Our yearly post on where to shop to rent or buy a costume for Halloween, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, or any other dress-up event grows each year.
This is an outdated Post view our new resource page for costumes at this link.
Please let us know if we've missed one of your favorite sources of costumes and accessories. And, tell us about your all time favorite Halloween Costume in the comments below.
This year, our discovery is the Halloween Shop at Blackstone's of Beacon Hill. They have a fabulous selection of fun and tasteful decorations, masks, and accessories for the holiday. The collection stars witches hats from Michael's Garden, a non-profit that trains special needs adults. These artisans take great pride in the decoration they add to these wearable works of art.
The Garment District in Cambridge is probably the best known spot to outfit yourself for any costume party.
It's open seven days a week. And each year, in Mid October, they extend their hours for the Halloween season, opening until midnight every day, through the big day.
They sell and rent costumes and have lots of vintage & secondhand clothing if you want to create your own.
They also sell items to finish the look, like:
- wash out hair color in tones of atomic turquoise and cotton candy pink
- prosthetics like scars, bullet holes, horns, pointed ear tips, and witch noses with the materials to attach them
- masks from simple gold, or black eye masks, to elaborate Venetian designs, or feathery carnival styles
- heads to transform you into a bear, lion, or gorilla
- an endless selection of wigs includes: mullets, afros, clown colors, pigtails, geishas, ragdolls, cornrows, dreadlocks, flappers, and glam styles
- accessories include: hats, boas, go-go boots, and wings
Their "Boston Costume" division rents the full rigs for the likes of Batman, the Green Hornet, and Marie Antoinette. Or, you can be a minute man, a cowgirl, a knight, or a belly dancer.
Soon you'll find people were lined up, like this, waiting to enter Dorothy's Boutique on Mass Ave. near Symphony Hall. They call themselves "Boston's Halloween Headquarters" and display masks, scary arm stumps, strange shoes, and accessories in the window. The website makes it clear that these are costumes for adults. Risque is their specialty.
Army Barracks
Across the street from Dorothy's is the Army Barracks store. With a little imagination, you can use their surplus gear to create a costume for that upcoming party.
iParty. This regional chain has stores around the area. Here's their store locator.
If you are more of an internet shopper, you can find costumes for the entire family from this one page. Visit the Costume Store At Amazon.
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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011 Ed & Penny Cherubino plus a screenshot from The Garment District
