The Thousands

Many a time have these sartorial wonderlands saved us as we scramble last minute to find something to wear.

The Costume Shop, 1st Fl, 401-407 Cleveland St, Redfern. 9318 2511
If you can’t be bothered to create a costume from scratch or use your imagination, this is the place for you! Filled to the brim with stripper heels, bunny suits, 1920s dresses…and that’s just the stuff for loan. We won’t even start with their great selection of masks and moustaches for sale.

Zoo Emporium, 180B Campbell St, Surry Hills, 9380 5990
In a sea of Esprit and other such banalities, Zoo Emporium is a welcome oasis of exaggeration and frivolity. We were soon transformed into creatures resembling Eddie and Patsy. What more could a girl desire than to be a ridiculous, child-neglecting fashion whore, and her alcoholic girlfriend?**ABC Costumes, Gate 7, 8 Lanceley Plce, Artarmon, 8333 5757
Across the bridge the ABC Costume Shop’s website carries an A-Z costume index that spans all the way from Altar Boy to Elton John. Definitely worth a visit in your quest for money, power, and influence. Despite the ABC Television credentials, we can assure you that you won’t end up looking like Juanita Phillips.

ACE Costume Hire, 340 Stanmore Rd, Petersham, 9569 1050
ACE Costume Hire boasts a Adultmatchmaker.com-worthy inventory of potential disguises. Unfortunately the place is rather smelly, even for a costume shop, so unless you’re after a particularly authentic medieval peasant costume, you might want to miss this one.