Whether you've just received a last minute party invitation or you're simply a last minute shopper, it's never too late to find the perfect Halloween costume. From traditional costume retailers to vintage boutiques to sex shops (yes, even sex shops), your ultimate scary disguise is only as far as a few T stops away.
If you're suffering from a creative drought or just want to make this costume hunt as easy as possible, a costume retailer is your best bet. Stores like Boston Costume and Dorothy's Boutique offer everything from costume rentals to those minute accessories that separate the ordinary from the extraordinary at any Halloween affair. Located at 69 Kneeland St. (take the Red Line to South Station), Boston Costume offers an array of rentals. Their selection guarantees that you'll be able to dress up as anything you want_ their collection includes an Aztec warrior, a brontosaurus, a penguin, Abe Lincoln, Madame Butterfly, a purple people eater and an Oreo cookie. Visit nearby Broadway Costume, Inc. at 348 Congress St. for period-specific costumes, as well as a wide selection of theatrical makeup.
Located off the Green Line at either the Hynes Convention Center or Symphony T stops, Dorothy's Boutique offers costume hunters a little more freedom of expression. This store offers shoppers more accessories _ rather than selecting an all-inclusive costume package, you'll be able to pick and choose from those items that best capture your Halloween spirit. Choose from a wide selection of wigs, platform boots and fake eyelashes. If you are looking for that unique accessory, chances are you'll find it in here.
Take the Red Line to Kendall Square if you're looking to make your party entrance in something unique and guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind. Located at 200 Broadway, the Garment District is the premiere Bostonian shopping Mecca if you're in the market for cheap vintage goods. If you have a penchant for eras past, the Garment District can satisfy your appetite for everything from flapper dresses to black pants to polyester disco attire at prices that rarely venture above the $30 mark. Now in its 14th year of operation, the store offers its shoppers over 40,000 pieces of vintage clothing. With extended hours of operation through the holiday, you'll have plenty of time to rummage through the store's constantly-changing merchandise to create your perfect Halloween ensemble.
Closet Upstairs, located at 233 Newbury St. off the Copley T stop, is also an ideal spot for those in search in vintage wares. This boutique features apparel from the 1920s through the 1980s. You can dress up as everything from a 1950s housewife to Cyndi Lauper or Madonna. The typical retro inventory is spiced up with everything from wigs to feather boas.
Often overlooked as sources for costumes are the area's sex shops. Located a block from the Central Square T stop at 534 Massachusetts Ave., Hubba Hubba offers everything to meet your leather, latex and PVC needs. In addition to selling a wide variety of clothing, this shop also offers the ideal accessories to complement your dominatrix costume _ you'll find everything from whips to chains to handcuffs beyond its doorstep. While prices are a little steep by college student standards, keep in mind that you never know what other kind of purposes your costume accessory from this store might serve (it all depends on what you're into). Eros Boutique, at 581A Tremont St., offers attire and accessories along the same vein. This store features a full line of rubber and vinyl outfits for men and women, as well as the requisite extras.
A tad on the tamer side is Sweet 'n' Nasty, located at 90 Massachusetts Ave., off the Green Line's Hynes Convention Center stop. Unlike the hardcore Hubba Hubba, it is more of a novelty boutique than a true sex shop. You'll find plenty of gag accessories here to bring a touch of humor to your Halloween getup.
So whether you're looking to go traditional or break all the rules, Boston is home to every store imaginable to meet your costuming needs. It may be Halloween already, but you still have oodles of time to piece together that perfect outfit for everything from partying to trick-or-treating. Happy hunting!
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