I was late to the Twitter party. I also don’t do much photography, so Flickr was always out of the question. I’ve been on Facebook for awhile now, but haven’t used it for its costume powers. You might say I’m a tad old school. Funny, since I proud myself on my unbearably geeky nature that seems to have no end.

I’ve come to the light, however, and have seen the future of costume fans across the globe. The web has grown up a lot and is always giving out more tools to keep people together. With more and more collective genius mixing into the pool with the social revolution, it’s without hesitation that any costume fan can immediately jump into the mix.

So here’s our mash up of web tools that will put your disguise on the map and open the floodgates of costume fan goodness to you.

Tools To Get You Known

Flickr is the ideal photo sharing website. Why? Well it just is. It’s clean, easy to use, attractive, and a repository for all images that are interesting. There are so many widgets and tools developed around Flickr that you can even add your Flickr album to your blog. Flickr is all about empowering the user to get their photos out and across the web.

Hit the jump for more of our ideas…

(more…)

You might catch yourself in a public place wearing a costume that may not be deemed as “normal”. So what, right?

…well… you may want to go in numbers. As cool as it is to be socially offbeat, costume fans need to be supplied with reinforcements whenever possible.

A lot of costume fans find that they would have fun getting dressed up, but don’t know where or when to do it. Unless you’re holding a sign on a street corner to advertise business, you’re going to get funny looks.

So, as a generous task, we’re providing you with a solid list of people and places to find other costume fans to fraternize with.

The Search For Fellow Costumers Begins Online

The first place to look for a community is online. This will help you find out who is where, and what they participate in.

Forums - Forums exists all over the net, and for about every niche group possible. Cosplay, steampunk, general costumes, collectors, you name it and you’ll find it. Forums are a great place to ask questions that only a true fan would know.

DIY Web Sites - The great thing about DIY sites is that there are so many types of people there. You can be into any type of costume, and DIYers are all over it. Also, they’re extremely involved in the creation process, putting them in the know for all good resources on a particular subject or idea.

Digg, and other Social News Sites - Why Digg? Well, Digg is a haven for all the crazy stuff you will find on the web. How many ideas or articles have we found via social news? Well, lets pretend they’re all original things I see in person, mmkay?

Costume Events Come More Frequently Than You Know

The good news is that there is nearly always something going on for a costume fan to take part in, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get involved and make some friends, right?

Conventions - Cons are big in a very big way these days. They come in all shapes and sizes and attract everyone you could imagine. If you’re a fan of something like comics or anime, there are cons all the time for you. Find a costume, make a reason, and go dress up. People love to see their peers show their pride. Some cons are getting more well known for their costumes alone… sound like fun?

Release Events - Harry Potter movie, new Halo game, Star Trek release, on and on and on… if your costume is specific, and you’re in good company, you have all the reason to get decked out.

Fan Festivals - Fan festivals are akin to Conventions, but are usually surrounding a certain product or IP. The gaming industry is big on these. Fans of Blizzard Games, Sony Games, or Square Enix games can all find Fan Fests happening almost annually. It’s worth it to get in some garb and go to at least one.

Get Cultured and Celebrate Costumes Regionally

The Right City - Tokyo is great for Cosplayers. New York has all kinds of dress up events, cultural mashups, and groups of enthusiasts. Los Angeles is home to the Hollywood hills, and the entertainment capital of the world. It doesn’t stop there, as most big cities have something unique to boast. Celebrate the city you love.

Cultural Celebrations - We’ve already covered Carnival and Oktoberfest. It doesn’t end there. If you want to immerse yourself in a really cool side of costuming, find a way to travel and get into some traditional threads. It’s always more acceptable and fun to blend into another lifestyle.

Well, not sure you got enough? We can think of many more. Check out our post on 79 Days, Reasons and Events made for Costumes. Search around for the ideas we’ve found and add some of your own.

Otaku? Who, us?

Stumbling across a blog post about the socially ostracized life of a typical “otaku”, I couldn’t help but read. The obsessively otaku fanboy spends so much time in their own interests (and bedrooms), that they manage to cook up some pretty crazy fan-fueled goods for the equally maniacal.

But before the mother ship calls us home to reality (and we convince ourselves we’re not that bad) we have to recognize two important things about this kind of geek obsession.

1. Geek culture is not so wrong these days. Sure, it’s not the way, but it sure has its share of respect and honor in the modern pop culture setting.

2. Costume lovers are no more than a few degrees of separation away from being totally otaku, and only one away from geek sheik. We turn to Wired Magazine for more validation.

The Wired Magazine Geekipedia Tells All…

It turns out that costume fanboyism shows its face more than a couple of times in the Wired Geekipedia. This lovingly crafted tribute to the education of blatant nerdery really pins down the culture, and some of these words just may be familiar to a costume lover.

Cosplay - Wired says “Donning a costume offers shy geeks an anonymous mode of self-expression and fun.” It’s not all that inaccurate nor is it shameful in any way. Cosplayers have seen a huge boost in numbers since big events and imported anime films make their way westward.

Machinima - Some people are costume lovers of a different sort. They like to mount their alternative image in a virtual setting. Machinima is the practice of making films out of characters and animations extracted from video games and virtual worlds. Any Second Lifers know exactly what it is. Ultimately, it’s the practice of the virtual costume.

(weird, no?)

Manga - Manga is basically printed anime, and it’s also gaining attention in the western world. As a huge fuel for cosplayers, Manga is easy to recognize these days.

Otaku - If you have a tendency to be otaku, you already know it. Although, the connotation of the word in the English language denotes more of an obsessive love for something, it’s actually quite derogatory in Japanese. Watch who you call otaku, especially if the finger should be pointed at you. We all saw your sketches for your next costume…

True Otaku…

Social Networking - Yeah, this is a bit more geek sheik since, well.. you know… EVERYONE is doing it. Significance to a costumer? Well, have you ever signed up at a costume forum, joined a costume chat or group, or been on a social network specifically for costumes? Yeah, you know who you are.

Tokyo - It turns out a lot of the costume related entries in the Geekipedia surround the cosplay culture. That doesn’t mean other forms of costume love don’t belong. However, it would be silly to not mention Tokyo as a huge influence in the culture.

Viral - A great term that has become easy to grasp in the last few years. Denoting the spreading of a trend in a viral manner, this type of attention is nearly all costume lovers get. If you heard of a great DIY project, a fun costume event, or a clever party that you want to throw… it’s likely you didn’t find the information advertised in the newspaper. Word of mouth love sustains the community of costume lovers.

The best part about the list is that it’s just not done. They’re adding more every day. Should we submit DIY? Anyone??

After watching the Academy Awards, we noticed something. The Academy loves good costumes. They also love nostalgia. Either way, without the Silver Screen delivering up some truly iconic apparel, we would be less than inspired with our own costumes.

Looking forward to 2008 we picked our top movies with costumes worth noting. It’s not with ease that we have done so, as finding a diverse group of competitors is about as hard as picking a favorite skittles flavor. But, don’t fret… we’ve come up with a short list that you’re free to shred apart. So, without further wordy blabber…

5. Son of Rambow - I may be guilty for choosing this one simply because I’m charmed by the trailer. However, there are good reasons for this pick.

The film is about a couple of boys who decide to make films. With enough passion to compensate for budget and know-how, they set out to make an action film so clever that everyone they know wants in on it. Homebrewed stunts and plastic toys for props end up giving the film all the necessary looks to be successful.

Why we picked it: Who doesn’t remember getting ambitious to make movies as a youngin’? It’s just enough nostalgia to make you wish you still had videos of the times you did similar films. Although nothing fancy, the costumes in the film are dead on for the right message.

4. JJ Abrams’ Star Trek - JJ Abrams is up to something big. He’s no slouch when it comes to making a name for himself, and now he’s taking on a juggernaut of a film production. Although the teaser trailer for this movie doesn’t give much in way of plot, and nothing as far as costumes go, we all know that Star Trek boasts some of the biggest costume fans in existence.

Why we picked it: You can almost bet Trump his fortune that JJ Abrams will add his own personal touch. What’s better than seeing a classic series with a new take. There’s bound to be a new look and feel. What’s more is that Star Trek’s setting demands some clever, out of this world costuming that piques the imagination enough to induce immersion. We have high expectations here.

3.  The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspain: Fantasy has always been a great setting for incredible costuming. Fans of the C.S. Lewis series are ready for another installment. Some of the costume work found in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe was nothing short of the same genius we all saw with Pan’s Labyrinth. This time the film goes back to Narnia, and the children are about to find out a lot more of Narnia’s darker side.

Why we picked it: It’s simply not enough these days to just remake a film. Narnia’s first installment was nothing short of epic, and we were ready for more. But what makes the story and visuals so compelling is the merging of 2 worlds into one. Try blending styles, images, and echoes of an era into a fantasy setting that is unique enough to be it’s own, and you’ll find an on screen juxtaposition that feels like eye candy.

2. The Dark Knight: Once Christopher Nolan released his new take on the Batman franchise, Batman Begins, it mounted up to the top of the tops for comic book remakes. With a new feel of earnest mysteriousness not to be taken lightly, the film recreated the character. This time, he’s roped in the late Heath Ledger to play the Joker. Not too much is known about the film, but it does look to outdo it’s predecessor and remain a classic.

Why we picked it: Have you seen the new Joker? It’s amazing what a creative mind can redo with a bit of personal touch. We’re more than excited to see how this ultra-creepy but unbearably cool new villain will turn the Batman image into. It’s faithful yet interpretive of the original, and we LOVE that.

1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: Sure, we’ve mentioned this one before. There’s a lot of buzz about Spielberg’s new addition to the Indiana Jones films. Some good, some bad, but all very curious. This time, Indy is older and he brought his son for the adventure.

Why we picked it: Well, there are elements that I can take from every one of the previously mentioned films going into this production. The costumes are going to be total throwbacks, and extremely honoring of the series. Is that a bad thing though?

No, in fact we wouldn’t have it any other way. Anyone going to see this movie wants to get a real Indiana Jones experience. It’s all about feeling the same adventure, same wit, and same sense of excitement we felt in the first three. The early twentieth century rustic adventurer look is completely defined by the movies, and it has inspired costumes for years.

So then, what do you think? Did we miss anything essential? Add your comments to the bottom.

Funny enough, cosplay tends to be one of the more prominent subject matters here at MD. There seems to be a huge internet community that supports the practice. And, well.. since the Internet is so global the international popularity makes it much more significant.

Still, to this day cosplay is somewhat of an underground subculture that doesn’t see a lot of mainstream daylight. I’m immersed in costume information every day, so I can tend to get a fuzzy idealistic view of just how many people are interested in this sort of thing.

Today, I stumbled on the top 100 costumes as updated daily by Costumezee. Now, I’ve been told to not believe everything the intertubes pump out at me. Therefore I can be skeptical as to how Costumezee has decided these facts. But, what’s in it for them to lie on this matter? Maybe it’s true?

So why all the fuss? Well, as it turns out, “anime” costumes made the bottom of the list. I’m sure a likely explanation is the nature of cosplay, and that most good cosplay is homemade. If this list was truly accurate, the DIY stuff should go in there too. It does beg answers to some questions. How many people who are into cosplay actually make their own outfits? Is Anime and cosplay still too small to notice? Why did disco costumes make number 1!?!

I’d say, so far Anime has made leaps and bounds when it comes into crashing on the American market. Although it’s still a lesser appreciated form of entertainment in comparison to the prominence it retains in Japan, cosplay costumes should be a tad higher on the list, no? What do you think?

It’s only fair you get a sweet recap of all the good stuff that graced your computer screen over the last week. Yeah, it sounds cocky I know. But hey, where else do you go for an all-costuming blog? Hmm?

Revisiting Our Favorite Costume Sites - We take a look at the best of the best sites covered by MyDisguises.

The Famous Disguise - If you haven’t seen this video, you lose. Okay, maybe you don’t lose, but it’s incredible.

MyDisguises 2007 Winners and Losers - 2007 was huge, and there was a lot to see. We break down the best costumes and stories of the last year and reveal them to the readers.

Time’s Best Loved Film Costumes - The movies are a cultural phenomenon. Time Magazine helps us look at the iconic wardrobes that become almost as important as the actors behind them in their best loved costumes of all time.

An Intro to “Steampunk” - Steampunk is a culture that is ripe for the costume world. Most people who love steampunk have put some time into making their own stuff, and we take a quick look at what’s behind it all.

I have to apologize to all of you who don’t quite know Big Daddy. Trust me, he’d love to meet you.

If you didn’t notice, Big Daddy basically cleaned up all the coolness costume awards from ‘07. After an epic public showing at the Spike Video Game Awards, he’s had more media attention than a hybrid Paris Hilton/Britney Spears money spewing robot… that dispenses predictions of the future… and has the cure to cancer…

Okay, anyway it begs the question, what have you been doing Big Daddy? Is this monstrosity of a character laying low before he stars again in another epic under water adventure?

Big Daddy, where are you now? /begin dream sequence

Well, it seems that after being bludgeoned by fame and fortune, Big Daddy had his own action figure made.

Others who aren’t in possession of the dough for their own mini-pet Big Daddy have gotten the chance to create some dazzling renditions with Legos. Lincoln Logs Big Daddy on the way?

Big Daddy tried his hand in some other work, but it may have not worked out. (thanks Fenner)

And with such fame, comes TV deals… (don’t hold your breath, it’s not as entertaining as you may be expecting)

The art world has seemed to really grasp hold on Big Daddy’s fame. I mean, what’s not inspiring about a metal drill-armed weapon wielding superhuman mutant protector of creepy little girls?

Enjoying the paparazzi, Big Daddy decided to make a few extra bucks as well. Someone on eBay had the chance to get their paws on some of his daily garb. Fetching a nice, but underwhelming price, you’d figure he could make that same money buy poking through drawers and old registers down in Neptune’s Bounty, hmm?

All in all, it has been one great year for El Grande Papa. Keep sipping your piña coladas Big Daddy, it won’t be long before the world needs you again.

Maybe you’re doing exactly what I’m doing right now… you’re peering out your window at a snowstorm that looks like a little brother to a blizzard. It’s been weeks since you spent significant amount of time outside, and your cabin fever amounts to about three times the legal limit for sanity. Well, you need something to do! Don’t let the season get you down. Here are some ideas:

Costumes In The Off-Season

-The best laid plans-

If you’re planning on doing your own work this year, then make sure you plan ahead. Most cosplayers know this. However, if you’re just an average joe that wants to take a crack at the DIY thing, you should think ahead what you want to do. Some of the more intricate DIY costumes can take weeks of spare time for assembly, sewing, and painting. It’s something great to keep in the attic or basement for years to come, or to pull out at a later date. Nostalgia wins.

-Do something seasonal-

There’s just about always some kind of holiday on the horizon. If it’s not a national holiday, there could be something ethnic that would be fun to celebrate. We’ve already started talking about . Find a holiday calendar, find people you know who would be interested, and concoct a good celebration. You never know what could become tradition…

-Try something original-

This will sound foolish, but some friends and I made up a holiday once. It was called “Brownstein Day”, yeah it was strange. Long story how we made it up. However, we started traditions, which included eating Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches, drinking Vanilla Coke, and toasting to Papa Brownstein at the stroke of midnight-thirty. We did it two years in a row, but missed this last season… maybe I’ll plan something and we’ll get dressed up!

-Get into the convention scene-

Cons are all over the place for costume fans. Find something to be a part of! We highly recommend Comic Con, as it draws huge crowds, epic celebrities, and even more epic costumes. It’s not the geek-fest you’re thinking it is. Here’s a website, and you’ll find content on MyDisguises about it from time to time. Delve in head first.

There are lots more to see as well… WonderCon (later this month!), DragonCon, Anime Conventions, Fan Fests, Ren Faires, etc. Look around online and you’ll surely find one thats within a 2 week window that you can dress up for.

-Get involved with DIY, submit it to Instructables and Make-

Have you not spent time on Instructables or Make Magazine? You’ll find an endless supply of projects to get your hands dirty with. It’s one thing to dress up, but a whole different experience to wear something you constructed from top to bottom. Make a costume, submit it to Instructables or Make, and get noticed for your genius.

Hopefully we stimulated some thought. Add any additional ideas you may have down below and see if you can’t help those of us out who need a boost in creativity.

Time magazine has been around for ages. One of their real trademark skills is capturing culture in pictures.

A roommate of mine who is all too aware of my costume blogging appropriately tipped me off on a link over at Time. Both he and I love to read and Time is on the list. They put together a photo essay of the 10 best loved film costumes of all time. Well, that’s according to them.

Here’s a link.

What makes these costumes stand out? More than anything it’s the recognition factor. Anyone dressed in similar outfits will immediately get a staring eye of nostalgia. And as for our impressions? Well, here’s what we have to say.

Keira Knightley as Cecilia Tallis in Atonement - Too early to tell for this one, as she’s easily stacked up against some real classics that have taken years to acquire their status.

Marilyn Monroe as the Girl in The Seven Year Itch - Perfect choice, as it has inspired countless recreations of the costume by fans and impersonators. Earlier this year, this and many of Monroe’s other famous dresses went on exhibit and we were able to post about it here.

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany’s - Truly a tribute to the modern princess, and none could wear it like Hepburn. We give our approval on this choice as well.

Olivia Newton John as Sandy Olsson in Grease - I remember thinking that this movie was from the 50’s when I was a kid. Now, I know better, but it does give a clap to the costumes from the flick. They did a great job at recreating an era and making it as charming as could be.

Check out the photo essay to get the rest of the selections…

2007 brought us upon some of the coolest sites we have seen in a long time. We thought we’d pay a quick visit back to some of the big ones and see just what’s up…

Project Rooftop

I fell in love with this site immediately, as it’s something I’ve never seen before. Comic book artist Dean Trippe put together this blog with the endeavor to re-costume some of the most well known super heroes in pop culture. In the end there are some terribly clever adaptations on classic looks that we have seen on Project Rooftop.

Rooftop likes to host contests for wardrobe redesigns and new looks. I browsed a few of them and must say they attract the most creative artists and gung-ho enthusiasts.

Most notably is the Fights, Flights, and Tights contest. This is where they trade pen and paper for fabric and mask. The annual costume contest brings in some of the more clever comic fans, so you can expect some real classy looks.

Don’t miss the contest and leave some comments. There’s sure to be a MyDisguises reader that will be submitting to the contest soon enough.

Handmade Detroit

Handmade Detroit isn’t quite all about costumes. However, they have their share of content that is great for anyone who is into the DIY thing. Whether you’re dressing up your body for Halloween, your house for the holidays, or your wardrobe with something flashy, it’s good to get tips here.

Since we were last at Handmade Detroit, we noticed plenty of posts covering the Holidays. Regrettably, I personally didn’t get the chance to implement any of the suggestions for my own personal holiday celebration. However, there’s always good content flowing in and out of the site.

My personal pick for the Handmade Detroit contribution not to be missed is the “12 Days of Crafty Projects” segment. It’s classy and looks like a lot of fun.

retroCRUSH

Ahh retroCRUSH, I love you. This site is worth more than all the Garbage Pail Kids you can muster (Actually, I bet they’d love to see your collection). It’s a respectful, light-hearted, and amazingly fun tribute to all things of the past worth remembering. I get a warm feeling every time I even peek in to see what’s going on.

retroCRUSH always has gems, and it’s hard to pinpoint their best. Personally I’d take a look a few particulars.

First is the retroCRUSH Toy Box of Glory. Here you’ll find all the cool toys you played with as a kid and couldn’t let go of. Slinkys, Stretch Armstrong, Weebles, Ouija Boards, you name it. The gallery is pretty comprehensive and there are videos and pictures to accompany everything.

I’d say that the Gallery of Retrobabes is something for the guys, but there’s just too much good nostalgia for women to not appreciate. On the costume side of things, it’s real fun to see some of these old actresses and celebrities decked out in some of their famous garb from popular films. It’s an enthusiasts hot spot.

Heck, even the web site’s layout and design is pleasantly retro.

Costume Craze

This is some sponsor love, because we really mean it. Costume Craze has had a wonderful year, and they are growing to become one of the fastest growing and reliable companies in the U.S. today. Over the past year, they really expanded their costume offerings, and have done a great job keeping our blog alive. How else would we deliver such consistent content?

Since we last checked in with Costume Craze, there’s been a lot to see. What’s most notable is the exclusive offering of custom costumes by Valerie Tabor Smith. There’s absolutely no other way to get costumes this cute for your kids.

We try not to be too preachy, but we owe it to Costume Craze for being so great and for having such a wonderful catalog. Check out the exclusive costumes you can even stock up for next year ahead of time.

2007 is leaving us, or rather we are leaving it behind in the dust of a brighter future. Luckily we have no need to get too worked up over the things to come. There will be much to cheer and surely plenty for jeers. However, that’s all speculation.

We can, however, look back at all things worthy of all exclamations…

“glorious!”

“ugh…”

“what the!?”

“scrumtrilecent”

“no comment”

“…”

Here are our picks for the 2007 Winners and Losers are:

• Big Daddy - This year, Big Daddy wins. His battled inner self lends to so much love and yet so much distaste. Hey, all of us who experienced Bioshock know that the Big Daddy is easier to identify with than we thought at the beginning of the game, right? Status: WINNER
• Political Correctness - The world collectively sighed this past year when Santa Claus briefly lost a bit of cheer and started to chuckle with his “Ha, Ha, Ha”. Status:LOSER
• Cosplay - We probably covered more cosplay than anything else since the blog has begun. We have written cosplay articles over and over and over, again and again and again. Cosplay, being just another reason to get costumed, brought us some great homemade costumes, new entries to the excitement, and all around generally fresh entries to the fun. Look out for big cosplay events in ‘08. Status: WINNER
• Autobots and Deceptecons - This year, Michael Bay brought childish nostalgia and fanboyism faster than Timberlake brought sexy back. The Transformers movie was a tribute to all things awesome in the 80’s. What’s more is that it inspired the most fanatical of do-it-yourselfers to make some classy costumes. Status: WINNER
• Cosplay, again - Yeah, there were some not so good moments too. Status: LOSER
• Homebrewed goods - Likely a winner every year, we found some classics this year and can’t help but applaud the ceaseless creativity out in the community. Status: WINNER
• Elven Fantasies Come True - This has to be my favorite story of the year. I showed this to every person I know. The response from the community??? Some people actually would do it! Hey, I can’t make fun, it’s just not on my list of operations to get in my lifetime. Status: WINNER and LOSER, depending on how much humor matters over prudence and good sense.

OVERALL WINNER - This year it goes to Bioshock and the Big Daddy. Nothing captivated our attention and brought such a positive, yet eerie, light on the costuming scene. We expect to hear more from 2K games on this title and would be absolutely tickled to find more amazing Bioshock cosplay for the pages of MyDisguises.

“Uhh, I’d like to thank Andrew Ryan and Frank Fontaine for artificially creating me. I’d like to thank my fellow Big Daddies. I’d like to thank my mom and dad for teaching me to be nice to my friends and always look out for them… oh man I’m embarrassed… this is all so new to me…”

We can’t list them all, but there are surely more. Put your picks for 2007’s winners and losers in the comments section and let us know what we missed.

Continuing along the theme of the Holidays, we’re going to help you out with a bit of your last minute shopping. Yes, that’s right. If you have a costume lover in your family or circle of friends, it can be hard to find the right gift for them. You don’t want to get them something they’ll never use. Most people really like to think hard about the costumes they’re going to wear. Since we do this all the time, we figure we can help you out.

Gifts for the Cosplayer

Cosplayers like to think out and make their own costumes, so you probably won’t want to get them any costume pieces. Here are some things they will like:

• Tickets to an upcoming con - Anime, gaming, comic, and cosplay conventions are going on just about all year long. The bigger ones cost more for a spot, but if you really want to impress get them a ticket. You can either find out what cosplay they’re currently working on and see if there’s a con that will be fitting for that particular cosplay. If you know they’ll love the chance to go to any show, check out this list of cosplay cons that happen all year long.
• Gift Certificate from Cosworx - Cosworx is an online shop specializing in cosplay accessories that may be hard to find elsewhere. You can pick up a gift certificate online and let them do their own shopping.
• Resupply their materials - True cosplayers are likely to need all the right gear. Maybe their sewing machine is old and rusty. Maybe they just need a restock of gear. Either way, help make sure they have all the tools necessary to execute.

Gifts for the D.I.Y. Costume Builder

These friends aren’t too different from the cosplayer, but there are still some unique ideas you can offer them.

• Subscription to Make and Craft Magazine - Make and Craft Magazines, as far as we’re concerned, are the premier resources for the Do-It-Yourself junkie. Whether you get them the magazines for fun or for inspiration, they’ll love it. Even some of us who don’t DIY get a kick out of reading these.
• Tools, tools, tools - A true DIY’er needs tools. I don’t mean just hammers and wrenches, although those could be necessary for some projects. They needs all kinds of art and building tools. Scissors, staplers, clamps, clips, paints, stuffings, etc. The list goes on and on.
• A space to show off - Like cosplayers go to conventions, DIY’ers use the Internet to show their work. If they’re serious about what they do, help them get a blog up and running. They may need some money for a domain or hosting. See what you can do to help them get their work out there and noticed.

Gifts for the Costume Collector

This is a harder crowd to please. It’s hard to know just what you can do for this enthusiast without breaking bank. Here are a few of our ideas:

• A trip to a museum of choice - If they’re into historical costumes and fashion, take them to the Met’s Costume Institute. Are they and Elvis fan? Stop by Graceland if you’re in the south or Vegas if you’re in the west. Comic book fan? Try getting tickets to the next Comic Con. If you’re creative, that special costume freak of yours will get one the best gifts they’ve ever had.
• The Costume Collector’s Companion 1890-1990 - This book is ideal for anyone who likes to collect old outfits and costumes. Rosemary Hawthorne, also known as the “Knicker Lady” even does her own shows tracing the history of underwear. The book is funny and helpful to anyone who loves collecting costumes. Pick it up!

Gifts for the Movie/Comic Book Costume Nut

I threw these three in together for good reason. A lot of the items these collectors want cross boundaries. Here’s what we came up with:

• Something special from PremierProps - PremierProps.com sells actual movie props from the sets they were used on. These can be a costly spend, but if it’s for a special someone, then you’ll find it worth the money. The items come and go, so be quick if you find something just right!
• Classic Batman: The Dark Knight Comic Book - The new Batman movie with Heath Ledger as the Joker is still a few months off, but a comic lover already has it in his/her sights. If they’re that big of a fan, they’ll probably cosplay for the opening. Get them pumped up with some authentic gear.

Christmas is almost here so hopefully our suggestions may help you come up with something at the last minute!

I should have a sign on my door. You know, the kind with the top corners frayed because a string has been fastened there to hang on a nail. Written in sharpie, it says…

“On a mission… be back later”

In the never-ending journey to help the world feel better about slipping into costumes more frequently, I’ve come up with a list of days, events, and reasons to get dressed up. Consult here often, as you’ll find that once or twice a year is hardly sufficient for such a fun hobby…

1. the great halloween - obvious!
2. cocktail/mocktail party - dashing!
3. harry potter movie release - mass geekery!
4. sneaking into an event - potentially illegal!
5. starring in a play - prestigious!
6. starring in a feature film - you’re rich!
7. marching in a parade - tiring!
8. murder mystery dinner - twas the butler!
9. goin’ to a rodeo - howdy partnur!
10. independence day - freedom to dress up!
11. cosplay convention - viva japan!
12. guitar hero party - tight leather pants!
13. tron fan festival - binary solo!
14. going on let’s make a deal - door # 2, monty!
15. playing a prank - goose!
16. renaissance faire - anon!
17. shakespeare festival - thus anon!
18. scaring away a yeti -boo! /run
19. guy fawkes night - remember, remember!
20. going 80’s dancing - tubular!
21. world of warcraft fan festival - for the horde!
22. traditional zulu dance show - sawubona baba!
23. new years eve - call dick clark!
24. ninja vs. pirates party - shiver me katanas!
25. appear on local t.v. - wayne’s world!
26. super bowl party - da bears!
27. historical figure party - four score and seven beers ago!
28. political convention - no new taxes!
29. rock n’ roll concert - i’m with the band!
30. school dance - be a chaperone!
31. old fashioned dance in a rest home -old timer’s rag!
32. visiting a children’s hospital - precious!
33. cinco de mayo - who invited chupacabra!?
34. second life meet and greet - who are you really?!
35. carnival - Viva Brasília!!
36. thanksgiving turkey bowl - with real turkeys!
37. music video remake for youtube - ain’t nothin’ but a heartache!
38. chinese new year - year of the dragon!?
39. otaku get together - 遊びたいと思うか。!
40. american gladiators party - no tights please!
41. valentine’s hit and run - guess who’s cupid!?
42. paintball match - master chief!
43. secret agent party - bond, james bond!
44. oktoberfest - das ist mein bier!
45. night out at the opera - fat lady singing tonight!
46. pre-halloween trunk or treat - twice is better!
47. aviation month - be a jetfighter!
48. christmas eve - matching christmas pajamas!
49. astronaut’s wives club - you haven’t joined!?
50. return to grade school party - pull out those no fear t-shirts!
51. square dance bonanza - bless your beautiful hide!
52. comic con - listman to the rescue!
53. world peace day - hippies unite!
54. canada day - where’s my tuque, eh!?
55. eskimo appreciation festival - start one today!
56. desert luau - you have no other excuses to wear a grass skirt!
57. urban track and field photo shoot - hurdling fire hydrants in short shorts!
58. xbox 360 fifa soccer ‘08 world cup tourney - who invited zidane!?
59. sweater vest fest - they’re real! i’ve been!
60. ugly christmas sweater contest - not yet been, but i’m prepared!
61. french rococo ball - napoleon said so!
62. mountaineer games - flannels will never die!
63. “me and my companion cube” dance - the cake is not real!
64. lord of the rings fashion show - hobbits: no shoes required!
65. costume scavenger hunt - nonsense rules!
66. civil war battle reenactment - just because you’re not 5o yrs old…!
67. you are what you eat party - i’ll be the pizza!
68. diwali - namaste!
69. become a crossing guard - cross dressing!
70. be a mascot - jump through the fiery hoop!
71. protest - get your message across in style!
72. become an internet legend - you were actually going to show your face!?
73. filling in for dog, bounty hunter - business in the front, bounty huntin’ in the back!
74. doing the 300 workout - this is almost sparta!
75. d.i.y. fanatic - looks just like a real severed head!
76. remaking your favorite t.v. show - will smith, eat your heart out!
77. fraternity initiation - pledge freshman!
78. school presentation - watch your robe, socrates!
79. gorilla ski team - no bananas on the slopes!

Feeling clever? Got better ideas?

The came and went is irrelevant to us here. We celebrate costumes as long as we can without going over the edge. That is why it is with good spirits that I scour to find the best of costumes of ‘07. I’d be flattered if someone dressed like me one time so I could put that on the list…

Anyway, this list today comes with a bit of a theme. We noticed more than ever that geek is sheik this year. People just love to dress up geek. So bow down and pay homage to the best geek costumery ever to exist since… well since Tron costumes were awesome.

1. Big Daddy and Little Sister from Bioshock - This one is a clear tribute to all the game nerds out there. The highly stylized art of Bioshock is just begging for some good imitation. There are a few of these costumes that have cropped up all over the Internet.

2. A YouTube Video - I wanted to hit that “report” button so badly. Will we ever just look back at a costume like this with nostalgia, or will YouTube own the world in the future???

3. Working iPhones - I see a terrible underlying theme starting here. Can’t pass up this hilarious idea though. These Apple die-hards decided it wasn’t enough to look like an iPhone, but you had to work like one as well.

4. The Weighted Companion Cube - If you don’t know what the weighted companion cube is, then pick up a copy of Portal immediately. Besides, your cube will stick with you through thick or thin. Don’t you think it’s time to get to know it?

5. Team Fortress 2 Squad - Yeah, this is getting into the uber geeky. It’s one thing to geek yourself out. It’s another to commit your friends to it and travel in packs.

EA Los Angeles Crew - Not Bad!

The real team behind the costumes

Up for consideration, but didn’t make the list:

• Comic Book Characters - Although the comics themselves are geeky, the Hollywood touch has blessed these particular getups with coolness. Sorry comics, you’re going to have to let go for this year’s title.
• Renaissance Costumes - Although inherently very geeky, many of the types to dress up in RenFaire clothes do so on occasions other than Halloween. Therefore, we deem anyone who wears these costumes as “not actually dressing up”.
• Harry Potter Costumes - There are many reasons why Harry Potter is no longer geeky. Although I feel sad for those who are in geek denial when dressed up in this genre of clothing, their sheer numbers validate them as “mainstream”.
• Ninjas, Pirates, or Chuck Norris - Very much a product of geek culture, these paragons to ownage typically are followed by rediculous inside jokes that only the truly nerdy get. However, there is a degree of awesomeness that follows this crowd. Therefore, we have to take them off the list.

Since this site has been up, my eyes have been open more and more each day to costumes of all sorts. As I lay here on the floor of the library where I’m typing this post, I just noticed something as I was checking my email. I got a notice for the new Alienware laptop coming out and figured out that these computers are in a sleek costume. Masked with shiny black armor and an ominous alien head on top, they take on a persona much different than your typical lappy.

So I thought, what better way to celebrate Halloween than to show some of the best computer costumes out there on the internet. More popularly known as “case mods” these are basically computers that have been injected into a much more attractive home. Price, expensive. Time investment, too much. Radness factor, meter breaking.

Anyone ever see Meet the Parents? Remember the huge wooden alter thing that catches on fire? Yeah well I can only see this thing going up in massive flames. If it was my mod, and it was on fire, I’d load up all the programs I could at one time to see the beast go down in aesthetic glory.

I thought this fit with the Halloween theme, mostly because this is absurdly creepy. I can only imagine the tutorial on how to make this one.. (step 1, kill beavers. Step 2, Cut beavers open…) Sorry animal rights :(.

Ahh, Bender. Everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed robot. Feed him a disc, see what he spits out. This is a mod I would keep in a basement where society couldn’t see it.

This mod will smack you in the face with awesomeness. How innovative. I’m sure it’s not running any killer apps, but how do you feel when you pull this out in front of your geek sheik entourage? Tetris anyone?

If’n it ain’t a tractor mod! Good for being tech-savvy -and- a farmboy all in one.

I swear I didn’t post this one just to bait Diggers. In fact, I’m likely to get flamed because this is ‘old’ news. What else happens on Digg but people getting flamed anyway? Either way this mod his hot.

This mod is not so hot, in more ways than one. Sure to keep lower temparatures as long as it’s burning. I can see a computer freak putting this over his/her babies crib as a mobile.

Cheap linux mod? Yes. College budget friendly, very yes.

Now that we see how computers are even dressed up for the festivities of Halloween, you surely have no excuse yourself to not dress up. Happy Halloween.

Since MyDisguises has begun, we’ve had content ranging a number of different topics. Of course we center our ideas on costumes, but it’s a broad subject. So naturally we’ve seen some interesting reactions to our posts. Here’s a quick look back at some of our more popular stuff…

/begin dream sequence…

Our Top 10 Costumes for Washington To Wear this Halloween - As a way to offer suggestions, we come up with 10 of the best costume ideas for our pals in the White House, past, present, and future.

World Costumes In Pictures - Oktoberfest - Another look at famous costumes from around the world. This time we fill our mugs at Oktoberfest.

Google Fighting Our Costume Choices -In this post we sympathize with the non-decisive by offering a clever way to help pick the right costume for any occasion - Google Fighting.

The Ultimate Fan - Real Spartan Armor From Halo 3 - As a precursor to an upcoming interview with the Legendary Nightmare Armor Studios, we feature this video of some of the most authentic bits of fan costuming you’ll ever see. Covenant weapons not included.

Well, we are a costume blog, and offer no political commentary. That being said, we thought we’d help those surrounding our political atmosphere with some costume ideas for this Halloween.

10. Care Bears - Politics is all about communicating your concern and care for the people. How better this Halloween to go as those cuddly, super good doing friends?

9. Speak, Hear, See No Evil - This year’s candidates are coming out in full force, and what better way to show their dedication to all things good and true?

8. Spice Girls - Our love for the wonderful British nation can only be expressed properly by our equal love for their Ambassadors, the Spice Girls.

7. M*A*S*H - Great American representatives in a great American TV Show.

6. KISS - Even those long gone can rejoin for this year’s festivities.

5. Gilligan’s Island - Crazy Gilligan and his Skipper are always gettin’ lost and landing themselves into wild messes… I could relate, as I’m sure anyone else could!

4. Boy Band - Maybe this year, VP Cheney could get together with his favorite Washinton media giants for some friendly trick or treating as a popular Boy Band?

3. American Idol Contestants - I wonder what Simon would say, given the chance to be the judge…

2. The Wives of Henry VIII - No reason, just funny.

1. Former Candidates that Didn’t Win - I can’t say I wouldn’t laugh. This year Washington can stick it to the “almost” winners by dressing up like them for Halloween.

We’re obviously interested in getting people into costumes, and not feeling bad about it. There’s definitely a stigma about dressing up. Yeah, so it’s not a good idea to slip into your spidey tights while watching reruns of Seinfeld at home… that is a bit weird. But everyone loves dressing up and being different! It’s sometimes more comfortable being someone else for awhile and letting loose. That’s why Halloween is so big.

That being said, we won’t judge you if you carry your Harry Potter wand in your briefcase every day at work. But what are you gonna say when someone else finds out!? Don’t fret, we’ve got the top 10 excuses you can give to protect yourself of the embarrassment that could ensue. Here’s a list of excuses of why you’re dressed up when you find that society casts a skeptical glare your way!

10. “I have a side job as a costume tester for ________” - Blame someone else for your Indian head dress that you were caught wearing. People can’t argue. Make sure you embellish your high pay and great benefits.

9. “One of my pets died today” - Pets die, people start getting all crazy and sad. Who are we to judge someone for how they mourn. If your dog passed on and you feel you need to don a Bon Jovi wig, then you wear that wig!

8. “Lindsey Lohan is wearing these nowadays!” - Because we all want to be like Lindsey Lohan, right…..? Insert the name of your own chosen celeb.

7. “I’m crazy” - Why explain… give them something to chew on. Walk away loud and proud and let them think what they will. Twitch and shout strangely placed expletives at your will.

6. “Free carwash.. 3 miles down the road!!!” - You could always just pretend your an advertisement. This will work particularly well if you’re dressed like a Cheerleader.

5. “Umm.. it’s Halloween today. Where’s your brain?” - Mind trickery my friends, mind trickery. It works when I do it.

4. “I’m making a YouTube video” - This is the great excuse of our time. You see, all kinds of ridiculous junk makes it to You Tube, and people are actually getting famous.

3. “I lost a bet” - This is a classic, easy to accept, and makes everyone move on with their bad selves. Although, I must say it loses attention, and we don’t wanna do that.

2. “My Wife Likes It” - Men across the world understand that what the wife likes and says is basically what goes. It’s an indisputable truth that governs the universe.

1. “Your costume doesn’t look so hot itself, and you dress like that everyday!” - Prepare for some awkward silence.

It seems like Halloween is still far off, but it’s creeping up pretty quick. Since that’s the biggest costume season of the year, it’s going to start getting real hectic for costume companies as well as the craft stores that supply DIYers with their materials. I, myself, will be making my own costume this year. I really want to do something clever and report it on the blog. Therefore, I’ll be trying to make a splash with my own creativity.

Each year it seems that there’s a popular costume that hits. Of course, I wager to say it’s just dependent on what new excitement the entertainment industry has brought us. It is always somewhat unpredictable though. We’re wondering what its gonna be this year?

Of course, there are some standards that we can expect. I’d say that Harry Potter will make a showing at a few good costume parties. We’re also constantly expecting the Pirates crowd to come out in numbers.  We’ll also be seeing some new things floating around. Here’s our list of our top 5 new costumes on the scene for 2007:

5. Anything World of Warcraft - We just are afraid that there’s too much geekiness surrounding this one to get people to dress up accordingly. However, 9 million fans and players worldwide can’t be wrong. And with an impending movie in the works, that 9 million is bound to grow. Or at least it will become a household name. Even the link above has an in-game costume. As if being plugged to your fantasy world all day isn’t enough, now you can don a costume and be immersed in fantasy while being immersed in fantasy.

4.  Hairspray - If ever teenage girls were to fall in love with a movie, it was with High School Musical. But that doesn’t mean there’s no room in their hearts for Hairspray. It’s a nostalgic love song dedicated to the original. The colors and costumes are vibrant and you can expect to see this all over the place this season. Isn’t it the teenagers who are representing one of the largest groups of costume wearers out there anyway? I have my money on this one.

 3. Naruto - Anime fans always come out in drones, and Naruto is representing just about the biggest thing to hit the Anime scene since Dragonball Z. Comic Con has shown us the popularity of this huge series, and it seems that it’s not calming down. As a huge Japanese export, Naruto costumes are far and away a big hit this year.

2. Transformers - This is one for the DIY crowd out there. The only reason I think this will be big is because it already is. The internet has been slammed with videos of these costumes ever since the movie has come out, so we don’t see it slowing down before the costume season hits.

1.  Pirates - I had to do it. I couldn’t deny the fact that this is going to rule the roost when it comes to costumes for 2007. The costume design for the movie is unbelievable. With a host of characters to choose from and each donning their own look, it’s without a doubt a wellspring of ideas for Halloween. Mix into it the fact that they’re mischievous enough for the holiday, and I’m putting my money down on this. The only excuses I have to qualifying these costumes for this list is my notion of Tia Dalma costumes showing up. Her role is significantly central to this third installment of the trilogy.

Costumes that came close, but just weren’t good enough to make it…

•  Indiana Jones - Comic Con goers had a look at this upcoming sequel to the once-ended trilogy that made Harrison Ford a star. Somehow, he ends up in movies that end up in great costumes. It’s not out yet, so we couldn’t assume the craze would set it.
• David Beckham - This is a hit with both the guys and the girls. Beckham has made the move to the US for his soccer (er umm… football, sorry) career. His popularity isn’t unnoticed despite the fact that some fans are skeptical. What do I think? Maybe half sellout, half career move. Either way, having your boyfriend or husband dress up as Beckham is an easy excuse to get your Posh Spice outfit out of the 1996 bin and dust it off.