Halloween is just around the corner and students looking for inexpensive and creative costumes might want to skip the Amazon search frustration and shop local, as Tucson thrift stores are offering plenty of costumes at student-friendly prices.
Tucson Thrift Shop
At Tucson Thrift Shop on Fourth Avenue, the employees are more than willing to help make a Halloween costume fit each customer’s personal style.
Davina Araiza, a full-time employee at the vintage shop, works on custom garments and alterations in her spare time. She enjoys working with customers to create a custom look.
“Our job is to piece [costumes] together for [customers],” Araiza said.
Customers who don’t know what they want can look around the shop and get inspiration from all of the new and vintage costumes on the walls—adorned with costumes put together by employees. These costumes range from a collection of vintage garments to brand new, never worn outfits.
Araiza said she can make a character fit to a personality or personal style of any customer that walks through the door. Her job is to turn someone’s vision into a reality.
Desert Vintage
Desert Vintage, also on Fourth Avenue, is a vintage clothing boutique that features hidden gems from the past.
“Clothes aren’t made the way they used to be,” said Tasnim Boufelfel, a film and television sophomore.
The garments at Desert Vintage are one of a kind and irreplaceable. Each article of clothing is particular to the decade it was made.
The shop does not have a specific area designated for Halloween costumes, although they can be created by putting together different articles of clothing from the same decade.
Boufelfel recommended coming into the shop to focus on a particular decade to recreate for a Halloween costume.
Buffalo Exchange
Since 1974, Buffalo Exchange has provided the Tucson community with a way to buy, sell and trade used clothing, accessories and jewelry.
Buffalo Exchange, located just east of campus on E. Speedway Boulevard, creates Halloween costumes with its regular assortment of fashion trends which includes decade pieces found around the store.
Students can trade in their unworn clothing, accessories and jewelry for the opportunity to receive cash or in-store credit. In-store credit from trading in clothing can be used on all merchandise including Halloween costumes.
Goodwill
Goodwill on Fourth Avenue is flying under the radar for Halloween costumes this year. Most of the costumes have been sold and the Halloween aisles are dwindling because of the lack of costumes this year.
Halloween decorations are in stock at the Fourth Avenue location and props, wigs and costume makeup are still available for purchase.
Savers
For the students who enjoy hunting through hundreds of costumes to find just the one, Savers is the thrift store to find anything and everything that completes an award winning costume.
Savers, located on E. Broadway Boulevard, has all the necessities for the making of a budget-friendly Halloween costume. The selection varies with new and used costumes to props, makeup, wigs and accessories.
Shopping local at the thrift stores around the UA will not only save money, but have you ready for some trick-or-treating next week.
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