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By Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Whether we're desperate for an escape from reality or we just enjoy all of the candy and costumes, we'll be spending an estimated $9 billion on Halloween this year, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation.
In 2018, Halloween revelers will actually spend an average of $86.79, an increase from $86.13 last year, according to the survey. Costumes alone are projected to account for $3.2 billion in spending (candy: $2.6 billion).
So what's trending for costumes in 2018?
This year's most in-demand and of-the-moment looks take their cues from an online video game, politics and protest culture, Hollywood heroes, horror and good ol' nostalgia.
HalloweenCostumes.com
'Fortnite' on fire
The biggest name in costumes for 2018 is "Fortnite." If you're unfamiliar, the online video game, which debuted in 2017, really took over this year. A hallmark of the game is that it's actually partially about wearing costumes. Think of this as a trend custom built for Halloween — you get to dress up as your game character, who is in turn dressing up.
In "Fortnite," costumes are called "skins." They include looks like Rabbit Raider (above), which are easily recreated via DIY looks, like this one and those below from HalloweenCostumes.com. An Easter bunny (or Energizer Bunny) costume, for instance, is handily converted for this purpose. Just add your own grenade prop and bunny slippers and you're good to go.
HalloweenCostumes.com
Readymade looks aren't always necessary. Here's a way to combine accessories and a military costume to recreate the Tower Recon Specialist from "Fortnite."
HalloweenCostumes.com
In the same way, the "Fortnite" Bandolier can be cobbled together quickly from widely available military and law enforcement-inspired accessories.
Spirit Halloween
'Fortnite' for kids and 'Minecraft'
In addition to the Brite Bomber "Fortnite" costume on the right from Egg Harbor Township-based Spirit Halloween, there's also the pixelated armor look on the left from "Minecraft," another wildly popular game for kids.
HalloweenCostumes.com
'A League of Their Own' and '90s nostalgia
"A League of Their Own" is just one '90s nostalgia look that lends itself to a group costume, says Angela Poch, marketing specialist for Fun.com and HalloweenCostumes.com in Mankato, Minn.
The 1992 Penny Marshall film has been the subject of even more excitement than usual because it's being turned into a series for Amazon.
HalloweenCostumes.com
'Clueless'
"As if," you say?
You don't have to be a fan of onetime New Jersey resident Stacey Dash or Alicia Silverstone to adore the 1995 film "Clueless," directed by Amy Heckerling. In case you actually need proof this movie's still a thing, there's also a "Clueless" musical debuting off Broadway this fall.
The '90s classic, which also starred Brittany Murphy, who grew up in Edison, is easily made into a costume for friends who don't mind wearing plaid skirts. You'll be rollin' with the homies in no time.
HalloweenCostumes.com
'Handmaid's Tale'
Just days ago, online costume retailer Yandy.com pulled a short-skirted "Handmaid's Tale" costume after people got wind of the outlet trying to apply its typical "sexy" gloss to the red cloaks and white bonnets that originated in the 1985 Margaret Atwood novel. Her story found a home on Hulu in 2017 and became a critically acclaimed drama series.
The screaming irony of the ... abbreviated ... robes from Yandy created a short controversy, but the real "Handmaid's Tale" look has been used in protests this year including when demonstrators opposed the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
"Trump exhaustion is a real thing," Poch says, expecting less Americans will want to dress up as the president than they did when he was a nominee or newly in office.
But expect to spot some more more handmaids around this holiday, either because of the political moment, the continuing popularity of the TV series, or both.
Spirit Halloween
NASA and astronauts
On Oct. 1, NASA celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Next up is the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in July, an event documented in the upcoming film "First Man" from Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle, who grew up in Princeton.
To mark any and all of these occasions, space travel enthusiasts (and young astronaut hopefuls!) can don NASA and astronaut-inspired costumes for Halloween 2018, including an inflatable costume from Spirit Halloween (remember the inflatable T. rex costume from all those viral videos?).
HalloweenCostumes.com
Superheroes: Beyond Wonder Woman
Superheroes are a Halloween mainstay, but don't expect women and girls to always stick with female characters.
Wonder Woman, which was a huge look in 2017 after the release of the Patty Jenkins movie starring Gal Gadot, remains a big draw, of course, especially looking ahead to the release of "Wonder Woman 1984" next November.
And some will no doubt find inspiration in Brie Larson's upcoming "Captain Marvel." But don't rule out Captain America, Batman and Robin looks for women and girls, for instance.
HalloweenCostumes.com
HalloweenCostumes.com
'Black Panther'
It goes without saying that "Black Panther," released in February, will remain a popular pick in its first post-release Halloween.
Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther will of course inspire many imitators, but look for another character from the box office-busting film — T'Challa's sister Shuri — to take off as a costume, too. And the charismatic Erik Killmonger (Newark's Michael B. Jordan) won't be far behind.
bandolier fortnite female
HalloweenCostumes.com
'The Incredibles'
Pixar's "Incredibles 2" came out in June. Expect the superhero pack to remain a favorite for families looking for group costumes this holiday.
HalloweenCostumes.com
Batman and the Joker
Every year, Batman and the Joker make up their own strong subcategory of superhero and villain costumes, with seemingly endless variations on their characters from the movie franchises, the TV show and the comics.
As another Joker movie (starring Joaquin Phoenix) films in Jersey City and Newark, expect that tradition to continue. It's not like we had any lack of costume source material.
Inspiration for the comic book villain's look ranges from the dastardly character inhabited by Bradley Beach's Cesar Romero in the original '60s Batman TV series opposite Adam West to Neptune City's Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" film and Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight."
HalloweenCostumes.com
'Grease'
"Grease" costumes never really fell off the map, especially since they're so easily recognizable as group ensembles. But this year presents another reason to revive the look.
In June, fans celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1978 film starring Olivia Newton-John and Englewood native John Travolta.
HalloweenCostumes.com
'Disneybounding'
Have no idea what "Disneybounding" is? You're not alone. In a clam shell — as with this look approximating Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" — it's dressing up as a Disney character without being so on the nose about it.
Disney fan Leslie Kay came up with the term in 2010.
"It's a trend that started because people aren't allowed to dress up as their favorite characters when they go to Disney World," Poch says — meaning those over 13 and adults. Call it "casual cosplay."
She says the concept exploded and became a viable option for Halloween 2018 when Vanellope, a character from "Wreck-It Ralph," met the Disney princesses in a trailer for the movie's sequel. A photo released from the film also depicted the Disney heroines, from Pocahontas to Cinderella to Mulan and Elsa, wearing casual attire — as if they had put their usual uniforms aside to unwind for the day.
HalloweenCostumes.com
'Ugly' Halloween sweaters
Assuming you are familiar with the "ugly sweater" concept for the holidays, ugly Halloween sweaters are not far behind.
Think of this approach to holiday dress-up as embracing your David S. Pumpkins without wearing a printed suit, whether you opt for pumpkins, skeletons, candy corn, bats, witches and any number of staple Halloween images.
When people ask what you are, just say "Halloween."
HalloweenCostumes.com
'Ugly' Halloween sweaters, HalloweenCostumes.com
Spirit Halloween
For the youngest kids: 'PJ Masks' and 'Vampirina'
When it comes to the youngest children, look for picks from the Disney Junior series "Vampirina," which debuted last October, and "PJ Masks," which has held strong for several Halloweens as a subcategory of superhero for the greenest trick-or-treaters.
Spirit Halloween
The return of 'Halloween' and Michael Meyers
The latest installment of "Halloween," due out on Oct. 19, both marks the 40th anniversary of the original film, released in October 1978, and welcomes the return of Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode.
Of course, the menacing Michael Meyers won't be far behind, so expect a resurgence in the look this year.
Spirit Halloween
Unicorns
Unicorn-colored food and drinks (i.e. rainbow) have been all the rage on social media. So have giant pool floats shaped like unicorns. Unicorn costumes are a natural extension of the fanciful trend.
Spirit Halloween
'Hocus Pocus'
Freeform's "31 Nights of Halloween," which started on Oct. 1, features several airings of the classic 1993 film Hocus Pocus" starring Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker as three witch sisters who are inadvertently brought back to life by a boy in Salem, Massachusetts after their execution in 1693.
Pictured above is a costume inspired by Midler's character, Winifred Sanderson. This year, fans of the movie are celebrating the 25th anniversary of its release.
Somehow, the film came out in July of all months, but the Halloween-appropriate movie nonetheless maintains a group of Sanderson faithful who delight in dressing up as the magical sisters each October.
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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.