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--> --> Costumes target softer side of Halloween By Maggie McGehee Ashland Daily Tidings Still stung by a national tragedy, Ashland revelers are leaning toward the lighter side of Halloween. Ashland residents are shying away from traditional garb for All Hallows Eve, focusing more on light-hearted, patriotic and fantasy costumes this year, according to Hollie Sundean, manager of Renaissance Rose/Wild Rose, a popular costume shop on the Plaza. "People are staying away from the scary stuff," Sundean said. "It seems to me that there are some devils, but not a lot of vampires this year. People are looking more at military costumes." Sundean said the store, which features a wide variety of costumes ranging from traditional Renaissance dress to Old West saloon-style garb, has received several requests for Uncle Sam costumes this year, as well as fairy tale costumes and 1920s flappers. The assortment of witch and vampire costumes in stock has remained relatively untouched, she said. "Guys want to be cool and macho this year, and the girls want to be pretty and sexy," Sundean said. "We've had a lot of requests for gypsies and harem girls. It's a wide range." Another change at the Renaissance Rose/Wild Rose costume shop is that party-goers this year are choosing to make an investment into their Halloween costumes, opting to buy instead of rent, Sundean said. "People aren't renting as much this year," she said. "We are trying to figure out what is going on, and whether it is the economy. More people are buying costumes." The Ashland store doesn't carry much for children to wear on the biggest dress-up day of the year. However, parents are turning to other stores in the area for smaller-sized threads, with furry animals topping the list of best-sellers this year, according to Shannon McCormick, organizer of the Halloween stock at the Talent Wal-Mart. "We are having a hard time keeping in the furry animal costumes," McCormick said. "Witch costumes are not as popular (for the children)." One difference over last year is the number of Walt Disney characters available for children, she said. Now, little girls are getting to dress up like Cinderella, Snow White and other Disney princesses. "Other than that, things are going normal," McCormick said. However, McCormick admits that Wal-Mart's adult costume variety is limited. "All I got in for adults is witches and ghouls, and they are selling well." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing