GHOST, GNOME, GOBLIN? HALLOWEEN COSTUME INDECISION FRIGHTENINGLY COMMON.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - A chilling reminder came over dozens of shoppers Monday inside A Chorus Line Dancewear & Costumes shop: Halloween night lurked right around the corner, and still some had no idea what they wanted to be.

Inside the shop, in between aisles and racks of lace dresses, long capes, and chiffon tutus, wigs were fitted, leotards were pulled on and off and fleshy rubber masks jiggled as they were taken down from, then returned to shelves.

For some shoppers, what to be or not to be for Halloween was still a scary notion.

``Out of 20 ideas, I'm leaning toward the whole Disney theme, maybe as an Egyptian princess,'' said 20-year-old Asia Buys, who planned to use the gypsy scarves she still had from the Renaissance Faire to adorn a costume she still hadn't bought. ``I think people are going for the dramatic this year.''

Indeed, retail analysts say the spirit of Halloween has reached new heights this year, with more than half of the nation spending an average of $28.11 on costumes, according to the National Retail Federation. Come Halloween night, Spider-Man will be out in full force as superheroes still reign over the scary and evil this year, according to the federation.

Princesses and witches were next.

Shop owner Reena Newhall said while boys were choosing Harry Potter and Freddy Kruger, girls were going for the traditional: princesses, pixies and cats. Adult women were leaning toward Roaring '20s flappers, and sexier versions of storybook characters, like a naughty Little Red Riding Hood.

Men still favored simplicity, with masks still high on their list.

``What's unusual this year is the interest in political masks, due to the coming Nov. 2 election,'' store manager Jana Einaudi said. ``Masks of President Bush and Ronald Reagan are selling briskly; Senator Kerry masks started slowly but are sold out.''

Seven-year-old Kiana Green, however, planned to defy convention a little this year. She and her dad Rick were on the hunt for a scythe to complete Kiana's Grim Reaper ensemble.

``It's the first thing that came to my mind,'' she said.

For teens, the word of the day was ``scandalous,'' agreed friends Emma Puluti,17, and Kaitlin Miller, Stefanie Gurney and Chris Romero, all 16. ``Catwoman is a big one because the movie just came out,'' Kaitlin said. ``A lot of girls are also going to be police officers and firefighters.''

And guys?

``Something stupid or funny,'' the girls all agreed.

For some, a superhero wasn't made up.

Six-year-old Riley William was going as ``an Army man,'' said his mom, Kathleen, who fitted him in tiny camouflage pants, as his 10-year-old sister, Kailey, watched.

``I'm trying to convince her to be a witch,'' Kathleen William said as Kailey shook her head no. ``It's something she hasn't been yet.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Jana Einaudi of Santa Clarita fits a Care Bear costume on son Ethan, 8 months, at A Chorus Line Dancewear & Costumes.

(2) Ashley Magallanes, 3, of Valencia takes a turn in a princess costume while shopping Monday.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer