For Couples

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For the Creative: Katy Perry and Riff Raff paying tribute to Britney and Justin

Katy Perry and Riff Raff brought back Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears’ 2001 (ya.. it was that long ago!) infamous matching jean ensemble at this year’s VMAs. You and your sweetie could look this tacky with just a little extra effort! So hit up a Value Village and load up on jeans to make your gown, and hit up a craft store (Michaels is always a great option) for rhinestones and whatever else you want to add to this hilarious get up.

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For the time strapped: Kimye

This one’s almost too easy.. dress monochromatic. Lots of makeup will ensure people know who you are. Oh yea, and don’t smile Kanye!

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For the effortless: Prince William and Princess Kate (plus baby George)

For an easy costume that people are sure to recognize, dress as the most popular couple in the world! Wear modest clothes, make your hair look as perfect as humanly possible and for bonus points, carry around a baby. A crown wouldn’t hurt, either.

For Men

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For the Creative: Sharknado 2

This one will take a bit of creativity and crafting, but with the recent release of the Sharknado sequel, it’s bound to be a popular pick. Check out this video tutorial for instructions.

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For the time strapped: Rob Ford

Alright, we admit it. This whole Rob Ford mockery has gotten a little tired, but this mask is pretty hilarious. Malabar is selling Rob Ford masks for only $26, pair it with a suit and you’re good to go!

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For the effortless: Tinder

If Tinder isn’t working out for you, maybe the app will work as a costume. Grab a cardboard box and some markers and you’re all set! A halloween party is a good excuse to mix and mingle, and this costume will make it clear you’re on the market.

For Women

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For the Creative: Nicki Minaj

This year’s MTV VMAs serves as the perfect inspiration for Halloween, especially Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda performance outfit. This costume will take a bit of effort, but with the right materials we would be shocked if it didn’t impress. Materials required include green sequinned fabric for the shorts, along with green body paint or painted nude tights. You can use an old bra and layer the fabric on it to make the top — then just throw on a pair of black kicks! Maybe it’s time to start the Ab-Challenge now? If not, body paint can help you there too!

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For the time strapped: The Chandelier Girl

This is quite possibly the easiest costume of the bunch. Grab a pink leotard, platinum wig and smear some blue marker on your hands. But remember, Halloween in Toronto is notoriously chilly — so plan to party inside!

For the effortless: Maleficent

Candy’s has a “Witchy Woman” costume that is absolutely perfect for Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent. Do some contouring, big red lips and green contacts and you’re good to go! However, no effort means you will pay for it, with this costume being $98.00.

Have any other predictions to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Rob Ford in all his close-up glory
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In light of Rob Ford’s recent confession to smoking crack cocaine, we decided to write about how his train-wreck of a impromptu press conference could have been diverted from disastrous to passable. After a short discussion, we realized that he made the situation much worse simply by the way he presented it (click the link to watch the press conference). We can use Ford as an example for any communications crisis/disaster by explaining different ways that it can be dealt with. Preserving at least a shred of the company’s or person’s dignity in a PR disaster such as this one is key. Even when it seems impossible to do so, such as Mayor Rob Ford’s case, there are still ways to soften the blow (or crack).

Communications crises and disasters are inevitable at some point or another. It’s knowing how to deal with them accordingly and ‘saving face’ that makes a scandal less…well…scandalous. 

Step 1: Admitting the problem - Imagine how differently Mayor Rob Ford’s press conference would have gone if he had shifted focus from his crack-smoking video to him publicly admitting that he has an alcohol problem and that he will be seeking help. Temporarily leaving his position as Mayor while he is ‘recovering’ also would have helped greatly. By simply blaming it on a ‘drunken stupor,’ he gives absolutely zero gravity to the situation. Calling your ex and yelling at them is something that happens in a drunken stupor. A mayor of a city caught smoking crack on video is a problem. You will still be held accountable, of course – there’s no way you can get around that. But at least you have admitted your problem to the public and shown them that you are human with imperfections and mistakes.

Step 2: Owning up to the problem – It seems as if the mayor spent most the press conference bashing the reporters for asking the wrong questions and claiming that he did not lie to them at any point in the past. As if he’s trying to blame the reporters for his mistake, Mayor Rob Ford is trying to shift focus from him denying allegations to the fact that the reporters were at fault by not asking the right question. He admits to making mistakes, but it becomes overshadowed by his blaming the reporters. By owning up to his problems and being completely honest with the public on a more humbling level, he could have saved some respect (not much, but some). What else can be said when you tell people “I did this, and therefore I will be held accountable for my actions,” Sure, you’ll still be viewed negatively, but you’ll be saving some face.

Step 3: Lay low - If you’ve admitted your problem and owned up to your problem, then you’ve got a good chance to recover from the publicity mess. However, we recommend you lay low for a while and let the dust (insert another crack pun) settle before coming back out into the public eye. At this point, stepping down or temporarily leaving his position is Mayor Rob Ford’s only chance to survive this scandal.