TRAVERSE CITY -- Tom Cook ran a finger over a list of available costumes at his downtown Traverse City shop Hocus Pocus.
Then, he started turning pages.
"About 1,300," he announced.
There's the perennially popular, like the go-as-a-group costumes for "Wizard of Oz" characters. Cowboys are "coming back around," Cook said. Pirates are here to stay. Storybook characters such as "Alice in Wonderland" or any Disney design remain favorites.
"A lot of teenage boys want to do this stuff -- full mascot," Cook said, pointing to a collection of huge, furry heads for various creatures he rents.
Halloween is a chance to transform into any magical, mystical, mythical creation, and one of Traverse City's multiple costume shops likely has the get-up to get you looking your best.
Darla Bristol, owner of The Magic Mirror Costume Shop, likes helping people find the perfect disguise. She rents mostly adult costumes and has the 2,500 outfits sorted by decades and genres in the South Airport Road store. More than two weeks before Halloween, a rack was already stuffed with costumes on reserve.
A knight/customer adjusted his costume as Bristol offered suggestions as "fashion editor." She noticed a few trends this year, including interest in vampires due to the success of the "Twilight" movies and books. Bristol stocks amber-colored contact lenses, a necessity for those wishing to authentically replicate one of the good "Twilight" vampires who refuse to feast on human blood.
"A lot of the wizards and warlocks and that type of thing," she said. "Elvis is always popular."
Topical costumes can be a big hit, too, though local costume shops are split on the recently deceased Michael Jackson. Cook said suppliers pushed him to stock King of Pop outfits, but he resisted. He would only want to carry it if he had a high quality costume with "a real leather coat." Bristol stocked a few pieces, like sparkly silver gloves and wigs.
"I ordered the "Thriller" jacket, and if I get it, (it) will be amazing," she said.
The Halloween Superstore in the Cherryland Center has a section dedicated to Jackson, said the manager. It sells, not rents, costumes and also stocks pieces for pets and children. It also has another Traverse City location off South Airport Road.
One trend might be waning: The inclination some young women have to strip down, add a pair of ears or hat and transform into a sexy kitten or saucy nurse. Cook noted a "lot less risque" requests, and many girls are telling him they don't want to go that route this year. Guys, however, continue to seek out the garishly colored pimp costume. A rental can cost $15 and up at local shops. The average at Magic Mirror is $35 to $45.
Cook sells an array of masks, wigs and make up. He pulled out a pile of "zombie prosthetics." He sculpts the faces out of clay, pours plaster to make a mold, then finishes it using liquid latex. The result is a mask that can be cut into fleshy looking bits and colored with make up.
Zombies are very in this year. Multiple zombie walks and events were scheduled in Traverse City this season.
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