If you’re looking to shop on a budget or need a last-minute costume, consider these ideas:
– checking out your own closet (or your parents’, grandparents’ or a friend’s closet, with permission of course) then buying whatever props and grooming supplies you need to put together your own creation;
– using a variation and/or parts of costumes you did in the past;
– if you’re very creative and like to play with makeup, you can do a costume for very little expense with some fake blood and/or some makeup and perhaps just a few inexpensive props or even something you might already have laying around the house;
– buying costumes with reversible designs;
– buying costumes on sale (such as those that didn’t sell last year and won’t be as in-demand this year)
– last minute idea or for those who don’t like to wear costumes: wear all black or perhaps black and orange with Halloween-like accessories like pumpkin earrings, a black cat pin, a skull ring, etc.
For something different, especially if you’re planning to piece together your own costume (as in my DIY article), consider trying some alternative retail venues including:
– superstores
– toy stores
– dance stores
– uniform stores
– party stores
– second hand stores
– consignment shops
– antique stores
– thrift shops
– erotic stores
– yard sales
Here are some that are located in downtown Chicago:
Target (has both children and adult costumes)
1 S State
312-279-2133
Hours:
Saturday 8AM–10PM
Sunday 8AM–10PM
Monday 7AM–10PM
Tuesday 7AM–10PM
Wednesday 7AM–10PM
Thursday 7AM–10PM
Friday 7AM–10PM
Disney Store (children costumes and makeup)
108 N State (in the Block 37 building)
312-269-4776
Hours:
10AM-8PM every day except Sunday when it’s open till 6PM
Motion Unlimited Dancewear
218 S Wabash, #270
312-922-3330
Hours:
Saturday 9AM-5PM
Sunday 11AM-5PM
Monday 10AM-6PM
Tuesday 10AM-6PM
Wednesday 10AM-6PM
Thursday 10AM-6PM
Friday 10AM-6PM
Wells Books (an erotic shop; please open website link only if you’re an adult)
178 N Wells
312-263-9266 – I called and was told they stock a higher volume of lingerie and clothing suitable for costumes for Halloween
Hours: 9AM-11PM every day except Sundays when they’re open 10AM-8PM
Salvation Army Thrift Store
509 N Union
312-738-4360 – I called and was told they have lots of clothes, much of it unusual enough to be used for Halloween
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9AM-6PM
Better get busy; Halloween is rapidly approaching! Luckily in this town, you can still find and throw together a costume, even on Halloween. But why wait: As Halloween draws near, shoppers will be hitting the stores like a mob of zombies on a feeding frenzy!
MetroMermaid Chicago 