Finding costumes at vintage stores is a Halloween treat

Each year I pull out my cheesy French maid costume and wadded up fishnets from a sad little tattered plastic bag and I wonder: 1) Should I get a new costume? and 2) Am I too old for this one? We will address the former question and ignore the latter. In my hunt for the spirit of Halloween and an original costume this week, I found so many it will be difficult tochoose.

Some of the best costume haunts (sorry!) I found are vintage shops. Not only are there some interesting items to choose from, but the shopkeepers are genuinely enthusiastic about helping you find something unique. "Halloween is like Christmas and I'm Santa Clause," says Anna Lange, the genial proprietress of Pretty Parlor, a vintage shop on Phinney Ridge. Lange is visibly excited about dressing her customers up. "I just brushed all my wigs!" says the organized Lange.

She'll help you pick pieces to resurrect any look or icon such as a '60s era airline stewardess, or smoosh you into halter dresses a laMarilyn Monroe. For finishing touches, you'll find a huge array of ladylike accessories, hats and jewelry. For guys, she has crazy polyester shirts and pants from the '60s and '70s, cowboy shirts and ruffled tuxedos (think "The Wedding Singer"). She also carries a selection of poodle skirts — just add tight sweater, pointy bra and barrettes and you're ready to go.

Private Screening in Fremont is so accommodating. To make it easy for those whose imaginations need a little nudge, it has labeled vintage pieces with suggestions and gathered items, packaging them into instant costumes. For example, puffy satin pants, gold sequined belts and tops, and polyester scarves become belly dancer costumes for just $38.95.

"It's really inexpensive to put things together," says owner Michelle Mortenson. "You can have a costume between $13 and $40." The store has black mourning dresses from the '20s for witch outfits, conservative church lady dresses, mental-patient hospital gowns, Hawaiian shirts, "I Love Lucy" dresses, drunken-sailor outfits, and a beautiful white velvet dress from the '30s for $18.95 that's perfect for the Bride of Frankenstein. Another thing to consider with vintage shop costumes: These are real clothes, not cheap prepackaged costumes, so you're much less likely to burst a seam during your evening of merriment.

If you're in Fremont on a Sunday, search out Meghann Frickberg's booth at the Fremont Sunday Flea Market. She has a huge collection of "Freaky Wings," furry cat-ear hats and feather wrist cuffs. Her fanciful creations are made from feathers, glitter, leaves, flowers and pantyhose. Prices range from $25 to $75 — an inexpensive way to turn yourself into an ornithological phantasm.

Feeling like a pop tart? Capitol Hill boutique Trendy Wendy can meet all your needs. Owner Lisa Chang has everything you need to transform yourself into any pop-culture sex kitten, whether it's Britney, Janet or Madonna. Chang carries pre-packaged costumes, clothing and props to create your own naughty schoolgirl or sexy pirate. Choose from fishnets, go-go boots, plaid miniskirts, fairy wings, feather boas, leis and grass skirts, tiaras, pimp hats, wide-leg '70s pants, witch hats, costume sunglasses, flower-power jewelry and more. She also carries plus-size costumes.

You don't have to be a seamstress to whip up an original costume, insists Amy Ellsworth, owner of Stitches, a fabric and yarn shop on Capitol Hill. "There are simple things you can do. For example, take some faux leather O- and D-ring trim with chains and you can put together a great Edward Scissorhands, Mad Max or hard-core punk costume in no time. Just add a dark shirt and pants, some strong glue and a little imagination." Turn black fur or Day-Glo fuzzy fabrics into a number of animal costumes, or add a flamboyant boa to your outfit. "The most important thing when deciding on a costume is to be original and give yourself time to do something. There's nothing worse than showing up at a party and someone else has your same prefab discount Halloween costume," says Ellsworth.

If you're throwing a party or just want some good old-fashioned Halloween ambiance, stop by Romanza. It has a collection of serving dishes and bowls that run from charming to spooky. I like the scary witch with detachable fingers that double as cheese spreaders. Romanza also has beautifully carved natural gourds; spooky ornaments; kitschy candle holders and candles; and serving pieces decorated with vintage images of tots in sweet little costumes.

And don't forget the apple cider and doughnuts. Top Pot is coming out with a pumpkin doughnut for the season.

WHAT'S NEW: DESIGN WITHIN REACH

It's an interesting juxtaposition walking into Design Within Reach. This shop full of modern furniture features everything from lamps to bar stools displayed on the original old-school octagonal-tile flooring of what used to be the lobby of a 1902 hotel. Everything here has the look of functionality and conscious design, and I can easily visualize the pieces in one of the trendy condos nearby.

"We have a range of products here for every budget," says Cornett. For example, there's shelving for $175 and sofas for $2,795. Notable pieces include the Sussex collection, a series of credenzas and storage cabinets by a Spanish manufacturer that specializes in wood production. The furniture is finished from front to back and can easily "float" in the middle of a room. And the poofy Nelson Bubble lamps are sure to make a statement.

Design Within Reach is also a great place for instant gratification. "Over 90 percent of what we carry is available, in stock and ships within 24 hours," says store manager Christopher Cornett.

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