Garment District
Kendall Square’s Garment District spends year round being that two-story vintage warehouse with a pit of recycled apparel you can buy by the pound. But come Halloween, the standby adds an extra layer of ghoulish and kitschy wares for costume-seeking patrons. Period costumes can be cobbled together with its vintage threads and footwear categorized by era, while more elaborate ensembles can be rented via the in-house Boston Costume location.200 Broadway, Cambridge, garmentdistrict.com Dorothy’s Boutique
You haven’t celebrated a true Boston Halloween until you’ve been crammed like a sardine in this Back Bay institution. Dorothy’s is open all year, but come October, you’ll find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with marabou feathers, fishnets and 50 undergrads searching for that one-night-only look. 190 Massachusetts Ave.,dorothysboutique.biz Oona’s
If you can’t stand to buy a frock you’ll wear only once, you could fulfill your vintage swag dreams at Harvard Square’s Oona’s. Boasting new ownership, prices at this boutique are slightly steeper than you’ll find at a typical costume depot, but its party looks are meant to last longer than just the weekend before Oct. 31. 1210 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, oonasboston.com Great Eastern Trading Company
There’s something special about a shop that boasts a wide collection of vintage Hawaiian shirts. When it’s not outfitting the bartenders of the city’s Tiki revival, Central Square’s Great Eastern Vintage carries a range of price-conscious, fantasy-inspired costumes for stage and cosplay.49 River St., Cambridge, greateasternvintage.com Fast Eddies Barber Shop
This Allston shop is like a good mullet — all party in the back. What started as an expansion into tupees and wigs in the ’40s, soon expanded to a fulfilled niche for yearlong costume supply in the early 2000s. The barbershop remains fully operational, so if you were looking for a buzzcut to complete your transformation to Eleven, this is the spot for you.179 Harvard Ave., Allston,617-254-2653
Where to buy Halloween costumes in Boston
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