Frankenstein, snarling werewolves and spooky ghosts are images most often associated with Halloween. However, this year, costumes are taking a more innocent, funny turn.

For women, the most popular costumes include angel or butterfly wings made from real feathers, said Gary Filkins, Halloween manager at Gift Adventures, 137 E. Beaver Ave. Cowgirl costumes are also popular this Halloween, Filkins said. Many women are buying cowboy hats in leopard or palomino prints, he said.

Everyday styles are also carrying over to costumes this year, Filkins said.

"Low-cut jeans and tight shirts are also in for Halloween,'' he added.

People looking for entertaining costumes are buying costumes that impersonate people from popular TV shows and movies, Filkins said. The Osbournes are a popular choice for people to impersonate, and Gift Adventures has been supplying people with wigs and glasses of all members of the Osbourne family, he said.

Scooby-Doo, Austin Powers and SpongeBob Squarepants are also very popular costumes this year, Filkins said.

"I know older people are into [SpongeBob], but I didn't realize how popular it really is," he added.

Tesha Strom, associate manager of Metro, 320 E. College Ave., has also noticed character-themed costumes are popular this year. Austin Powers costumes are popular, and the store even carries Austin Powers' teeth, Strom said.

"They're disgusting but neat," she added.

Strom said angel and butterfly wings are also popular costumes being sold at Metro. They're great costumes for people because they're quick and inexpensive, she said.

Flapper costumes are also a top seller this year, Strom said. People are combining feather boas and long cigarette holders for the costumes, she said. Some people are even buying tiaras and fake eyelashes to add to their costumes, Strom added.

People looking for more retro or sexy costumes are turning to Rude Boyz, 200 W. College Ave., Filkins said. The store carries a lot of retro costumes and "anything black leather -- from skirts to pants," he added.

The most popular sexy costumes this year are revealing nurse's costumes and also bumblebee costumes that are made of a striped tube dress with a stinger on the backside, he said.

Though Halloween costumes are subject to this year's trends, Halloween decorations remain the same, Filkins said.

One of the most popular decorations is a "Bates Motel" sign, he said. It's a decoration that everyone will always understand, Filkins said.

"There's always a vacancy at the Bates Motel,'' he added, referring to the Alfred Hitchcock movie Psycho.

The windows of Gift Adventures display traditional decorations: ghosts, pumpkins and skeletons, Filkins said.

"We always do a special window for Halloween. We change it every year," he added.

Kathleen Fitzgerald, an employee at Wild Card, 346 E. College Ave., also said traditional decorations are extremely popular this year.

Paper pumpkins to hang on walls and bats that react to loud sounds are the decorations that are selling the most, she said.

People are also buying cookie cutters in the shape of cats, bats, pumpkins, skulls and ghosts, she added.