The samurai were the warrior-scholar class from an older period of Japanese history. Today, the samurai no longer exist as an institution, but their influence lives on.

Most depictions of samurai that we see portray them in full war regalia – that is, wearing their armor. For the average samurai costume, this is a league apart. Armor, even costume armor, is expensive, heavy, and uncomfortable. As such, you are more likely to find the everyday, “off-duty” wear for samurais as a costume.

This stripped-down affair includes a Far Eastern styled robe, with motif prints. This is far more comfortable and easier to put on than armor! Cool, soft, and just loose enough, it should be a great choice for long costume parties. Complete the warrior look by getting a katana to go with it!

As for the Monster Bride Costume, it makes the most sense if you know the character it was based on. Remember Frankenstein’s Monster (sometimes called simply “Frankenstein”)? Well, in the sequel to that movie, Doctor Frankenstein and his partner create another homunculus from dead body parts. This second time around, they created a female, with the hopes of providing companionship for the Monster.

Unfortunately, the Monster Bride didn’t like the Monster. Oh well. What matters to us here is her outfit in the movie. She wore a white dress and tattered bandages, but most importantly her hair was done high and back, with white lightning bolt designs running down the sides. Now you know why the costumes look as they do!