LONG gone are the days when celebrating Halloween meant sticking on an old black dress and some green face paint and trying to pass yourself off as a witch.

Over the past few years, people have become more and more creative with their costumes, with more people getting into the spirit (sorry) of things and taking up the challenge to look as gruesome as possible.

With Halloween only a couple of weeks away, people are already buying and renting costumes, fake blood, wigs and props to create a ghostly and ghastly look of horror to celebrate All Hallows Eve.

At Masquerade in Lowesmoor Wharf, Worcester, spooky costumes and a-bit-too realistic decorations of rubber severed heads and hands for the house are all the rage.

“Some people go all out and want to get costumes as well as decorate their house and garden.

“We have some customers who put tombstones up in their gardens and turn their whole house into somewhere spooky.

“They make the day great fun and also have parties with it,” said Sarah Penzer, a partner of the store.

While vampire costumes are still popular, and perhaps one of their best sellers, there has also been a huge rise in people dressing up as corpses and zombies.

“There is a zombie walk taking place through Worcester on Sunday, October 26, and we have had quite a few people come in to get make-up and costumes for that,” said Miss Penzer.

This event is part of World Zombie Day, which started in the United States and is to raise awareness of world hunger – and in the city people will be shuffling through the Shambles for their part in a world record attempt.

More details can be found on monnysmortuary.com Along with scary make-up, Miss Penzer says other outfits becoming more popular are dead pirates – following on from the popularity of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean – and ladies wanting to dress in spooky outfits but look sexy too.

“We can help them dress up as sexy witches or vampies – and short skirts seems to be the way forward,”

she said.

At the Ultimate Party Shop in Angel Place, manager Sue Clingan said their popular costumes were from films, such as Batman and Friday the 13th.

“We have had lots of people calling in about the Joker costume from Batman. Last year vampires were popular and the year before that it was devils. But this year too, woman seem to be going for the little dead fairytale characters, like Malice in Horrorland and Little Dead Riding Hood,” she said.

“What we can also do is help people create an outfit, they might come in with a few ideas and we can help them put it all together,” she said.

Style extravaganza

FASHION shows, makeovers and exclusive discounts are on offer to students during a special style extravaganza at House of Fraser in CrownGate Shopping Centre this evening.

Students can drop into the store from 5.50pm until 8pm, where they can watch a fashion show of the latest street styles, the smartest work wear and the most glamorous evening outfits to hit the shelves this year.

The show will be held in the store’s restaurant, where students can enjoy free refreshments while taking in the newest fashion trends.

Makeovers from the House of Fraser beauty team will also be on offer, and free goodie bags will be handed out.

Students wanting to buy a stylish new outfit from House of Fraser's young fashion departments can take advantage of 10 per cent discount with a valid NUS card or any valid student identification.

What we’re lovin’

1. Spooky Halloween outfits and wigs 2. Student discounts on clothes 3. Colourful make-up 4. Unexpected sunny days 5. Decorating your house for Halloween What we’re hating

1. Spray-in hair colour not washing out 2. No longer being a student 3. Your favourite piece of make-up running out 4. Rain 5 Tricks no treats

Add a bit of colour

IF you like to add a bit of colour to your day, and are constantly changing with the seasons, this box of shadows by Urban Decay is a beautiful buy.

This is the largest palette they have ever offered and is filled with best-selling shades – and the House of Fraser’s revamped Urban Decay stand has them on sale for £25.

What is also really special about this is that you open the palette to reveal a mirrored vanity, framed by 3D pop-ups.