The ever-growing popularity of Halloween among adults has made Pacific Beach a Halloween Mecca. Each year Halloween celebrants flock to beach-area nightclubs in hilarious costumes for a ramped-up evening of revelry. Halloween is the designated holiday to escape from reality, assume an extremely fun persona and dress as outrageously as possible. The Buff resale store, 1341 Garnet Ave., offers Halloween costumes year-round. The staff dresses in character every day in October. The Buff manager Karen Yoo offers this advice for the holiday: Start early. Look for deals immediately after Halloween. Don’t wait until the store no longer carries your costume size. Dress comfortably for a night out. Don’t buy shoes or pants that are too small. Even a few drinks won’t alleviate the pain. Research costume ideas online. Envision your costume before you walk into the store. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Stand out from the other Queens of Hearts with a unique pair of shoes or an outlandish hat. Don that pocket watch you’ve always wanted to wear. Don’t forget to buy a purse to match your persona. For a devilish look, pick up a pair of cat-eye contacts. Have fun! Shopping for the costume is half the fun. MOST?POPULAR?COSTUMES Michael Jackson: People are dressing in all the eras – from the Jackson Five to the ’80s’ “Thriller.” Lady Gaga: So many ladies are dressing like the madam that The Buff won’t dress another person – unless it’s a man. Vampire: Clubs and bars are hosting themed parties this year for the blood-thirsty. COSTUMES?FOR?MEN • Dress as a woman. Go for the stripper cop look. • Become a Roman gladiator. • Dress as any character that Johnny Depp or Will Ferrell have played. PB’s CRAZIEST Karen Yoo, manager of The Buff, recalls seeing a fully naked guy carrying a box saunter up and down Garnet Avenue – a spoof of the Saturday Night Live skit featuring Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg. None of the bars would let him in. CHEAP?BUYS Go for accessories – a hat, a wig, a mask, a glove – to create your character. Source: Karen Yoo, manager of The Buff
