Sometimes inspiration doesn't strike easily, so ahead of Lithgow's Halloween celebrations this weekend, we've put together a little bit of inspiration, drawn from popular culture.
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(This is by no means exhaustive, just a little fun.)
For the whole family
Star Wars
Always a favourite, the recent Star Wars revival has increased the characters on offer on the Dark and right sides of this battle. There's costuming options for all levels of commitment, from 10+ (droid, Chewy) to more simple options, including Rae's simple wrap style and Kylo Ren's black cloak.
Maleficient
For lovers of the princess or the "wicked" witch, Maleficient has some great ideas, not to mention a truly beautiful aesthetic. If you are a master at creating high cheekbones, this one is for you.
Alice in Wonderland
It's a classic for a reason, offering a great collection of weird and wonderful characters, from Alice herself to the Mad Hatter, the March Hare and of course the mad, mad, mad Queen of Hearts.
Toy Story 4
So, maybe Forky is a bit of a trial, but Toy Story continues to offer plenty of wonderful characters, including the spaceman Buzz, the cowboy and girl Woody and Jessie and Little Bo Beep, who in the most recent imagining had become a little more hard-core.
Beauty and the Beast
You can keep it simple, with French peasant styling, take it all the way into glam, or maybe step it up a notch and try to style yourself on the Beast or one of the household helpers. Extra points to the Lumiere who can light up his candle wicks.
Harry Potter - any of them, really
The Boy Who Lived remains a favourite for a reason - Harry Potter has an iconic look and his supporters - Hermoine, Ron, Luna, Hagrid and more - give plenty of scope for dressing up. No need to reach for the Polyjuice Potion - a little drawn-on scar and some round glasses and you're halfway there.
The simple
The Kid Who Would Be King
He's an ordinary kid with an extraordinary sword. All you need to do is expend some time and imagination on Excalibur, and you're away.
Mavis from Hotel Transylvania
This teen goth vampire look is easy to achieve with some black, a little white powder and some black lipstick.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Pick a colour for a little mask and invest in some green, you're set. It can be as simple or as complicated as you like.
Madeline
Sweet and simple, Madeline's iconic look is accomplished with just a simple pinny, a white shirt, red ribbon and straw hat.
Minecraft
Feeling crafty? This could be the one for you. Painting geometric shapes onto cardboard heads and chests have allowed parents/Cosplayers to achieve some great finished products.
The classic
The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy and her gang continue to turn up to Halloween celebrations. Why? Because this movie has everything - a green witch, ruby slippers, and even a little dog.
Peter Pan
Possibly the easiest costume to make in a hurry, if you've got a sewing machine and some green material, you could have your very own Peter Pan ready to fly in short order.
Dracula
While there have been other Draculas, Bela Lugosi's iconic 1931 representation remains the hallmark of creature feature excellence. If you're looking for a classic costume with a little pizzazz, this could be for you.
The Addams Family
Ba da da da (click, click).
"They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky" and the characters from the tv show and movies remain a Halloween hallmark.
Wednesday, Pugsley, Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester... the whole gang is great for dressing up and having a great time.
Sherlock Holmes
The finest sleuth of all time is easily identifiable by his deerstalker hat and magnifying glass.
The Joker
Once again, this classic Batman bad guy has been back in cinemas and that scary face is still a classic choice for a Halloween costume, whether you are inspired by the classic Jack Nicholson, or more modern Heath Ledger or Joaquin Phoenix representations (yes, we've forgotten Jared Leto, but who hasn't?).
THE TRULY SCARY, 18+ (not for the faint hearted)
IT Chapter 2
The terrifying second chapter is out and Pennywise is once again a truly terrifying option for a Halloween costume. Quite a simple, but effective and scary choice if you've got a good hand with makeup.
Alien v Predator
For those who like to take their costuming that extra mile, the crossover Alien and Predator universe provides plenty of scope, from Ripley herself to one of the terrifying creatures.
Halloween
It's Halloween night in a small American town and the terrifying Michael Myers is at large. The mask is the most important item for this iconic character.
American Horror Story
There is no end to the inspiration provided by this spine-tingling series, which spans a hundred years and locations including a carnival, mental asylum, haunted hotel and more.
Stranger Things
If you're a fan, you already know which character you'll be appearing as this year. If not, some binge-watching may be in order.
The Strangers
Ok, I'm out. This one's too much for me. But it's an easy choice, with its simple hessian mask. Just don't come near me when you're wearing it. Please.
Lithgow's Halloween Festival will be held on Saturday, October 23, on Lithgow's Main Street from 3pm to 10pm.
