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Track down a proper Halloween costume at these shops

Track down a proper Halloween costume at these shops TimeOutShanghai
2015-10-30
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Best costume shops

Time Out checks out four of the best places to find the perfect costume and party supplies, whether you're planning a Halloween outfit, a children's birthday, or simply just want to dress up.

Holiday House

Once well known on Panyu Lu, Holiday House relocated round the corner a year ago. The new 300sqm space on Xuhong Zhong Lu is buried in an odd location: the third floor of a nondescript building, accessed via a lift within a garage and past office rooms piled high with unusual goods such as traffic lights and neon signs. Thankfully, there are many posters throughout the building to reassure you that you’re not heading in the wrong direction, even if you can’t escape that feeling at times.

The store was originally established in Shanghai 18 years ago and its cheerful owner, Mary, began business on a whim when her friends found it difficult to find costumes for a party they wanted to attend.

Here in the present, Holiday House stocks everything needed to throw a traditional Halloween party. There’s an excellent range of outfits for both sexes. Boys can choose from the likes of Superman, pirate and Roman warrior (All start from 55RMB), whilst girls have options such as Snow White (140RMB), ballerina fairy (160RMB) and honeybee (120RMB). All the scary classics are here, too, including ghosts (60RMB) and witches (55RMB), along with a few unusual extras, such as yetis (90RMB) and bats (55RMB).

As well as outfits, they also have an extensive display of hats and masks (5-20RMB); whether they’re searching for a Mr Bean face or a Viking helmet, your children should be able to find whatever they desire. There are rows aplenty for other decorative accessories: shelves heave with fake blood, glitter, face paints, feather wings, hair colour spray and luminous glow sticks.

Most unusual costume: Robin Hood (120RMB).

Can you hire? No.

Party decorations? Yes – you name it they have it. Everything from pumpkin baskets (10RMB) to spooky witch garden ornaments (20-80RMB) can be found here.

Address
Holiday House
 is at Fourth Floor, 21 Xuhong Zhong Lu, near Kaixuan Lu.
JaJaJa Party Shop

Following the closure of Party Monster and Party Pop Party Shop, JaJaJa is the best option for costumes east of the Huangpu. It’s a small store – only 40sqm big – but it packs a lot into the tiny space. Upon entering kids will find a range of costumes that vary from Egyptian pharroh and policeman for boys, to a Heidi-esque alpine outfit and cavewoman getup for girls. Costumes are bolstered by a wide selection of accessories. Hair spray (20RMB) can be bought in pink, blue, white and other colours; for a simpler hair solution wigs can be purchased too (start from 20RMB – 60RMB). Long fake nails and moustaches complete the range of bodily decorations on offer.

Arguably, JaJaJa is strongest when it comes to party accessories. Whether you’re looking for a SpongeBob Square Pants piñata to clobber or paper plates and plastic cutlery, you’ll find what you need in this shop. There’re even several huge helium canisters in-store for inflating massive balloons (8RMB/ 12 inch balloon) on special occasions.

Most unusual costume: Harry Potter outfit (150RMB).

Can you hire? No.

Party decorations? Yes – they stock bunting, balloons, ribbons and gift bags.

Address
JaJaJa Party Shop 
is at 158 Biyun Lu, near Baihua Lu, Pudong.
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. The store has been based on Guangdong Lu for more than 80 years and the current owners claim that in the 1930s and ’40s Mei Lanfang (梅兰芳), one of the Four Great Dan of Peking Opera’s golden era, ordered costumes here.

Behind the counter, shelves are stacked with silk qipaos and traditional Chinese robes in a range of sizes, with children’s options starting from 130RMB; prices can soar to 100,000RMB for the most expensive outfits we’re told. While the full operatic costume is above most budgets (from 300RMB), search the overflowing shelves for everything from elaborate wooden masks (60RMB) to Chinese style slippers (100RMB) to complement a homemade outfit. Skip the glass cabinets full of ornate silver and turquoise headpieces – while beautiful, the 1,200RMB price tags aren’t exactly good value for money for a Halloween one-off.

Outfits are tailored to order and it’s best to make your purchase well in advance. Machine-made costumes can be finished in a month, but there is no guarantee since it depends on the owners’ schedule. Should parents really wish to push the boat out, they can order a handmade costume from a 55-year-old Shanghai master tailor. Just be prepared to wait six months for the finished product to be ready.

Most unusual costume: Peking opera full stage costume (300RMB).

Can you hire? Yes, selected larger items only (price on request).

Party decorations? No..

Address
Nantai Costume Company
 is at 656 Guangdong Lu, near Guangxi Bei Lu
Ruby's Party

Set back from Hongmei Lu, and actually on Huaguang Lu (whatever the official address claims), this party supplier is definitely worth searching out for Puxi families. A small door at ground level leads upstairs to a surprisingly large and varied selection of outfits, from cute and cuddly animal costumes, with cow, sheep, giraffe, ducks and more on offer (100RMB for 3 costumes), to scary and gruesome rubber masks hanging above the door (5-50RMB). Boys will love the cooler options here such as ninjas (180RMB) and a ninja’s sword as a final touch up (35RMB-80RMB), headless knights (399RMB) and genii (75RMB). Girls have an equally wide range to choose from: witch (100RMB), princess (100RMB), native American (180RMB) and cowgirl (180RMB) being the standouts.

Look up to see one of each costume displayed around the walls – once you spot a style you like, make a note of its number and ask the owner, Ruby, for the size you need. Additional props such as gory severed limbs and fake moustaches are also available for purchase.

Most unusual costume: Mascot-size green octopus (200RMB/day rental).

Can you hire? Yes, but only the larger animal costumes.

Party decorations? Yes – as well as banners, tinsel, snow spray, paper plates and balloons, they also specialise in custom-designed pinatas (from 100RMB).

Address
Ruby's Party
 is at 3333 Hongmei Lu, entrance on Huaguang Lu.
Click 'Read more' for the freakiest Halloween parties in Shanghai. 
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