While I think it’s changing, for many years I approached Halloween with a chip on my shoulder due to the masses of scantily clad women in unimaginative costumes. (Yikes, I sound like my grandma!) At any rate, I love the suggestions for costumes based on historical figures from Take Back Halloween. It includes ideas and tips for dressing up ranging from Ada Hart Lovelace, an early computer pioneer, to Chalchiuhtlicue, an Aztec river goddess.

If you make one of these, be sure to enter it in our CRAFT Halloween contest to win cool prizes. Costumes, decor, food — whatever you create for Halloween is welcome in the contest. Read our full contest page for all the details.