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| The cost of a Halloween costume |
| By Leslie Hunt • Bankrate.com |
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A single word comes to mind regarding what's hot in Halloween costumes this year: arrr!
While that might not pass for a word, the store managers,
costume buyers and owners of famous costume shops we spoke with
did utter a single word to describe this year's hottest costume.
"Pirates," says Kevin Pohle, owner of the Colorado-based costume, toys and games shop, the Wizard's Chest. "Pirates, pirates and more pirates."
Made popular by the 2006 release of the movie "Pirates
of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," pirate costumes and related
accessories top the costume wish lists of kids and adults alike,
male and female. Some costume shops even carry buccaneer outfits
for pets.
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| The cost of a pirate costume |
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Kids
Girls can dress as female pirates or if they prefer the dainty look, as Elizabeth Swann, from the "Pirates" movie. Boys can dress up as Captain Jack Sparrow.
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Will the cost of a pirate costume cost you a treasure chest of gold? It might. Unlike other all-inclusive costumes, dressing like Captain Jack Sparrow can cost shoppers an arm and a wooden leg. "If it's something simple like cartoon characters -- Batman, Flash or Superman -- a low-end style costume is OK," says David Bertolino, owner of Boston Costume, a costume shop that's been outfitting the theatre, film and television industries for nearly 40 years. He says the pirate look, however, requires more accessories, including a hat, boots and sword. By the time customers get to the register, they've "got a wheelbarrow full of stuff."
A basic pirate costume's price can vary widely. At Web retailer AnniesCostumes.com, for instance, kids' pirate costumes retail for $20 up to $40, while adult pirate outfits can be as much as several hundred dollars. One Captain Hook costume costs $1,000!
Shiver me timbers.
Not all pirate costumes mimic the clothing in the movie -- some costumes offer a more traditional pirate look, while others look sexier or cheesier. More traditional adult pirate costumes can be found at the Wizard's Chest in the $30 to $40 range. Boston Costume also carries adult pirate costumes, starting at $35.
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