While dressing down has become more or less the norm for Halloween, for some people, dressing up is serious business.

“I think being around costumes so much has ruined Halloween for me,” says Christine I. Moore, saleswoman at Harvard Square costume shop Hootenanny, minutes after ringing up a pair of black spandex hot pants and bag of feathers purchased by a customer. ‘They’ll cover you. I mean, I think it’ll be enough…’

But while Moore may be accustomed to shoppers seeking skimpy garb for the holiday, Lucy S. Bennett, who works at American Apparel, encountered a group of costume-seekers with an unusual quest.

“There was a group of ten guys [Saturday] for a crossdressing Halloween party and they were all just wearing the craziest things in the store. Like these tiny, shiny silk hot shorts over sparkly leggings and unitards and crazy headgear. All their junk was hanging out,” said Bennett.

Is everyone in Harvard square a closet flasher?

A little further up the square, at Oona’s Costume Shop, the atmosphere is decidedly more sedate. Molly Dixon sells a grey elephant hat to a couple, saying a turtleneck is all you need to “complete the look.”

The costumes at Oona’s span a wider ranger than the typical devils, angels, and bunnies. But Shenandoah S. Aldrich of Oona’s scratches her cat’s ears as she contemplates the most outrageous costume request she’s received this year.

“There was one group of girls that really wanted to go dressed as swine flu. We gave them the angel wings, but there was really nothing for the swine part,” said Aldrich.

Here’s to hoping you all find what you’re looking for to cover—or uncover—your alter egos this year. FM will be watching. Bundle up.