Seven Great Places to Buy or Rent Halloween Costumes in LA

OK, you've found the perfect pumpkin - now what to wear? Most costume shoppers can sniff out the nearest Walgreens, Aahs, or even seasonal pop-up Halloween store without guidance. A mask and cape from one of these might well serve the needs of your household's trick-or-treaters, but if something a little extra special is required – or if you're just wanting to be inspired – try one of these year-round, long-time costume specialists.

Hollywood Toys & Costume
A question that starts with “Do you know where to find…” doesn’t even need to arrive at the last noun before the answer is Hollywood Toys & Costume. When one’s costume needs some random prop, wig, or prosthetic elf ear, the search generally starts and ends here. Costume options include a large range of TV and movie characters, and many are available in both high quality and discount versions.

6600 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323.464.4444
Daily 10:00am-7:00pm

Ursula’s Costumes
There is little doubt that Ursula’s has what you need in costumes; there is also little doubt that if you leave it until the last day you’ll spend time in a line that wraps around the block. Between the large retail selection and the large rental selection, there is plenty of reason for the line; Ursula’s many years of experience supplying film productions attest that any costume need can be accommodated.

2516 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310.582.8230
Mon-Fri 9:30am-7:00pm; Sat 9:30am-6:00pm; Sun 11:00am-6:00pm

Make Believe
This unassuming looking little place has seen more than 30 Halloweens come and go. Make Believe stays busy in the off season bringing together its costumes, costumiers, and customers by dressing plenty of local theater productions. Short version: Make Believe can rent you or sell you, make you or hand you whatever costume you’re dreaming of.

3240 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310.396.6785
Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm; Sun 11:00am-5:00pm

StarMakers Costumes
The word everyone seems to use when they talk about Pasadena’s StarMakers is service. While an appointment is not necessary, it does result in a variety of items being pre-selected for you to try on when you arrive. And yes, procrastinators are accommodated on Halloween day, with costumes of every type and epoch, to rent or buy.

1380 N Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91104
626.797.6384
Mon-Sat 11:00am-6:00pm; Sun 12:00pm-5:00pm

Adele's Costumes
Adele's carries costumes and accessories for all occasions, in all sizes, for sale or for rent. This is the place to find plastic masks of recent US presidents, capes in all colors, noses, wigs, facial hair, Santa Claus suits, clown suits, and Superman suits.  The store is located in a cramped few rooms upstairs from a lighting store in the heart of the Little Armenia section of Hollywood, with boxes of costumes stacked floor to ceiling. The friendly staff knows what's in all of them, though!

5034 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90027
323.663.2231
Tue-Sat (& Sun in October) 10am-5pm

Shelley’s Dancewear
Here’s where we head slightly off the beaten path. The costume shops listed above may have been on your radar already, along with any number of chain store options, but a dance supply store? Really? Well, we’re here to tell you that Shelley’s has a whole lot more to offer the Westside than tutus. Brace yourself, because this place is densely packed, but if a packaged costume is what you’re hankering after, point your car and your kid toward Westwood Boulevard.

2089 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310.475.1400
Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm; Sun 11:00am-4:00pm

It’s a Wrap (2 locations)
Beaten paths being left in the dust, we now share the best kept Halloween secret in town (well, until now). Just because we live in the shadows of the mighty motion picture industry is no reason why we should be relegated to picking over its scraps. Or, on second thought, that actually sounds like a great idea! Studio resale shop It’s a Wrap can suit you up in a Halloween costume previously featured on your favorite TV show, maybe even modeled by your favorite celeb. These worn-once-for-millions-of-viewers-then-cast-off gems are often a great deal, always a great conversation piece, and in never-ending supply. It’s a Wrap opens the door when opportunity knocks, offering Halloween areas (and sales) at both of its locations:

3315 W. Magnolia Blvd. 
Burbank, CA 91505
818.567.7366

1164 S. Robertson Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA 90035
310.246.9727
Mon-Fri 10:00am-8:00pm; Sat-Sun 11:00am-6:00p

Originally published October 5, 2011