“Halloween through ‘the lens of fashion’” –Simon Doonan, Barney’s New York Creative Director

(Photo Courtesy: Target.com)

Say it ain’t so?! Afforable? Couture? Target? Halloween?? OH MY! Put those 4 words together and therein lies the solution to your Halloween 2010 costume dilemma. (Well, as Target would have you believe anyways) As I’m sure the majority of you have not heard, this year Target has teamed up with the renowned Simon Doonan of Barney’s New York and is doing their part to put an end to the surplus of slutty nurses/construction workers/Disney characters (don’t scoff, you know you’ve seen y

our fair share of Glinda the not-so-good Witches from the Wizard of Oz lurking around)/slutty-anything that unfortunately but predictably flood the streets during the weekend nights of the much anticipated All Hallows Eve every year. While those of you who do not deem yourselves fashion mavens may argue that couture fashion more closely resembles Halloween costumes than wearable, everyday clothing anyways; I think the consensus amongst those of us whos vision is not impaired is that we would GLADLY like to see more costumes aim to be stylish and trendy, rather than provocative and distasteful.

While the stylish alternatives Target offers are not couture in the traditional sense, compared to the barely-there cheap, hive-inducing materials of alternatives, they are by far the more chic route to go. While one bad apple regrettably managed to get through their production line (the dreaded “Snooki” and “Situation” costume) Doonan’s couture costumes include: Diva Witch, A List Celebrity, DJ From the Crypt, Candace Corn, Pumpkin Punk Rocker Costume, Spaghetti, Glamour Ghost. All of which Doonan suggests were influenced by the avant-garde looks he saw on the runways during fashion week for the upcoming spring 2011 season.

(Photo Courtesy: WWD.Com)

For those of you who DO consider “Fashionista” among your list of accolades, why not take the idea of a couture costume even further (and perhaps a bit more literal) and don one of the looks from your favorite designers spring 2011 collection while you’re out conquering the quest for a sugar-induced-coma this year?  If the necessary resources to fund this creative endeavor for my own costume this year weren’t limited [sighhh L] ….I would opt to strut door-to-door (err, bar-to-bar?) in this stunning embellished gown from John Galliano’s spring line and make the necessary tweaks to be a modern Bride of Frankenstein. Or a Ghost that just won America’s Next Top Model who has come back to haunt Tyra in the most beautiful of frocks.

Either way, whether you’ve got the dough to dress up in a $3,000 jewel-emblazoned gown or the 30 bucks for a Coture Costume by Simon Doonan, you can be certain should you heed this advice, you will be the best-dressed freak of the night.  While I’m sure the number of [real-life] Snooki’s and Pauly D’s peppered though the crowd will be more than you bargained for at these places, see below for a  few local hotspots around Boston who’ll be hosting wicked scary Halloween Paahhtty's where you can show off your “I'm more stylish than thou” costumes.  Send us your pics if you think you pulled of a more fashionable look than the girl/guy next to you at the bar!  

If you find yourself intrigued and dare to follow suit in said couture apparel, if you hurry, you can find the props at these local Boston targets:

1 Mystic View Rd, Everett, MA (617) 420-0000
550 Arsenal St #1, Watertown, MA (617) 924-6574
36 Furlong Dr, Revere MA (781) 922-6030