by R.A. Scott

Created on: March 18, 2009   Last Updated: April 15, 2009

Every year when Halloween rolls around there are school plays for the kids and maybe something for the parents too. So everyone soon focuses on costumes; should I go as Frankenstein's monster or an Elf? I did the fairy thing last year but now my wings are broken so I didn't get much use out of that purchase, now did I? Only one use and now it, it, it's ruined because of the broken wing. What's a guy to do?(sob, sob)

Well, it's off to the costume rental shop for me. Renting has to be the way to go. For one thing it won't take up space in the closet after you've finished using it, lord knows I need a lot of room in that closet for, well let's just say other things. So it's not in the closet and that's a good thing.

Also if it gets wrecked in some way like my fairy wings, I loved those fairy wings, it won't be my problem and the rental place has the ability to fix things. The only thing I can fix around the house is a sandwich, yup I can fix me a sandwich and my favorite is ham.

Anyway, it's also cheaper to rent a costume as opposed to buying and man I am so cheap so it works for me. Buying would be fine if you had designs on wearing the thing again but costumes age so fast. Why would I want to wear last years model, sheesh? Aside from that, if you have no reason to wear it again what would you do with it? Sticking it in the closet is not good, as I mentioned.

Sometimes different occasions require different costumes. Would it really be appropriate to wear a Halloween Fairy costume to a costume party at work? Perhaps not unless you want to reveal yourself to everyone, that could be fun. No, there have to be limits on where you wear your costumes. Save the fairy costume for some private fun at home.

If however you are one of those socialite types; you know, the kind of folks that go out to fancy parties every night and they need special gowns or tuxedos then it would be wise to buy. Don't be fooled, those too are costumes but if you are going out a lot then renting can be a pain in the cummerbund. You can get the outfits to fit absolutely perfectly and thus you would look your best always. If you look good, you feel good . . . sometimes.

Having said that, I still believe that when buying costumes for Halloween or a party with friends renting has to be the way to go, there are so many practical reasons to rent those kinds of costumes not the least of which is wearing them one time. Besides with small kids they just grow so fast and would be out of that costume in no time.

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