Have you ever been in total awe of a costume at events like the Renaissance Faire and ComicCon? Have you ever wondered where they find the epic pieces that seem to transform them into a completely different person? I’ve got you covered! Read on to discover all my favorite resources for finding fantastic costumes!
Amazon
The Ultimate Resource for Fantastic Costume Pieces
You probably already know the most obvious answer: Amazon.
Amazon is a great resource for costume pieces on any budget. They have everything from swords and crowns to flapper dresses and masquerade masks.
It’s also, in general, a very safe way to purchase things. That being said, I would suggest looking under the Buy Now button before making your purchase to see if the item ships from Amazon. If it’s not shipping from Amazon, I would highly recommend clicking the Sold By link to make sure the seller has good reviews and they honor their return policy. Amazon does a pretty good job of weeding out the scammers but they’re definitely out there. I’ll list a couple of my favorite sellers below!
SweetV Crowns & Jewelry – These are, hands down, the best crowns on the internet. They’re affordable, durable and absolutely stunning. I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than $30 for a crown, I’ve never had one break or get damaged (I am less than gentle with them sometimes) and I’ve never not gasped in happiness when unboxing a crown.
Netgo Wigs – If you’re looking for a good wig and you don’t want to drop a ton of money, these are great. They come in a ton of colors, they look nice on camera and they won’t break the bank. I’ve never done much more than trim the bangs and braid parts of them but they’re also very easy to work with.
Kiss Lashes & Nails – This brand is sold in stores, too but I find the inventory on Amazon is more consistent and I can’t live without their lash glue. I use it to attach things like jewels and goldleaf to skin. It does also work great for false eyelashes. Their press on manicures are fantastic if you’re in a pinch or on a budget. They’re easy to apply and come in a good variety of shapes, lengths and designs.
Shop Local, Shop Small
My Favorite Costume Shops in Denver & Boulder
If you’re like me and you don’t want to give all your monies to evil corporations, check out small local costume shops.
I have an incredible green cloak that came from Crimson Rose Masquerade in Denver. If I had a bottomless budget for costume pieces, I would be Crimson Rose’s best customer. They have so many gorgeous vintage style pieces!
I also love Wizard’s Chest in Denver. It is such a cool store with wigs, wands, corsets, fake weapons and a million other costume pieces. They also have toys, games and novelty items.
If you’re looking for something a little flashier and funkier, check out The Ritz Costumes in Boulder. It’s the place to go if you want sparkles, big hats and even theatrical style character costumes!
Etsy
If you don’t like shopping in person (the pressure is real, I get it) but you still want to support small businesses, you can’t go wrong with Etsy. Again, though, make sure you check the seller rating. Etsy does about as well as Amazon.
Small business support tip: I like to see if Etsy sellers that I trust have their own website. That way I can buy directly from them and avoid Etsy taking a chunk of their profits.
Thrift & Second Hand Stores
Thrift stores are another great resource for costume pieces. Especially for jewelry. Places like Goodwill always have tons of costume jewelry and most of it is under $5. Arc and Goodwill are probably the most well-known but look and see if there’s a locally owned place near you. The roller-skating rink I went to as a kid was converted into The Front Range Mercantile several years ago. They have so many cool, random, interesting things and it’s absolutely one of my favorite places to wander around.
Are you interested in working with me to create your own character? Contact me here!
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