Most popular Halloween costume? Charlie Sheen is 'winning'

October 29, 2011: 8:22 AM ET
Charlie Sheen is the most popular Halloween costume for 2011

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Tousled hair, a vial of tiger blood and a hefty dose of attitude is all it takes to score a winning costume this Halloween.

Charlie Sheen -- a.k.a. "the Rock Star from Mars" -- who caused a frenzy following his departure from the sitcom, "Two and a Half Men," earlier this year is now the top choice for a costume this season, according to Spirit Halloween, the country's largest seasonal Halloween retailer.

"His 'winning' attitude certainly struck a nerve," said Spirit President and CEO Steven Silverstein. Although Sheen has been on the Hollywood scene since the 1980s, "he's immortalized himself this year," Silverstein said.

In a growing trend toward pop-culture references, top choices for women include Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Snooki (or any member of the gang from the "Jersey Shore" cast). As for the kids, it's all about the popular mobile phone app Angry Birds.

Thanks in part to the AMC series "The Walking Dead," zombies are also making a big comeback, according to a separate report by the National Retail Federation.

"Zombies are everywhere you turn and consumers often take Hollywood and pop-culture and turn it into a costume," noted Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman for the NRF. Halloween has also become more than a traditional children's holiday, she said. "Over the last decade, more adults are finding ways to celebrate."

How to survive a zombie apocalypse

Despite the troubled economy, Halloween enthusiasts are planning on sparing no expense this year. Americans are expected to spend an average of $72.31 on costumes, candy and decorations, a 9% increase from last year, according to NRF's 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. Total spending for the holiday is expected to reach $6.86 billion, the most in the NRF survey's nine-year history.

A separate survey by PriceGrabber found that 48% of parents intend to purchase a brand-new costume for their child this year. Meanwhile, 24% said they planned to make a costume and only 11% plan to borrow or recycle an outfit. Eighteen percent even plan to dress up the family pet.

For affordable options, a Charlie Sheen mask -- complete with mischievous grin -- costs just $19.99 from Spirit Halloween (#winning T-shirt sold separately). The self-proclaimed warlock is also easy to imitate with tousled hair, black-framed glasses and a simple T-shirt and jeans. To top of page

Help! We need a makeover
Young dad, $15,000 in credit card debt
Readers' Choice

Carlos Rodriguez is trying to rid himself of $15,000 in credit card debt, while paying his mortgage and saving for his son's college education.

$400,000 portfolio, too many holdings
Readers' Choice

Susan Carson and Laura DeLallo make $225,000 and have half a million in retirement savings, but their sprawling portfolios is proving hard to manage.

Overnight Avg Rate Latest Change Last Week
30 yr fixed3.80%3.88%
15 yr fixed3.20%3.23%
5/1 ARM3.84%3.88%
30 yr refi3.82%3.93%
15 yr refi3.20%3.23%
Rate data provided
by Bankrate.com
View rates in your area
 
Find personalized rates:
  • -->

    Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.