Halloween costumes when I was a kid were an experience. This experience usually involved bin bags and face paint that smelled vaguely toxic. I still remember those flimsy plastic superhero masks that suffocated my face and obscured my vision. 

My early forays into costumes were a hot mess. But hey, those childhood costume calamities weren’t entirely in vain because they led me to find some actual good costume shops. 

So, if you’re in Invercargill looking for Halloween costumes or a party, here’s where to shop.

1. Invercargill Repertory Society Costume Hire

Invercargill Repertory Society Costume Hire directly channels a passion for theatre and performance into their costume hire services. 

We like how they have comprehensive costumes spanning diverse styles and historical periods. Whether you’re seeking attire from Roman or Medieval, their collection caters to various themes. 

They aren’t limited to adults either; costumes are available for ages 5 years and up. This makes them a go-to for families and school productions alike.

We also love how they are affordable. A basic costume with a wig and accessories is priced at $25. 

Moreover, many appreciate that they offer group discounts for schools and rest homes, demonstrating excellent value for money.

Individuals renting costumes for the first time, especially appreciated their personalized assistance. Several customers felt supported and well-advised by the staff.

Although they don’t offer delivery, we like their easy, convenient pickup and out-of-hours return option. This flexibility is a practical advantage for those with busy schedules or events that run late, removing the stress of strict return deadlines. 

Great place for a costume

“Very helpful staff and reasonably priced. Great place for a costume.”

• Matthew Eichler, Google Reviews

The best place for costumes ever

“Best place for costumes ever. The ladies in the shop are worth the visit alone.”

• K “Game of life girl”, Google Reviews

2. Art Fun Wear (Invercargill)

What immediately sets Art Fun Wear apart is their genuinely diverse and imaginative costume selection. Their racks are filled with costumes that possess a distinct artistic flair. 

For instance, we saw a meticulously crafted steampunk ensemble with hand-tooled leather accents and repurposed vintage components—a far cry from typical store-bought versions. 

We also love their range of locally-themed costumes; think uniquely detailed takes on classic New Zealand characters and icons. 

Many have told us they were particularly impressed by the quality of detailing. We liked the hand-stitched embellishments and inventive use of accessories.

We also appreciate that their staff is helpful and genuinely passionate about costumes. We witnessed staff members offering insightful suggestions and helping customers refine their costume ideas.

Many have also commented on the efficiency of their smooth rental processes and reliable delivery options when needed. 

The only thing we aren’t crazy about is that they are slightly more expensive than other shops in the city. 

Great selection of costumes

“Great selection of costumes accessories and much more”

• Nadia Fuller, Google Reviews

Helpful for costumes

“Always friendly and helpful. Helpful for costumes and craft.”

• Rebecca Gorton, Google Reviews 

3. Kmart Invercargill

Kmart is a good practical solution for those seeking readily available costumes without breaking the bank.

In their Invercargill store, the costume section was neatly labeled and easy to locate. 

We also like that their website mirrored this ease of use, allowing for a quick browse of their costume range.

Their strength clearly lies in children’s costumes. The variety for kids is substantial, encompassing popular characters from superheroes to Pokémon, alongside classic choices like fairies and animals. 

We particularly love their unique inflatable ride-on dinosaur and unicorn costumes for children. These novelty costumes are undeniably fun and visually engaging.

That said, their adult costume selection is quite limited. We could hardly find anything.

Despite that, the costumes we saw weren’t itchy to touch, nor did they snag easily. Parents also love how their costumes are durable for children to run around and play in.

Always has something for everyone

“Always has something for everyone. Open later for that emergency shop.”

• Gillian Royffe, Google Reviews

Very relaxed and customer-friendly

“Ow i Luved this store!!! Beautifully set out, open an clean, really great selection and good stock. Very relaxed and customer friendly, best store i’ve found in Invercargill so far”

• Alissa MacLean, Google Reviews

4. Spotlight Invercargill

While Spotlight isn’t a bespoke costume design house, their strength is in providing off-the-rack costumes for a wide range of events. 

Many we spoke with appreciated the convenience of finding costumes alongside other party supplies and craft materials. This makes it a practical one-stop shop, especially when time is of the essence. 

Their costume range covers everything from movie and TV characters, era-themed outfits for those wanting to relive history, animal costumes, and superhero getups.

We also like all the wigs, masks, and makeup they have for basic costumes. However, their prop selection could be improved. We specifically heard feedback that some of the props felt a little flimsy and easily breakable.

Regardless, the staff were generally helpful in locating items and offering basic assistance. 

Offers what I was looking for

“Easy to find had what I was looking for”

• Heather Blacklock, Google Reviews

Great and very organized store

“Fantastic great store, very organized, plenty of well priced material”

• Wayne Mackey, Google Reviews

5. The Warehouse Invercargill

The Warehouse Invercargill caters to customers looking for readily available and affordable costumes. It’s easy to find costumes starting from $20, making them great if you’re watching your spending. 

Their costume section, while not the biggest, is decent. We appreciate that they stock costumes for both adults and children. They also have costumes for themes like Halloween and decade parties.  

For Halloween, we found spooky costumes like witches, vampires, and ghosts. For decade parties, they’ve got some snazzy flapper dresses for the 1920s and funky neon outfits for the 1980s.

Parents particularly love the variety of character costumes. They have superheroes like Spider-Man and Wonder Woman, fairytale figures like Cinderella and dragons, and pirates with eye patches and bandanas. 

If you’re shopping online, their delivery for their online costume orders is generally reliable. Many told us they appreciated how it was neatly packaged and nothing was missing.

The one complaint we’ve heard though is that the costumes are not the most durable. The fabric can sometimes be see-through, and the colors fade after a few washes. 

One stop everything

“One stop everything shop!”

• Melecia Parenzee, Google Reviews

Very friendly staff!

“Great store. Well laid out. Super tidy shelves and well organized! Very friendly staff!”

• Ally Pellowe, Google Reviews

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