Mike Brooks
Audio By Carbonatix
The number one factor for a successful Halloween is your costume. If strangers aren’t pulling you aside in awe as you walk into a room, what’s the point of even dressing up? And, with the closure of chains like Party City, and stores like Spirit leaning hard into corporatization (do you REALLY want to be a bag of Cheetos?), the best bet for a spooktacular look is to take the DIY approach.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a series of shops offering everything you’ll need to win any costume contest. Of course, you can always get creative by searching through Dallas’ best vintage shops, but there are also specialized costume shops to cater to the full range your imagination.
Best places in Dallas to find a Halloween costume:
Big T Plaza
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4515 Village Fair Drive Do you see the costume possibilities? Big T does. If you can’t find a Halloween look in this glitzy selection, we can’t help you. Kendall Morgan
If you’re hoping to dress like Billie Eilish or Megan Thee Stallion (or any other pop princess, for that matter) this year, Big T has got you. This sprawling, unpretentious complex of shops-within-a-shop offers everything from knock-off Gucci to genuine gold chains and door-knocker earrings. The array of tight-and-sexy clubwear for her and embroidered bombers and sneakers for him will inspire a myriad of pop culture costume ideas.
Buffalo Exchange
3424 Greenville Ave.
Buffalo Exchange is one of those places where the odds are good, and the goods are odd. One of the first stops to support the annual closet cleanout, Buffalo buys, sells and trades new and recycled clothing, so there’s always a hidden treasure or two in the mix. If your costume choice is a real person or a fictional character, this is a good spot to find all the raw ingredients to bring it all home for the 31st. Just put aside a couple of hours to get into the dig.
From left: Leah Lane of Rosegarden Funeral Party, Flower Child, Kierra Gray and Poppy Xander as the Beatles. Want to dress like Sgt. Pepper? Dallas Vintage Shop and Costumes.
Exploredinary
Dallas Vintage Shop and Costumes Unlimited
1855 N. Central Expressway, Plano
When a store’s tagline is, “Who do you want to be today?” rest assured they probably have the costume you’re looking for. As a bonus, Dallas Vintage will buy any purchased costume back for 25% off what you originally paid (less tax). Prices start at around $47.50 for a flapper dress up to $700 for up-to-the-minute pop culture figures (their deluxe Batman and Deadpool are both the most popular and the most expensive). Accessories, hats and shoes are available for an extra fee. Dallas Vintage also offers makeup from stage and screen suppliers Mehron and Ben Nye for one-stop costuming.
Dolly Python
1916 N. Haskell Ave. Even Lana Del Rey and Don Draper himself (Jon Hamm) can’t stay away from Dolly Python. The shop also curates looks by theme, in case you’re looking to dress like a Stranger Things character. Caroline Pritchard
You never know what you’ll unearth in the well-stuffed racks of Dolly Python (which we named this month, the “Best Place to Spot a Celebrity“). Saucer-sized tooled belt buckles, a handmade hobo costume and Renaissance-ready velvet dresses are just a few items we found recently at Dallas’ most eclectic vintage store. In fact, if you’re one of those last-minute shoppers, this place is the holy grail of potential costumes. Just bring your imagination along for the ride. (We also recommend Dolly on Bishop, 315 N. Bishop Ave.)
Electrique Boutique
2152 W. Northwest Highway
In the time-honored annals of sexy-ween, let’s honor the ongoing contribution of Electrique Boutique. Our current heat wave means you can safely go as bare as you dare this year, and this lingerie shop is ready able, and willing to supply the “sexy” version of any character. Hot Ronald McDonald? They’ve got it. Studly Super Mario? Got that, too. You’ll also find all the time-honored sexy maids, sexy schoolgirls and sexy cheerleaders. They may not offer sultry Moo Deng just yet, but if there’s anywhere to find the pieces to pull it off, it’ll be Electrique.
Lemmon Beauty & Wigs
4317 Lemmon Ave.
The right wig can make or break an outfit, so don’t cheap out where it counts the most. Lemmon Beauty & Wigs can fit you with a realistic head of hair – plus lashes, makeup, wigs and hair extensions. The helpful staff is on hand to help make your costume dreams come true. Spirit’s polyester wigs in a bag could never!
Norcostco Costume
1231 Wycliff Ave.
A supplier for theaters and schools since the 1990s, Norcostco offers what they call “historical to occupational” costumes. With racks and racks to choose from, this rental house can outfit everything from troglodytes to ’70s swingers, but you won’t find licensed characters like Marvel superheroes in the mix. There is, however, an extensive makeup area with lots of fake gashes and scars, plus a veritable rainbow of Ben Nye products.
If you want to be a sleazy ‘70s swinger (or his put-upon date), Norcostco has got you.
Kendall Morgan
Genesis Benefit Thrift Store
3419 Knight St.
There’s a reason this Oak Lawn gem landed on our 2025 Best of Dallas List for the Best Thrift Store for a Last-Minute Costume — Genesis Benefit Thrift has it all. As we wrote earlier this year, this fiscally-minded shop boasts “racks on racks of quality pieces at budget-friendly prices: fur coats that would make Cruella de Vil envious (though not made of puppy fur, that we know of), or animal print micro-shorts if you’re the ‘I’m a leopard, duh’ type.” Perfect for the costume procrastinators, and yes, we’re speaking from personal experience.
Shu Deal
5812 LBJ Freeway
Thigh-high patent platforms, rhinestone-strewn cowboy boots and candy-colored hooker heels – Shu Deal has got ’em all at prices starting at $9.97. And, because their range goes up to women’s size 11, even large-footed shoppers can find stylish kicks for Devil’s Night that won’t break the bank.
