Thrift or treat: Finding Halloween costumes cheap
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Levittown -
Halloween is right around the corner and you still don't have a costume?
When time is tight and cash is even tighter, two words can solve all your problems.
Thrift shop.
Yes, your friendly neighborhood thrift shop, Goodwill outlet or Salvation Army center is chock full of cheap duds and accessories needed to create a last-minute getup.
The Goodwill store and donation center on Street Road in Bensalem not only offers ready-made, packaged costumes, but it has shipped in a supply of funky, vintage-style clothing to cater specifically to those in dire need of disguise.
"In past Halloween seasons we noticed a lot of people buying these clothes," said manager Debbie Smith. "We get in all the out-of-style stuff like the '80s-type jackets with the shoulder pads and overalls that always work for scarecrow or farmer costumes."
According to Smith, customers can walk in with $10 to $15 and walk out with an entire outfit, including props and wigs.
Smith even provides suggestions that she pins onto certain items.
"We have a nice vintage robe here and the first thing I thought was (Playboy Magazine founder) Hugh Hefner, so I wrote that on the tag," she said. "There is a pair of classic women's pajamas, so I suggested using them to portray the character Sandy from 'Grease' in the pajama party scene."
Smith's store - as well as several other area Goodwill outlets - is promoting its goods as part of their "Halloween Bootique."
Phil Koch, manager of the Goodwill store on South West End Boulevard in Quakertown, said Halloween season is the shop's second busiest time of the year after Christmas.
"I've seen both children and adults loading up carts with costumes," he said. "There is such a variety of merchandise at these kinds of stores; it makes it easy for people to create whatever is in their mind."
But it's not just kids and adults coming away with the perfect costume, Koch said.
"The one thing that always gets me is the dog costumes," he said with a laugh. "We've got special getups for dogs. There's a lobster one and even one that looks like a hot dog, complete with mustard."
Rob Hardy, who manages the Goodwill location on Street Road in Warminster, said his customers will find medical scrubs that could complete a doctor or mad scientist costume, vintage prom dresses to help emulate the classic Steven King character Carrie, as well as many pre-made costumes.
"We also have a Michael Jackson costume we've put together including the white glove," he added.
Thrift store operators agree that it has already been a busy season and they expect another rush as Saturday gets closer. The struggling economy, Koch said, has actually brought more business his way, as people are hesitant to pay big bucks for a costume that only gets one night of use.
"The economy has pushed a lot more people to us," he said. "At a thrift store, you can be so much more creative for so much less."
Christian Menno can be reached at 215-269-5081 or cmenno@phillyBurbs.com.
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