Self-portraits with monsters

Monday I interviewed a lady who has been in the costume business since before I was born. Over the last 30 years, she's collected (or sewn) about 9,000 costumes. But after this Halloween, she's going to sell off her collection. I had a good time combing through all the looks, talking to her about the way the business has changed and what it means to part with something (or 9,000 somethings) you've had for three decades.

Here's an excerpt from the story, but you can read the whole thing on Oregonlive if you want.

Two women had traveled to the store from Oregon City in search of a quality Santa costume. For years, Pam Flohr said, people have told her husband Russ that he looks like Santa Claus. He has the pink coloring, the full white beard. Last year, he decided to make a little extra money off the resemblance.

But breaking into the Santa industry isn't easy. You have to have a nice outfit. And the good ones go early, the Flohrs learned. The same principle applies for Easter Bunnies, Hayes said. Those should be sought out in early winter.