Halloween is just a few weeks away and costumes for both children and adults are flying off the shelves.

Purchases are up at Party America in Duluth despite the recession.

The Party America store manager says entertaining costumes are more popular this year than scary ones.

“People have probably been coming in for a month now already for costumes so it’s been getting hectic. It will get progressively more hectice come next week; probably will just be constantly busy,” said store manager Courtney Pulsifier.

Costume prices can range from $4.99 for accessories up to $80 for complete costumes.

Are you lucky enough to be attending an Adult Halloween Party this year? If so, here are some ideas for what’s hot this year in Halloween costumes for women. Women who want to dress up in costume for Halloween are always faced with a dilemma: cute or sexy? clever or sexy? current or sexy?

Whether you rent a costume or make your own, you will get tons of inspiration from this collection of Halloween costumes for women.

The ’80s

One of the biggest trends for 2009 Halloween costumes for women comes from the past. The 1980s are back in everyday clothing fashion, so they’re also back for Halloween. The recent deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson mean that costumes form the 1970s and ’80s are going to be popular. Halloween costume companies are offering new and complete ’80s costumes like ’80s Rock Woman, ’80s Funky Pop Star, ’80s Soap Star, ’80s video star, ’80s Groupie and ’80s Party Girl. There are also tons of new 80s accessories, wigs, shoes and other Halloween costume pieces available this year.
The Fairytale

Halloween costumes this year are showing a trend in storybook costumes. Every girl had a favorite fairytale, and there are both traditional and sexy- version costumes of Little Bo Peep, Alice in Wonderland, Queen of Hearts, Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and other Disney Princesses, and of course witches in many varieties and new styles.
Space and Superheroes

One thing you always see in Halloween costume trends is that if there was a movie this year, costumes will follow. Transformers came out, so there are Transformer costumes. Ditto Spiderman, Watchmen, etc. Space-related costumes are hot – Star Trek, Star Wars, aliens, and other outer space-related costumes are popular this year for men and women.
The Sexy

Halloween costume companies can’t seem to stock enough of the sexy costumes for women. New this year in the “Sexy” department are Gangster Moll, Aphrodite, Deviant Devil, Ahoy There Hottie and other nautical theme costumes, Sexy Cabbie, Knockout Nurse, Heavenly Angel, Pirate Wench, Cave Beauty, School Girl and tons of other sexy choices. Consider upgrading to a “deluxe”, costume as the materials are often much better than the standard issue quality.