The world's top costume websites

<h1>Costume</h1><pre><p>
</pre><IMG SRC="http://en.wikipedia.org/upload/0/01/TV_Sesametreet_natalie_portman_and_elmo.jpg">
The term <strong>costume</strong> can refer to <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/wardrobe" title="Wardrobe">wardrobe</A> and <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/dress" title="Dress">dress</A> in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period.  It can also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/image" title="Image">picture</A>, <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/statue" title="Statue">statue</A>, <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/poetry_1" title="Poetry">poem</A>, or <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/play" title="Play">play</A>, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances represented or described, or to a particular style of <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/clothing" title="Clothing">clothing</A> worn to portray the wearer as a <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/character" title="Character">character</A> or type of character other than their regular persona at a social event such as a  fancy-dress <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/party" title="Party">party</A> or in an artistic <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/theater_1" title="Theater">theatrical performance</A>.<p>
Theatrical costumes, in combination with other aspects, serve to portray performers' age, <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/gender_role" title="Gender role">gender role</A>, <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/profession" title="Profession">profession</A>, <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/social_class" title="Social class">social class</A>, <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/personality" title="Personality">personality</A>, and suchlike.  Sometimes theatrical costumes literally mimic  what the costume designer thinks the character would wear if the character actually existed. On the other hand, often stylized theatrical costumes can  exaggerate some aspect of a character.<p>
<A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/national_costume" title="National costume">National costume</A> or regional costume can express local (or exiled) <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/identity" title="Identity">identity</A> and emphasise uniqueness.<p>
The wearing of costumes has become an important part of <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/halloween" title="Halloween">Halloween</A> celebrations, and (to a lesser extent) people may also wear costumes in conjunction with other <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/holiday" title="Holiday">holiday</A> celebrations, such as <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/christmas" title="Christmas">Christmas</A> and <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/easter" title="Easter">Easter</A>.  Halloween costumes traditionally take the form of <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/supernatural" title="Supernatural">supernatural</A> creatures such as <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/ghost" title="Ghost">ghosts</A>, <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/vampire" title="Vampire">vampires</A>, and <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/angel" title="Angel">angels</A>, whereas Christmas and Easter costumes typically portray mythical holiday characters, such as <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/santa_claus" title="Santa Claus">Santa Claus</A> or the <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/easter_bunny" title="Easter Bunny">Easter Bunny</A>.  Costumes may also serve to portray various other character themes during secular holidays, such as an <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/uncle_sam" title="Uncle Sam">Uncle Sam</A> costume worn on the <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/independence_day__united_states_" title="Independence Day (United States)">4th of July</A>.<p>
Some people wear costumes for <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/eroticism" title="Eroticism">erotic</A> purposes. Most people consider this harmless fun, but some regard this behavior as a form of <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/fetishism" title="Fetishism">fetishism</A>.<p>
See also: <A HREF="http://allwebhunt.com/wiki-article-tab.cfm/cosplay" title="Cosplay">cosplay</A>
.