Renting Halloween Costumes Like a Pro

Thinking about renting a Halloween costume? We talked to the experts.

This Halloween, you won't just dust off the same old devil horns. Or come October 30, you won't be scouring the aisles for a last-minute superhero outfit. Or this year, you're going to win a prize for going the full Lady Gaga. Whatever you've promised yourself for the upcoming holiday, planning ahead to rent a costume can reignite the fun of dressing up.

Renting from a year-round costume vendor throws open the door to a huge, inspiring wardrobe. Holidash spoke to several costume stores across the country, distilling their advice for a valuable rental rundown.

Timing is Everything
Mid-September is the sweet spot for costume rentals. The inventory will be at its richest, with the new arrivals freshly in stock. The shop's staff will have more time to spend with you and you'll have time to adjust your costume's fit, if necessary.

If you like to tie your costume into a pop culture event, such as this year's "Jersey Shore" craze or last year's Michael Jackson tributes, mid-September will still be timely. Autumn's political campaigns (read: gaffes) can also spark some funny costume ideas.

If there's another big costume-related event in your area besides Halloween, take that into account when scheduling your store visit. For instance, San Franciscans dive into dressing up for the late summer Burning Man festival. Costumes on Haight, a popular San Francisco shop, buzzes in the weeks before the gathering.

Finding the Right Shop
Not all wig-and-cloak vendors are alike. "There's a big difference between a Halloween store and a costume store," says Courtland Hickey, general manager of Chicago Costume. For the best selection and quality, look for a costume shop that's open year-round.

Chuck Nicklow, manager of Costumes on Haight, says his inventory is carefully edited. "We tend to shy away from packaged costumes like you might find at temporary chain stores, unless it is the only way to get a hot license," he says. "We have higher price points, but higher quality costumes. Lesser quality costumes simply don't hold up to repeated rentals."

Top-notch costume stores often work with theater, film, photography or advertising companies, making accurate period clothes or whipping up one-of-a-kind mascot outfits. Look for businesses that reach outside the party circuit; this is a good indication that they'll have a better costume range.

Such costume shops may also have professional theatrical makeup and be able to show you how to apply it. At Chicago Costume, for instance, makeup artists demonstrate their techniques on October weekends.

Another good rule of thumb is to spend a few minutes talking to the store's staff. Are they cheerful, attentive and creative? Jeanne Keenan, owner of The Costume Company in Boston, looks for good listeners. "One of our biggest assets is that we really pay attention to people," she told Holidash. "We want [customers] to explain where they're going, what they like to do, whether they want to be funny or romantic-looking."

Having the staff put you at ease is especially important if you're going to be coaxing a reluctant partygoer into a fancy outfit. "Sometimes the husbands are not as enthusiastic as the wives," confessed Keenan, "but we know how to really pull out the creativity and fun... and make them feel comfortable."

Rental Fees and Policies
Many costumes fall in the $50 to $100 price range, with the simplest outfits dipping down to about $30 and the more elaborate period costumes reaching $200 and up. You'll also have to put down a deposit in case of damage or loss.

While you won't save money by reserving early, you can sometimes get an extended rental period, with up to five days for a set fee (versus a per-day rate). Some shops will let you pick up the costume early, so you won't have to face the hordes on October 30.

Also, ask about group discounts. Some vendors give a discount if you're renting more than one outfit at a time.

The cost of standard cleaning is covered in the rental fee, so don't worry over a smear of makeup or chocolate. One key reminder: Don't try to clean or repair a costume yourself. This could make the problem worse and you'll wind up with an extra fee. Save the stain-remover experiments for another time.

Is It Worth It?
If you're looking for a showstopping costume, like a mascot or Marie Antoinette, a rental is clearly the way to go. But what if you dream of something simpler? Then you should do some comparison shopping between a rental and a purchase.

Tony Bianchi, owner of the New York Costumes, the flagship of the Halloween Adventure chain, cuts to the chase. "Don't pay to rent something you can buy in a bag," he advises. "It's got to be better than a package costume."

He believes that the quality of cash-and-carry costumes has improved over the last ten years. "That's the inside skinny when it comes to rentals: the manufacturing [of packaged costumes] has gotten much better," he reveals. If you're going to rent, make sure the costume is special in some way, even if the overall idea is straightforward.

When tallying up the cost, also consider all the accessories you'd need for your look and find out exactly what the rental covers. A wig may be included for an Elvis getup, for example, but not for a flapper. Makeup and anything that would go in your mouth, like a cigarette holder, isn't usually included.