DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Ashley Freitas is ready to spend Halloween as an extraterrestrial heroine, while Aaron Fong is decked out as "Neo" from the "Matrix" movie series. Their costumes are creations of Marilyn Keller.

Playing dress-up

As Halloween nears, Marilyn Keller
turns women into mermaids,
men into heroes

As a girl, Marilyn Keller spent her days playing dress-up in her mother's hat shop. "My girlfriend and I must have tried on every hat imaginable. She had lots of jewelry, too," she said. "We had a ball."

Now, Keller has her own dress-up studio -- Marilyn's Masquerade -- located in her apartment. Costumes are hung and draped all around, headdresses decorated with allure are shelved above her bed and a stash of '70s shoes are crammed into a corner.

Get suited up Diamond Head Theatre Costume Shop: 520 Makapuu Ave., 733-0277, ext. 2. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and this Sunday. Costumes range from pirates and wenches to Indians, flappers and characters from Camelot -- and even include an array of corsets. Specialized one-of-a-kind costumes are available from most of DHT's productions. Select costumes will be sold. Kharolina Costume Rental and Design: 1059 12th Ave., 732-3423. Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays or by appointment. The store is open year-round. Kharolina has more than 1,300 costumes, from fairy princesses to witches and every odd creature imaginable. She has traveled to 24 different countries seeking additions to her collection. Marilyn's Masquerade: 395-3560 or ww.marilynsmasquerade.com. By appointment only. See details in story at right. Party City: Waikele Center, 671-3133. Open 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. An array of costumes and accessories are available. Prosperity Corner: 1151 12th Ave., 732-8870. Makeup prosthetics, face and body paint and one-of-a-kind costumes available. Savers: Find recycled costumes or create your own. Dillingham location, 842-0061, or Waipahu, 671-0071.

She also has nearly 1,000 costumes stashed in two warehouses. More than half were handmade by Keller. Costumes she purchases usually are dressed up with additional embellishment. "It makes them more decorative," she explained.

"I've always wanted to be a movie star but didn't have the capabilities," she said. "I love glitz -- and want to have some fun in this world." Keller's sister also owns a costume shop in Cleveland.

Costumes are a means for Keller to immerse herself in the film industry. "Every time I see a movie, the costumes provide me with inspiration."

And so, her collection continues to grow. "I had to build more closets for all the clothes."

She's happy to share her costumes and costuming expertise with others, especially at this time of year.

Mermaids are among Keller's favorite creations. "I went to the library and read all about mermaids. There is a lot of history that goes along with the different costumes."

Her mermaid gowns are adorned with shimmering sequins, and some include a cloth shell bustier. King Neptune is also available for the males.

The most popular costumes for men this year are pimps and Chicago-style zoot suits.

"The '70s shoes really help rent the pimp suits. The guys come out, and it's hard for them to walk," she chuckled.

Also big: Spider-Man and patriotic costumes, this being an election year. "Three Uncle Sams have already been rented for Halloween," Keller said. Also, one Statue of Liberty with light-up headpiece and torch. "The metal sash adds a lot of class."

"Matrix is my favorite for the men. It has a lot of style and shows off muscles." Sumo wrestlers are another fun choice, she added, and Batman, with an all-leather chest plate, is particularly impressive.

Her newest creation is a Donald Trump costume, which comes with a wig and a shirt embroidered with the Trump insignia and the words "You're fired."

Elvis, of course, is a sell-out every year.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Marilyn Keller, wearing her "Poison Ivy" costume, is surrounded by the costumes and accessories she offers for rent.

Women may choose to be a Southern belle, Juliet, Cleopatra or a flapper. The possibilities seem endless. "The Vegas-style beaded outfits go out first," she said. Rentals are around $45.

Schoolteachers often borrow Keller's Shakespearian costumes so they can dress up for their students, Keller added. Lots of churches and schools hosting theme parties also rent costumes throughout the year.

Another of Keller's special items are goddess headpieces that take about a week to complete, elaborately adorned with jewels, leaves, feathers and more. Each one goes with a specific costume, she said.

Keller doesn't always live in such cramped quarters. After Halloween most of the stuff will go to the warehouses. During busy times, though, her kitchen acts as sewing room. It's the only place the sewing machine will fit, she said. She looks forward to reclaiming her home but said she can't complain.

"It's a fun business," said Keller. "I can get carried away with my imagination."

Airbrush on a new identity

If store shelves are bare of inspiring costume ideas this close to Halloween, consider a "Fantasy Tan." Cindy Kau of Bareskin Hawaii uses an airbrush tanning system to help achieve special looks. "It works nice for special events and special effects," she said.

Glittery solutions are available in three colors: gold, pearl shimmer and opalescent. The technique adds a shimmering look to angel or princess attire. "We can also make someone look alien-ish," Kau said. "They can have sparkly hands or cheeks."

Altering ethnicity is another option. One of Kau's Caucasian clients needed to look African American to attend a "Matrix" theme party as Morpheus.

Features can be deepened by highlighting the temples or shading the sides of the face. Shading is also used for muscle definition. "We use a darker solution for the outer area of the abdominals to create a six-pack effect or on the biceps to contour the muscles," she explained. The whole process takes about 20 minutes.

Kau enjoys doing something out of the ordinary. "Not everyone has the same skin tone, so it's fun to play with the variety of colors," she added. "There is much more diversity. People are not limited to just getting a tan."

For an appointment, contact Cindy at BareSkin Hawaii at 955-7988.

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Nancy Arcayna, Star-Bulletin