Although Halloween is quite near, it doesn’t necessarily mean University students have their ghoulish garb set to go. Between midterms, jobs and maintaining day-to-day lives, many have put buying costumes on the back burner. Take a look in any retail store the evening of Oct. 31, and these students may be scouring the racks in search of the perfect, or at least the remaining, costumes.
“I’ve got this to deal with first,” said sophomore Alexandra Anderson, gesturing to a 100-plus page course packet.
Although Anderson is planning to join friends for a costume-theme party, none of her plans are concrete, because right now she said there’s just no extra time.
In the past she’s been a dead prom queen, a devil and a fairy. She said she usually shops at stores like Value Village, where she can also often scoop up jewelry, make-up and hair accessories to give her getup a personal flair. This year, her costume will be whatever she can find quickly, and at a reasonable price.
Exercise and movement science major Josh
Walterscheid agreed.
He said most of his friends head straight for the second-hand stores, as time provides. So far, he hasn’t taken a first glance. But he’s not too worried.
“I’ve been able to scrounge together costumes a week before,” he said.
Anderson said the only people she knows who seem all ready for Halloween are young children, set to hit the streets for a night of trick-or-treating. She said she’s been hearing about soon-to-be witches and Power Rangers for weeks now from children she knows.
Kathy Freedman, theatrical buyer for Backstage Dancewear, said her store is prepared for the flood of shoppers right up until the big day. The shop has been stocked with everything from skull caps to vintage hosiery and beyond.
“We’ve got military insignia from God knows where,” Freedman said.
Although Halloween business has been slow so far, she said in the past few years more and more customers came through looking for 1960s, ’70s and ’80s fashions. Keeping in tune with that theme, she said Backstage Dancewear is prepared, with elephant bellbottoms, ruffled retro tuxedos and “junk for joy” (used) clothes rounding out the other costume selections for all shapes, styles and sizes. For those brave enough, she said, they’ve even got bodysuits.
“They’re made out of the most unbelievable polyester,” she said.
Freedman said costumes can range in price, but a decent outfit can run about $30 to $40. Her best tip in finding the right costume is for people to be a little adventurous.
“Use their imaginations,” she said. “If they can come in a little early, they can do just about anything,” she said.
But for those in the same boat as Anderson and Walterscheid, there is still hope.
“For the people with $5 on Halloween night,” she said, “we can help them too.”