Each Halloween there are many classic themes people use to inspire their costume choice, but every year there are some that stand out from the rest.

This year Halloween spending is projected to rise 9 percent to $6.86 billion,
according to a survey conducted by BIGResearch on behalf of the National Retail Federation trade group. There are two reasons for the increase: More Americans are celebrating the holiday, and more American adults are dressing up in costumes as part of the fun. Based on the survey, it is expected Americans will spend $1 billion on costumes this year.

As consumers put more focus on finding the right costume, there has been a trend to “mash up” or create unique costumes by blending elements from several existing costumes.

For those who are either too time-pressed or not as creative to create their own costumes, don’t worry. There are plenty of costume manufacturers putting fresh twists on old themes. They find just the right elements to be recognizable, while freshening up the concept to make it look like something never seen before. Read the rest of this entry »

In addition to numerous “face of” titles (Lancôme, Tom Ford’s perfume), Julia Restoin-Roitfeld does some art directing. While most of her clients are “young designers with small budgets,” she told the Telegraph earlier this year that she also works with Mark Fast on a regular basis and most recently art directed the look book for Australian fashion label Willow. According to the label’s designer, Kit, it was Julia’s idea to bring in a giant star as a prop; one presumes that she had something to do with former French Vogue editor Melanie Huynh styling the clothes as well. You can see the full look book here.

Julianne Moore sat in the front row of the Lanvin show as part of Paris Fashion Week today, wearing a blue, striped, knee-length dress with a ruched neckline, cinched at the waist by a black leather belt. She added blue heels and a pair of chunky white circular-frame sunglasses, though she took the shades off for some photos and, just maybe, the runway show too.

Are you a fan of Julianne’s quirky glasses? And would her dress have looked better without the wide belt, or do you like how it defines her waist?

It’s not even cold yet, but our sun-kissed skin tone has already faded. Though you can fake it with rosy blushes, Benefit’s new Watt’s Up highlighter gives you a dewy, Michelle Williams/Gwenyth Paltrow–esque glow without making you look like you’ve layered on the makeup. The champagne-colored stick is creamy, but blends like a powder with the sponge on the opposite end. The effect is a soft, barely there sheen that makes dull, water- and sleep-deprived skin look fresh.

$30 at Benefit, 454 W. Broadway, nr. Prince St. (opening Tuesday)

Just in time for drizzly fall weather, Loeffler Randall released its latest rain boot range. When you don’t feel like trudging around the office in Wellies or sacrificing your leather or suede boots to the elements, these understated slip-ons can pass as non-weatherproof footwear. Made of rubber and waterproof elastic, and lined with soft jersey cotton, the booties are less clunky than knee-high styles and can be thrown in a tote or shoulder bag when the clouds look threatening. Though they’re no match for snowstorms or downpours, these kicks are ideal for tackling sporadic showers without weighing you down.

LR Rain Slip-on in black or navy, $150