But it's not just about shopping. It's about creating. There will be DIY workshops all day including 1-inch button making, paper crafts, felting and an earring bonanza. And tea. Lots of tea.

With the oh-so-important holiday shopping season now upon us, the duo have just unveiled a kids t-shirt line and are offering free shipping on all web-based orders over $10. Amidst all the madness the two of them took some time out of their day to fill me in on all the need to know Cry Wolf details. Our short Q&A follows:

I too noticed a decline in the store's quality and was eager to find out what was really going on. So when I returned to the store this week, I was pleasantly surprised to find Donna, the original owner and creator of F/X, digging through piles of stock.

I soon learned just what had happened to F/X over the past years. I also got to hear about Donna's amazing experience in the fashion industry and her unique vision for the original F/X boutique, reopening this weekend for one last blowout sale.

I decided to play up the fashion angle; my costume was Grace Jones at the Q Awards this year. I had a lot of help with the mask from Danielle at Final Fashion. My makeup was done by Gail McInnes who did her research to get the look just right. I also have to thank I Miss You vintage. The woman who helped me find the perfect outfit was amazing. It's a shame that good service is rare in this city. The final product was pretty accurate I think.

We made our way down into the convention center and were greeted by the frenzy of the media wall and ice skating ghouls. The majority of the attendees didn't dress up in costume. They dressed black tie, but really didn't try to get into the spirit of the event. There were enough in costume to make it interesting though. I was a little surprised to see Mr. Fashion Cares aka Michael King not in costume.

Kingy Carpenter, owner and designer at Queen West boutique Peach Beserk emailed us to let us know that they have created a Barack Obama dress (photo above) and it's selling like hot cakes. Also available: the same print on a skirt or a hoody.

For the rest of us, there are only three letters that matter: D.I.Y.

While surfing the web for ideas I came across instructables.com, a do-it-yourself site for just about anything - including Halloween costumes.

So here, in random order, are a few of the ways you can save hundreds of thousands of dollars this year while still turning heads.

Oh. And did I mention they'll be dressed as vampires too? Don't bother booking an appointment (cuts will be given on a first come, first served basis), just make sure to wear a high collar and some stinky garlic breath when you go.

An entire film sound stage will be filled with hundreds of potential Halloween costumes. Local costume designers, stylists and wardrobe rental houses will be offering up racks and racks of wardrobe from past films shot in Toronto as well as fabric and accessories that can be used to create something homemade.