Halloween is Friday, but there’s still time to get into a spooky spirit and dress up. Richmondside scouted out four different costume retailers to help you find that perfect 11th-hour outfit.
Whether you want to become Glinda or Elphaba this year, or you’re happy to be a humble bottle of ketchup or mustard, here’s a roundup of where to find a Halloween costume.
Spirit Halloween: A spot to honor the leading ladies of ‘Wicked’ fame
There are two Spirit Halloween stores in or near Richmond: Hilltop Plaza, 3500 Klose Way, and in El Cerrito, 300 El Cerrito Plaza.
At Spirit some of the most commonly seen costumes were those of Glinda and Elphaba, the leading characters from the movie “Wicked.” Costumes for both characters are apparently so in demand that a “Deluxe” Adult Glinda outfit, (complete with a long-flowing sequined pink gown, starry wand and silver crown) cost an eye-watering $109.99 (though a cheaper one was available at roughly half that).
Spirit children’s costumes cost anywhere from $29.99 to $49.98. Aside from the “Wicked” themed outfits, adult costumes cost from $39.99 to $54.99. If you’re a woman looking for a generic flapper dress or Greek goddess outfit, it will cost on the lower end. But if you want to become a “Glass Slipper Princess’ or “Cotton Candy Clown,” you should expect to pay closer to $50.
Savers: Create your own look for about $10
The Savers thrift store, 2415 San Pablo Dam Road, has a rack devoted entirely to Halloween costumes at bargain prices (most are priced at less than $10), but it’s more of a create-your-own look vibe. Shoppers can mix and match what they find, which could be anything from a fancy sequined dress to a full-on superhero Incredibles bodysuit. If you go, it helps to have an idea in mind or you could just let yourself be inspired by what you find.
Target: A good source of classic children’s costumes
If you’re looking for children’s costumes, Target, 4500 Macdonald Ave., might be a good place to check. While the selection of adult costumes was sparse on the day we visited (consisting mostly of condiment and food-related costumes), there were plenty of kids’ options, from Disney princesses to Ghostbusters and Ninja Turtles. Prices there are generally within the $25 to $55 range. A note for next year: Target has more adult costume choices online.
Walmart: A good place to find costume accessories
Walmart, 1400 Hilltop Mall Road, also stocks children’s Halloween costumes priced from $20 to $30 (though once again, pickings for adult costumes were sparse). That being said, while they’re selling fast, there were still a number of accessories available for adults — mostly cat ears or devil-horned headbands. There were even diamond swords often seen in the Minecraft game.
