Ultimate '80s Halloween costume challenge: Can anyone top 'Weekend at Bernie's'?

We've seen the Devo outfits. The Ghostbusters costumes. And yes, even I'm not beneath plans to dress as the Blues Brothers this time around. (But who will be the Elwood to my Jake? The mystery continues.)

Seriously though: Can anyone out there trump the pure genius behind Stuck in the '80s guest host Stephanie Hayes (and boyfriend Jim) dressed as Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman in Weekend at Bernie's?

The dedication to details on wardrobe is impressive. And bonus points for the courage to drag around the Bernie dummy all night long.

So here's the challenge: If anyone out there in '80s land can send me a photo of a better executed and conceived '80s-themed Halloween costume (of your own -- not a random one found on the Web), I'll feature it here on the blog AND send you a copy of the Trivial Pursuit Totally '80s Edition board game.

Send the e-mails with photos attached to stuckinthe80s@tampabay.com. I'll pick a winner on Nov. 1.

In the meantime, click the link to hear Stephanie's story behind their costume.

Stephanie Hayes explains the Weekend at Bernie's costume:

"The idea happened one night, as great costume ideas always do, while we were drinking wine and watching movies. There was nothing on, so we found Weekend at Bernie's on demand, which seemed like a great idea when wine was involved. During some scene, Jim was like, 'Hey, they kind of look like us...' And that was that."

"I found a Mitt Romney mask on clearance at the party store, and added the sunglasses and mustache. We went shopping at TJ Maxx for the clothes, Bernie's and ours. Jim found some YouTube videos about how to make a lifesize stunt dummy out of duct tape. Jim put on some old clothes and I wrapped him completely in duct tape, then cut the tape and old clothes off his body. I also cut into his leg by accident. (sorry!). Then we stuffed the mold with newspapers and taped the cuts back up. It made it solid and heavy like a real body so it dragged on the ground just like Bernie in the movie."

According to Jim: "We also created a 'bone and joint structure' by using a combination of paper rolls and different placement of thinner layers of duct tape to create more realistic body movement." (Here's the YouTube video they used as a guide.)

"It was a lot of work, but it was so much fun to do it together, and we had the best reactions from everyone we saw. Before the Halloween party, we stopped at a bar and left Bernie sitting strapped into the front seat. We could see people on the street mouthing, 'Oh my God, it's Bernie' "

"Jim brought Bernie to his office, where he now sits in empty conference rooms and various desk chairs when people go on vacation."

Comments

[Jezudonkey]

My wife & I dressed up as a couple from "supermarket sweep" one year. We both wore powder blue sweatshirts with pink polos underneath with the collar foldeded over. we ironed on the number 2(because we were contetents number 2. and both work kacki pants with balck running shoes, and we also caried a basket we "borrowed" from wal-mart.

[Ellie]

NO, Can't top Bernie! Best movie too, I still laugh for 1/2 hour when I hear a Bell Bouy ring.

[zayas]

May not top Jim and Steph's, but still will be ridiculously 80s. Will send you the photos once I'm done...

[Crockett]

Awesome Idea Stephanie, she DOES like the '80s! Who knew?

And i Do love Indy Mogul and Backyard FX.

I can't top that one. I was thinking about going as Crockett from miami Vice, but that seems overdone (by me), and then the Ghostbusters outfit (Spearsey doesn't like that one).

Maybe a Soviet Paratrooper from Red Dawn, in honor of Swayze, of course.
(http://hollywoodmoviecostumes.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=32&products_id=44&osCsid=d6e256f91db8814d2d6ce16dfb168b35)
AK-47 sold separately....