Costume Brainstorming

Thoughts of Halloween include apricot-colored maple leaves, stuffy noses, manicured lawns morphed into fake graveyards, and of course, costume anxiety.

This year, I have the urge to turn back into a child for a night in hope of trading my usual repertoire of sugary cocktails and trampy get-ups for trick-or-treating and creative costuming. My main goal is to think less "sexy girl scout" and more artistic. Old dress-up habits die hard though; I did spend four Halloweens at U.C.S.B.

My mentor: V Magazine's Uptown & Down spread, overseen by photographer Mario Testino, puts posh Uptown ladies having an avant-garde moment up against Downtown party girls gone vamp. With Michael Kors front woman Carmen Cass and model Sasha Pivovarova posing as the Uptowners in black fishnet, playful up-dos and floor-length gowns reminiscent of something Morticia Adams would pick out for her cameo in V, I think I've found my inspiration.

I know it's early, but it's gonna take more than a day to pull this bewitchingly chic look off right. Now for what my date/husband should dress up as....I don't know....Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd?