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Freddy Krueger at 40 – the ultimate horror movie monster (and Halloween costume)

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-daniel-301018">Adam Daniel</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p>Movie monsters have captivated audiences since the days of early cinema. They evoke fascination and terror, allowing audiences to confront their fears from the safety of the movie theatre or living room.</p> <p>Arguably one of the most enduring and captivating of these monsters is Freddy Krueger, the villain of the <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087800/">A Nightmare on Elm Street</a> series who celebrates his 40th screen birthday this November.</p> <p>Memorably played by Robert Englund, Freddy quickly became a cultural icon of the 1980s and 1990s. Beyond his burned face and iconic bladed glove, Freddy’s dark humour and acidic personality set him apart from other silent, faceless killers of the era, such as Michael Myers in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077651/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_6_nm_0_in_0_q_halloween">Halloween</a> or Jason Vorhees in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080761/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Friday the 13th</a>.</p> <p>Written and directed by horror maven <a href="https://theconversation.com/wes-craven-the-scream-of-our-times-46915">Wes Craven</a>, 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street garnered positive reviews for its innovative concept: Freddy stalked and attacked his victims in their dreams, making him inescapable and allowing him to tap into their deepest fears. The series (seven films plus a 2010 remake and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329101/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Freddy vs. Jason</a> spin offs) blended supernatural horror and surrealism with a dark and twisted sense of humour.</p> <h2>Scary … but funny</h2> <p>Humour was key to Freddy’s “popularity”. Both sinister and strangely charismatic, Freddy’s psychological torture of his adolescent victims often oscillated between terrifying and amusing.</p> <p>A famous kill scene from 1987’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093629/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors</a> demonstrates this paradox.</p> <p>Aspiring actress Jennifer drifts off to sleep while watching a talk show on TV. In her dream, the host of the talk show suddenly transforms into Freddy, who attacks his guest before the TV blinks out. When Jennifer timidly approaches the TV set, Freddy’s head and clawed hands emerge from the device, snatching her while delivering an iconic one-liner: “This is it, Jennifer – your big break in TV!”</p> <p>Freddy turns his victims’ fears or aspirations – their dreams – against them.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dCVh4lBfW-c?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">‘Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.’</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Creating a monster</h2> <p>Craven has shared how the character of Krueger came to life in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1510985/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy</a>, an oral history of the series.</p> <p>He described a childhood experience of seeing a strange mumbling man walking past his childhood home. The man stopped, he said, and looked directly at him “with a sick sense of malice”. This deeply unsettling experience helped shape Freddy’s menacing presence.</p> <p>The character’s creation also emerged from the filmmaker’s interest in <a href="https://www.iflscience.com/nightmare-on-elm-street-was-inspired-by-a-real-life-medical-mystery-60527">numerous reports of Southeast Asian refugees dying in their sleep</a> after experiencing vivid nightmares.</p> <p>In the film, Krueger’s origin story reveals him as a child murderer who was apprehended but released due to a technicality in his arrest. Seeking justice, the parents of his victims take matters into their own hands, and form a vigilante mob. They corner him in his boiler room and burn him alive. But Freddy’s spirit survives to haunt and kill the children of his executioners.</p> <h2>Cultural repression, expressed on film</h2> <p>Film critic and essayist <a href="https://www.cineaste.com/summer2019/robin-wood-on-horror-film-collected-essays-and-reviews#:%7E:text=Freudian%20theory%2C%20a%20crucial%20theoretical,the%20horror%20film%20perpetually%20enacts.">Robin Wood argued</a> horror films often bring to the surface elements society has repressed. These fears, desires, or cultural taboos are not openly acknowledged.</p> <p>But movie monsters act as manifestations of what society suppresses, such as sexuality, violence or deviant behaviour. American academic <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01956051.1995.9943696">Gary Heba</a> argues Freddy is:</p> <blockquote> <p>an example of America’s political unconscious violently unleashed upon itself, manifesting everything that is unspeakable and repressed in the master narrative (perversion, child abuse and murder, vigilantism, the breakdown of rationality, order, and the family, among others), but still always present in the collective unconscious of the dominant culture.</p> </blockquote> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UBrl4H0Uzng?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Actor Robert Englund calls Freddy Krueger ‘the gift that keeps on giving’.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>The monster decades</h2> <p>The 1970s and 1980s marked a golden era for the creation of horror film nasties like Krueger, Myers, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072271/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3">The Texas Chainsaw Massacre</a>’s Leatherface and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094862/?ref_=fn_al_tt_19">killer doll Chucky</a>.</p> <p>Since then, the landscape of horror has shifted, with fewer singular monsters emerging. The diversification of horror sub-genres (zombie virus horror, anyone?), the rise of psychological horror (<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784604/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_4_nm_2_in_0_q_heredi">Hereditary</a>), and an emphasis on human-driven terror (<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416315/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_7_nm_0_in_0_q_wolf%2520creek">Wolf Creek</a>) or supernatural forces all contribute to this shift.</p> <p>While modern horror continues to thrive, few characters have achieved the same iconic status as Freddy – although some would argue Art the Clown from the recent <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4281724/">Terrifier</a> franchise and the reinvigorated Pennywise from <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1396484/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_6_nm_1_in_0_q_it">IT</a> could join this exclusive group.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZuYoEtEI_go?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">‘Five, six, grab your crucifix.’ A 2010 Nightmare on Elm St reboot failed to fire.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Happy Halloween!</h2> <p>Despite a <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179056/">failed reboot in 2010</a>, the legacy of A Nightmare on Elm Street is strong, having influenced numerous filmmakers with its skilful mix of surrealism and slasher horror.</p> <p>However, it’s the orchestrator of the titular nightmares whose legacy is perhaps the strongest.</p> <p>With each Halloween, new fans choose Freddy for their costume. All it takes is a tattered striped sweater, a brown fedora hat, and a glove with sharp, finger-lengthening blades. Don’t forget makeup to re-create Krueger’s grisly facial burns. Sweet dreams!<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/240905/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-daniel-301018"><em>Adam Daniel</em></a><em>, Associate Lecturer in Communications, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: New Line Cinema - IMDB</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/freddy-krueger-at-40-the-ultimate-horror-movie-monster-and-halloween-costume-240905">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Movies

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Grant and Chezzi's dramatic 90s transformation

<p>Grant and Chezzi Denyer have shocked fans with a retro transformation. </p> <p>The TV personality and his wife dressed in their 1990s best as the family attended a themed dress-up party on the Gold Coast with their friends and family. </p> <p>In attendance were the couple’s three daughters Sailor, 10, Scout, six, and Sunday, two.</p> <p>“90’s Party to celebrate Courtney’s 40th &amp; Warren’s 50th birthday,” Chezzi captioned a post.</p> <p>“Incredible fun with all the Denyer family reliving one of my favourite decades."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsmgRbsSEZb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsmgRbsSEZb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by chezzidenyer (@chezzidenyer)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Teletubbies, Britney, Mrs Doubtfire, Pulp Fiction, Guns n Roses, The Nanny, Ab Fab, Men in Black, Baywatch, Shania Twain - so many great costumes."</p> <p>Grant chose to dress up in a Guns n Roses ensemble to pay tribute to the band's frontman Axl Rose, as he donned a blonde wig and bandana, and the appropriate amount of clashing patterns. </p> <p>Chezzi paid homage to Uma Thurman's character Mia Wallace in the 90s cult film <em>Pulp Fiction</em>, while the couple's oldest daughter Sailor was dressed as the Mad Hatter from <em>Alice in Wonderland</em>. </p> <p>Scout was seen in a sparkly dress and boots, holding onto a giant lollipop as Sunday gazed down at her sister with the lolly.</p> <p>“Great costumes. Look at Sunday’s focus on the lollipop,” one fan wrote.</p> <p>“Your costumes are perfect. The hairdos are fantastic. What great ideas you had. Love all the colour. Bet you had tons of fun 😍,” said a second.</p> <p>Chezzi shared a series of snaps from the function, with a wholesome group photo showing off the best costumes from memorable pop culture moments of the 1990s. </p> <p>One person commented on the group photo, "Wow, you people know how to dress for a party!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Influencer divides internet with Steve Irwin stingray costume

<p> An Aussie influencer has issued an apology after posting a video of her dressed up as the stingray that killed Steve Irwin for an Australian-themed costume party.</p> <p>Sophia Begg, 19, divided the internet with her choice of costume, and has since deleted her TikTok that pictured her in the outfit she was wearing for “an Aussie dress-up party in a duo costume”.</p> <p>“They’re going as Steve Irwin and I’m going as a stingray,” she noted in the comment section, after one viewer wrote, “Steve Erwin (sic) could never.”</p> <p>The late and beloved "Crocodile Hunter" was killed on September 4, 2006, when he was pierced in the chest by a stingray barb at Queensland’s Batt Reef.</p> <p>After saying that she loved Irwin and “would never want to offend his family/loved ones”, Begg apologised in a short text video on TikTok.</p> <p>“Hi guys, I just wanted to jump on here to clear up some things,” she wrote.</p> <p>“I love Steve Irwin and would never want to cause disrespect to his family or legacy. He is an iconic aussie and no offence was meant by my costume.</p> <p>“I have thought about and reflected on my costume, and I will not be wearing it, and apologise wholeheartedly to anyone who was offended by it, that was definitely not my intention.</p> <p>“I apologise sincerely.”</p> <p>Followers were divided about whether the 19-year-old’s costume was “fine and funny” or “disrespectful and offensive” to Irwin’s family.</p> <p>“Oh lighten up. It’s been 20 years,” one commented.</p> <p>“Not the people getting offended over a stingray,” a second added.</p> <p>Another TikTok user said, “I think it’s funny and I loved Steve Irwin. Life’s too short to take seriously.”</p> <p>“I feel like Steve would have laughed at this,” someone else added.</p> <p>People in the comments noted that it would’ve been far less “disrespectful” had she “dressed as a crocodile”.</p> <p>Her post sparked more debate after appearing on an influencer watchdog account @influencer.updates.au, “Disrespectful. She could have gone as a crocodile. This is just in poor taste,” one woman said.</p> <p>“There’s dark humour and then there’s mocking how an Aussie icon died, leaving his wife and kids behind.”</p> <p>“I’d just ask myself one question. Would I wear this in front of [Irwin’s kids] Bindi and Robert? No. That’s a huge no,” one person added.</p> <p>One follower pointed out it was unlikely that Begg had “any ill intent… she should have chosen another costume”.</p> <p>“I think it’s just in really bad taste. I think Steve Irwin would have been a bit before her time but for a lot of us ‘older’ Australians, he was an absolute icon and I think it would be upsetting for his wife and children.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

News

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“It was a terrible mistake”: NSW premier admits to wearing Nazi costume

<p>NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has admitted in a televised press conference that he dressed up in a Nazi uniform at his 21st “fancy dress” themed birthday party.</p> <p>During the press conference, Mr Perrottet said he chose to make the public admission after being called by a colleague two days ago who said they knew about the costume.</p> <p>“When it was raised to me two days ago, I realised I needed to tell the truth and not someone else,” he told reporters.</p> <p>Mr Perrottet also revealed that no-one else at the party wore Nazi garb, and that his mother and father – who also attended the party – told him the next day that his choice of costume was “in poor taste”.</p> <p>In an interview with 2GB’s Chris O’Keefe on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Perrottet clarified he did not dress up as Adolf Hitler and did not wear a fake moustache.</p> <p>Mr Perrottet said that he was unaware whether any images existed of him wearing the costume, but that he wanted to address the “massive mistake”.</p> <p>He said he was “deeply ashamed” of the decision and apologised for the hurt it would cause the wider community: “I wish I could go back in time and do that day again.”</p> <p>The premier admitted he studied World War II history in school and had Jewish friends at 21 but says he was “naive” and did not realise the gravity of his actions.</p> <p>“It was a terrible mistake at that age in my life, I just did not understand the gravity and the hurt of what that uniform means to people not just in our state but around the country and around the world,” he continued.</p> <p>Mr Perrottet said he had considered addressing the incident several times in the past and was aware that it was important the revelation came from him to apologise for “the hurt and the pain this is going to cause”.</p> <p>“When it was raised with me I didn’t want this difficult truth of a grave and terrible mistake that I made at my 21st birthday party to be told by someone else,” he said.</p> <p>“I have grappled with this. It has been something that’s personally anguished me.”</p> <p>In response, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies posted a statement on their Facebook page and said they hoped the incident would “serve as a lesson” and reminder of the “abhorrent nature of the Nazi regime”. They also said Nazi symbolism should “not to be taken lightly and dressing as a Nazi is not a joke”.</p> <p>“We appreciate that the Premier personally reached out to the Jewish community this afternoon to express his deep and sincere regret about his poor choice of costume as a young man,” the post reads.</p> <p>“The Premier has been a staunch supporter and friend of the NSW Jewish community throughout his time in public life. In particular, as Treasurer, he ensured the Sydney Jewish Museum received funding to ensure that it could continue educating the community about the Holocaust and the horrors of the Nazi era.</p> <p>“The Premier has acknowledged this, recognising that wearing the costume was offensive and will distress many in our community.”</p> <p>The premier has also said he has spoken with Jewish leaders and would continue to apologise to the community.</p> <p>“I’ve become a very passionate supporter of the Jewish community,” he said.</p> <p>The revelation comes just months after Mr Perrottet spoke out strongly against a group of soccer fans who were spotted throwing Nazi salutes at the Australia Cup final, saying there should be lifetime bans for the act.</p> <p>“What we saw the other day was terrible. It was absolutely horrendous,” he said in October.</p> <p>“It has no place, not just at sporting games, but anywhere in our state.”</p> <p><em>Image: Twitter</em></p> <p> </p>

News

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Some of the best pet Halloween costumes from around the world

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is Halloween if not an excuse to dress up and demand candy from your neighbours? An excuse to force your pets into increasingly ridiculous and elaborate outfits, of course. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’ve searched the internet high and low, and we feel confident saying these are some of the best pet costumes you’ll ever see. So without further ado…</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since Halloween takes place during autumn (or falls in fall, if you’re American), a pumpkin costume feels particularly apt.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s an adorable pug-kin: </span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUfrXTmL946/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUfrXTmL946/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Loulou the Pug (@pugloulou)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">And an equally adorable (but much tinier) tortoise:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVixuKAPjO7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVixuKAPjO7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Sushi The Sulcata Tortoise (@sushi_thesulcata)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Others make use of pumpkins to set the scene, like the Instagram famous Toby Toad, dressed as a witch:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVlt6kRl0QH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVlt6kRl0QH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Toby Toad (@yaboi_toby_toad)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Or these heroic pugs:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVV6OAulAeM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVV6OAulAeM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Hugo &amp; Halo The Lovable Pugs (@pugnamedhugo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And French bulldogs:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVlZz66pz2t/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVlZz66pz2t/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jeronimo &amp; Tokyo (@toky.mo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A few pet owners paid homage to royalty with their pet costumes. Like this cat, who’s dressed up as Marie Antoinette, which feels fitting:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVWLmfvvay-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVWLmfvvay-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by little.poohkie.and.big.mer (@little.poohkie.and.big.mer)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Or this adorable child-and-pet duo as Queen Elizabeth II and one of her beloved corgis:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVl5YWhLyaT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVl5YWhLyaT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Nixon the Corgi (@nixonthecorgi)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, pop culture costumes are the clear favourite. Take these dogs who look ready to board the Hogwarts Express, for example:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVgBWhRJ5od/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVgBWhRJ5od/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Sailor⚓️and Salty 🏄 (@sailorandsalty)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Or this pup who watched Squid Game with his humans and enjoyed it a bit too much:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVgg29sKFts/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVgg29sKFts/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Boose Buzz (@boose_buzz)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If there’s something strange in the neighbourhood, you better call Grizzly for all of your ghost-busting needs:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CViWa4aptQZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CViWa4aptQZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Grizzly 🐻 (@grizzlydoodlebear)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, you’ll probably want to avoid the next few dogs, whose costumes err on the scarier side of things. Like this elderly chihuahua dressed up as Pinhead from the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hellraiser</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> movies:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVjRmT4lqCq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVjRmT4lqCq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Gizmo (@gizzard_the_chihuahua)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Or this little guy dressed up as Pennywise the clown from Stephen King’s </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">IT</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CVitNtLrqb3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CVitNtLrqb3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by DogsTV (@dogsvideo2021)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As well as Moses, who is the spitting image of Chucky the possessed doll:</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVQXgSHruz9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVQXgSHruz9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by 🎾MOSES &amp; LEXI NYC🎾 (@frenchienamedmoses)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Politicians in the US even got involved in the fun as part of the annual Congressional Dog Costume Parade on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. We particularly love the Cowardly Lion accompanied by his very own Dorothy:</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Dog day in Washington.<br /><br />US Congress members and staff bring their dogs to work dressed in Halloween costumes for the annual Congressional Dog Costume Parade on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC<br /><br />📸 Jim Watson <a href="https://t.co/b8nfDfgv1g">pic.twitter.com/b8nfDfgv1g</a></p> — AFP News Agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1453624282647437314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To cap us off, enjoy this video of an entire hallway full of costumed dogs!</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Dog daycare costume party.. 😊 <a href="https://t.co/2UcrSGElCK">pic.twitter.com/2UcrSGElCK</a></p> — Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden_) <a href="https://twitter.com/buitengebieden_/status/1453805886464483337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: boose_buzz/Instagram, little.poohkie.and.big.mer/Instagram</span></p>

Family & Pets

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Andy Roddick dazzles in Cinderella costume for daughter’s third birthday

<p>Professional tennis player, husband, father and now princess Andy Roddick can do it all.</p> <p>Roddick’s wife, Brooklyn Decker, shared an adorable photo of the retired tennis player with their three-year-old daughter Stevie.</p> <p>The father-daughter duo were dressed up in princess costumers, with Roddick wearing a Cinderella gown and his daughter opting for Elsa from Frozen.</p> <p>"She has these grown adults wrapped around her tiny little finger,' the actress <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIHPsqEl_QF/" target="_blank">captioned the photo</a>. "This is three."</p> <p>However, A-Rod and Stevie weren’t the only ones that looked straight out of a fairytale, with Decker sharing photos showing the rest of the family in costume.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIHPsqEl_QF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIHPsqEl_QF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Brooklyn Decker (@brooklyndecker)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The post was met with hundreds of comments, gushing about how cute the “royal” family was and admiring the sporting star's get up.</p> <p>"Thank you so much for posting that! So precious!" one user wrote. "What an awesome dad!"</p> <p>"Love this...and love to your whole family!" commented another.</p> <p>Decker and Roddick tied the knot in 2009 and also share a five-year-old son Hank.</p>

Beauty & Style

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"Scarily good": Parents in shock at kid's Halloween costume

<p>USA father Greg Dietzenbach, a creative director at an advertising and marketing agency, has a reputation for creative and hilarious Halloween costumes for his children in his neighbourhood.</p> <p>This year proved no exception, as he decided to take some modern inspiration and created the "Zoom scaries".</p> <p><span>"My kids challenge me every year to make a unique costume. Building a </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://youtu.be/ggjSoEsBcH4" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">'Transformers' sock robot</a> for my son almost broke my brain... another year [my daughter] <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.halfcrow.art/blog/door-costume" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">went as our neighbors' doors</a>. So, this year I wanted to make it a lot simpler."</p> <p>He created the Zoom interface, with other people attending the meeting, for his 12-year-old daughter Ava's costume.</p> <p>The Zoom interface has nine spooky participants, including photos of Ava dressed as the Invisible Man, Wolf Man, Frankenstein, Dracula, a Mummy, Blair With and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The eighth participant is Ava herself, poking her head out of the costume through a cutout.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838459/halloween-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a2d2d8e49a564a91964f50763d27a1db" /></p> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Dietzenbach recreated the Zoom interface with subtly spooky changes -- replacing "End Meeting for All" with "End Life" and "Share Screen" with "Share Scream" and of course -- "666 Participants."</p> <p>"The best part of this costume creation was the photoshoot I had with my daughter," Dietzenbach said of the seven monsters/meeting attendees his daughter transformed into.</p> <p>"We were laughing the whole time as we tried to make all the monster faces."</p> <p>"Halloween was one of my favourite holidays when I was a kid and I'm happy to share my love of Halloween with my kids," Dietzenbach said.</p> <p>"2020 has been tough, it's nice to know we'll be giving some joy to others (at a safe distance of course)."</p> <p><em>Photo credit: </em><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/coronavirus-dads-zoom-halloween-costume/a9e78e96-8e01-4cc5-a426-a6b7592f6ebd" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">Honey</a></em></p> </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

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New Emma wiggle costume sparks fury over controversy

<p>A new Wiggle dress-costume has left fans confused and parents outraged after it was revealed the new costume that was meant for “everyone” did not include tutus for boys.</p> <p>After posting a photo to Instagram, the kids entertainment group announced they had finally adhered to countless requests asking for an Emma Wiggle costume with pants.</p> <p>"We listened! We have had so many requests for an Emma Wiggle costume with pants!" the post read.</p> <p>"Everyone can dress up just like Emma! Bowtiful!"</p> <p>embed instagram post </p> <p>However, the new costume left parents wondering why there is no tutu for boys.</p> <p>"It's separating the genders and caving to social gender norms instead of letting kids dress up as who they want to, without worrying about it not being socially acceptable," another person commented.</p> <p>"Would have been nice to show boys in skirts too ... What's the problem with boys with a skirt?" said another confused fan.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGUJfZdhKLJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGUJfZdhKLJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by E M M A W I G G L E (@emma_wiggle)</a> on Oct 14, 2020 at 12:01am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Boys can wear dresses too!!" one woman went on to argue.</p> <p>"Clothes have no gender!!"</p> <p>Others disagreed however and said they did not see any issue.</p> <p>"The first one with black normal pants with yellow stripes is like Greg's outfit in 2012," one man pointed out, referring founding yellow Wiggle member.</p> <p>Some parents suggested simply buying the girl's costume and giving it to their boys if they wanted a skirt. </p> <p>"Let's remember at the end of the day, it is us as parents and adults who buy the costumes," one woman said.</p> <p>"This marketing is really only showing us the options. We can provide whatever type of options and combinations for both boys and girls of the Emma costumes to our kids."</p> <p>The costumes are available at Big W, Costume Box and Costume Super Centre Australia.</p>

Beauty & Style

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MAJOR Masked Singer spoiler! Internet sleuths find “proof” behind celebrity costume

<p><span><em>The Masked Singer</em> is ramping up as it gets into its final contestants and fans are trying to figure out which celebrity is behind the eccentric masks they perform behind.</span></p> <p>Internet sleuths have come together to find out who exactly Frillneck could be and have rounded it down to the beloved children’s entertainer Jimmy Rees, better known as “Jimmy Giggle”.</p> <p>The clue that stood out to fans was the description of him being a “stand-up guy who hangs with birds of a feather”.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCnk5AxF-Em/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCnk5AxF-Em/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Masked Singer Australia (@themaskedsingerau)</a> on Jul 14, 2020 at 3:01am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <div class="embed">The “birds of a feather” reference is suspected to be  the 33-year-old's former on-screen pet owl, Hoot. </div> <p>Other clues to Frillneck's identity include he's “theatrical and comfortable putting on a show” and “Jack Black and I were fascinated with the same incredible creature”.  </p> <p>On Wednesday, Frillneck caused a stir when he performed the chart-topping hit<span> </span><em>Can't Hold Us</em><span> </span>by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. </p> <p>A number of fans watching from home said the son was “100% Jimmy Giggle” while others argued it was comedian Eddie Perfect.  </p> <p>During the episode, judge Jackie 'O' Henderson also suggested that Frillneck could definitely be a children's entertainer.</p> <p>It's also worth noting<span> </span><em>The Masked Singer's<span> </span></em>official account also follows Jimmy Rees.</p> <p>Jimmy debuted as 'Jimmy Giggle' back in 2009 and served on the long-running children's ABC series for a decade.</p> <p>He left the series in 2019. </p> <p>“After 10 years I decided that it was time to take on the next exciting challenge in my career, while also being able to dedicate more time to performing as Jimmy Giggle live in concert, a part of the job I love so much,” he said at the time.</p> <p>Jimmy is a father to three young sons - Lenny and twins, Vinny and Mack - with wife Tori Rees.</p>

TV

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Kmart strips "offensive" child costume from shelves after mum launches damaging petition

<p>Kmart has stripped a children’s bride costume from its shelves after a Melbourne mother launched a scathing petition, calling the item “beyond inappropriate”. </p> <p>The costume could have been purchased for $6 and included a white wedding gown and headband with a veil for children between the ages of 4 and 6 - before it was pulled from sale on Tuesday afternoon. </p> <p>The move came two days after Melbourne mum, Shannon B launched the petition on<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.change.org/" target="_blank">Change.org. </a></em></p> <p>“Kmart Australia regrets the decision to range the bride costume,” a Kmart spokesperson told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/business/retail/kmart-stops-selling-childrens-bride-costumes-after-mums-petition-c-517062" target="_blank">7 News</a>.</em></p> <p>“It was not intended to cause offence and we sincerely apologise. We have made the decision to withdraw this product.”</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7831965/kmart-bride.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/dae2d4cd79fa44babf7389a58308b6e5" /></p> <p>The petition, which had 124 signatures, labelled the costume “offensive” and asked supporters to remind Kmart it had a “social responsibility” to uphold.</p> <p>“Each year, 12 million children (girls as young as 6 years old — the same size as this ‘costume’) are sold or married off by their family without their consent. That’s one million child marriages per month!” Shannon wrote.</p> <p>“That equates to 23 children every minute or 1 child every 2 minutes. If this continues, 150 million more children will be married by the year 2030.</p> <p>“Child marriage means child abuse and torture in its worst forms — paedophilia, child rape, child slavery, child sex trafficking.</p> <p>“Tell Kmart this is beyond inappropriate and offensive and that they have a social responsibility to pull this item off their shelves immediately.”</p> <p>World Vision Australia confirmed the statistics shared were indeed correct. </p> <p>“Anything that trivialises child marriage is disturbing” child rights campaigner Mercy Chipo Jumo said.</p> <p>The big decision comes a week before Halloween, where children’s costumes will be sure to fly off department store racks.</p>

News

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The touching reason Olivia Newton-John is selling her iconic Grease costume

<p><em>Grease</em> star Olivia Newton-John is auctioning off the iconic skin-tight pants and leather jacket she wore in the movie.</p> <p>Newton-John initially wanted to part with the items last year to coincide with the film’s 40th anniversary, but she was forced to postpone the sale due to a fractured pelvis.</p> <p>"I've been wanting to auction them off for many years, and now is the perfect time," the actress told Fox 5 news in Las Vegas.</p> <p>"We were going to do it on the 40th anniversary but I spent most of that in hospital, so now it's the following year and that's fine."</p> <p>A portion of the money raised from the sale through Julien’s Auctions will go towards the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness &amp; Research Centre in her hometown of Melbourne.</p> <p>Newton-John told <a rel="noopener" href="https://style.nine.com.au/latest/olivia-newton-john-auctions-iconic-grease-costumes/bc7996c6-3372-4392-9c16-31724f67f67f" target="_blank">Nine Style:</a></p> <p>"We hope to raise a lot of money with the jacket and the pants as they're iconic pieces from the movie and I'm really excited," Newton-John said.</p> <p>"I hope some billionaire somewhere wants to buy them for his daughter or granddaughter.”</p> <p>The skin-tight pants are made out of sharkskin and the lovely pink outfit was worn to the film’s premiere at The Mann’s Chinese Theatre in LA.</p> <p>There is also a custom “Pink Ladies” jacket that was presented to her by the crew at the end of filming.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see some of the iconic<span> </span><em>Grease</em><span> </span>outfits that are for sale.</p> <p>Photo credits: Getty and <a rel="noopener" href="https://pagesix.com/2019/07/09/olivia-newton-john-to-auction-off-grease-looks-for-cancer-research/" target="_blank">Page Six</a></p>

Music

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Princess Mary and her kids dress up in traditional costume for royal visit

<p>The royal family of Denmark were looking thrilled as they touched down on the Faroe Islands for the start of their four-day tour on Thursday.</p> <p>At the front of the crowd was Crown Princess Mary, who was dressed in a traditional Faroe outfit much like the rest of her family.</p> <p>Her daughters, Princess Josephine and Isabella joined her as they wore the female dress which consisted of an open sweater laced together with silver buttons and topped off with a cape.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820426/princess-mary-au-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/00eac71d37334ba2a6dbf0f1992782e8" /></p> <p>Her husband, Crown Prince Frederick and their two sons Princes Christian and Vincent wore similar styles of clothing with a waistcoat, blue stockings and the signature floppy hat.</p> <p>The family travelled from their home in Copenhagen by boat and were greeted by Islanders as they approached the shore.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820429/princess-mary-8.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b2bf4248465b4f96afd3df4ecb088c5b" /></p> <p>Like many young children, Princess Josephine, 7, felt cheeky after the long boat ride and was spotted squeezing her older sister Isabella’s cheeks.</p> <p>The Islanders presented Princess Mary with an elegant posy as a token of appreciation and to welcome them on their four-day visit to the island.</p> <p>The couple will also be visiting the Island’s capital of Torshavn on Thursday where the Crown prince will take part in an official greeting ceremony on the quay. There, they will be welcomed by the Prime Minister before taking a trip to the rowing club of Knorrur.</p> <p>This will be followed by multiple events around the island as they take part in various activities.</p> <p><img style="width: 400.00000000000006px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820427/danish-royals-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e67287f9d95d4410bed2c30aa85e483f" /></p> <p><img style="width: 371.92982456140356px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820428/danish-royals-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b920bd01cc624d9bb6da9c5bd9c64df1" /></p> <p>The visit comes only days after the slaughter of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins as part of the islands annual hunting season. With around 800 pilot and beaked whales, as well as dolphins being killed every year for their meat, the tradition dates back to the 16th century and has become a yearly tradition for the Islanders.</p> <p>While the hunts have been criticised to be inhumane and cruel, the local government believes it’s a form of sustainability and allows the 18 islands to stay self-sufficient as resources for farming are scarce.</p> <p>Each whale provides several hundreds of kilos of meat and blubber, which if imported from abroad, will cost Islanders money out of their own pockets.</p> <p>The Faroese hunt on average 800 pilot whales yearly, with around 100,000 whales surrounding the island.  </p>

Family & Pets

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Emily Blunt poses in costume as Mary Poppins for EW cover

<p>Emily Blunt has treated fans to a sneak peek of the long-awaited Mary Poppins Returns sequel on the cover of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://ew.com/movies/2017/06/07/mary-poppins-returns-inside-the-magical-sequel/" target="_blank">Entertainment Weekly</a></strong></span> in a “first look” special.</p> <p>The British actress posed as the much-loved storybook nanny on the magazine cover wearing a red coat with cape, blue polka-dot leather gloves and a matching hat.</p> <p><img width="459" height="612" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/07/17/413446CF00000578-0-image-a-81_1496853278226.jpg" alt="Disney favorite: Emily Blunt is seen as Mary Poppins on the cover of Entertainment Weekly celebrating the sequel of the much-loved character to the big screen " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-949cbbc49dfab8ca"/></p> <p>Blunt takes over the iconic role from Julie Andrews in the iconic 1964 Disney movie. </p> <p>The sequel Mary Poppins Returns – out on Christmas Day – will take viewers 25 years into the future as the story of Jane (Emily Mortimer) and Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) continues. Now all grown up, they have three children.</p> <p>91-year-old Dick Van Dyke, who played cheeky chappy chimney sweep Burt in the original film, will also make an appearance in the new film. And he will be joined by other famous stars including Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury and Julie Walters. </p> <p>Mary Poppins Returns hits cinemas on December 25.</p>

Movies

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Simple trick to stop costume jewellery turning skin green

<p>Costume jewellery these days look so good, it’s often difficult to tell the difference between your budget bling and the real thing. That is, until you take it off. The interaction between the metal and the acids in your skin creates an oxidising effect, leaving your skin with an unsightly green tinge. Thankfully, you can avoid your favourite rings and bangles leaving you with a Shrek-esque skin tone with this simple, inexpensive tip.</p> <p>All you need is your cheap and cheerful jewellery and a bottle of clear nail polish. Painting a coat or two onto the part of the jewellery which touches the skin creates a barrier, preventing the oxidisation process taking place and leaving your skin as gorgeous as before.</p> <p>That’s not all your clear nail polish is capable of – turns out, it has a number of clever uses. Aside from protecting your skin (and jewellery), you can also:</p> <ul> <li>Coat a hole in your tights to prevent ladders.</li> <li>Paint a frayed thread to allow it to be threaded into a needle faster.</li> <li>Tighten loose screws by applying a coat of varnish as an adhesive.</li> <li>Dab a small amount on a mosquito bite to alleviate itching.</li> <li>Keep belt buckles shiny by coating them in a thin layer of polish.</li> <li>Repair tiny holes in windows by filling them with varnish.</li> <li>Coat your stone-encrusted costume jewellery to prevent gems falling out.</li> <li>Apply a thin layer to labels to prevent them fading or smudging.</li> <li>Paint some onto the thread in the centre of shirt buttons to prevent them popping.</li> </ul> <p>Do you have any smart uses for clear nail polish? Share them with us in the comment section below.</p>

Beauty & Style

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16 Oscar winning costumes

<p>Costume design can take the audience into a story world completely different to the world we live in today. The costumes help the characters to become authentic as we enter into the story the filmmaker has crafter for us. The nominees for best costume design this year are <em>La La Land</em>, <em>Jackie</em>, <em>Allied</em> and <em>Florence Foster Jenkins</em>. Here is a flash back at all the pictures that have received this award in the past 16 years.</p> <p>Which costume design is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p>1.<em> Gladiator</em>, 2001</p> <p>2. <em>Moulin Rogue</em>, 2002</p> <p>3. <em>Chicago</em>, 2003</p> <p>4. <em>Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King</em>, 2004</p> <p>5. <em>The Aviator,</em> 2005</p> <p>6. <em>Memoirs of A Geisha,</em> 2006</p> <p>7. <em>Marie Antoinette</em>, 2007</p> <p>8. <em>Elizabeth: The Golden Age,</em> 2008</p> <p>9. <em>The Duchess,</em> 2009</p> <p>10. <em>The Young Victoria,</em> 2010</p> <p>11. <em>Alice In Wonderland,</em> 2011</p> <p>12. <em>The Artist</em>, 2012</p> <p>13. <em>Anna Karenina,</em> 2013</p> <p>14. <em>The Great Gatsby,</em> 2014</p> <p>15. <em>The Grand Budapest Hotel</em>, 2015</p> <p>16. <em>Mad Max: Fury Road,</em> 2016</p> <p><strong>Related Links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/2017/02/photos-capture-actors-public-and-private-lives/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Candid photos reveal “public” and “private” lives of celebrities</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/2017/02/co-stars-whose-romance-continued-off-screen/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Co-stars whose movie romance continued off-screen</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/2017/02/movies-worth-seeing-in-2017/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Movies worth seeing in 2017</strong></em></span></a></p>

Movies

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13 of the greatest period costumes in film and television

<p>Film and TV costumes can transform us into different periods of time in history and make us believe in the authenticity of the characters.</p> <p>Shows and movies that are set between the 1800s-1920s would not be the same if the costume department didn’t creatively display the decadence, lifestyle and struggles of the era they are set in.</p> <p>Here are 13 titles that creatively revealed another time in history through the costumes.</p> <p>What is your favourite costume from these titles? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p>1. <em>Victoria</em>, 2016</p> <p>2. <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>, 2005</p> <p>3<em>. Marie Antoinette</em>, 2006</p> <p>4. <em>Elizabeth: The Golden Age</em>, 2007</p> <p>5. <em>Downton Abbey</em>, 2010</p> <p>6. <em>The Young Victoria</em>, 2009</p> <p>7. <em>A Little Chaos</em>, 2014</p> <p><em>8. Anna Karenina, 2012</em></p> <p>9. <em>Belle</em>, 2013</p> <p>10. <em>Jackie</em>, 2016</p> <p>11. <em>Jane Eyre</em>, 2011</p> <p>12.<em> Les Misérables</em>, 2012</p> <p>13. <em>Wuthering Heights</em>, 2011</p> <p><strong>Related Links:</strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/2017/02/elizabeth-taylor-best-movie-outfits/">13 of Elizabeth Taylor’s most memorable movie looks</a></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2017/02/co-stars-whose-romance-continued-off-screen/">Co-stars whose movie romance continued off-screen</a></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2017/02/resurfaced-portraits-of-celebrities-from-70s-and-80s/">Stunning resurfaced black and white portraits of actors from the 70s and 80s</a></span></strong></p>

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