With Halloween mere days away and the family cache of witch hats from trick-or-treating of yore safely at home, students are quickly running out of costume options. Luckily, several stores in the D.C. area can help anyone construct the perfect look.
Commander Salamander 1420 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. Metro: Near the Foggy Bottom stop (orange and blue lines) Also accessible via the 32-36 Metrobus lines (202) 337-2265
With a highly fashion-conscious high school- and college-aged clientele, Georgetown's Commander Salamander specializes in funky, accessory-based costumes.
This year the store features strait jackets, sexy costumes, leggings and wings. Prices range from about $20 for the wings to $40 and up for the full costumes. More unique costumes can be made by mixing and matching the store's wide range of accessories.
Artistic Dance Fashions 4915 Cordell Ave. Metro: Near the Bethesda stop (red line) (301) 652-2323
Tucked away on Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda, Artistic Dance Fashions has been a family-run and owned Halloween costume and dancewear staple for 54 years. With costumes costing around $39, the shop specializes in high quality, well-fitted costumes for customers, ranging from kids to the college set. Ellen East, the store's owner, handpicks the costumes to flatter a diverse range of sizes and shapes.
"I bought the 'sexy' costumes so that they look good on someone who is a plus size or someone who is a size zero," she said. For those wishing to dress as a ballerina for Halloween, the store centers around dancewear, including ballet slippers, leg warmers and leggings. All staff members are active in theater or dance.
Total Fright Productions Georgetown Parks Mall 3222 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. Metro: Near the Foggy Bottom stop (orange and blue lines) Also accessible via the 32-36 Metrobus lines
Located in the Georgetown Parks Mall in Georgetown, Total Fright sells everything from couples' costumes to children's costumes, as well as accessories like wigs, tattoos and make-up. The store also features an on-site haunted house. The Total Fright retailer in the Georgetown Parks Mall is a seasonal affair but more information can be found at www.totalfright.com.
For college-aged customers, popular costumes for this year could include pirates or gravediggers for men and sexy witches or devils for women. Costume prices average around $35 but all students with a college ID will get 10 percent off their purchase.
Ranger Surplus Store 8008 Wisconsin Ave. Metro: Near the Bethesda stop (301) 656-2302
Four blocks away from the Bethesda Metro stop on Wisconsin Avenue, the Ranger Surplus Store is a costume option for those seeking a military-inspired look this Halloween. The Halloween countdown in its shop window alerts shoppers that this store is serious about Halloween.
Prices range from $39.99 to $84.99 for their selection of camouflage, aviator jackets and coveralls.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS...
If perusing an intensely Halloween-y costume shop isn't your idea of finding an authentic get-up, fear not. There are other options available as everyone scrambles to get a costume together. From ordering the perfect political disguise online in advance to heading over to Goodwill and coming up with the perfect "demented '80s housewife" costume, we've got you covered.
www.buycostumes.com
For those seeking to celebrate D.C. this Halloween, this Web site features a myriad of political figure costumes at reasonable prices, ranging from about $20 to $40. Inspired ideas included Uncle Sam for men, Sexy Samantha for women, or George and Martha Washington for both. The site also features the infamous politician masks. Creative twists on the W classic include Condi, Dick Cheney or even Saddam Hussein.
Thrift shops
Inexpensive thrift shops abound in the District and surrounding areas, offering inexpensive and more unique choices than a giant M&M candy or a French maid. These shops are a great option for those with the patience to search. Some suggestions:
Goodwill 1333 N St. N.W. 202-939-2051
L & N Super Thrift Store 1830 14th Street N.W. 202-588-0020
Montgomery County Thrift Shop 7125 Wisconsin Ave. Near Bethesda Metro 301-654-0063
Your own dorm room or backyard
When in doubt, just put a big black garbage bag over your head and go as a prune. Make sure to cut a hole out of the top so you can breathe. Or you can pluck some fallen branches off of the ground and go as a tree, or one of those tree creatures from "The Lord of the Rings." The possibilities are totally endless.
