Skeleton Key Pieces

- Those Black Milk leggings. Now available in several different versions. $75 AUD -

Whether you are after a Halloween costume or for everyday wear, the spookily-inclined amongst you ladies* will have noticed the influx of skeletal leggings in the shops. Of course I hanker after the infamous and ubiquitous Black Milk skeleton leggings - what kind of lapsed Goth would I be if I didn’t? But if like me and your cupboard is bare and those particular bony beauties are beyond (the grave of) your budget, here are some cheaper options.

- Topshop. Print on front only. £28 -

- Urban Outfitters. Print on front only. £28 -

 - ASOS. Only available in petite but do have print front & back. £20 -

I may well add to this. Likewise if you know of another brand or have a review - good or bad - let me know.

*because they are found in the ladies departments, not suggesting for a moment that men can’t wear them should they wish.

Links:
Black Milk Clothing
Topshop
Urban Outfitters
ASOS

Urban FreakOutfitters

- Urban Outfitters. This isn't extreme. You wait to see extreme -

Tacky is the prevalent attitude to Halloween costumes in the UK, indeed the tackier the better. If that’s your style my fiend, while you are obviously still mourning the loss of Woolworths on the highstreet, you are catered for by pound shops up and down this land. Now while not Halloween Haute Couture, trend-led chain store Urban Outfitters does have amongst their spooky selection of really rather fetching skull and ribcage t-shirts (taster image above), a superior selection of the extremely disturbing ‘Morph’ suits. If making small children cry yet still be fully covered head-to-toe sounds appealing or advisable, these are for you - 50 quid each.

 - Frankenstein Monster Morph Suit -

 - Mummy Morph Suit -

 - Pumpkin Morph Suit -

 - Glow Skeleton Morph Suit -

 

 - Muscle Morph Suit -

  - Zombie Morph Suit -

Links:
Urban Outfitters Halloween

LEGO Monster Mash-up

- LEGO. So many briiiiickks -

I love monsters, I love LEGO and the combination of the two is probably way more exciting than it should be to someone of my age and gender. Anyway.Witches, mummies, zombies and various other mythical and literary beasts and ghouls have been available in previous LEGO building sets (also as collectable  keyrings and been felt-up shamelessly in the incredibly popular Minifigures mystery bags) but the recently released ‘Monster Fighters’series has revamped the designs and ramped-up the detail.  Perfect for indulging that adult brick fetish. I for one would relish a rainy Halloween evening putting together the huge LEGO Haunted House while a Hammer Horror film flickered luridly on the telly. Seriously.

- LEGO. Vampire. Hearse. But of course -

- The changing face of a LEGO werewolf -

- LEGO Werewolf from the LEGO Studios sets (2002) -

- LEGO Werewolf from Series 4 minifigure packs (2011) -

- LEGO Werewolf from the new 'Monster Fighters' sets (2012) -

Links:
LEGO GB

Retail Hell-o-ween

To put it bluntly - John Lewis is Hell - especially on a Saturday. It is therefore quite fitting that if the Devil has all the best tunes that John Lewis has some of the nicer Halloweenie wares on offer. By no means is it a vast selection - we just don't do that here - it does cover two vital components of a spooky celebration very well which is that of home decoration and chocolate.

- John Lewis. Tasteful not terrible -

- John Lewis & Hotel Chocolat -

Skulls, bats, pumpkins and creepy-crawlies; grin, flutter, glow and *cough* creep and crawl with  a more of a hand-crafted look rather than that of a tacky instant fire and/or choking hazard. Well worth the trip to Hell and back for a browse.

- Hang'em high -

 - See you next year too decorations -

 - Home Sweet Home -

Links:

John Lewis Halloween

Hotel Chocolat Halloween