Whether you're planning a Halloween outfit, a child's birthday, or simply a spot of fancy dress, here are the best places to find the perfect costume and party supplies in Shanghai.
Ruby’s Party
Offering an extensive array of costumes, Ruby’s is a friend of the uninspired shopper who needs a little extra push. There’s a photomap displaying ready-to-wear favourites and wall racks overflowing with costumes from cute animals (like Hello Kitty) to actually terrifying rubber masks. Ruby’s also stocks all the props you could possibly need to accompany your costume, including edible fake blood, face paint, wigs, masks and more.
Unit F09, Fourth Floor, Zhidi Dasha, 201 Chengjiaqiao Zhi Lu, near Hongmei Lu (6401 6323; rubyparty.com).
JaJaJa Party Shop
A small-but-mighty party supplies store, JaJaJa has a decent range of costumes for all ages, bolstered by a variety of accessories including bodily decorations like wigs, coloured hairspray, long fake nails, moustaches and more. But arguably JaJaJa is strongest when it comes to party essentials like paper plates, banners and more.
158 Biyun Lu, near Baihua Lu, Pudong (135 2489 3365; jajajaparty.com).
Nantai Costume Company
Despite its unassuming exterior and jumble sale appearance, this small store supplies a number of local Peking opera troops and is the place to shop if you are in search of a truly unique costume. Behind the counter, shelves are stacked with silk qipao and traditional Chinese robes in a range of sizes.
656 Guangdong Lu, near Guangxi Bei Lu.
Holiday House
Although a fair trek out at Weimar Villa, Holiday House stocks everything needed to throw a traditional Halloween or costume party, as well as a pretty thorough array of costumes and accessories for all ages. There's an extensive display of hats, masks and wigs, and shelves heave with fake brains and blood, face paints, eyelashes, fake tattoos, coloured hairspray and stockings.
Gate 4, No 101, Weimar Villa, Anting Town, 355 North Ande Lu, Jiading district.