When October 31st arrives, you can always count on a few things: Candy, kids trick-or-treating, and some wildly imaginative Halloween costumes. Indeed, every Eve of All Hallows seems to bring out ever more elaborate outfits, often based on popular celebrities or politicians of the day. Despite the trendy get-ups, one costume has stood the test of time and always makes an appearance: The venerable ghost costume.

No doubt it remains popular because ghosts are among the first supernatural concepts kids learn about. Another reason it makes such a popular choice for kids costumes is because dressing up like a ghost is relatively easy to do. Get a nice, clean white sheet long enough to drape the body, punch out a couple of eyeholes, and voila: Instant ghost. No wonder it’s been a staple outfit for as long as children have been roaming about on Halloween begging for treats.

Of course, you can get more inventive with your ghostly Halloween costume. You could go out as Casper the Friendly Ghost. Or go the other route and become a more menacing spook in the tradition of the ghosts found in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. An idea for a ghostly adult costume would be dressing up as the black-robed, misshapen-faced character from the “Scream” movies. (If you don’t inspire terror, at least you’ll scare up some movie conversation.) Complete the ensemble with a scythe and you’ll be a real cut up.

For another movie-inspired ghost costume, try the longhaired apparition from “The Grudge”. Or team up with some friends and become the “Ghostbusters” (just remember never to cross the streams). At the Halloween party there will likely be lots of ghouls of all sizes roaming about so it’s a good idea to make your apparition attire as distinctive as possible.

For a nontraditional Halloween costume, try dressing up as the ghost of a dead celebrity (Jim Morrison, for example). Another adult costume idea might be the ghost of a bombshell movie star; Marilyn Monroe would make a perfect Halloween ghostess. Whether it’s for adult outfits or kids costumes, these spooky specters never give up the ghost for Halloween!