The best costume shops in Austin

You can think of Lucy in Disguise as the pièce de résistance in the Austin costume scene. It’s a vibrant, 8,000-square-foot emporium packed wall to wall and floor to ceiling with everything your Halloween heart could desire. We’re talking costumes for all ages, masks, wigs, props, accessories—the whole shebang. Just try not to get lost while walking through the store’s multiple rows of outfits. They both sell and rent attire, and you’ll be able to find some show-stopping garb in their collection, no matter what look you’re going for.

In 1966 The Bazaar operated as an alteration business close to The University of Texas campus. Since then, it’s moved locations and expanded its offerings with a few major milestones under its belt, like having a young Farrah Fawcett as a customer and providing Tim Curry a corset for a Rocky Horror Picture Show celebration at the Paramount Theater in 1978. A family-owned enterprise, The Bazaar has two buildings next door to each other—the boutique, which houses women’s fashion; and the backstage, where you’ll be able to find costumes. You can piece together your guise from their quality selection of wigs, sexy lingerie, theatrical makeup and more.

Blue Velvet, located right next to Epoch Coffee on North Loop, has the vintage clothing game on lock. They’ve been providing funky finds to the Austin community for over 20 years; when you visit, you’ll come across a wide selection of clothing, mostly from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. The wares skew towards women’s attire but there are clothes for men as well, plus plenty of accessories. Everything is organized by decade and by style, making it easy for costume shoppers who have a specific look in mind.

To really take your Halloween costume to the next level, invest in some quality accessories by paying a visit to Coco Coquette, which specializes in glamorous, transformative touches. This store in East Austin is known for its collection of ready-to-wear wigs in almost every cut and style you can imagine, but they also have plenty of other fun adornments. Check out the jewelry, crowns, headdresses, masks, gloves, cosmetics and more to add those final touches to your ensemble. They even offer makeup services, including a Fantasy option for those wanting a theatrical get-up.

While not technically a costume shop, Secret Oktober isn’t like any other clothing store you might come across in Austin. At this locally-owned joint, they sell alternative attire of the goth, punk, industrial and darkwave variety. Here you’ll find clothes for both men and women (including corsets and weathered music tees) along with plenty of additional accessories like thigh-high stockings, gauntlets, studs and spikes. For those whose Halloween outfit happens to be on the edgy side, this store is worth a visit.

If your budget is a little tighter this year, check out Treasure City Thrift, which is self-proclaimed as the cheapest thrift store in Austin. Not only do they work hard to be affordable for everyone, but they also aim to be a zero-waste operation and they’re completely supported by donations. To top it all off, Treasure City Thrift pays it forward by providing financial and material support to local organizations. While sifting through the racks, you just might come across the perfect piece you’ve been looking for to complete your outfit.

Spirit Halloween is like a pop-up shop for all your Halloween needs. This national chain sells their costumes online throughout the year and then sets up stores around the city during the Halloween season so you can check out the goods in person. This year they have a few outposts across Austin; you can visit them at The Triangle, on Slaughter Lane, in Tech Ridge and in Bee Cave. With a trip to Spirit Halloween, you’re bound to find everything you need for a stellar costume.

Similarly, Halloween Express conveniently has an online store that’s available year-round and then opens seasonal locations right when you need them. This year they have two locations: one in North Austin near the Austin Aquarium and one in South Austin in the Southpark Meadows shopping center. In order to make your costume-shopping experience as stress-free as possible, they make it a priority to have a large selection available and keep up with the latest trends so that those bestselling costumes are on hand.

Party City isn’t just about balloons, birthday decorations and party favors. They stock up on Halloween costumes, too, from your favorite movie characters like Wonder Woman and Darth Vader to classic get-ups like pirates, police officers and flappers. This chain has locations in Sunset Valley Village, Balcones Woods, Tech Ridge, and Lakeline Plaza, so it’s a great option for shoppers who would rather swing by and scoop up a ready-to-wear costume instead of thrifting for hours.

Situated down the street from The University of Texas and at the northern end of the Drag, Buffalo Exchange gets its assortment of clothing from whatever is bought, sold and traded with local customers. If you have some pieces that have been hanging untouched in your closet forever (and that are still in good condition!), bring them in to the buying counter to get either cash or store credit. You may get lucky and find that quirky item that’s exactly what you needed for your Halloween costume!