af- II I-, . Amanda C'ouwi/Kmerald This creature mask is a creepy alternative to the ‘in' masks ot 1998’s Halloween. Costume shops provide treats for shoppers Eugene offers costume shoppers plenty of Halloween stores with gore By Jennifer Asher lor the Emerald If you can’t decide what to wear as you prepare for your Halloween festivities, fret no more. Year-round costume shops, as well as others in the area that have popped up for the occasion, are ready to help students get dressed for that big bash. This year, costumes aren’t all about ghosts and goblins. “I guess aliens are pretty popular this year," said Bruce Unger of the Hal loween Warehouse. The rows of alien masks at the shop come in various colors and styles to suit anyone who plans on dressing out-of-this-world. The gangster suit and the frock suit are popular among men, said Charity Moffat from The Costume Loft. (Worn in the Victorian era, a frock suit is like a striped tux with tails.) Women are more likely to take the safer route. They often pick “what they’ve seen in Disney movies, like Beauty, Belle and Snow White,” Unger said. But employees at other costume shops have a different take. Women tend to “be either a flap per or a medieval [woman] with an Italian Renaissance dress,” Moffat said. Not everyone wants to go in standard Halloween gear. “The strangest thing we have to rent is a tutu for a man with logging boots,” said Shirley Humphreys of The Costume Connection. It's not unusual to dress in drag. Last year, University student Alan Ferguson chose to switch sides and dress up as a girl. He wore a bra and makeup and worked the entire day in a skirt. He said the outfit was "drafty, yet refreshing." Some of the wackiest costumes the Halloween Warehouse sells are plastic butts and boobs that can be worn on the outside of clothing, Unger said. More oddities include a huge turkey, a gorilla and a wool ly mammoth suit. But Moffat said the woolly mammoth suit is “not really popular," although someone did rent it a few days ago. Former University student Michelle Matchulat has taken a walk on the weird side. She and her friends dressed up one year as the cast of the “Rocky Horror Pic ture Show.” “We had a wheel chair and everything,” she said. “I was Janet ... We went to people’s houses and did the ‘Time Warp.”’ If none of these ideas are right for you, Bill or Monica are always options. Most costume shops car ry masks of Bill —some even have thecigar. “We had two of Bill and sold both of them," Moffat said. Monica attire is also available, including her trademark beret and brunette flip. But don’t get too ex cited about being the former in tern. One employee at Parties-to Go said you can't get a Monica mask because she’s not a public figure and therefore has the rights to her own likeness. Moffat, however, said she has heard otherwise. “We don’t have one, but you can order them,” she says. But no matter what you’re plan ning to wear on Halloween, wait ing until the last minute to decide will limit your options. Moffat said to make sure to “come in ear ly and reserve.” If not, you might get stuck with the woolly mam moth suit. *aloon licht^ 21S Q STREET • SPWINQFIgLP^OW SSffroCT 31 8:00 P.M. KDUK THE LARGEST 1HU1IIH MW Over $ 1000 In Cash Prizestl Monica Lcwenski Look Alike Contest! FOR INFORMATION CALL 747-0577 Every day low Prices! ROCI^SOFT FUTON Eugene's Finest Convertible Furniture 1231 Alder St. • 686-5069 M-S 11-6 Sun. 12-5 Plus: Karaoke every Sunday & Wednesday ^Centennial Blv^(next to Autzen Stadium) 343-4734 4. -1 Free Cover Charge 2 for the price of I bring your friend, this coupon and you get in FREE! Scandals Lounge 2222 Centennial Blvd. Coupon valid only after 10:30 P.M. • Good only when two people are entering at the same time • not valid with any other offer • Offer only good with this coupon expires 10/29/98