BY CAROLE ROSNER
If this is the year that you really want to “wow” everyone with an awesome Halloween costume, check out the selections at Western Costume Company in North Hollywood. These high end, professionally made costumes are usually not available to the public at such reasonable prices, but Halloween is a special time at Western Costume Company. Prices range from $45 to $325 and this month, you can rent a costume now and keep it through the end of October for the same price.
Get your Yabba Dabba Doo on and be a Flintstone! Photos by Carole Rosner
The large selection of costumes is stored in the “Halloween Warehouse” behind the main building on Vanowen. Costumes are rented for the entire month of October so the sooner you go, the better the selection. The rental fee includes the cleaning and any fixes needed to the costume.
These are not your run-of-the-mill costumes sold at party stores around town either. Here you can rent a scary Frankenstein costume ($150) that includes jacket, pants, shirt padding and monster boots, a mysterious Sherlock Holmes costume ($175) that includes an Inverness style cape (with no arm holes), pants, vest, shirt, tie and hat or a gothic Vampire costume ($145) that comes with a tail coat, pants, vest and ascot.
Honor John Lennon's 70th Birthday and be a member of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
If you want to feel like a rock star for the night, Western Costume has many options including Sgt.Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band jackets in bright pink, blue, green and orange or costumes for all the members of the band, KISS ($125). Just think, you can dress up like Paul Stanley (the guitarist) by wearing a black spandex, star studded leotard, star gloves, belt, chocker and boot covers.
There are plenty of women’s costumes to choose from too. How about a dress in the style of the French Court ($165) that includes a one or two piece dress, hip pads and chocker? There’s also a Deluxe Flapper Costume ($175) complete with head band, beaded dress, slip, pearls and gloves, and a Saloon Girl outfit ($110) made up of a short, ruffled one or two piece dress and choker. Western Costume Company also carries a large selection of “sexy” costumes like a nurse, bride and Queen of Hearts.
Channel the 20s and be a Flapper!
Furry animal costumes are always fun and there is a big selection here–Penguin, Honey Bear, Big Bad Wolf, Frog, Moose and Dragon to name a few. All come with a deluxe “head” and fur body. These are called “walk abouts” in the costume industry since you can actually move in them. Prices range from $95-$175 depending on the detail of the costume.
Get sassy and go for the Wild, Wild West.
If you just need a few accessories, the front of the warehouse has items like wigs, eyelashes, makeup and hats.
Christina Munoz, Manager of “Halloween” at Western Costume Company, expects the Pirates and Ring Masters to be as popular this year as they were last year. She also said new this year is a Samurai costume complete with body armour.
Western Costume Company Halloween Store 11041 Vanowen St.North Hollywood, CA 91605,Phone 818.508-2147 www.westerncostume.com/halloween. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm until Oct. 18 After Oct. 18, open until 7pm Closed Sundays.Free parking in lot
Carole Rosner is a native Valley Girl who took the school bus with Michael and Janet Jackson and worked at the Sherman Oaks Galleria in its heyday. She likes to spend her free time finding bargains at Crossroads Trading Company, eating Chinese chicken salad at Stanley’s and admiring the view from Fryman Canyon. Check out her new blog: www.anythinggoodlately.blogspot.com – reading, watching and eating.
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