Customer Reviews

The Halloween Handbook: 447 Costumes

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is awful. Black and white pictures of celebrities like Judge Judy, Mick Jagger, Evel Knievel and Monika Lewinsky with the implication that you can too can look like them. The cover shows lovely color costumes and the inside is black and white photos, most of which aren't costumes. The cover also says that there are 447 costumes. I don't consider pictures of celebrities a "costume" . There is practically no instruction what so ever. Don't be tricked into buying this book. The cover is designed to mislead and hook amazon customers who can't see the inside.

The cover is the best thing about this book. I felt deceived when I opened up the book. I thought I would find real how-to-do costumes, instead it is filled with a lot of movie clips. Not very practical. A few good ideas but they are hard to find.

This should only be considered as an idea or concept book for quick or last minute costumes. All are quick and simple so as not to need instructions. If you want an elaborate or detailed costume collection, look elsewhere.

The collaborative effort of Halloween costume experts and enthusiasts Bridie Clark and Ashley Dodd, The Halloween Handbook: Dress-Up For Grown-Ups showcases 447 imaginative, easy-to-make, do-it-yourself costume concepts. From traditional favorites such as Wonder Woman or Peter Pan, to more eyebrow-raising unique costumes like the One-Night Stand (the costumegoer appears as an actual stand with lampshade over the head, bra and pantyhouse dangling on the tablecloth) or the Green Card (wearing a large green sandwich board humorously displaying a parody what a real green card looks like). Black-and-white photographs illustrate fun, zany, sometimes edgy ideas with practical suggestions to efficiently and frugally make a Halloween guise to remember. Especially recommended not only for Halloween, but as a source of ideas for costume parties year round or even school and community theater apparel.

I was searching for costume ideas and there are undoubtedly a lot of costumes in the book. I think I was looking for costumes that were home-made that looked more store-made. I read the book last Halloween when I purchased it and will most likely pull it out again this Halloween to see if it sparks any ideas.

I actually really like this book & thought it was really helpful. All the images are black & white, but there are several pages of color images at the beginning of the book. It has a picture of almost every idea (be it the person itself or the costume). The pictures of the celebs are for reference so that you actually know what you're trying to dress up like.
Very helpful. TONS of ideas.

I am a huge proponent of making ones own Halloween costume. I mean, how often, as adults in particular, do we get to be creative? So I bought this book to further inspire my creativity, but after reading it, I'm on the fence about it. On the one hand there are some fairly good ideas inside, but then there are a lot of those that are for people with absolutely no imagination whatsoever combined with those so often seen Halloween cliches (the nightstand...boring!) I'd say if you are a costume making newbie, or a mom scrambling to make that homemade costume for your kids play, then by all means buy this book and get started, but if are a homemade costume veteran, look elsewhere.

Some of the costumes in this book are corny, cheesy, and just plain boring BUT there are some fun, creative ideas. There are no real big instruction lists but they are good ideas. I loved this book so much when I checked it out at the library that I had to buy a copy!