The Ultimate Halloween Costume?

With the passage of time, workaday necessities sometimes morph into expensive status symbols – blatantly ostentatious objects worn mainly for show. Wristwatches with five-figure price tags, for modern example.

In Japan in centuries past, Samurai guys appear to have made fashion statements with their armor. This suit from the 18th century would make a killer Halloween costume.

The New York Times offers a slide show here of items from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's current exhibition of Samurai armor. (Bet you didn't know Darth Vader was Japanese!)