Best Costume Stores in Atlanta: Where to Find the Perfect Look

Whether you’re dressing up for Dragon Con, Halloween on the BeltLine, a themed party in Buckhead, or a school play in Decatur, Atlanta has a wide range of costume stores to help you pull together the right look. From year-round professional costume shops to seasonal Halloween outlets and dance-focused boutiques, you can usually find what you need without leaving the metro area.

This guide walks through types of costume stores in Atlanta, key neighborhoods to check, what you can expect to find, and how to choose the right shop for your budget, timeline, and style.

Types of Costume Stores You’ll Find in Atlanta

When people search for “costume store Atlanta,” they’re often looking for very different things. In the metro area, costume shopping generally falls into a few categories:

• Year-round costume and cosplay shops
• Halloween and seasonal megastores
• Theater and rental costume houses
• Dancewear and performance stores
• Thrift, vintage, and resale shops for DIY costumes

Understanding what each type offers can save you time and multiple trips.

Year-Round Costume & Cosplay Shops

These are the stores Atlantans rely on for conventions, cosplay, themed events, and parties any time of year. They tend to carry more detailed pieces than seasonal Halloween outlets.

What you’ll typically find

• Full costumes (superheroes, fantasy, historical, sci-fi, pop culture)
• Wigs, beards, and hairpieces
• Hats, masks, helmets, prosthetics
• Stage-quality makeup and body paint
• Corsets, capes, cloaks, and accessories
• Cosplay-friendly items like belts, holsters, gloves, and armor pieces

Why locals use these shops

• Dragon Con prep: Many Atlanta cosplayers shop months in advance.
• Film and TV extras, background performers, and local creators often need specific character looks.
• Holiday events and themed bar nights in Midtown and Edgewood frequently send people to these stores for last-minute outfits.

If you’re visiting Atlanta, stopping at a year-round costume shop near Downtown, Midtown, or the Westside can be an efficient way to gear up before a con or event.

Halloween & Seasonal Costume Stores in Atlanta

From early fall through November, Atlanta fills up with Halloween-focused stores. These pop up in major shopping centers and along busy corridors like Cobb Parkway, Peachtree Industrial, and Memorial Drive.

What to expect at seasonal Halloween stores

• Huge variety of adult and kids’ costumes
• Seasonal decor (indoor, outdoor, yard inflatables)
• Masks, fake weapons, fake blood, and makeup kits
• One-size and bagged costumes for popular characters
• Pet costumes and simple accessories (wings, hats, glasses)

These stores are popular for:

• Neighborhood trick-or-treating in Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, Kirkwood, and Sandy Springs
• Office costume contests in Downtown and Perimeter offices
• School events and church festivals across the metro

📌 Tip: For the best selection in Atlanta, shop early in October. By the last week before Halloween, many popular sizes and characters can be picked over, especially for kids.

Theater & Rental Costume Options

If you need something more authentic or detailed—for theater, historical events, or a high-end costume party—rental-oriented shops and theater costume houses around Atlanta can be a strong option.

When Atlanta residents use rental costumes

• School theater productions in APS, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett
• Community theater groups across the metro
• Period-themed parties and charity galas in Buckhead or Midtown
• Special events at historic venues like Rhodes Hall, The Fox Theatre, or Swan House

What rental-style shops usually offer

• Period costumes (Victorian, Renaissance, 1920s, 1950s, etc.)
• Uniforms (military, service, fantasy)
• Higher-quality fabrics, tailored fits, lined garments
• Accessories matched to the era (hats, gloves, jewelry)

You’ll often need to:

1. Reserve in advance, especially during October and spring musical season.
2. Leave a deposit or credit card on file.
3. Return costumes cleaned or pay a cleaning fee, depending on the shop’s policy.

If you’re coordinating a show in Atlanta, it can be helpful to call ahead, share your cast list and costume needs, and ask whether they can outfit a full production.

Dancewear & Performance Shops for Costume Pieces

Many dancewear stores in Atlanta double as costume resources, especially if you’re putting together:

• Dance recital costumes
• Cheer or majorette outfits
• Burlesque or cabaret looks
• Ice skating or gymnastics performance wear

Common items you’ll find

• Leotards, bodysuits, unitards
• Tights, fishnets, and dance socks
• Character shoes, ballet shoes, jazz shoes, tap shoes
• Sequined shorts, skirts, and tops
• Rhinestones, appliqués, and performance accessories

This can be useful if you’re performing at venues like The Fox Theatre, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, local studios, or college events at Georgia State, Emory, or Georgia Tech and need something stage-ready.

Thrift, Vintage & Resale Shops for DIY Costumes

A lot of Atlanta residents build costumes by combining thrifted clothing and accessories with a few specialized pieces.

Neighborhoods with good thrifting options

• Little Five Points & Inman Park – Vintage clothing, quirky pieces, and accessories
• West Midtown – Larger thrift and resale stores
• Decatur & Avondale Estates – Often good for retro fashion
• Buford Highway corridor – A wide variety of shops and cultural clothing sources

DIY costumes are especially popular for:

• Creative looks at Piedmont Park festivals
• Themed pub crawls in Midtown or Old Fourth Ward
• Budget-friendly Halloween for families

You can often pair thrift finds with:

• A professional wig from a beauty supply or costume shop
• Face paint or stage makeup from a costume or party store
• Accessories like gloves, belts, or hats to pull the character together

Comparing Atlanta Costume Store Options

Use this simple reference when deciding where to go in Atlanta for your costume needs:

How to Choose the Right Costume Store in Atlanta

Atlanta traffic and parking can make wandering store-to-store frustrating. A bit of planning helps.

1. Match the store to your event

Ask yourself:

• Is this for Halloween, a convention, a theater show, or a party?
• Do I need it to look realistic on stage, or just fun for photos?
• Is comfort important for walking (e.g., BeltLine, bars, parades)?

For example:

• For a Dragon Con cosplay, you’ll likely want a specialty costume shop plus some custom pieces or crafting.
• For a children’s fall festival in Smyrna or Lawrenceville, a seasonal store or big-box retailer will normally be enough.
• For a Gatsby-themed benefit at a Midtown hotel, you may prefer a rental-quality period costume.

2. Consider timing and season

Atlanta’s costume demand spikes:

• Labor Day weekend (Dragon Con, football season)
• October, especially the last two weeks
• Spring (school plays, recitals, and festivals)

To avoid stress:

• Shop 4–6 weeks early for big events like Dragon Con or large theater productions.
• For Halloween, aim for early to mid-October for the best selection and sizes.

3. Plan around location and traffic

Atlanta is large and spread out. When you pick a store, consider:

• Where you’re coming from (e.g., Marietta, Stone Mountain, College Park)
• Traffic patterns on I-285, I-75/85, GA-400, and I-20
• Parking options (garages in Midtown vs. free lots in the suburbs)

Often, it’s easier to choose a store near your home or workplace, or near your event venue, so you’re not stuck in rush hour with a fragile costume.

4. Check sizing and fit

Costume sizing can be inconsistent. In Atlanta stores, you’ll typically see:

• Standard adult S–XL, sometimes plus sizes
• Kids’ costumes labeled by age or height
• “One size fits most” items that may not work for everyone

When possible:

• Try it on in-store, especially for full-body suits, jumpsuits, or corsets.
• Bring or wear the shoes you plan to use to check hem lengths.
• If ordering from an Atlanta-based shop for pickup, ask about exchange or return policies before you buy.

5. Think about Atlanta’s weather & walking

Atlanta’s climate matters for costume decisions:

• Early fall can still be hot and humid, especially outdoors at festivals or parades.
• Many events around Downtown, Midtown, and the BeltLine involve a lot of walking.
• Heavier costumes (e.g., full armor, thick jumpsuits, furry suits) may be uncomfortable outside for long periods.

Consider:

• Lighter layers if you’ll be outside at Piedmont Park, the BeltLine, or outdoor block parties.
• Breathable fabrics and comfortable shoes for long nights in Edgewood, East Atlanta Village, or Midtown bars.
• Bringing a backup T-shirt or leggings if your costume is complicated and you may want to change for the ride home.

Shopping Tips for Costume Stores in Atlanta

A few local-focused tips can make your experience smoother.

Call ahead for special or large orders

If you’re:

• Outfitting a school class, theater cast, or dance team
• Looking for specific characters, plus sizes, or multiples of the same item
• Trying to coordinate with a costume theme (e.g., all 1920s, all superheroes)

…call the store before you drive across town. Ask:

• What they currently have in stock
• Whether they hold items for you
• If they can order in additional sizes or colors before your event date

Ask about alterations and adjustments

Most Atlanta costume stores do not provide full tailoring, but some may:

• Recommend a nearby alterations shop
• Offer small adjustments (hemming, minor repairs, adding closures)

If you’re attending a formal event in Buckhead or Midtown, it can be worth pairing a rental costume with a visit to a local alterations or dry cleaning shop for a more polished fit.

Don’t forget makeup and accessories

For many Atlanta events, the details make the look:

• Stage makeup and setting spray help with heat and humidity.
• Wigs, hats, and jewelry give definition in low-light venues or photos.
• Comfortable shoes are essential if you’re walking between venues, MARTA stations, or parking garages.

When you visit a store, walk through the makeup and accessories section and think about what will photograph well in evening lighting.

Costume Shopping With Kids in Atlanta

If you’re outfitting kids for school events or Halloween in Atlanta neighborhoods:

• Go earlier in the season so you have time to swap sizes.
• Consider comfort and mobility for school days, fall festivals, and trunk-or-treats in church and school parking lots.
• For younger children, avoid heavy masks in warm weather; consider face paint or lightweight headbands instead.

Many family-friendly neighborhoods around the city—like Decatur, Virginia-Highland, Morningside, and East Cobb—host local events where kids may wear costumes more than once, so durability can matter.

Practical Next Steps for Finding a Costume Store in Atlanta

To move forward quickly:

1. Define your event
   Is it Dragon Con, Halloween, a school play, a dance recital, or a theme party?

2. Decide your budget and quality level

   • Simple, one-night use → seasonal or party store
   • Reusable or detailed → year-round costume or rental shop
   • Highly specific or stage-quality → theater/rental and dancewear stores

3. Pick your area

   • Intown (Midtown, Downtown, Westside, Decatur) if you’re central or using MARTA
   • North (Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta)
   • South and West (College Park, East Point, Douglasville, Mableton) based on your home or event location

4. Call 1–2 nearby stores
   Ask about stock, sizes, rental vs. purchase, and any appointment requirements.

5. Shop with a list and reference photos
   Bring pictures on your phone of the look or character you’re recreating. Atlanta sales staff who regularly work with con-goers, performers, and partygoers can often suggest creative substitutes from what they have in stock.

By matching your event, budget, and part of town to the right type of costume store in Atlanta, you can usually find what you need without a stressful last-minute scramble.