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Home » Recent posts » The 5 Best Costume Shops in Philadelphia for When You Need a Quick Disguise

The 5 Best Costume Shops in Philadelphia for When You Need a Quick Disguise

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We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.

Location Accessibility: Finding a storefront that’s easy to reach within the city limits ensures you can drop by for quick fittings. We focused on accessible physical locations that take the stress out of your commute.

Inventory Variety: We evaluated how well these businesses cater to different themes and age groups. A great store needs to offer a solid selection of both seasonal items and outfits for diverse occasions.

Customer Service Quality: Our team favored places where you get genuine guidance instead of just browsing completely solo. Helpful staff members who assist with sizing and explain return policies make shopping much smoother.

Pricing Transparency: Unexpected fees can ruin the fun of dressing up, so clear rates for buying versus renting are essential. That’s why we prioritized shops that keep their pricing straightforward and fair.

Finding the right outfit for a themed bash or a local stage production can turn into a massive headache, especially when you want to look completely original. 

If you’re looking to nail your next costume, discovering the best costume shop in Philadelphia can save you a ton of stress. Local spots here offer everything from basic accessories to high-end theatrical wear.

Whether you’re planning a holiday celebration or teaming up with event planners to throw a grand party, these local businesses have you covered. Read on!

How much do items from a costume shop cost in Philadelphia?

Items from a costume shop in Philadelphia typically range from $30–$100 for retail purchases, while professional theatrical rentals cost about $75–$200 per week. 

Entertainment services, such as character appearances, usually run $150–$250 per hour.

Service TypePrice Range
Retail Purchases$30 – $100
Professional Theatrical Rentals$75 – $200 per week
Entertainment Services$150 – $250 per hour

1. Masquerade CC

masquerade-cc-logo

Website: https://www.masqueradecostumecabaret.com/

Address: 1100 S Christopher Columbus Blvd.

Contact: (215) 271-7104

Hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Sunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Stepping into a party with a basic look is never ideal. Fortunately, Masquerade CC helps you turn heads by operating all year long to provide an extensive array of specialty theatrical and party masks. 

You can find everything from intricate Venetian styles to flashy rhinestone options to instantly elevate your look for any special event. 

They even host public meet-and-greet events with pop culture stars, which adds an exciting community vibe to the storefront.

When we dropped in last month to find a piece for a gala, the sheer scale of their mask collection blew us away. 

The main downside is that their inventory leans heavily toward grown-ups, meaning parents might struggle to find options for children. 

Pros

  • Year-round operations
  • 
  • In-person browsing available
  • Fun public celebrity events

Cons

  • Limited kid costume options

They have a ton of costumes

A really impressive costume store. It was far bigger than I was expecting. They have a ton of costumes, fake weapons, glitter, hair, and many other horror items for sale. I found the store well organized and clean. There is plenty of parking outside the strip mall they are located in.

Open all year round

A costume shop open all year round and not just right before and after Halloween??  I am so there!  I always really enjoy browsing the store and its wide variety of costumes, accessories, and props.  They do have a section of the store dedicated to theatrical makeup and wigs, at which one of the sales staff members will gladly assist with any makeup or wig-related needs.  My involvement in theater has turned me into quite the costume and makeup junkie, so it’s nice to know there’s a place in the city where I can indulge that obsession!

2. Pierre’s Mascots & Costumes

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Website: https://www.costumers.com/

Address: 211 N. 3rd St.

Contact: 215-925-7121

Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Organizing a large stage production requires serious wardrobe support, and Pierre’s Mascots & Costumes answers the call by specializing in professional theatrical rentals and mascot creation with over a million pieces ready to go. 

They make life easy for local directors by offering custom tailoring and free alterations to ensure every actor looks pristine. 

On top of that, schools and community theaters can take advantage of their generous twelve-day rental window to cover technical rehearsals without rushing. 

They even handle post-show cleaning and offer complimentary show plots to keep your backstage setup organized. 

But you do need to keep your budget in mind because they require full payment before any items ship or get picked up. That upfront requirement can be a hurdle for small independent groups.

Pros

  • Massive inventory available
  • Complimentary tailoring and alterations
  • Extended twelve-day rental windows
  • Post-show laundering included

Cons

  • Full upfront payment required

The costumes were so beautiful

After my original costumer canceled my order with short notice, I contacted Pierre’s to costume my high school production of Jane Austen’s Emma.  My experience was fantastic from beginning to end.  The costumes were beautiful, the customer service incredible, and the communication was timely and helpful.  I would highly recommend using Pierre’s for your theatrical costume needs!  Heather is awesome!

Pierre’s makes the highest quality mascots and costumes in the world

Look no further. Pierre’s makes the highest quality mascots and costumes in the world. Our performer who wore the costume for a week in the summer heat in New York City said that this was one of the best designed costumes he’s worn in his 20 year mascot career. Craftsmanship, great communication, on time delivery. Without a doubt, 5 stars.

3. D&J Entertainment

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Website: http://www.djclownco.com/

Address: 7516 Frankford Ave.

Contact: 215-335-4591

Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

D&J Entertainment is the place to go for costume rentals and sales in Philadelphia, backed by over fifteen years of serving the local area.

You can stop by their storefront to check out clown outfits, cartoon characters, and seasonal costumes, so picking out your look is simple and hands-on. 

We interviewed a client who rented a costume last spring, and they said the process, from choosing the outfit to pick-up, was easy. 

Plus, if you’re planning a party, it’s great that they offer entertainers like magicians and face painters alongside their costumes. 

Just remember, they’re closed on weekends, so you’ll want to plan if those are your only free times. 

Still, if you want great costumes and live entertainment to go with your photo booth rental, their reliable service is a solid choice.

Pros

  • Wide variety of costumes
  • Friendly, experienced staff
  • Convenient in-person browsing
  • Entertainment add-ons available

Cons

  • Closed on weekends

Would use them again

Great variety of costumes to choose from.  I used D&J twice for my daughter’s birthday parties and also for Halloween costumes. Great prices and was on time for parties. Would use them again. Also, the comedy show was great can’t wait until the next show.

This is a one-stop shop

This is a great place to buy costumes for the entire family, and the customer service is phenomenal. They also do parties too. This is a one stop shop. I will be back to rent a costume for my grandbaby party. Thanks D&J

4. Party City

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Website: https://stores.partycity.com/us/pa/philadelphia/party-store-s0756.html

Address: 1500 Chestnut St. Suite 2

Contact: 215-864-9520

Hours: 

  • Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Party City is all about convenience, with aisles packed full of party supplies for any occasion. You’ll find everything from bulk balloons to themed party kits, making it easy to grab custom balloon bouquets or festive table centerpieces in just one stop. 

It’s especially perfect for family events, since the extended store hours and huge variety of disposable goods mean you won’t have to stress about gathering basic items. 

The process feels simple and quick, which is great if you’re planning a last-minute celebration or just need to stock up on essentials.

However, it’s important to know that they stick to casual party supplies and pre-packaged costumes. 

If you’re a performer looking for professional theatrical outfits or need costumes with historic details for a stage production, the selection here might be a little too basic.

Pros

  • Custom balloon arrangement options
  • Highly organized theme categories
  • Convenient seven-day store hours
  • Abundant disposable event supplies

Cons

  • Basic pre-packaged outfit designs

5. ScarePros Halloween & Horror

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Website: http://www.shopscarepros.com/

Address: 8520 New Falls Rd. Levittown

Contact: (215) 547-1906

Hours: 

  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Tuesday, Thursday: 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM
  • Sunday: 11:00  AM – 4:00 PM

If you’re a fan of all things spooky, ScarePros Halloween & Horror is a must-visit. They specialize in horror toys and offer over two thousand different garment styles, making it a dream spot for Halloween lovers.

Walking through their massive warehouse space lets you browse an incredible collection of thirty thousand items, including three hundred distinct masks that you can try on in person. 

Plus, they carry a lot of exclusive merchandise that you just won’t see at typical chain stores! 

Having access to such a massive selection of rare and collectible items all year makes getting ready for any scary event extra exciting.

However, keep in mind that ScarePros focuses heavily on mature and scary themes. If you’re shopping with kids or hoping for family-friendly options, you should be ready to steer clear of some aisles to make sure the little ones aren’t too spooked.

Pros

  • Huge selection of distinct masks
  • Large physical warehouse showroom
  • Hard-to-find exclusive collectibles
  • Permanent year-round retail hours

Cons

  • Frightening themes unsuited for toddlers

One of the coolest stores I’ve come across

One of the coolest stores I’ve come across! There is so much more than Halloween decor and costumes

Any spooky horror fan could find a toy, shirt, or figurine that fits their collection!

Also they had a TONS of Christmas decorations on sale, perfect place to stop by and check out this time of year!!! I got a fabulous tree for a fantastic price

Largest selection around for Horror lovers

So many collectibles, toys, clothes, accessories, pins, costumes, and decor for Halloween (and soon Christmas). Largest selection around for Horror lovers. There is a small display room all set up, as well, which has some of the larger items. Very cool place.