

Once upon a time. The fairytale we all heard as children begins...

A little girl has to go through the forest by herself to take food to her sick grandmother.

She is seen skipping the forest, with a basket filled with goodies, wearing a red hooded cape. (Like Superman's-only smaller.)

'Red' - is scared out of her wits when she sees the big bad wolf! (He wants to eat her!)

The wolf asks 'Red' where she is going. (Never talk to strangers!)

She politely tells the wolf exactly where she is going. And even gives directions!

The big bad wolf cleverly sends 'Red' off in another direction, so he can get to Grandma's house first... (This is where the plot turns sinister!)

The end.

The original fable was meant to scare children into not straying from a path where they were safe to a place of danger.

Halloween also has a historical background. Halloween, the scariest night of the year, is usually celebrated on the night of October 31.

The holiday originated in Ireland from a feast day known as Samhain. It was a yearly celebration held to mark the end of the harvest. Crops including animals were sacrificed to the Gods in big bonfires. The sacrifices were peace offerings in exchange for protection.

It was believed, on Samhain night, dead people were allowed 24 hours to roam the earth. Some of these were evil spirits, and that is where the scary costumes came in. The idea was to frighten the dangerous ghosts away before they could do harm. People disguised themselves in animal heads, as witches, and goblins.

November 1st is known as All Saints Day, aka All Hallow's Day. Hallow means 'sainted ones'. This religious day was started to take away the power the Samhain pagan ritual had over the Irish people. Samhain - became known as All Hallow's Eve. Samhain is pronounced Sah-ween- is where the 'ween' part comes from.

On the eve of Samhain, the Celts placed nuts and berries on their doorsteps, these treats were to trick the supernatural guests from entering their homes.

When the Irish people immigrated to America, they brought the spirit of Halloween along.

Today Halloween is about dressing up in costumes, having fun, playing tricks, and eating candy. The division of the two worlds- us and the demons-seems to be cut off.

But is it?

When you are out trick or treating this Halloween, don't forget your costume. The spirits of the underworld may be lurking in the shadows...

In your search for the perfect Halloween costume- take a closer look at an old original. Little Red Riding Hood has been seen in the past as a victim. But her story is about to change...Stay tuned for a new chapter.

I do not know which kind of costumes you are going to wear. But if you want to buy Little Red Riding Hood Halloween costumes, I have an idea for you. You may find lots of choices on Little Red Riding Hood Halloween costumes 2008.

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