If you want to scare people this year for Halloween, you might consider dressing up as the economy. That is, if you can afford it. Gas prices alone might be enough for some to skip the whole costume thing, but add the rising cost of food, and there’s not much left to spend on a rubber mask of Henry Paulson.”This past weekend, I was invited to a party, and you have to dress up,” said nursing major Chloe Jaramillo. “Costumes are like $40 bucks! It takes about $40 bucks to fill up my gas tank. So, it’s either buy a costume to go to the party or fill up the gas tank to go to school. So I decided to fill up my gas tank, and I have no costume.”
Some of you have decided to revisit old classic costumes. You know, the ones you bought years ago, when you had money to spend. Others are considering the simple dress-up options. English and film major Anthony Momjin is thinking about being a Jedi this year. It’s a good idea. Jedi as a rule don’t adorn themselves with accessories, which in a Halloween store, can really add up.
The Spirit Halloween Superstore, located where Linens n’ Things used to be on Lake in Pasadena, isn’t particularly crowded lately, which is a shame, because it’s the best kind of Halloween freaky in there. There’s a lot of undead wriggling around on the floor over there, so watch your step.
“Forty dollars is the average,” Anthony Witte, an employee admitted. He said that business was down, but pointed out that business is slow for everyone.
Even with fewer customers, there’s still a prevailing preference for costumes this year.
“We’re still with the pirates,” Witte said. “Everybody loves pirates.”
Good thing for Cristy Wilson, who was planning on being a parrot.
“My mom went out and bought me like three rainbow feathered boas, and I was like ‘What am I going to do with this?’ I think I’m just going to sew them onto the butt of my swimsuit and be a parrot,” Wilson said, laughing.
Looking around your house for things you thought you had thrown away usually make amusing costumes. Anybody remember parachute pants?
As for Jaramillo, she’s figured it out. A cute set of pajamas, pigtails and a blanket.
“It’s very comfortable,” she said.
PCC student Mrlia Laguna shops for costumes for her children at the 99› Only Store. (Christina Demirchyan)
- EDITORIAL: Apologize about the real problem - April 23, 2014
- STATEMENT: District apologizes to Oscar winning alum - April 21, 2014
- EDITORIAL: The Forgotten Students - March 26, 2014
