5) I-Banker/Bum

Investment BankerEveryone loves to be clever by being topical with their Halloween costumes. Remember how many "hanging chads" we had in 2000? This year's most ironically clever costume will be the investment banker-cum-bum, playing off Wall Street's seemingly bottomless misfortune. Look for this costume in either straight-up classic hobo chic, or a rumpled-suit alcoholic flavor – either way, it requires very little investment. Ever heard of stealing a shirt off someone's back? Throw a nickel, you'll find an unemployed hedge-funder willing to sell you that suit for cheap... and pick up your nickel for you!

 

4) Juno

This pregnant teen won our nation's heart at the box office -- and an Oscar for being overly witty and cute. Juno was last year's version of Garden State, being the cool movie to love. Don't be surprised to find more than a few women walking the streets with a ponytail, plaid jacket and hoodie with pillow safely stuffed underneath.

Couple Costume Bonus Round: Be on the alert for Paulie Bleeker (and his golden short shorts) nearby.

 

3) Sarah Palin            

Sarah PalinEverybody knows political costumes are always ideal – and with elections just a few days away, even better. With her fancy frameless glasses and sexy-secretary pumps selling out months ago, and Tina Fey's spot-on SNL parody, you know ladies everywhere are going to be recreating Alaska's most famous governor. It'll be interesting to see what some will do to differentiate themselves from the pack; this will most likely include fake moose, shotguns and in the most elaborate cases, "bridges to nowhere." Be on the lookout for double Palins that will upon closer inspection be Palin-Fey partners in a meta-topical, two-fer maneuver. You betcha!

 

2) New, Improved Rock-Bottom Amy Winehouse

Amy WinehouseFar and away Amy Winehouse dominated last Halloween as the costume of choice for women. This lands her in the second slot this year as it's still an easy and fun one to pull off. Sadly, anyone seeking authenticity will have to take out a few more teeth and stumble a little harder as Winehouse's spiral into depravity continues. Last year, it was quite a sight to see inebriated girls dressed as Amy stumbling out of bars and hurling in the streets of Manhattan's Lower East Side. Maybe it's the smell of authenticity that tickles the funny bone most.

 

1) The Joker

There's no question The Joker will be the most popular costume this Halloween. The untimely death of Heath Ledger -- as well as his riveting performance as the clown-faced ghoul -- created a pop-culture stir the likes of which we haven't often seen surrounding a superhero popcorn flick. Granted, The Joker has been a Halloween The Joker (Heath Ledger)staple since Cesar Romero portrayed him in 1966, but this year the costume will take a much scarier turn as people try to recreate the absolute gothness of Ledger's interpretation, including stylistic but self-done makeup, vile green bedhead, inky sleep-deprived eyes and fish-hook lip scars.

 

Photo credits (top to bottom):  Nick Koudis; Whitney Courtis;Warner Brothers; Jon Furniss/WireImage

Some photos courtesy Getty Images

Message Edited by Alex_Goldberg on 10-30-2008 06:50 PM
Message Edited by TVLTheLink on 10-31-2008 11:06 AM