Oh, the horror! More frights abound in Centerstage's Halloween Guide...
Bars & Clubs ~ Pumpkin Pickin ~ Scared Sober ~ Frightening Fare
It's that time of year again when, for one night of sugar-filled, goobliny-gobliny fun, you get to pretend to be something or someone you're not. Be it a pimp or a princess, a roller-derby girl or a racecar driver, your costume will probably need a little assistance if you're not a master seamstress. This list of local costume shops should help to make your one-night transformation a dream, or a nightmare, come true.
Batteries Not Included
You may not need batteries to run your costume, but you will need mettle, should you opt for one of Batteries Not Included's risque outfits. This spot primarily serves the bachelorette crowds, but it's also a place to score one sexy Halloween get-up. With more than 250 unique and complete costume sets for sale, you're sure to find something that fits the bill. Prices range from $20-$100.
Beatnix
Check out the drag queen delight that is Beatnix if you're in the market for vampy shoes, jewelry, wigs and crazy clothes. The store also sells make-up if you're looking to add some serious glamour to your ghoulish holiday, as well as costumes for everything from the traditional scary monster to a Stepford wife. Costumes run anywhere from $20-$400, so whatever your budget, you're sure to find something that's transformation-worthy.
Broadway Costumes
With clients all over the country (including Chicago's Second City), Broadway Costumes opened in 1886 to provide quality costumes for Chicago society masquerade balls and national opera productions. It continues to stock shows from Illinois to California. Luckily, it also rents classy, cool costumes to local Chicagoans from its 20,000-foot space. (Wanna go as Hansel and Gretel? You're covered, and rentals are two nights, meaning double the party fun). Make-up, wigs, facial hair and other accessories are also available for a variety of prices.
Chicago Costume
The shop may be crowded around this time of year, but Chicago Costume Company offers a number of costumes for purchase or for rental. The variety is wide; you can rent a flapper dress or buy an air freshener costume. The store, located a few blocks from DePaul, also sells costume add-ons such as make-up, wigs and more. Need a last-minute costume? Chicago Costume has a bizarrely impressive collection of masks, ranging from Bill Clinton to a chicken. Four additional locations are open for the month of October. Check out the addresses on the website.
Fantasy Costumes
Billing itself as "your most complete costume shop," Fantasy Costumes certainly is large (at a block long) and has the inventory to boot. The store is rumored to have more than 30,000 wigs; it features every kind of costume from the traditional witch cloaks to ensembles to transform you into a pop culture icon from a recent film. Fantasy Costumes wants to make your Hallowdream come true: it's willing to try to track down any costume you want. Trying to avoid costume crowds? You can order Fantasy items online at their website.
Hollywood Mirror
Take a trip back in time at Hollywood Mirror, the brightly lit, eclectic vintage/kitsch store located just beneath Ragstock, perfect for the Halloween-goer looking for a retro look. Leafing through the dresses is always a wise choice for the costume-less maiden. The prices may be a bit higher than its upstairs neighbor, but Hollywood Mirror offers some truly original old-time items, as well as the infamous giant plastic hand chairs.
Magical Mystery Tour
For the suburban spooky-minded, Magical Mystery Tour offers a large section of costumes, accessories and more to get your Halloween holiday off to the right start.
Mar Ray Costumes
This suburban shop offers a wide array of rental costumes, accessories like sparkly eye masks, wigs and much, much more. Kids can pick out a costume in the special children’s shop and adults can browse the larger-sized rentals, which are available year round for your costume needs. And costumes priced on average $50 for a three-day rental, they’re affordable, too.
Party City
Sure, you go there for cards and little paper drink umbrellas, but did you know Party City also sells costumes? It does, and they’re cheap; prices range from $20-$50 for adult costumes. Featuring hundreds of traditional bagged costumes, accessories and countless decorations, Party City can be your one-stop Halloween superstore.
Ragstock
Sure, much of the vintage fare at Ragstock isn't meant for costumewear, but the hipsters will make way for locals looking to put together cheerleading outfits, vintage prom gear, 1970s and '80s clothes and more for Halloween. Racks of baseball shirts, goth gear and other clothing items line the walls for those looking for fashion or Halloween duds. The prices are right, typically very inexpensive, and shop even sells the occasional Halloween accessorie like angel wings.
Strange Cargo
Make a T-shirt using one of dozens of vintage and pop culture logos (who needs to be John Lennon when you can wear him?), pick up some hip or retro gear or just piece together some truly unique accessories at this Wrigleyville mainstay, close to Wrigley Field but miles away from ordinary. And of course, there are wigs.
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