As Lycos users reassert their interest in things other than terrorism, Halloween is slowly returning to its customary October slot on top of the Lycos 50. When Halloween arrives, so do costume searches, now at #10. Let's take our annual look at the most-searched costumes online.
It's much tougher to discern what costumes are popular this year because of the terrorist attacks, which have retarded costume searches. The clear upward trend in searches for costumes was broken by a two week drop immediately following the attacks, before costume searches rebounded this past week (up 60 percent).
Nonetheless, let's take a look at some of the most popular costume searches so far. Here are the top 12 costume searches over the last four weeks:
1) Renaissance costumes
2) Batman costumes
3) Belly dancing costumes
4) Clown costumes
5) Star Wars costumes
6) Power Rangers costumes
7) Animal costumes
8) Disney costumes
9) Harry Potter costumes
10) Scooby-Doo costume
11) Spider-Man costumes
12) Wizard of Oz costumes
Once again, renaissance and medieval costumes are #1, for more reasons than just Halloween. Unlike other costume searches, renaissance costumes haven't really gone up much, so these searches are more likely role-players looking for an outfit for their next big renaissance faire.
As for the other costumes, you can see the effect of upcoming movies, both from late this year (Harry Potter) and from 2002 (Scooby-Doo and Spider-Man). Fairy costumes and 70's costumes seem to be down this year, so far. As for Power Ranger costumes, I have no idea why they are still popular. The show is still on the air, though the rangers are apparently no longer "Mighty Morphin."
Just as fun as the popular costume searches are the less-popular costume searches. Don't you wonder who is dressing up in these costumes: french fry, Strawberry Shortcake, corn on the cob, Hershey's kiss.
There has been some expectation that we would begin to see searches for fireman costumes and policeman costumes after we reassessed American heroism on September 11. So far, however, we haven't been seeing those searches. We'll be watching for them though.
And, thank God, so far no searches for terrorist costumes or Bin Laden costumes. Just say no.
TOMORROW: The man who wasn't there.
