Sexy, Geeky Halloween Costumes (That You Can Wear In a Non-ComiCon Context)

Halloween is coming up!  I know this because yesterday I went to the Valley Fair mall and the store slot that always houses temporary stores is now occupied by Spirit Halloween. (For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, Spirit is an online Halloween superstore that rents out empty mall space in the month of October.)

Anyway, as you may or may not know, I love Halloween.  What's not to love?  You dress up and get candy.  Well, okay, so I don't really get candy anymore (boo!), but I still get to dress up.  And what I love even more than dressing up on Halloween is dressing up in sexy, geeky costumes (note I say "sexy, geeky," not "sexy geek").  I've been trying to figure out what I'll be this year, so I've been scouring the Internets for ideas.  Here are some sexy, geeky costumes that people will actually recognize (yeah, I'm not going to be some obscure character from a 1950's Sci-Fi movie).

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider

 

Aw, yeah.  I like this costume for three reasons: first, Lara is the iconic sexy game hero; second, this costume is super easy to make; and third, you get to feel like Angelina Jolie and maybe carry guns (don't carry guns, not even fake ones, if you're in New York City).  While you can buy Lara costumes online, it's also super easy (and cheap) to make: black booty shorts ($12, American Apparel); a tight, cropped t-shirt or tank top (just go buy one at someplace like Love Culture for $5 and cut it); two AirSoft leg holsters (about $7 each); a belt (you have a belt, right); combat boots (about $40 if you don't already have them); and some black fingerless gloves ($2, cut the fingers off).

I was Lara for Halloween a couple of years ago -- my costume cost all of $15 to make, and I got tons of compliments:

Princess Leia - Star Wars

I know, I know -- Slave Princess Leia is so overdone.  Still, it's a classic, and absolutely nobody -- not even non-geeks -- will ask what you're supposed to be.  And yes, you should definitely do Slave Leia, because it's the only costume in which she doesn't have a ridiculous hair-do. (But if you really want to be un-sexy Princess Leia, you can buy that costume here.)

UPDATE: I went with Princess Leia this year, much to the confusion of my husband who has never seen Star Wars.  Seriously.

 

Chun Li - Street Fighter II

Some guy once told me that I reminded him of Chun Li from Street Fighter II. I like to think he said this because of my mad street fighting skills.  But he probably said it because I'm Asian and I was wearing pigtails at the time.  Oh well.  Chun Li is another good costume if you want to be a video game character, but not an unknown one.  Everyone's played Street Fighter at least once (or, if you're like my brothers and me, you've pressed the buttons on the arcade machine while watching the credits because your parents wouldn't give you any quarters).  I don't suggest you make this costume unless you're extremely skilled at costume-making.  You can buy a pretty good replica of her qipao here.

Leeloo - The Fifth Element

Okay, so The Fifth Element isn't necessarily a movie we've all seen, but Milla Jovovich's Leeloo is still pretty memorable.  Plus, this costume is easy and cheap, and all you need is white duct tape, a white bikini bottom, and an orange wig -- use the duct tape liberally! 

Tifa Lockhart

Normally I would tell you to stay away from the Final Fantasy characters -- after all, there are like 14 games in the franchise.  But Tifa Lockhart of FF VII is arguably the most recognizable female character.  Plus her outfit is a lot easier to replicate than, say, Yuna's, so...yeah.  Here's what you need: cropped tank top (buy Fruit-of-the-Looms and cut 'em up), a black skirt, suspenders ($8 at Hot Topic), long black fingerless gloves, short red fingerless gloves, and combat boots.

As for me, I'm not yet sure what I'm going to be for Halloween.  Maybe something off this list.  Maybe two things off this list.  Maybe "Sexy Sonic the Hedgehog" or "Sexy Infested Sarah Kerrigan"...