Wall Street, American Economic Downturn-Inspired Halloween Costumes

As long as there's been Halloween and trick-or-treat, there have been witch, ghost and vampire costumes. Looking for a Halloween costume less common, more innovative and decidedly up-to-date? Try one of these easy to make Halloween costumes straight from contemporary Wall Street headlines.

Halloween Costumes Straight from Contemporary Wall Street Headlines: Dow Jones Industrial Average

The Dow Jones Industrial Average took its largest slide in history on September 29, 2008 when the House of Representatives rejected a proposed bill to bail out Wall St.

To create a Halloween costume commemorating this historical moment, wear a sandwich board with a graph depicting the stock price fluctuations copied from the Dow Jones Web site. To emphasize that the Dow Jones took a beating, wear tattered clothing beneath the sandwich board, use make up to create facial bruises and abrasions and use spiking gel to create rumpled hair. A battered hat is optional.

Halloween Costumes Straight from Contemporary Wall Street Headlines: $700 Billion Bailout

There's not a person alive who hasn't heard of the $700 billion bailout. So how do you make this financial news into a Halloween costume? Think very large bucket for bailing, lots of large bills. Wear a large round plastic waste basket or plaster bucket with most of the bottom cut out to facilitate walking; glue plentiful large bills made of cardboard into the bucket so that they stick out and pin bills to legs and arms to complete the bailing effect.

Halloween Costumes Straight from Contemporary Wall Street Headlines: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

This costume for a couple commemorates the Federal government takeover of Frannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Frannie and Freddie adorn their clothing with notations about the American Dream of home ownership, paste on photos from real estate ads, mortgage loan applications and slogans about making home ownership affordable for everyone, no money down, loan percentages. For inspiration, check the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Web sites.

Fannie and Freddie may want to wear cardboard name necklaces so as to avoid confusion with other lenders. To reflect their takeover by the Federal government, wrap Frannie and Freddie in plastic chains and an American flag. Emblazon their backs with the words "Property of the U.S. Government."

Halloween Costumes Straight from Contemporary Wall Street Headlines: The American Economy

The American economy is a wreck, so fashioning a Halloween costume to represent the economy requires no special talent- the more haphazard, the better. Wear a black or other neutral color base outfit, Using a combination of colored tape indicators, cardboard signage and pinned on paperwork, adorn the basic costume with large battered dollar signs, downward pointing arrows with numbers representing stock market decline, mortgage papers stamped "default," bills marked "overdue," want ads, pink slips, even maps depicting homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Wear an Uncle Sam hat for emphasis.

Don't be surprised if these costumes give your neighbors a real fright!