Classic Kitsch
Choose this type of party if you love to channel your inner child at least once (or twice) a year.
The vibe: Pile on the fluorescent punk wigs, pointy witch hats, and couple costumes for a throwback Halloween shindig just like the kind you loved as a kid. Timeless costumes (a French maid and a butler) as well as more creative concoctions (the Big Dipper and Little Dipper) will sway even the dress-up dud of the group to assume a new persona for the night.
The plan: Mix kitsch with class. Guests can bob for apples while sipping on their Chardonnay. Hang fake cobwebs and cardboard ghosts or set up a fog machine. Serve small helpings of pumpkin soup, acorn squash, and pumpkin pie with a side of delicious kid-inspired cupcakes. In fact, why not make it all about desserts?
Spiderweb table runner, PotteryBarn.com, $49
Get Halloween recipes for your spooktacular bash >