Some Halloween costumes are so elaborate that they require people to purchase online or have an outfit custom-made.
See this custom Marie Antoinette ensemble, for example.
For those of us on a budget, I tend to improvise with what I have in my closet and scan local shops for accessories. With the spooky season around the corner, I browsed through a few local stores for men and women's costume ideas. Here's what I found:
570 E Benson Blvd., Anchorage AK 99503
(907) 278-5665
When searching for a costume at The Look, you can expect outfits with baring midriffs and revealing cleavage.
Kadie Sorensen, sales associate at The Look, said the store's biggest sellers include pirate garb, fairy-tale princess dresses and Alice in Wonderland ensembles. The Look sells a few costumes for men, but the store mainly caters to women.
One of my favorite outfits is a golden yellow Storybook Beauty dress ($42.00) with a ribbon corset and ruched skirt.
Pleather cop outfits, barely-there sailor skirts, and nurse uniforms adorn the walls and racks at The Look. For footwear, the store also carries an impressive shoe collection, from black and white saddle shoes to four-inch lucite heels.
5437 E Northern Light Blvd., Anchorage AK 99508
(907) 337-2184
or
501 E Dimond Blvd., Anchorage, AK 99515
(907) 522-9090
Value Village has a large selection of packaged costumes, but most are standard outfits for witches, pirates and ghouls. With two locations in Anchorage, Value Village offers inexpensive accessories to spice up a costume, whether you need a '50s pinup wig ($9.99) or a pair of butterfly wings ($4.99).
In addition to these false eyelashes ($2.99), Value Village carries body glitter and costume makeup ($2.99) that won't require you to spend a fortune.
The Second Chance
3106 Spenard Rd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 277-2748
Located in the heart of Spenard, The Second Chance thrift shop sells children's Halloween outfits for a cheap deal.
Many of the infant costumes, including the duck costume below, cost $1.
Maria Avellaneda, volunteer at The Second Chance, said in addition to children's costumes, the store sells hats and wigs for adults.
From suit jackets to flannel shirts, thrift stores offer a variety of clothing for men to customize their costumes rather than purchase pre-packaged outfits.
This medieval-inspired vest costs $1 and can easily be paired with a pair of black pants and a plastic sword.
Have you already purchased your costume? Leave a comment below and tell us what outfit you're rocking this All Hallow's Eve.
Kelly McLain can be reached at kelly(at)alaskadispatch.com.