Finds - Costumes

The grand day approaches, people: Halloween. It's time to start thinking about your costume so that you don't end up being that downer who shows up at the party in your boring regular old clothes. I don't have any rules where costumes are concerned. I like the purchased ones and the handmade ones, as long as the idea behind the costume is fun.

To help you out, I've compiled a list of places you go to purchase costumes or parts of costumes:

Zoogster is a cheap and easy place for costumes. This is one of those sites that has absolutely every kind of cheap pre-fabricated costume. They have their site organized well, in categories by gender, theme, and decade. Here's the Madonna costume from the 80s section, only $36:

Every costume site has Harry Potter, some might have Voldemort, but few have Hedwig! I was happy to see this little furry Hedwig costume on Zoogster, only $20:


This is, however, one of those sites that provides "sexy" costumes. Sigh. Really?


Urban Collector has a variety of really cool costumes, all at reasonable prices. I don't think that spending over $60 on a costume is really worth it unless it's amazing and not so cheaply made that you can't re-wear it in a few years (note: try not to do the trendy-of-the-moment costume, it's just not fiscally responsible).

Obviously I'm into Wonder Woman (if you've read previous posts anyway), so I gravitated towards this costume at Urban Collector:

For $48, you get a pretty decent WW costume. This is one of those costumes that could go badly because it is already too "sexy." WW pretty much wears a bustier bathing suit, so this is a good take on the costume that provides some measure of coverage.

Their Star Trek costumes look pretty good too. Both under $50

Sometimes you can construct a pretty decent costume yourself, but there are certain elements that you just have to have pre-made. The Watchmen's Night Owl mask is a good example.
$50 and you don't have to construct a sad version of this out of felt or whatever.

CostumersNetwork is for serious folk, but the quality is worth it. They have a wide variety of costumes and are a favorite of cosplay fans. Whole entire top to bottom costumes range from $40-$200. They won't let me steal their images, but they've got really cool stuff, so go check them out.

Maybe you want to be a historical figure. If you want to go Victorian (and I highly encourage it!) Retroscope has some amazing dresses. This mourning dress is $100, but it looks like a dress, not a costume.




You could use this several years in a row. Maybe one year you're Lizzie Borden. Next year you're a vampire. Next year you dazzle at the graduate student Halloween party as Victoria Woodhull. Grad students should have more Halloween parties. Think of the funny, amazing, and insufferably lame costumes you'd have to talk about for years to come.

Individual designers are already plying their wares over on Etsy, so you better check these out before they are all gone:

This lovely mermaid costume by Ivy Quilts is handmade and has its own little bag:


Only $40 for this Ollie the Owl costume by Dottie's Closet


This replica of Max's pajama hood by Pencil Perfect is only $37 and with a paper gold crown and some regular footie pajamas, you've got yourself an awesome Where the Wild Things Are costume.

If you really want to do it right, you can get this super expensive version for $129 from Katesy.

She also makes an adult version!! $250

Etsy has tons of stuff, so if you are looking for a mask or an accessory, it's a great place to get something unique. That's all for now. As I come across good costume stuff, I'll definitely post!