Homemade Halloween costumes sewing up popularity in Edmond

BY JOHN A. WILLIAMS Comments 4
Published: October 28, 2009

Helen Smith, manager of HOPEfully Yours resale shop, looks over clothing that can be used for costumes. More people are buying clothing from thrift shops to make Halloween costumes, she says. PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

EDMOND — Halloween is just days away and a new trend seems to be emerging when it comes to selecting a costume.

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Edmond thrift stores are seeing an increase in people buying clothing to make costumes.

Louellen Schlegel, with EARC Thrift Shop, 92 E 15th St., said the store has sold quite a few Halloween masks, but customers prefer buying separate clothing items.

"They’re putting together their own outfits, and then buying makeup to do their faces,” she said.

Schlegel said several customers are going for a 1970s-retro look, while parents are buying clothing to make Hannah Montana or Disney costumes for their children.

"Some are buying odds and ends to make monsters and mummies,” she said. "The most popular trend for adults seems to be witches and vampires,” she said. "They’re buying capes and things.”

At HOPEfully Yours, 908 N Broadway, customers can find donated items already put together to make a costume. The store is run by the HOPE Center of Edmond, a nonprofit that helps the needy.

Store manager Helen Smith said a full rack of costumes is almost empty.

"The black dress with the witches’ hat has been pretty hot,” she said.

Other items such as leather pants and jackets, men’s vests and golfing attire are popular.

"They love the wigs, also. We had one little boy who wanted to be a monster so we put a costume together for him,” Smith said.

HOPE Center of Edmond director Chris Sperry said, "It’s interesting some of the things they are putting together. It makes you say, ‘Wow, that’s really good. I wouldn’t have thought of that.’”

However, some Edmond customers are still shopping at costume and party shops to help them create that perfect character.

Michelle Waldman, a supervisor at Party Galaxy, 1159 E Second St., said one of the top-selling costumes for men is a "Reno 911” police uniform, while women are buying super hero costumes.

Another big seller in Edmond is President Barack Obama masks.

"I don’t think we have any more left,” Waldman said. "It’s been a very busy season.”