Where you can find a Halloween costume in San Diego

Masks from Artist & Craftsman Supply

It’s that time of year again when everyone scrambles last-minute to find a makeshift costume because they’ve decided, What the hell, let’s dress up this year. So, where to go? I have ideas:

San Diego Florist Supplies (2550 El Cajon Blvd.) is that giant building you’ve seen on The Boulevard, not too far from Live Wire, and it’s loaded with potential Halloween costumes. What would you do with sheets of moss, small ornamental birds and faux twigs? Or how about two aisles of ribbon, taffeta and balloons of every color? Butterflies and bendy wire? A giant parrot, Mardi Gras beads and a straw hat? I’m thinking it would be fairly painless to attach some feathers to my glasses and—call me an owl. Or, I could don all white and precariously perch the sparkly polar bear (now marked down from $12 to $4.95!) on my shoulder—I’m a melting ice cap!

And that doesn’t even begin to describe the actual Halloween decorations San Diego Florist has: There are dead rats, big crows, light-as-air Styrofoam dungeon chains, faux pumpkins of every size, skull bowls, skull garland and just plain ol’ skull-skulls. And since they’ve already gotten all their Christmas decorations out, you could effortlessly be a holiday tree, complete with lights and glittering balls. Which raises the question: What would you do with glittering balls?

Next up: Friar Tux Shop (9240 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.) You might think renting a tux is too limited for a Halloween costume, but you’d be wrong. The options for a man in a tux are endless: How about a groom or, better yet, a best man (think: drunken, giving bad toasts, doing the Hammer dance, picking up on every woman in the room). How about a dapper Dracula? Go for a baby-blue tux and you’re a prom date; go for an oversized, mustard-colored one and you’re Bell or Biv or Devoe; orange and you’re Jim Carrey from Dumb & Dumber. Back to basics with a classic black and white tuxedo: the Monopoly man. Bond. James Bond. Abe Lincoln. Lady Gaga. Or add slightly gray-tinged makeup to your face and hands and you’re an actor in a silent movie. And, my favorite, courtesy of a friend of a friend— if you’re a handsomely tuxedoed man, you could carry a sign that reads “I’m sorry.” What would you be? A formal apology.

If you’re crafty, head to Artist and Craftsman Supply (3804 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest). It stocks plain masks aching to be painted or glued upon. But don’t stop at the obvious. If you can dream it up, you can probably construct it from foam core, paint and glue. Think one-dimensional: Ms. Pac-Mac, a Mooninite from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, a Knish, a bad yearbook picture, Nyan Cat or The Daily Prophet. You can be retro, topical, viral, literary. Perhaps you’re noncommittal and you just want a sign. A&C has the goods for that. How about one around your neck, guys, that reads “Dear Women, Love God.” You’d be God’s gift to women. Or how about “Nudist on Strike.” Just wear your normal clothes! (Groan.) Don a beret and make a sign that reads “Will Paint for Food”—you’re a starving artist. Or, just put a “Kick Me” sign on your back.

Try the big-box toy stores like Toys R Us. If you’re small, like me, you may fit into one of the XL princess costumes. And even if you’re not, you can seam rip it and be a Hulk-inspired angry superhero princess. Thick, black-frame glasses + princess costume = Hipster Princess. Robot arm princess costume = Robot Princess. Ghoulish makeup princess costume = Zombie Princess.

Hell, that goes for any costume, really. Zombie make up hamburger costume = Zombie Hamburger.

Take a tip from my daughter: Two costumes are always better than one. Think of it as a costume mash-up. Take last year’s Sarah Palin costume and add Minnie Mouse accessories. Voila! Brand new costume!

And, of course, you can always check out the vintage stores—Frock You on Park Boulevard, Flashbacks in Encinitas and Hillcrest and Buffalo Exchange (Hillcrest and Pacfic Beach). Mix old clothes with a robot arm or some zombie makeup and you’re good to go. 

Write to clea@sdcitybeat.com and bookmark her blog: sdcitybeat.com/urbanscout and superclea.blogspot.com.