Local costume shops offer solutions
For all the party-goers or trick-or-treaters who still need a costume, don’t despair, costume shop owners in the valley say they have what you are looking for.
“This has been a very odd year,” Shelly Gallup, owner of Fantasyland Costumes, said. “There hasn’t been a movie that has dictated the popular costumes for the year.”
“Girls make a beeline for the medieval dresses,” she said.
“And guys like the Pimp Daddy costumes and gangster [costumes],” Gallup said, as she showed a suit made of zebra fur, accented with gold chains and a deep red shirt with matching shoes.
Alan Elder, owner of Northwood Costume Rentals, said, “The Immortal Prince costume and Dracula have been popular with the guys. And our Burning Desire costume, a she-devil costume, has gone fast with the girls.”
Gallup said students have also rented many costumes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Although flappers were not rented as much as in the past, she said maid costumes are prevalent this year.
Both costume shops have many or all of their costumes for under $50 a night.
You don’t really save money making your own costumes,” Arlene Roberts, former period costume seamstress, said. “People make them because they enjoy it or because they want the quality because they’ll be handing them down to other family members.”
“The majority of the costumes in the shop I have made,” Gallup said. “My costumes are all unique with the exception of my maids, jailbirds and Musketeers … you will not go to a party and see the same costume.
“Some [of the costumes] have lasted 14 years. We replace trim and a few things and they look brand new. That’s the quality I want in my costumes,” she said.
To make a mediaeval dress, Gallup said the price runs $500. Back east, dresses are selling at $1,500.
Both shops also run a variety of makeup and accessories that can be used for events from theater to Aggie football games.
Witch’s noses, bruises and severed fingers to come out of your head are among the more popular items, Elder said.
Gallup said her shop features Magic Blood Powder. In advance, an individual rubs the powder on his or her arm or other body part. When the powder comes into contact with something wet, such as a wet knife or a sponge, the powder turns into “blood.”
“It’s the coolest stuff you have ever seen,” Gallup said.
Gallup said they offer makeup seminars around the valley.
Both costume shops Copy Ed 10/30/01 Both costume shops can’t emphasize anything, only a person can, use an attribute here, change this sentence. emphasized that it is not too late to get a costume for Halloween and they still have a selection.
The poor college student with no cash to rent a costume and a need for inspiration can visit www.family.go.com offered by Disney. Under ‘Smart Solutions,’ it offers a costume finder, recipes for Creepy Cuisine and crafts to get the house into the Halloween spirit. There are nearly 100 costumes listed. A visitor to the site can click on the desired costume and up will pop a photo, a list of needed materials and step-by-step directions that are sure to make a “boo-tiful” costume.