Best Places To Get Costumes
Looking for a Halloween costume in Orange County? Local year-round costume shops, seasonal Halloween stores, thrift stores and major retailers offer options for kids, adults, themed parties, school projects, theater, cosplay and holiday events. This guide starts with the most useful Orange County costume shops, then covers seasonal, online, rental, thrift and DIY options.
Quick guide: For a year-round local costume store, start with Halloween Bootique in Costa Mesa. For costume sales and rentals, try Gasoline Alley Costumes in Orange. Spirit Halloween is useful for a large seasonal selection, while thrift stores and DIY supplies can be best for budget or last-minute costumes. Online retailers offer the broadest selection when you have time for shipping and exchanges.
OC Costume Shops | Seasonal Stores | Rentals | Online | DIY | Last-Minute
Orange County Costume Shops
For local shoppers, start with Orange County’s year-round specialty costume stores before the national and online options below.
Halloween Bootique
445 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa
Halloween Bootique is a year-round, 8,000-square-foot costume store with costumes and accessories for adults, children, families and pets.
Gasoline Alley Costumes
3804 E. Chapman Ave., Suite D, Orange
Gasoline Alley Costumes operates year-round and offers costumes and accessories for both sale and rental, including themed and specialty options.
Costume Rentals in Orange County
Gasoline Alley Costumes in Orange offers both sales and rentals. Contact the shop for current rental inventory, sizing, deposits and return requirements.
Online vs. In-Store Halloween Costumes
Online shopping offers the broadest selection and easy price comparison, while shopping in person lets you check fit, materials and accessories before buying. Shop online early enough to allow for shipping or exchanges; choose a local store when fit matters, you need a costume quickly or you want help assembling a look.
Fit is the biggest tradeoff online: costume sizing varies by brand, so compare your measurements with the retailer's size chart and leave time for an exchange. Shopping in person lets you inspect materials, check fit and match accessories before buying.
Places To Get Costumes Online
Online retailers are useful when you want the broadest range of themes, sizes and accessories. Compare delivery dates, sizing and return terms before ordering, especially during the final weeks before Halloween.
Amazon
Amazon carries a very large range of packaged costumes, accessories and costume pieces at many price points. Delivery dates, shipping costs, seller quality and return terms vary by item, so check the individual listing carefully before ordering, especially close to Halloween.
eBay
eBay is especially useful for used, vintage, discontinued and hard-to-find costumes and accessories. Prices, condition, shipping times and return policies vary by seller, so review each listing carefully before buying.
Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween carries costumes, accessories, makeup and decorations online, with seasonal stores offering many of the same categories. Availability, pickup options and promotions vary, so check current inventory and the store locator before shopping.
Party City
PartyCity.com again offers a substantial online Halloween assortment, including costumes for adults and kids, plus-size options, inflatable costumes and accessories. The newer Party City at Staples concept is better treated as a source for party supplies, balloons and some costume accessories rather than a replacement for the former full-size Party City costume stores.
Etsy
Etsy is useful for handmade, custom and vintage costume pieces as well as unusual accessories. Because production and shipping times are set by individual sellers, order custom items well before Halloween and review estimated delivery dates and return terms before purchasing.
Halloween Costumes
HalloweenCostumes.com carries costumes and accessories for adults and children across a broad range of themes. Check current shipping estimates, sizing information and return or final-sale terms before ordering, particularly as Halloween approaches.
Online shopping tip: Order early when possible. Popular themes and sizes can sell out, while custom items may require additional production time. Always check delivery dates and Halloween-specific return or final-sale policies before completing an order.
Shopping Safely for Costumes Online
Before ordering from an unfamiliar costume site or marketplace seller, check recent reviews, sizing details, delivery estimates, return policies and whether seasonal merchandise is final sale. Use a secure checkout and make sure the expected delivery date leaves enough time for an exchange if the costume does not fit.
Seasonal and In-Person Costume Stores
Seasonal stores and mass-market retailers are useful when you want to shop in person or need a costume quickly. Selection varies by location and usually changes throughout the Halloween season.
Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween is a major seasonal option for costumes, accessories, makeup and decorations. Store locations change from year to year, so use Spirit Halloween's current store locator before heading out rather than relying on an address from a prior season. Inventory and pickup availability also vary by location.
Target
Target is a practical seasonal, mass-market option for packaged costumes, kids' costumes, accessories and some pet costumes. Selection varies by store and typically becomes more limited as Halloween approaches. Walmart is another useful mass-market choice for last-minute costumes and accessories, while Costco may carry a smaller seasonal selection, particularly for children and families.
Worth the Drive: Los Angeles Costume Shops
For shoppers willing to travel outside Orange County, Halloween Town Costumes and Adele’s of Hollywood are Los Angeles-area options. Adele’s offers adult costume rentals, costumes for adults and children, accessories, mascot rentals and professional Santa suits. Check current hours and inventory before making the drive.
DIY Costume Ideas and Where to Get Supplies
DIY costumes can be a fun and cost-effective option for Halloween. In addition to being cost effective, it can also be a fun experience to DIY group costumes with your family and friends. Additionally, DIY costumes can be a great way to express your creativity and show off your personality. It can also be a great way to recycle and upcycle items you already own.
For DIY costumes, Michaels and Hobby Lobby can be useful for foam, paint, adhesives, felt, decorations and craft materials, while Dollar Tree can be a source for inexpensive accessories and basic supplies. Goodwill and other thrift stores are useful for clothing and pieces that can be altered or combined. JOANN closed its physical stores in 2025, so older costume guides that direct shoppers there for fabric are no longer current.
Alternatively, you can find items already pre-made and put them together to create a unique look. You can also find ideas and tutorials online to help you create the perfect costume.
Thrift Store Costumes: A Sustainable and Budget-Friendly Option
Thrift and consignment stores can provide inexpensive clothing, used costumes and accessories for DIY looks. They also make it easier to reuse existing clothing rather than buying an entirely new packaged costume. See our thrifting tips before you shop.
Thrift stores can stretch a costume budget and make it easier to build a one-of-a-kind outfit from existing clothing and accessories. Shop before October when possible; useful costume pieces and popular sizes become harder to find as Halloween approaches. See our Best Thrift Stores in Orange County guide for local options.
When to Shop for Halloween Costumes
Start earlier in the Halloween season when possible, especially if you need a popular character, an uncommon size, a coordinated group costume or an item that must be shipped. As October 31 approaches, local stores can still be useful for last-minute shopping, but selection may be narrower. Thrift and DIY shopping also benefits from an early start because the most useful clothing and accessories get picked over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy Halloween costumes in Orange County?
Year-round local options include Halloween Bootique in Costa Mesa and Gasoline Alley Costumes in Orange. Seasonal options include Spirit Halloween and costume departments at major retailers.
Are there year-round costume stores in Orange County?
Yes. Halloween Bootique and Gasoline Alley Costumes operate year-round, making them useful for Halloween as well as themed parties, theater, cosplay and other events.
Where can I rent a costume in Orange County?
Gasoline Alley Costumes in Orange offers costume rentals as well as sales. Contact the store for current rental inventory, sizing and policies.
Where can I find cheap Halloween costumes?
Thrift stores, discount stores and DIY costumes are useful budget options. See our Best Thrift Stores in Orange County guide for local ideas.
Orange County Costume Shop Comparison
| Store | City | Year-Round? | Buy/Rent | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halloween Bootique | Costa Mesa | Yes | Buy | Broad local selection |
| Gasoline Alley Costumes | Orange | Yes | Buy & Rent | Rentals and themed costumes |
| Spirit Halloween | Various | Seasonal | Buy | Large seasonal selection |
| Thrift Stores | Various | Yes | Buy | Budget and DIY costumes |
This comparison summarizes the local and seasonal options discussed above. Call or check current inventory before making a special trip, particularly close to Halloween.
Halloween Bootique
445 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa
Halloween Bootique is a year-round, 8,000-square-foot costume store with costumes and accessories for adults, children, families and pets. It is a strong local option when you want to shop in person and see a broad selection outside the short Halloween season.
Gasoline Alley Costumes
3804 E. Chapman Ave., Suite D, Orange
Gasoline Alley Costumes operates year-round and offers costumes and accessories for both sale and rental. It is particularly useful for themed costumes, rentals and shoppers looking beyond mass-market packaged costumes.
Costume Rentals in Orange County
Buying is not the only option. Costume rentals can make sense for elaborate themed outfits, one-time events, theater productions or higher-quality costumes you do not want to store. Gasoline Alley Costumes in Orange offers both sales and rentals; contact the shop for current rental inventory, sizing, deposits and return requirements.
Other and Last-Minute Costume Options
For last-minute shopping, focus on local costume stores, Spirit Halloween, Target, Walmart, thrift stores and DIY supplies where you can see what is actually in stock. Other retailers can be useful for specific needs: Hot Topic and Spencer’s for licensed pop-culture apparel and accessories; Oriental Trading for online group costumes, accessories and DIY supplies; Kohl’s for seasonal family merchandise; and Costco or Sam’s Club when seasonal costumes are stocked. Disney Store is primarily an online option rather than a traditional Orange County costume-store recommendation. Inventory at mass-market retailers varies by season and location.
