What to wear? You think about it everyday but at Hallowe?en time you think about it a little differently ? and nobody more so than the kiddies. photographer Chris Burville and Lifestyle reporter Ren? Hill took to the streets of Hamilton in search of the most exciting Hallowe?en costumes ? and also to discover what this season?s best sellers are...

A visit to the Jackson?s School of Performing Arts Dance Shop afforded us with a host of outfits to choose from and after getting my fright on by trying on a curvaceous burgundy-coloured witch outfit with a green tinted wig, we managed to ? luckily for me ? recruit two willing models.

Linda Hollis, of the Jackson?s School of Performing Arts Dance Shop, said that many people had been coming in for head-to-toe outfits, while others were purchasing extra bits and pieces to go along with their ensembles.

?Someone was in here yesterday and he was going as the Energiser Bunny,? she said.

Costumes at the shop ranged from a Mother Superior get up in black, faux-patent leather to a Raggedy Ann outfit for the more sublime. Cocktail Hunny, Wonder Woman, Night Nurse and an Arabian Queen were other options.

For the male of the species, there was an interesting mix of costumes on offer.

More traditional ones like Frankenstein, Superman, Batman, Buzz Lightyear and Zombie costumes are available.

If you always fancied yourself a rather small bloke, there is also an inflatable outfit to big you up and, if that is not enough and a set of armour would help, you can find that in the latest Gladiator attire.

Aside from the above, they also have Whimsical Wigs, Bat Wings, Black Fur and Boas in an assortment of colours, fishnet tights and an assortment of masks.

Meanwhile, the children?s store Daisy and Mac, in the Washington Mall, is not just for kids.

They had a variety costumes for toddlers and children.

Store owner Dawn Zuill said that the most popular items this season were the toucans, lobsters and fairies.

?We also have lambs, dragons and Frankenstein outfits,? she said. ?There are also items which can be used all year round like the fire fighters and astronaut dress-up outfits for children and, at the end of the day, they will wear it all year round.?

Phoenix Stores head of marketing Tina Adderley said their costumes were ?flying off the shelves?.

?For the little boys we have ninjas, Star Wars characters, Superman and pirates,? she said. ?And, for the little girls, there are witches, angels, Superwoman and pixie fairies. For the babies, the most popular costumes are Scooby Doo and Little Red Riding Hood.?

The adults have decided on quite a mix of attire, Mrs. Adderley added.

?Nurses, maids, witches, Candy Stripers, pirates, ghosts, aliens, surgeons and Count Dracula? are all popular, she said.

?We?ve got lots of others and they are selling like hotcakes now. At the beginning of the month, we were pretty well stocked, but now I can definitely see it going down.

?I think this is one of the biggest Hallowe?ens we?ve seen.?

Asked if she thought it was due to the huge amount of events that were going on over the weekend, she said: ?I think so, as we?ve been getting calls asking what kind of costumes we have.

?And I think it is because of the organised parties that have been arranged. Also there are lots of parties that have been especially organised for children, because they are not really going door to door.?