What's Hot? Halloween Costume Trends in 2012

Zombies are big this year.

“It’s a little bit of zombie everything,” said Durton Koble, a manager of a Halloween Express Superstore.

Koble has been following the tends this season as people decide the big October question: “What will I be for Halloween?”

The Halloween Express Superstore has multiple locations in the metro area, including one in Richfield in the former Border's location at 800 W. 78th St. Other locations include Burnsville, Anoka and Maplewood.

One big trend that costume companies didn’t catch up to quickly enough is Hunger Games characters.

“Everybody that comes in asks if we have anything Hunger Games,” Koble said. “Nobody does, even if you look online.”

Zombies

Although not sure what sparked the interest this year, Koble said “Zombies are classic and fun” and goes as one himself most years.

Last year, kids were choosing “cutesy” costumes. A big change this year, is that they want to be scary.

“Every little girl wanted to be a princess or a ladybug,” he said. “Now even six-year-old girls are wanting to be creepy. Like they’ll still be a princess, but now it’s a ‘bloody princess.’ They’ll buy make-up to pale their face and some blood to throw on.”

Superheroes

Batman, Robin, Superman and Wonder Woman are big sellers this season.

The trend of experiencing a night as a Marvel superhero or villain is a trend for both kids and adults, according to Koble.

"City Workers"

As far as women’s costumes go, the most popular is what Koble refers to as “city workers”: police officers, nurses and construction workers.

“Women usually stick within the same boundaries each year,” he said. “They all want to be the sexy version of a ‘city worker.’”

Another trend in women’s costumes comes from another generation.

“One trend is ‘greaser,’ like everyone wants to come from the ‘50s,” Koble said. “Or they want to be a ‘50s housewife with beehive hair, pearls and dress with the white apron.”

Popular 2012 Costumes

• Zombies

• Pirates

• Harry Potter

• Superheroes

• Power Rangers

• Morph suits (nylon skin-tight suit that covers the whole body)

• Clowns (inspired by Madagascar 3)

• Jake and the Neverland Pirates (toddlers)

• Toy Story (toddlers)

Hours

Halloween Express Superstore in Minnetonka

Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“If people keep coming through the door, we stay open,” said Koble.

On Halloween and the weekend before, Halloween Express Superstore will open early and stay open late.

“That weekend it’s a mad dash,” he said. “Then people don’t even really care what they are, they just want to find a costume.”

What will your/your kids' costumes be this year? Tell us in comments!

See also:

See Richfield Patch's 2012 Halloween Guide

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