My Pirate Adventure

Ahoy there, me hearties. I be bettin’ ye were wonderin’ about me whereabouts these last few days. Well, just so ye be clear, I was well aware that the finest of all the holidays were being celebrated just days ago. Aye, it were only four days ago that noblest of days, International Talk Like a Pirate Day, were being honored by true buccaneers and landlubbers alike worldwide.

Being the truest of pirates, deep down inside, I could not settle for merely talking like a pirate fer a day. I set me mind to liven’ the pirate’s life. So off I sailed into high seas, with a terror of a captain in charge, and a bunch of ol’ seadogs in the crew.

I didn’t want them thinkin’ me to be some sort of scurvy, bilge rat, so I did my best to outfit meself proper-like before boarding the vessel.

I took one look at myself in the mirror in this pirate outfit, and knew without a doubt that I’d be keyhauled by the crew if I took a step onto the ship dressed like this. No real pirate would take me seriously in a cutesy outfit like this.

A fine first mate’s outfit seemed like a ship-shape outfit - perfect for plundering, pillaging and looting the unlucky ships who might cross our path during my voyage. Ah, but alas, I had to admit, I had higher ambitions. Savvy?

Shiver me timbers, I wanted to be the captain of a pirate vessel. I desired to be the one giving the orders, “Weight anchor and hoist the mizzen mast,” “Swab the deck ye scallywag,” or ordering some adversary to walk the plank. I aimed to have the doubloons, pieces of eight, and booty of all sorts to come into my possession and no one elses.

So I had a mind to dress like it. I almost went with this regal pirate look, knowing it would send fear into the hearts of not only my enemies, but the crew as well. Just seeing me in this outfit, I was sure they would give their current captain the dreaded black spot and follow me as their leader instead.

Then the finest idea ever to enter my mind appeared. Why not dress as the most feared pirate of all time. I dressed as the (wo)man in black, the Dread Pirate Roberts (you have seen The Princess Bride, right?). I was fully convinced the crew would send their current captain straight to Davy Jones’ Locker, as soon as they saw me with my cutlass held high.

Sorry to report that my outfit choice was a bit overly-ambitious. The crew greeted me with raised eyebrows. As we shoved off, an old seadog advised me to be watching my back. I thought nothing of his warning, and soon regretted it. That night I guzzled me grog, and thought it only a joke that the crew kept calling me “shark bait.” Being three sheets to the wind, doesn’t really sharpen a pirate’s perception. The next thing I knew, there was a shout, “Blow the man down!” I was surrounded and tossed overboard.

It has taken me until this very day to swim my way back home. Despite my ill-fated pirate adventure, I am still a pirate-loving fool. I cast my vote for September 19 to be not only Talk Like a Pirate Day, but also Dress Like a Pirate Day, and Act Like a Pirate Day! Or maybe we should just call it “Yo-ho, Yo-ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me Day.” Okay maybe that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. I’ll keep working on it.

Adorable Dog Costumes

It's been a busy week, but we have just received the cutest dog costumes! My sister brought in her dog, Lily to try on costumes this week and check her out in the Froggy Doggy Costume. This costume tends to run a little big because Lil could have fit in the next size down and she's... well, shall we say a little on the beefy side for her breed.

Here she is showing off her new costume...

Check out some of the other great Dog Costumes. A few fav's of mine...

Designing Costumes

Ok, you’re out shopping for a Halloween Costume and find it's completely overwhelming. I mean, how many different Halloween costume ideas really have to exist? Or, how many of the SAME costume have to exist for pennies difference? I see it every day in this business. One costume company comes out with a really hot design. It sells out the first year, so the next year, every costume company knocks off that costume - maybe using slightly different material and then shaving off a few pennies here or there in price.

This knock-off approach kills the costume. What was once a great Halloween Costume is now just another costume. Now, I know the difference (since we buy costumes from these companies year after year) and I know who came out with the costume first and I know which company creates a quality costume. Sometimes these are not the same costume company. I always go with quality because I know my customers will not stand for any costume that is going to fall apart after wearing it once.

The problem is that the customer doesn't know the difference between the original designers of the costume versus the costume company that consistently creates quality costumes. So maybe the first year, a costume company that historically creates very poor quality costumes comes out with a great idea. As a costume retailer, we won't buy that costume - we can't risk the customers’ dissatisfaction. We wait for the costume manufacturer that consistently creates quality costumes to produce the costume. Sure, we sometimes miss out on a nice design, but we don't ever miss the hassle of dealing with all the complaints that are sure to come from that poor quality costume.

So, how does a costume purchaser find out which costume company will consistently create a quality costume? That's a tough question. Most costume retailers won't just give out that information since they want to sell costumes no matter what. I can tell you that Leg Avenue puts out some of the best quality costumes on the most consistent basis. Sure, they've had a few that didn't meet our expectations, but year after year, they have provided great quality costumes.

If you're looking for a Halloween Costume this year, be sure to check our selection of Leg Avenue Costumes. They are hot and sexy and will appeal to your naughty side. Have questions about two seemingly identical costumes? Comment here and include links to the two costumes (or maybe even 3) and we’ll help you sort out the differences.

Costume Fusion

We’ve got fusion in music, fusion in cooking, and it seems only right to have fusion in costumes. Costume fusion, like any other type of fusion, is creating something new and unique (in this case, a new and unique costume idea) by blending, mixing or joining aspects of different costumes.

I love this idea!! It solves two problems at one time. First you are pretty much assured that no one else is going to show up in your costume. Don’t you just hate it when you think you’ve got a great costume idea and then you get to the party, only to discover that you are one of 50 other Batmans.

It also solves the problem of deciding between two great ideas. Just put them together!

My favorite recently is the Hello Kitty Darth Vader.

Or maybe it’s the Princess Vader.

Then there is always the Elvis Trooper.


As you can see Star Wars costumes seem to fuse well with other costumes. But I think it’s time for costume fusion to happen with other costumes as well.

We have our Miss Sister Contest going on right now and I think I will submit a nun fusion costume. I’m thinking Nunder Woman (a much-needed superhero nun) or Twisted Sister (80s hair band nun). Imagine that! I’ll post pictures in a bit.

What are some costume fusion ideas in your head? Share them in our comments section.

Miss Sister Pageant Is ON!

Have you heard the horrible news? The Miss Sister Pageant has been called off! I KNOW!! Devastating news! Nuns everywhere are in deep, mournful, mourning. They finally get their chance of a lifetime – a chance to show the whole world how hot and sexy . . . --- ooops, my bad! Disregard that, I meant to say, how beautiful and attractive nuns are (of course, with the main emphasis being on inner beauty – wink, wink).

Apparently the brains behind Miss Sister 2008, Father Antonio Rungi feels that maybe his intentions were misunderstood. He insists he never intended to have nuns on the catwalk. Basically Father Antonio got all sorts of negative feedback – from his catholic bosses and the community - and wussed out.

I know many of you out there were getting your habit together and planning your photo shoot. So I am now going to open up our blog for all those of you anxious to compete for the title of Miss Sister. We won’t even require that you be a real nun, or even a female. Just send us your photo in your best nun outfit. No bio, no proof of great acts of philanthropy, heck, you don’t even need to know all the books of the Bible.

We’ll post all the good submissions we get on our blog on September 12, 2008. So that gives you just under two weeks to get into your best looking habit or other fancy, schmancy nun apparel. Send a jpeg submission to sales@scavengeinc.com. Then we'll pick Scavenge's Miss Sister and crown the winner.

Hot in the Habit

There’s a brand new beauty pageant on the block, girls. This one, “Miss Sister 2008” is the brain child of an Italian priest, Father Antonio Rungi. You guessed it, it’s a beauty pageant for nuns! Such a simple idea, such an obvious way to go – how come no one thought of it earlier?! Way to go, Father Rungi.

Apparently this beauty contest is going to be held online – at first. Father Rungi is hoping it becomes a real world event as well. We’ll see how this first one goes. The goal of Miss Sister 2008 is to dispel that age-old assumption that nuns are old, homely women, who are only nuns because they couldn’t get a man.

Sorry everyone, but he says there won’t be a swim-suit competition in this pageant. They can pose in a full habit or with their heads uncovered. Nuns from all over the world are invited to participate. Photos and bios will be posted on Rungi’s blog starting in September, so the online community can vote.

Here are the requirements – well you have to be a nun (a novice or a full member, whatever that entails) and between the ages of 18 and 40. And, although this isn’t stated as a requirement, I suppose you ought to be good-looking as well. Rungi is expecting (or hoping for) 1,000 entries.

Don’t miss this opportunity, girls. Are you a good girl with a naughty side or a naughty girl with a bit of a good side? This pageant could be just the place for either type. And I suppose being a real nun or something close might help your chances.

See, the thing is, we’ve known for years how hot a habit can be. And, as luck would have it, we happen to have just the outfit for your photo submission. Check out this hot little habit.

We’ve field tested this outfit and found that it is quite effective. You should try it out at home first. Believers and unbelievers alike have been known to fall to their knees, thanking the heavens, when their girl walks into the room wearing this one. Many have even reported having almost religious experiences as well.

Good luck to all the contestants.

The Almighty Wig

All bow before His Royal Highness, that illustrious piece of costumery, the All-Powerful WIG! What? How dare you not bow?! Who do you think you are to show such disrespect to his majesty? You surely would bow if you but understood the far-reaching influence of this oft-underestimated item. So, this once, I shall spare you the punishment normally handed out for failing to show proper reverence to the almighty wig – beheading, of course – and shall instead enlighten you.

Though the wig may seem to you nothing more than an afterthought or a mere accessory when it comes to costumes and disguises, nothing could be further from the truth. The wig has a power all its own. Take time to ponder the following examples of just a few of the wig’s grand uses.

~Place a wig on your head and a transformation occurs. It magically allows you to take on a whole different persona. Put your average person in room full of wigs and watch how their facial expressions, body language, and behavior change with each wig they put on.

~It is virtually impossible to stay in a bad mood once you have placed a fun wig on your head. Wigs have the uncanny ability to cheer people up and make them smile and laugh.

~For certain looks, a particular hairstyle is an absolute must. For example you must have the rocker hair if you are in (or pretending to be in) an 80’s metal band. An afro is a key ingredient for the disco look. A bouffant or greased back ducktail is the only way to be really convincing for a 50’s look. There are so many situations like these, but do you really want to make a permanent change to your real hairstyle. Get a mullet, afro, or dread locks and see how well that goes over at the office. Wigs let you create that perfect look, without changing your everyday appearance.

~Gotta go undercover? All it takes a wig and you have everything you need to take on a secret identity. Don’t believe me? Ha, just watch a few episodes of Alias. All, secret agent, Sidney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) has to do is throw on a wig, and presto! - no one recognizes her.

~Wigs give those of us with a truly nutty, wild side a way to express it or give it an outlet. Turn a stroll though downtown into a wacky wig walk. Grab some fellow nutjobs, throw on some fun wigs and take a walk in a busy downtown. You’ll have a blast and be true entertainment for the crowds at the same time. Heading to a formal affair that has the potential of being a bit stiff and boring – a wedding, a fancy dance, funeral? Go ahead wear the tux, suit, or formal dress and top it off with a crazy wig – that’ll spice the whole thing up a bit. Your yearbook picture will be so much more fun and unique when wearing a wild wig. Everyone will remember you for years to come. Heck, just wear a costume wig to do your grocery shopping or house cleaning and it will take on a whole new feel.

~Test drive a new hairdo or color before you take the leap. Wear a wig in the style or color you are contemplating. It’s a great way to try before you buy. You may find that redheads do have more fun. Or you may discover that style that you thought was so sexy on Miss Famous-So-And-So, looks utterly hideous on you. Won’t you be glad you did the wig test drive first!

~Ease the suffering and avoid ultimate humiliation with a wig. Maybe your barber or hairdresser was having a bad day and you ended up with a butt-ugly hairdo. You don’t have to endure shame and embarrassment while you wait for it to grow out. Just wear a wig instead.

~Times are tough financially, but that’s no reason to miss out on the fun of having a great costume at your next theme party. A great, yet totally affordable costume wig plus a trip to the thrift store equals a great outfit. Just think of all the possibilities – from clown, to disco, to 80’s rocker, to 70’s, to white trash, to hippie, and the list goes on and on.

I can already feel your remorse for refusing to bow to the All-Powerful Wig at the beginning of this post. You are now beginning the realize the grand place the wig has in the costume world.

Ah, but there are so many more potential uses, so many ways to give the wig it’s proper place. To show your admiration and respect of the wig put on an event where the wig is the central theme. A Wig Party is a great theme party to have. It’s cheap and easy to do. The only requirement is that all attendees come wearing a wig (you might want to have a few extra wigs handy. There’s always someone who will show up without one). You can give a prize for the best wig. You can have a wig exchange, throwing all wigs into a pile then taking turns either picking a wig from the pile or off someone else’s head. In the end you’ll leave with a different wig than you wore when you arrived. Whatever you choose to do Wig Parties are always a good bet. Wigs bring out more laughing, more joking around, more energetic dancing, and more all-around fun.

Another great wig-centered event would be to organize or take part in a Wig Walk or Wig Run. Do this just for fun or for charity. Just keep the distance short (1-3 miles should do the trick), since wearing a wig will have your head heating up pretty quickly. Or keep it all cool with a Wig Paddle or Surf.

Now that you have been edumacated on some of the wonders of the wig, I’m sure you are quite prepared to show proper homage to His Royal Highness the Wig in the future. For your next costume, pick the wig first and build from there, or go with just a wig (that’ll get you some attention). And whatever other ways you choose to honor the Almighty Wig, don’t forget to bow.