C A Mc Craw asked:




Christmas costumes are here and it is that time of year again to get excited and be ready for trips to the malls, the office parties, and being the host of one at your house. The parties start the day after Thanksgiving and go until the new year.

Here are some ideas on wonderful costumes you can wear for all these occasions?

The most famous costumes is Santa Clause of course. To get the jolly suit plan ahead and order online, or you can rent it at a costume store. They will have everything you need to make you look just like the ho, ho, ho, man himself.

Just know that with the Santa suit if you start looking before Halloween you will be able to find it. But if you decide to do this at last minute you can always look at the stores where they sell Christmas lights and other holiday products.

Santa always needs a helper to hand out that wonderful candy cane after the children see the big guy. The elf is the second best person in the holiday season. They are helpful and funny, and always lets the kids see Santa.

There are green outfits and big shoes help topped with a little green hat. And of course you have to paint a little red on your cheeks to make you look happy as you can be. Green tights help top off the ensemble.

Who gets Santa and the elves to the mall? It is the famous reindeer! They do have these costumes available at the costume store. If you are good at sewing you just need fur brown cloth and a big red nose for the most famous of them all.

Mrs. Claus is the right hand lady that keeps everything running smoothing. You need a red dress that goes down to the ankles, a white lace apron, and a old fashion hat that looks like the pioneers wore to bed at night. You always want to put a little red circle on each cheek to make her look rosy.

Angels are very easy costumes to make. Get a white gown, put a gold wrap around your waist, a beautiful gold halo on the top of your head, and some very nice wings on your back.

Frosty the snowman is always nice to sing with in the snow. He would be easy to find on the internet. Frosty would be good to have at an office party, or at a party you are going to have for children. They would love to have him. Just make sure he has a big black top hat with a flower on it. Add a pipe and you are set.

The Grinch that stole Christmas is always a great costume for office parties, kids parties, or when you have one at your house. If you host one just remember that he is green with fur all over, and he is mean at first. When he is nice you can put a huge heart on his chest to say I am nice and I love Christmas.

Churches always have the kids do events with the nativity. Characters include The famous Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, You also have the angels who float around, and the wise men that have important parts in these scenes. With the animals you have camels, goats, horses, lambs.

When making the nativity costumes they are usually made by hand by the church kids. This let’s them take pride in what they did by themselves.

Christmas costume theme parties are very popular now. You just host a party and have every one dress in there character they love the most and have a wonderful themed party. Dressing up is not just for Halloween and for kids any more.

Remember the Christmas season is to have fun and being at a theme party where every one wears a Christmas costume will be festive and will remembered for a long time.

best holiday outfits

Scott A Wells asked:




We are now into November and that means only one thing Christmas is just around the corner. The shops have already got their Christmas decorations up and the supermarkets are filled with crackers and selection boxes. Before you know it the big day will be here and if you have not already you need to start planning ahead. There are of course the presents to buy, the greetings cards to write and you need to find the perfect outfit for the office Christmas party.

Finding the right outfit for the office Christmas party can be a real mind field as there is so much to choose from. But by following these simple tips you can be sure to find the right outfit and have a hassle free Christmas.

The first thing to do is to find out what sort of party you will be having as this will have a large impact of on the outfit you buy. If for example you are having a dinner and dance then you can go all out and buy a stunning ball dress where as if you are just going for a few drinks then a slinky little cocktail dress might be more appropriate.

The next thing you need to do is to work out how much you can afford to spend. Christmas can be an expensive time of year and you need to manage your finances carefully. Once you have set yourself a budget it is important that you stick to it. Setting a budget can actually make finding an outfit easier as it will narrow your choice down.

If you just go out to the shops without any ideas of what you are looking for the likelihood is that you will become overwhelmed and spend the whole day wandering around without actually buying anything. Start thinking about the style of outfit you want, look for inspiration in magazines and on the TV. Then try looking online many of the big online retailers have fantastic occasion wear sections and you will also be able to see the price and whether it fits into your budget.

If you are still unsure then you can go to the shops and try a couple of different styles on. Once you have found a style that you like it is often worth going back on the internet to see if you are able to find the same outfit for less. There are often huge savings to be made by shopping online. By following these simple steps will ensure that you are able to find the perfect outfit for the office Christmas party without breaking the bank.

Halloween costumes

Victoria Mistral asked:




Halloween is a holiday which involves the thrill of a trick-or-treating, which has been one of the traditions in which costumed children go from a house to house soliciting candy or other treats from their neighbors. Likewise, wearing costumes during this holiday makes the occasion creepier. However, Halloween costumes can be an ideal style for dogs too! Dog owners always love to celebrate their pets with them. They arrange things for their dogs to relate them to the certain occasion.

Dogs can be easily trained. They have the character and quality which make it the reason on why some people preferred to have dogs as pets. Moreover, they are good partners to hunters, an expert blind guide and for rescue and detective operations. They can be used for various purposes. In addition, dogs can do a lot of things for their owners, provided that they feel the love and care that their owners give to them. Dogs, like cats are also sensitive and a keen observer and also proper supplies should also be given to them.

Likewise, for an occasion like Halloween, there are a lot of dog product suppliers out there who provides the quality products for your pets. You can purchase him a special costume, or you can ask to knit one yourself for some personal touch.

Moreover, you can ask for some supplies and products online to where you can choose for a variety of options. This also gives you the opportunity to spend less and to save more. You do not have to worry much on what you would dress your dog that would fit him, for costumes are available in every super market. But, make it sure that you choose a market which offers you the product which you exactly need, make it certain that you do not compromise your budget for something that is not merely necessary.

best holiday outfits

Chet Val asked:




Halloween arrives on October 31st every year, and with it comes excitement for all. There are the parties, the decorations, the festivities, the laughs, and of course the costumes. Whether you view Halloween as scary or humorous, or maybe a bit of both, we can all agree that it is an enjoyable holiday. Popularity and participation seems to swell each year. Initially a holiday for children only, Halloween has become the holiday for everyone. Adults spend more time and more money each year preparing for this big day. As a matter of fact, Halloween is quickly becoming an acceptable holiday season versus just a one day activity. Halloween has surged in popularity holding its own right up there with Christmas. With all the hustle and bustle of party preparation, costume construction, and decorating, the question arises regarding Halloween being declared a national holiday. Halloween is a day of fun and the closure of federal and state buildings, businesses, offices, and schools may not be such a bad idea.

Halloween is traced back to a ritual of honoring the dead over 2000 years ago. Initially called All Hallows Eve, it falls on the final day of the celtic calendar which is, of course, October 31st. This is also the eve of All Saints Day which is a Christian holiday honoring the saints. Over the centuries, there were many traditions revolving around All Hallows Eve. These Halloween traditions varied greatly among the many cultures that celebrated it. The tradition of gift giving is a spinoff from the Celts who believed the souls of dead people roamed the streets at night. Many of the souls and spirits were thought to be unfriendly, the gifts and treats were left outside to pacify those that were evil, grant health for people in their family, and ensure next year’s crops would be abundant. This custom eventually evolved into today’s trick-or-treating from door to door involving children dressed as ghosts and goblins eagerly awaiting the treats from the doorstep.

From a commercial standpoint, the USA far exceeds any other nation in sales of Halloween costumes, Halloween decorations, party supplies, and other Halloween themed merchandise. Although it’s difficult to pin down exact sales figures regarding this holiday, it is conservatively estimated by some analysts that Halloween may eventually catch up to Christmas in terms of dollars spent annually. Past estimates have been as high as five billion dollars for recent Halloween seasons which would still rank it behind other gift giving holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, as well as religious holidays like Easter. As for future growth, the buzz with Halloween, especially with the adult consumers, is the spending itself.

Store-bought decorations in particular can be expensive. Some Halloween retailers even go as far as selling full size coffins and animatronic, robot-like, life-sized figures. These realistic props can cost hundreds and even thousands of US dollars. Combine this type of Halloween enthusiasm with national costume sales and the numbers can add up very quickly and continue to grow even in a slowing economy. This commercial explosion is a far cry from decades gone by where local retailers would carry a few select cookie-cutter boxed costumes, some Halloween themed candy, and some plastic pumpkins to carry the loot. The only thing lacking at this point in time would be some type of large scale gift exchanging tradition which is the common denominator in driving retail sales during the holidays.

Overall, the possibility of Halloween being proclaimed a national holiday is still only a pipe dream for Halloween enthusiasts. At the time of this writing, there has been no formal request made and my research concluded that no organization has taken the initiative to even begin the process. Commercial success is alone not enough to earn national holiday status. Halloween appears as though it may remain nothing more than a fun-filled day (or night) for both children and adults wishing to celebrate this centuries-old tradition in their own way.

Halloween costumes

Linda Weaver Clarke asked:




Holiday traditions make life worth living! We anxiously await that special day when we can celebrate with our loved ones. These traditions help to create a bond with one another. Each holiday has a special nostalgia that tugs at our hearts. We think of our stomachs and delectable food on Thanksgiving Day. Memories of fancy costumes and treats come to mind with Halloween. Valentine’s Day is full of romance, chocolate candies, heart-shaped cookies, and that special kiss from a sweetheart. We all have our traditions during this festive time. Have you ever wondered how these traditions began?

Valentine’s Day has been around much longer than most people realize. In A.D. 269, Claudius was the Emperor of Rome. He wanted to have a huge army, but the Roman men were not interested in joining. They did not want to leave their wives and children. This upset Claudius, and as a result, he outlawed marriage so the men would join his army. Saint Valentine was a priest and didn’t agree with the almighty ruler. He continued to marry couples in secret. Eventually he was caught and thrown in jail. While in prison, he fell in love with the daughter of the prison guard who would visit him regularly. They would sit and talk for hours. The day of his execution, February 14th, Valentine left a note, thanking her for her friendship. He signed it, “Love, from your Valentine.”

When we think of mouth-watering turkey, scrumptious yams and mashed potatoes, cranberries, luscious pecan and pumpkin pies with ice cream on top, we think of Thanksgiving. How did this tradition begin? It all started with a desire to be liberated from religious persecution. The Pilgrims fled their homeland in England and arrived in America on December 11, 1620. The first winter was devastating. They lost 46 of the original 102 settlers. The Indians helped the Pilgrims survive the following year, so the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a huge feast. There were ninety-one Indians who attended the celebration and the feast lasted for three days. They had ducks, fish, lobster, clams, venison, dried fruit, berries, and plums. In 1789, George Washington wanted to make a National Day of celebration in honor of the first pilgrims. Thomas Jefferson scoffed at the idea. It brought a lot of discord because many felt that the hardships of a few Pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. In1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a National Day of Thanksgiving.

The custom of Halloween started in Europe during the harvest season. The Europeans would celebrate the end of summer by having a harvest feast the last day of October. They would build bonfires to cook the feast and also to keep the ghosts away. They were superstitious people and believed that ghosts roamed about on the last day of October. “Hallow” meant holy and “e’en” was short for evening. Because this celebration was the evening before All Hallows Day or All Saints Day, they decided to call it Halloween. But how did this holiday get to America? Irish immigrants brought the tradition here in the 1800s. In Ireland, Irish beggars would go to the homes of the rich on Halloween night and ask for food or money. If they refused, then evil spirits would destroy their homes for their inhospitable behavior. Once the tradition came to America, families and neighbors got together, dressed up in festive costumes, ate foods of the season and played games. It wasn’t until the mid 1900s that children began to knock on doors and ask for treats.

Holidays unite families. We celebrate, eat, laugh, dance, and play together. Family traditions are important and create a bond. I enjoy learning about holidays and how they originated. When I write my novels, I try to educate my readers and include facts of interest. Because of my love for holidays, I have included them in my series of novels, “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho.” Each story in this family saga has adventure, romance, history, and courage. Intertwining fact and fiction, these novels entertain as well as educate my readers.

costume

Sarah Freeland asked:




Unlike so many other holidays throughout the year, Christmas stands out to many people and families. This is one of the biggest holidays, often times surrounded by family, friends, love, and warmth; gathering together to enjoy a meal and presents. However, regardless of how many Christmases that you have spent in your life; few will rival that of your child’s first Christmas. While it will hold little for the child, it will be a memory that you will carry with you throughout your life. From the first beautiful moment that he or she opens their eyes to the new day, only to be met by brilliantly wrapped gifts; all the way to the warm and full bellies met by kisses and hugs.

For this reason, so many mothers and fathers will decide to take an extra stop to their local retailer before this precious day. Often times choosing a precious suit or dress for that Christmas-time photo shoot; while obtaining a few Christmas theme t-shirt for the day of. With this demand, many retailers now offer hundreds of “baby’s first Christmas” outfits. Even if this isn’t your child’s first Christmas, there is still a large selection for you to choose from. Whether you wish to make a statement of which number this Christmas will be for your child, later scrap booking the memories away as timeless pictures. Or if you simply want to commemorate this beloved holiday with festive outfits.

If you have braved the pre-Christmas shopping, you have found several choices to be had at your mass-market retailer. However most will be similar to the years past, or downright “normal” or bland. Often times offering pastel one pieces with Santa Clause or a snowman littered across it’s entirety. While this might be the sight that you will normally see at your local mass retailers, many specialty child stores both online and local will offer something with a little more flavor. From mistle toe all the way to elaborate sleighs and decorative text across this once-simplified article of clothing. Some even catering to the more alternative of parents, with prints from the Nightmare Before Christmas; or other wholesome tales that we have all come to know and love. Will help you to dress your child with Christmas cheer, and brighten those memories for future times with your family.

best holiday outfits

Dan Fresh asked:




Elf fancy dress outfits are second only to Santa suits when it comes to the most popular types of costumes over the Christmas period. There are quite a few different kinds of Christmas elf costumes to choose from on the specialist online websites, from the traditional green and red Santa’s helper outfits to the sultry and sexy elf mini dresses.

This article is concerned with the more traditional Christmas elf costumes, which are usually based around an oversized green tunic, with a big black belt, and red trousers or shorts. On the whole the elf fancy dress outfits available today are pretty good, but if you want your Christmas elf costumes to look really awesome then you are going to need to purchase some cool accessories.

Below we look at five different types of accessories to help make your elf fancy dress outfits look as authentic as they possibly can.

Red and Green Hat With Bells

If you have bought one of those Christmas elf costumes that does not come with a hat then a unisex green and red Christmas elf hat is a must. Personally, I think the elf hat design with bells is especially good.

Thick Translucent Tights

If your costume is one of those elf fancy dress outfits that has short trousers then you should definitely get some tights to help complete the look. You might want to get some green thick translucent tights or if you want a more fun look then you could get some tights with a red and green leg.

Pixie Ears

You may now have a convincing looking costume, but to make your character look convincing then you need to make yourself up to look like an elf. One of the best ways to do this is to buy some soft vinyl pointed elf ears, which will transform your look in an instant.

Make-up

As well as getting some vinyl pixie ears you should also take the time to apply some make-up to achieve that elven look. It is definitely worth getting a fine make up brush of professional quality, so that you can add tiny details, as well as good quality face paints.

Elven Footwear

As with most fancy dress costumes, wearing the right footwear is essential if you want to create a totally authentic looking outfit. A pair of unisex green faux suede slip on elf shoes with the traditional curly toes are the perfect finishing touch.

holiday outfits

Jom Adastico asked:




These days people will dress up as pretty much anything for Halloween. However, some people like to stick to the scary Halloween costumes that the holiday is known for. There are a lot of different options available if you are one of these people. The simplest way to get scary Halloween costumes is to buy them. You can buy costumes based on characters from horror movies (such as Freddy, Jason, the Scream costume, and many others) or you can go with more traditional choices like ghosts, witches, zombies, and Frankenstein. Most websites and stores that sell Halloween costumes will have a selection of these types to choose from.

However, if you want to get really scary Halloween costumes that will have a better chance of scaring people other than just really little kids, you might be better off letting your creativity run wild and creating the costume yourself. People are more used to seeing the costumes sold in the stores, and aren’t as likely to be scared of them. Something different is more likely to be a bit more of a shock. You can get wigs, makeup, and old clothes to use as the basis of your costume, and there are a number of different websites that can help you to figure out how to put everything together.

To make the most of your scary Halloween costumes, you won’t want to just walk around in plain sight. You will want to hide and jump out at people so you startle them, since they will be more likely to be scared, at least for a few seconds, in this type of situation.

The absolute best use for truly scary Halloween costumes has to be helping out at one of the many haunted houses that are set up for Halloween. People expect scary things to jump out at them, and won’t be mad if you jump out and shout boo. It is a lot of fun to see people’s reactions as well to the various tricks of the trade that are used in haunted houses. Maybe you could even set up one of your own for the trick or treaters or people who come to a Halloween party at your house.

best holiday outfits

Stephen A. Daniels asked:




Doll enthusiasts often show their carefully assembled collections with pride in special cases, or leave them packed away for safekeeping… but why not bring out dolls from behind the glass this holiday and show them off? This season is all about magic, and dolls embody the childlike wonder that we all try to recapture at this time of year. It is a wonderful time to display your favorite dolls in new and beautiful ways.

One fun way to get ready for the holidays is dressing your dolls up for the season! There are many doll makers that also make gorgeous costumes and clothing for 18″ dolls, and even tiny jewelry and crowns. Choosing rich, vibrant colors paired with gold and silver can turn doll displays into royal holiday celebrations.

Another unique holiday idea: special costumes with wings that instantaneously transform dolls into lovely angels or fairies. Placing them on a doll stand amidst a winter floral arrangement can be a perfect centerpiece for a table, or a stunning mantelpiece.

With some patience and creativity, you can create all kinds of holiday scenes using dolls. Using purchased or handmade accessories, you could show dolls participating in your most-loved holiday traditions. Dolls could decorate a doll-sized tree, play in fake snow or make a snowman. They could also light a kinera, a Yule log, a menorah, or even play with a dreidel. How about a doll nativity set? No matter which winter celebrations you take part in, dolls can be a part of your d?cor.

Many people spend hours elaborately decorating beautiful holiday trees, only to stack presents under it any old way. A special under-the-tree arrangement can set yours apart. Artfully wrapped gifts with large, pretty bows under the tree interspersed with dolls and perhaps other toys, such as teddy bears, can make for a whimsical, old-fashioned display that will add that extra touch to your tree.

You can use smaller arrangements of dolls and toys throughout the room to pull your d?cor theme together, perhaps tucking a doll and a bear into the corner of an antique chair. Just be sure to place dolls in safe locations where they won’t be sat upon or damaged! Remember that your dolls will draw children’s attention especially, and they are likely to touch or play with the ones in their reach. Keep this in mind when selecting locations for your treasures.

Decorating with dolls should be fun, and what could be more fun than setting up a scene for a daughter, granddaughter or niece including the doll that will be their present? Having the doll sitting at a tea party, or ready to ride away on the girl’s bicycle, could be a scene that will bring a smile to her face when she wakes up and sees it in the morning.

Your unique holiday decor is likely to be a conversation starter, and a way to get others interested in doll collection. Children and adults alike will love the whimsy and the beauty of your displays, and appreciate your willingness to share your beautiful dolls in such a wonderful way.

best holiday outfits